Results tagged “service”

Commuter rail service Metrolink is considering a fare increase to be implemented at the start of the new year, reports the Daily News. "The five-county Metrolink agency board is scheduled to meet Friday to decide whether to hike ticket prices for tens of thousands of daily passengers by as much as 6 percent."

When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger saved state parks from closing, it didn't mean he saved them from service cuts. Today, state park officials announced how they would deal with a $14.2 million budget cut: Superintendents for each district (for example, many of L.A.'s nearby parks are in the Angeles District, beaches in the OC and Ventura County are in the Orange Coast and Channel Coast districts, respectively) had to share the sacrifice and find cuts on a park-by-park basis.

Last week the news of the death of Adam Goldstein, better known to many as DJ AM, shocked many people. Although authorities are still working to determine if his death was accidental or suicide, Goldstein apparently died of a drug overdose in his New York apartment, where drug paraphernalia was found. The 36-year-old DJ had recently finished working with Dr. Drew Pinsky on a television show about addiction, and "was said to have agreed to go back to rehab just hours before he died," according to the LAT's blog The Dish Rag.

The free healthcare check program at The Forum in Inglewood that will go through next week has been so popular, Metro is temporarily extending a bus line's service to 24 hours. Thousands turned out in the first two days of the week long event that is offering free health, dental and vision checks to the uninsured, under-insured, unemployed and under-employed. Hundreds spent the night hoping to get checked today. Remote Area Medical Foundation will be offering services through next Tuesday. Due to "overwhelming demand," Metro Bus Line 115, which usually runs from 5 a.m. to midnight will now run 24 hours a day with service every half hour during the off-hours. Good Timing? Remote Area Medical tends to serve rural areas, but placing a clinic in the 2nd largest U.S. city during the national healthcare debate is an interesting move, coincidental or not.

       

Up to a million people were expected to be hanging around the perimeter of Michael Jackson's memorial service this morning at the Staples Center. But walking downtown streets a few blocks away, the scene was relatively normal, save for the heavy police presence, the constant drone of helicopters and a handful of vendors selling Michael Jackson buttons and t-shirts.

AEG officials announced today that 17,500 tickets will be available for Tuesday morning's memorial service for popstar Michael Jackson at the Staples Center. A website has been set up for people (U.S. Residents only) to enter for a chance be selected for a pair of tickets, meaning a total of 8,750 names will be drawn. You have until 6 p.m. PST, July 4th to enter, so don't delay! Names drawn will be notified on Sunday by 8 p.m. PST (Update: It seems the server has crashed as the whole world tries to enter their info for a ticket)

After days of speculation, it was finally confirmed yesterday evening: Michael Jackson's public memorial will be held Tuesday morning at the Staples Center. 11,000 tickets will be distributed for free via a process yet to be announced. It's safe to say, ticket or not, hundreds of thousands of people will show show up. It's going to be quite a day in downtown Los Angeles.

CNN is reporting that Michael Jackson's body will be transported to Neverland Ranch on Thursday for a public viewing on Friday and a private memorial service on Sunday. However, the LA Times says things are not exactly confirmed: "A source knowledgeable about Neverland affairs said that no decision had been made. 'Nothing has been confirmed,' the source told The Times. 'The family is still trying to work it out.'" Jackson's will has been found and a service is scheduled for next week in Gary, Indiana, where he might be buried, is in the works, says CNN.

Twice a year, Metro makes a slew of changes to their schedules and transit routes in an effort to improve service and efficiency. Sunday was one of those days. Usually, there is something new and flashy to show off like a new Rapid bus route, but this summer there's no such thing. In fact, one Rapid line was discontinued in the Valley and another lost its weekend service in South LA.

Earlier this year, Tustin's Dan Choi, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard, shared during a television interview that he is homosexual, which put him in violation of the military's Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gay servicemen and women's need to keep their sexuality a secret.

For the past few months, there's been a constant drone of Time Warner complaints that come our way. "Time-Warner has hit an all-time low. Despite the fact that both LAist and The Los Angeles Times has reported Bot attacks on the provider they absolutely refuse to 'fess-up' to the issue and credit me with a refund," a reader left in our anonymous tip box. Another tipster followed up with a complaint we experience daily at home. "Paying extra for Digital service and using their DVR box does nothing to improve things; DVR'd shows frequently have blips and sound drops. How is this company allowed to continue providing such sh*tty service to the 2nd largest media market in the country?!" It's true, at least for us at home where they happen consistently about every 15 minutes. Who else experiences this?

In a follow up to last weekend's cleanup where decapitated chickens were found, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Clean Up Project has informed us that they are having another Silver Lake event next Monday on Martin Luther King Day, or what is now being called Barack Obama's National Service Day.

Over at the blog, LA Snark, there's talk of terrible local internet service: "What’s going on with Time Warner’s internet outtages in the Los Angeles area? Are they clocking out at 10pm or something? For the past two nights I’ve suddenly lost the ability to reach a site in a browser. Oddly enough I’m able to instant message and receive emails.. but no web access. What’s the deal Time Warner?" The snarky blogger polled his Twitter followers and found that he wasn't the only one. Is the same happening to you? Update: KCAL News at 4 p.m. reports that the problem began on Sunday night and should be now fixed.

Although yesterday brought the encouraging news of a service expansion for late-night weekend riders on the Red Line during the holiday season this year, this morning the news about MTA service overall is rather discouraging.

After passing out of the transportation committee last week, the motion to extend Metro Red Line service to 3:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday nights from November 1st to January 3rd will be considered by City Council today. Because Metro doesn't have the funding for the expanded service, the "service would be supported in part by private sponsorhips," the motion states.

Passengers at the Union Station Metro Red/Purple Line Platform stood waiting at 10:00 p.m. Thursday night for an overdue train. A muffled and monotone voice made an announcement that was unintelligible with the exception of the word "Wilshire," which both train routes serve (there was also no update on the LCD screens). Asking other passengers about what it said, they had no idea.

I've had a few thoughts in the past about buying groceries online. One was more nostalgic and comparative, when thinking about how in New York City you can shop for your groceries in the store and then have them brought to your apartment, and how it's almost ironic that there, in a city where everything is so easily accessible that you can have anything--even pancakes--delivered to your door, whereas here in Los Angeles things...

Cingular customers have been experiencing a system-wide problem today in the Los Angeles area. The current glitch comes two days after announcing a shiny, new mobile/web deal with MySpace. Maybe the Verizon/YouTubers have taken to knocking down towers? I speculate. Below, please find the dramatic re-enactment of my customer service phone exchange. The grumbly lady that answered my call was less thrilled about answering my questions: Is there currently a problem with service in...