One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Free health clinic to treat patients despite 405 freeway closures
People give their medical history to nurses during a free health clinic at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on October 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The annual clinic continues through the weekend, despite 405 freeway closures.
(
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
)
The annual free medical and dental clinic is returning to the L.A. Sports Arena this week. It continues through the weekend during Carmageddon II, when Caltrans will shut down the 405 northbound between the 101 and 10 freeways, and southbound between the 101 and the Getty Center.
The 405 freeway closures will hinder but not prevent patients with wristbands from going to the L.A. Sports Arena for free medical and dental care.
Don Manelli is president of CareHarbor, the nonprofit group organizing the clinic. He said the group is sending an email to the clinic’s volunteers, warning them about the freeway shutdown.
“We don’t have a lot of options about when we’re going to do this," he said. "The Sports Arena is given to us for the event. We obviously can’t do it when there’s a USC home game, there are other events that are booked in there. And it was just reverse serendipity that Carmageddon is going to happen."
The four-day clinic begins Thursday. CareHarbor will begin handing out wristbands to patients Monday at 1 p.m. at the Sports Arena.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated where the 405 will be closed.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
