Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA Will Consider Opening Up Streets And Sidewalks For Restaurant Dining, New System For Fitness Classes In Parks
The outdoor seating at King Taco in Boyle Heights has been taped off. (Chava Sanchez/Laist)
()
In a pair of proposals announced this week, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin said the city needs to “cut the red tape and think differently” in order to help local businesses bounce back, while still following social distancing guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The first proposal: allow restaurants to create temporary outdoor spaces for customers to dine on sidewalks, streets and in private parking lots — once public health rules allow for that.
Bonin, who represents westside neighborhoods including Brentwood, Sawtelle and Venice, said existing city programs that allow for sidewalk dining and converting streets into pedestrian plazas don’t go far enough. He’s calling on the city’s Department of Transportation and Bureau of Engineering to develop a new one. Bonin wrote in the motion:
“There is an urgent need for innovative ways to expand dining capacity or neighborhoods will lose beloved local institutions and Los Angeles will lose one of its defining cultural assets. Temporarily allowing restaurants to use some available space in the public right of way is a relatively simple and cost-effective way of boosting their capacity and helping them survive.”
Support for LAist comes from
If small businesses are going to survive this pandemic, we need to think differently.
— Mike Bonin-Official (@MikeBoninLA) May 19, 2020
That’s why I proposed letting more restaurants use sidewalk & street space for outdoor dining, & to make it easier and less expensive for fitness & yoga pros to hold classes in public parks. pic.twitter.com/BRneTMOncX
Bonin’s second motion seeks to make it easier and less expensive for fitness instructors to hold outdoor classes in city parks — again, once public health guidance allows them to.
The current permitting system used by trainers and instructors “can be confusing and time consuming,” Bonin wrote, with varying rates and application processes, depending on the location. He’s asked the Department of Recreation and Parks to put a “streamlined and discounted process” in place for fitness professionals looking to book park space for classes, in ways that don’t conflict with other public use.
“...until there is a vaccine, physical distancing requirements are likely to require these businesses to stay closed or operate a greatly reduced capacity,” Bonin wrote in the motion. “People will not be able to work out in close quarters or use the same gym machinery. Therefore there is an urgent need for innovative ways to expand the ability of these businesses to operate outdoors to provide proper physical distancing.”
The motions have been referred to the council’s transportation and public works committees for review.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist