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.
The City Just Took The First Steps To Make LA Al Fresco Permanent
Two people walk down a Burbank street that has been closed to vehicular traffic to allow restaurants to serve food outside during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(
ROBYN BECK
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
The Los Angeles City Council voted this morning to take the first steps to make L.A. Al Fresco, an outdoor dining program initiated during the pandemic, a permanent feature of city life.
Launched last spring, the program allowed restaurants and bars to expand their dining areas into streets, sidewalks and parking lots so they could seat more customers while adhering to physical distancing requirements. The city also streamlined the permitting and approval process for these new outdoor dining areas. In some cases, it provided planters, barricades and umbrellas to dining establishments.
Today, the City Council voted almost unanimously — 14 yes votes and one absent — to approve a motion that directs various city agencies to issue reports on the pros and cons, the challenges and issues, of making L.A. Al Fresco permanent. (The motion was introduced in August 2020 by David Ryu, who was then the councilman for District 4. That seat is now held by Nithya Raman.)
A server at Casa Vega wears a face shield and a face mask while working at the restaurant.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
Support for LAist comes from
The Bureau of Engineering will need to offer recommendations on transitioning all existing al fresco participants into permanent sidewalk dining locations — while adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city attorney will need to report on the feasibility of revising the Department of Transportation's People St. Program to let restaurants have the exclusive use of the public right-of-way.
The Department of Building and Safety, Los Angeles City Planning and the Los Angeles Fire Department will need to draft recommendations for a regulatory framework for a permanent al fresco program.
During a State of the City address in April 2021, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, "In a city whose unofficial motto is 72 and sunny, let's make al fresco dining permanent."
His proposed budget for the 2021/2022 fiscal year includes $2 million in grants for low-income neighborhood restaurants to create permanent areas for outdoor dining. The budget is currently being reviewed by the city's Budget and Finance Committee.
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
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist