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.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Laurel Canyon Remains Closed For Second Day After Mudslide
A roughly half-mile-long section of Laurel Canyon Boulevard remained closed Thursday morning, cutting off a major artery between West Hollywood and the Valley. Laurel Canyon Boulevard between Gould Avenue and Kirkwood Drive was first closed around noon on Wednesday after the concrete foundation of a home on Gould was destabilized by the rain, leading officials to fear it might tumble down onto the busy street below.
Authorities were right to have closed the street: at 2:30 p.m., "the slab with sewer pipes suddenly slid down to the edge of the roadway, fracturing into pieces, some of which landed in the southbound traffic lane," according to NBC 4. The concrete slab, which, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department press release, is estimated to weigh approximately 9,000 pounds, was part of the foundation and retaining wall of the home in question.
“Obviously the fire department made the right call and avoided tragedy today by closing off Laurel Canyon,” LAFD spokesman David Ortiz told the Daily News yesterday.
A message to the community about the Laurel Canyon road closure. Patrol units are in the area assisting with traffic control and patrolling. pic.twitter.com/vRamD3rQxQ
— Cory Palka (@lapd2014) January 12, 2017
Support for LAist comes from
Check out path of concrete slab that broke away from house, then crashed down on #LaurelCanyon Blvd #CBSLA pic.twitter.com/mRvn6n5suy
— Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) January 12, 2017
The home in question had already been evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Dava Lara, a spokesman for the Department of Building and Safety, told LAist that his department had red-tagged the house, and yellow-tagged two adjacent homes as a precaution.
Lara said that Building and Safety had dispatched a team of engineers and inspectors to do an assessment at the scene "so we can determine what our next steps will be in terms of the amount of damage and lack of support in the building." Lara said that he wasn't sure when the assessment would be completed, but it could potentially be later today or early tomorrow.
"We're going to err on the side of precaution and keep the road closed until we can get that assessment," he said.
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
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist