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.
Mayor Announces 'Great Streets' Program to Focus on Main Streets
A Rapid 720 bus in traffic on Wilshire near Westwood (Photo by TinCanOrange via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
Mayor Eric Garcetti issued his first executive order to make over 40 streets around the city to focus on Main Street livability.
"A great neighborhood needs a great street as its backbone, and, as city leaders, we need the backbone to make the bold changes necessary to build great streets," Garcetti said.
It's no secret our streets are bad. No matter what we try to do, our streets keep stinking.
While Garcetti has tried to address the problem with his Neighborhood Blitz operation, the Great Streets program aims to take it to the next level. Realizing that Main Streets are the heart of a neighborhood, this program will create a task force across five city departments to work with the public to help keep streets smooth along with tailoring projects to the surrounding communities.
Support for LAist comes from
The task force will include officials from the planning, cultural affairs, transportation, public works and the economic and workforce development departments. They will work with the DWP and the MTA to coordinate projects.
"No more Bureau of Street Services paving a street on Monday, DWP digging it up on Tuesday," Garcetti said.
Deputy Mayor for City Services Doane Liu will call a meeting of the task force in the coming weeks which will then have 90 days to present a list of the 40 streets, mayoral aides told City News Service. The public will be able to be a part of the process, but nothing concrete has been disclosed yet.
The hope is to get working on the project in 18 months.
We've been lured by such promises over and over again. Let's see if Garcetti has the leadership to make sure his vision gets done.
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