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 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.
UPDATED: Obama Descends on LA, Drivers Brace For Traffic Jams
President Obama has touched down in LAX, and we know from experience that presidential visits can cause unprecedented clusterfucks on local streets.
Total Traffic LA reports that Obama is traveling by helicopter from LAX to Culver City, where he'll hold a fundraiser at Sony Pictures at 5:30 p.m. He will then eat at Tavern in Brentwood. On their Facebook page, Total Traffic LA commenters have begun to report closures, including Santa Monica Blvd from the 405 to Wilshire, and San Vicente east of Barrington.
Temporary street closures began earlier this afternoon in Culver City, and apparently security is tight around the Beverly Hilton Hotel, a good indication that Obama may be staying there.
The route that the President is traveling has been kept quiet leading up to today. In a statement released by the LAPD last night, they gave this helpful and comforting update:
The unified agencies involved in the planning are keenly aware of the public’s concern over traffic congestion during previous visits by the President. Every effort is being made to minimize the impact to the residential communities and businesses affected by the President’s visit.
We'll keep updating as we hear more about closures...in the meantime, good luck out there.
Update: Sigalert shows traffic on the 405 slowed to 20 mph going north between Culver Blvd. and Sunset, and to the same speed going south between Santa Monica and Sawtelle.
Sponsored message
Update: We originally reported that Obama would be dining at Tavern at 8:00 p.m. We've updated the post to reflect the fact that It's unclear what time he will eat there.
Update: HuffPo has a roundup of Obama-traffic-related tweets.
Update: "Brentwood" has been trending on Twitter for over an hour. Follow traffic news using tags #LATraffic and #obamatraffic. Tweeps report that Westwood traffic is clearing up, the area around Santa Monica and Wilshire is a cluster, and parts of Motor Ave are 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
