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.
Westside Gridlock Alert: Obama's Visit Thursday Will Lock Up Surface Streets
Things are Traffic is gonna get "heavy" tomorrow when President Obama spends some time on the west side of Los Angeles for a fundraising event. Details of the President's precise schedule, including what roads will be blocked off, have not been released, according to LA Now, however word has it "much of the president's travels in L.A. will be done on surface streets."
We know that Obama plans to attend a public fundraising event--his first in L.A. since kicking off his 2012 re-election campaign--at Sony Studios in Culver City, and has plans to dine at Tavern in Brentwood (good choice, sir!). We also know that wherever he goes, some serious gridlock will follow...and precede, since streets begin to shut down in advance of the motorcade's arrival.
Total Traffic LA has been on the lookout for official word about street closures and transit changes, but have not received confirmation of any given route. "At this point, we suspect anything west of Robertson and Jefferson and everything east of Bundy is liable to be closed at any time, including portions of the 405 and 10 freeways. This may send ripple effects through all streets on the Westside," they explain. Streets like Overland, Washington, Culver Blvd, Wilshire, San Vicente, and Barrington are among those at the top of the list for which will most likely be affected.
On a prior visit to Los Angeles, too few details about street closures were made available ahead of time, forcing motorists, transit users, and residentsinto some serious gridlock, aka "Obama Traffic Hell." To lessen the negative impact on traffic, Obama used a helicopter for transport on his last visit to Los Angeles.
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
