Zach Behrens

Rita Robinson Is this a true change in standpoint from our leadership? The beginning of a culture shift? Today, the L.A. Department of Transportation General Manager, Rita Robinson, aka MobilityMaven on Twitter, tweeted a warning to drivers: "Drivers - plz watch the road- be aware of cyclists. LADOT wrking w/LAPD & cyclists on road conditions/safety. Educ of drivers is crucial." Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa then retweeted it and followed it up with this: "I'm directing...

He lost the bid to become the top LAPD cop, but he won out in L.A. County's second largest city. LAPD Deputy Chief Jim McDonnell will become Chief of Police for Long Beach, it was announced today. McDonnell, 50, is a 29-year veteran of the LAPD and served as the second-in-command under former Chief William Bratton. “I’m honored to be chosen for this position, and I will do everything in my power to make...

A Chinese bank is has agreed to loan $7 billion to help build a high speed train between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, according to the Las Vegas Sun, via Curbed LA. That's great, but there are hurdles, including the fact that the line was not funded in the latest round of stimulus money, in which California received $2.25 billion. However, if it does become a reality, Las Vegas will truly become L.A.'s far...

When the Obama Administration yesterday released the list of transit projects set for federal funding, Los Angeles was missing. Hartford Connecticut and Oakland received funds for bus rapid transit. San Francisco got some dough for a subway. Other rail funding went to Hawaii, Minnesota and Colorado. Even San Bernardino and Riverside were funded for projects (see the full list here).

That amount of savings is more than laying off 1,000 non-police city hall jobs, which would save the city $65 million. The proposed cuts to police translates to "canceling plans for hiring 103 officers and laying off 616 probationary officers in the academy and the department," according to the LA Times. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council last year vowed to keep policing levels current at 9,963, but a budget crisis--now $218 million--is making...

Bad news for traveling into the Angeles National Forest via the Angeles Crest Highway. After a week of rain in January, the artery between La Canada-Flintridge to Islip Saddle (at Highway 39) remains closed due to mud slides and washed away roads, according to the LA Times. It's expected to reopen up by late March....

Photo by highervision via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr That's the question Alex Thompson at Westside Bikeside is asking. A proposal by two Los Angeles councilmembers seeks $30 million in federal money to extend the Marvin Braude Bike Path--the 19 mile beach bicycle path between the South Bay and near the Santa Monica-L.A. border--by two more miles to the north. For Thompson, this is a questionable priority. "Bike lanes cost $28,000 per mile, according...

As the City Council prepares to vote on laying off 1,000 employees in order to help save teh $208-million budget shortfall, Westside Councilmember Bill Rosendahl is unwilling to bend on one issue in particular: calligraphy, which is a $1 million affair at city hall. During Monday's budget hearing, he said "whatever we need to do to preserve it, I want to do." That's quite a shift from 2009 when he told the LA Weekly...

Not from Greenspan, but a beautiful looking Grilled Cheese nonetheless | Photo via The Grilled Cheese Truck (more photos here) When The Foundry's Eric Greenspan announced he was opening a grilled cheese restaurant, it was big news. Grilled cheese, the ooey, gooey and naughty comfort food that could possibly solve world peace, has encapsulated Los Angeles in the past, whether it be with the hordes of people that show up at the annual Grilled...

One way to save some or all of the 1,000 employees threatened to lose their job under a current proposal to help save Los Angeles' current $208-million budget shortfall is to transfer them to open jobs in proprietary revenue-generating departments like the Airport, Port and LADWP. Speaking to that, Councilmember Janice Hahn suggested taking that move seriously, calling for a "major Match.com" service to quickly transfer employees. Over 300 vacant positions have been identified,...

The controversial budget-saving move to cut $500,000 from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs grant program was saved this morning after a proposal to cut the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel guests pay that), which funds the grants, was killed this morning during a City Council meeting. However, the department stands to lose nearly 50% of its staffing, currently at 63. 11 will leave due to the Early Retirement Incentive Program and another 16...

The West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ban the sale of cats and dogs Monday evening. However, although some are saying it's final, the city, per law, must vote and approve the ordinance a second time at its February 16th meeting, when it is expected to pass. The period between the first and second votes allows time for people who have a legal reason to contest the ordinance to file an...