Community Clean-Up

Volunteers are needed to help clean up the bike path along the Orange Line busway on Nov. 6.

The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomes all Scout troops, churches, school groups, businesses, and individuals are urged to take part in the clean-up to help make the bike path safer and more attractive for families and commuters.

The volunteers should meet at 8 a.m. at the staging area located at 6060 Van Nuys Blvd. The area to be cleaned is between Sherman Way and Hazeltine Avenue in Van Nuys.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

There probably isn't a City Council member wo engenders more animosity from the citizenry than Jack Weiss. Now he wants to be City Attorney. Weiss told Ron Kaye "Ron, I have to tell you how happy I am just to be sitting around the horseshoe." The problem is - as noted by Kaye and by Zuma Dogg quite some time ago - Weiss is rarely in his seat during Council meetings and has avoided about as many votes as Barack Obama. Weiss was politically smart to hitch his wagon to the Antonio Villaraigosa political machine as he seeks to follow Rocky Delgadillo but it won't be without a fight. Former Deputy District Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian are planning full bore challenges against Weiss.

Following the resignation by Nick Patsouras to run for City Controller, San Fernando Valley attorney and activist Lee Kanon Alpert has been named as President of the Board of Department of Water and Power Commissioners. Alpert told the San Fernando Valley Business Journal “I do enjoy it. You feel like you are participating when you can be heard on issues that are vital to the survival of the city.” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will fill the seat left open by Patsouras' departure.

Council Member Dennis Zine is pushing a law that would restrict access of paparazzi photographers to celebrities in public but one former attorney turned tabloid television show producer/host is calling Zine's efforts ridiculous. Harvey Levin of the program and website TMZ said "It's ridiculous. Cops don't walk around with tape measures. Laws already exist that need to be enforced."

When the San Fernando Valley opted out of building subway or light rail beyond the Red Line in North Hollywood local politicians came up with the Orange Line busway as an alternative. Now a number of Valley denizens are calling on the MTA to look at the option of converting the bus road to a light rail line. However in addition to cost there is opposition from local politicians such as Zev Yaroslavsky.

Don't forget the fundraising BBQ today benefiting LAPD Officer Taybren Lee who lost his home and all his belongings in the recent Sylmar fire. Click here for more information.

Pot smokers voted for Barack Obama in large numbers but they might be having buyer's remorse. Capitol Weekly reports that Obama's assumed appointments of Eric Holder for attorney general, and Donald Vereen as transitional co-chair of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) have medical marijuana advocates concerned as both Holder and Vereen have been historically opposed to medical marijuana.

Transit Oriented Development Fails to Yield Results

Transit oriented development is a big buzz word and provides lots of promise for politically connected developers who want to build housing near rail and bus stations. However, an LA Times report shows that it's had little impact on traffic and transit usage.

I can relate. I live in one of the showcase transit oriented development villages in LA, the NoHo Arts District and until yesterday did not use the Red Line in the seven months I've lived here. I could use the Metro Orange Line to commute to my office in Sherman Oaks but have never done it. However I can say that the retail development clumped around finds me making more walking trips for tasks that required a drive when I lived in a suburban section of Sherman Oaks, so perhaps that is the key, growing more retail and business along the transit stops and not just housing.

In the meantime, its going to get more expensive to use that transit if you do get around to it - the Metro Day pass is going from $3 to $5, a 66% price increase. And the City of LA is getting around to taking a look at updating it's Commuter Express bus service for the first time in 22 years.