Crossing Wilshire at Ogden

Women push strollers across Ogden Ave. south of Wilshire Blvd. at a T-intersection that will soon be opened to allow pedestrians to cross to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which is visible in the background.

To encourage people to walk to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Councilmember LaBonge allocated funds to re-install the traffic light at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Ogden Ave. The traffic signal was removed last year, when the City vacated Ogden Avenue north of Wilshire to make room for LACMA's new Broad Contemporary Art Museum. The Wilshire Boulevard medians were extended as well to create a T-intersection. The result was that people, rather than walk one block in either direction to cross to LACMA, sometimes climbed through the median foliage to cross the street, creating a dangerous situation. "I was not notified in advance that this traffic signal was being removed," the Councilmember said. "I wanted it back in place to make it easier for neighbors south of Wilshire to walk to and enjoy the museum." The councilmember transferred about $400,000 from a transportation trust fund to cover the cost of opening up the median for a pedestrian walkway and re-installing the traffic signal. Construction on this project will begin soon.

Fifth and Final Ride in Tour LaBonge

Members of the Los Angeles Police Department's bike escort confer about the route for the fifth and final ride in Tour LaBonge

Councilmember Tom LaBonge completed his “Tour LaBonge” series of summer evening bike rides on Wednesday, August 20th, by leading about 40 cycling enthusiasts on a 10-mile tour of Hollywood, Larchmont and the Miracle Mile areas. The ride culminated with a cruise along a neon-lit Hollywood Boulevard just past dusk.
“We could solve so many of the challenges facing Los Angeles right now if more of us rode bikes,” the Councilmember said. “We could take a big chunk out of air pollution, traffic and our waistlines, too.”
The Hollywood Ride was the fifth and final ride in “Tour LaBonge,” a series of five Wednesday evening rides in Council District 4. The councilmember launched the bike series to promote good health, instill a sense of community and help people avoid the financial strain of high gas prices. In keeping with tradition, the Councilmember served ice cream cones to all riders at Fire Station 27 at the end of the 10-mile ride.
The Councilmember highlighted some of his favorite spots in the area, including the new BCAM, Broad Contemporary Art Museum on Wilshire Boulevard. Michelle Mowery, bicycling coordinator for the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation, joined the ride. The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation is updating its Bicycle Master Plan, a process that includes the gathering and analysis of data on improving the city’s bike route system. You can read more about the bicycle master plan by clicking here.

LaBonge Supports Subway Funding

Councilmember LaBonge compares traffic congestion to clogged ventricle arteries during a press conference today in support of a one-half-cent sales tax hike to fund subway extensions.

Councilmember LaBonge joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today in calling for a one-half cent sales tax increase to fund a subway expansion that would alleviate traffic woes county-wide. He and a group of city and county officials gathered on a subway platform downtown to pledge support for a State Assembly Bill (AB 2321) which clears statutory hurdles for the proposed tax hike.
"If a doctor looked at traffic circulation in Los Angeles, he'd say we're all clogged up," the councilmember said, opening his jacket and pointing to his heart. "One hundred years ago, they brought water to Los Angeles. Fifty years ago, they built the highway system. Now, we must invest in this important expansion of our weak transportation system."
The state bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, and outlines specific projects to be funded, including a subway extension along Wilshire Boulevard between Western and Fairfax avenues in Council District 4.
Residents and businesses along the Wilshire corridor have been expressed strong support for this subway extension.
The tax hike may appear on the ballot as early as November.

Tour LaBonge Bike Rides begin

Biking advocates Ingrid Peterson and Joe Linton join Councilmember LaBonge and his wife Brigid LaBonge on Fourth Street bike ride.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge launched “Tour LaBonge,” a series of summer evening bike rides, last night with about 50 bike enthusiasts. The six-mile bike ride followed the dedicated bicycle route on West Fourth Street in the Wilshire area. This ride, dubbed “Positively Fourth Street” for the 1967 Bob Dylan song, was the first of five rides the Councilmember will lead this summer to promote the many benefits of biking: easing traffic congestion on city streets, instilling good health and appreciating the cityscape.

“There is no better way to see and enjoy the city than from the seat of a bicycle,” said Councilmember LaBonge, a longtime bike enthusiast. “In European cities, you can ride a bicycle anywhere and appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. I want Angelenos to have the same experience here.”

The ride began at Shatto Park at 6:15 and followed the dedicated bike route west to Cochran. At that point, bikers turned north for a quick pit stop at Fire Station 61 on Third St. On the way back, the riders stopped at the Baskin Robbins on Larchmont Boulevard where the councilmember treated everyone to a free ice cream cone.

Among the riders were Michelle Mowery, bicycle program coordinator for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation; Jennifer Klausner, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, several other bike advocates and Los Angeles Police Senior Lead Officer Tim Kim who led a police escort. The Councilmember has scheduled bike rides each Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. in different parts of Council District Four between now and August 20th . The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation is updating its Bicycle Master Plan, a process that includes the gathering and analysis of data on improving the city’s bike route system. More information on the master plan is available at labikeplan.org.

Miracle Mile Forum Pushes Subway to the Sea

Councilmember LaBonge joined Assemblymember Mike Feuer and transportation officials at the day-long, "Wilshire Corridor Forum III: Are We Ready for the Subway?"
About 75 business and community leaders from the Wilshire area said they're ready for the subway and want to see it funded. The councilmember said he supports a half-cent increase in the sales tax to fund the subway.
"It's going to be a long road to the subway down Wilshire, but we better get on it," the Councilmember said. "Hopefully people will see the need to make this half-cent investment. I'm going to vote for it and I hope everyone else does, too."
The sales tax initiative may be on the November ballot.

LaBonge: City parks can help fight obesity and diabetes

Two city parks are being outfitted with new outdoor exercise equipment thanks to Councilmember Tom LaBonge. To combat adolescent and adult obesity, the Councilmember directed the Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks to install the equipment where feasible and the first two fitness areas are scheduled to be installed at Glassell and Pan Pacific Parks by early 2009.
     In the past 30 years, the rate of adolescent obesity has doubled in Los Angeles. As a result, more children are suffering from diseases traditionally seen in adults, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Nearly 23 percent of children ages 9-13 do not engage in any free-time physical activity during the school day and nearly 60 percent do not participate in any kind of organized sports or physical activity program outside of school.
     “Something is wrong that children aren’t running around and exercising outside,” said LaBonge, chair of the Council’s Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee. “We need to give children and adults alike the chance to come to our parks, exercise and have fun.”
     Councilmember LaBonge’s motion on outdoor fitness areas was approved by the full City Council in March. Since then, department officials have identified 63 parks that have three necessary criteria for fitness areas: available space for equipment; park users of all ages and available funding to purchase the equipment, according to Robert Oyakawa, a landscape architect with the department.
     The Glassell Park fitness area will be funded with Quimby fees, which are collected from the developers of nearby condominium projects. The Pan Pacific Park project is being financed through a private donation in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, a non-profit organization.

Haym Salomon Statue Re-Dedication

Councilmember LaBonge with dignitaries, city officals and guests at the Rededication of the statue of little-known Jewish American Haym Salomon, a hero of the Revolutionary War.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Academy-Award winning actress Shirley Jones, comic actor Marty Ingels and the Jewish War Veterans of America re-dedicated the statue of Jewish American financier of the Revolutionary War, Haym Salomon.

The statue was dedicated in its fourth home since it was originally erected in Hollenbeck Park in 1946. It followed the migration of the city’s Jewish population from Boyle Heights to mid-City to the Fairfax District. It honors a Jewish patriot and friend of George Washington who raised $3.5 million for the Revolutionary War, and lent the United States government about $600,000 as well.

“I’m happy that this statue of an American patriot is now in a position of honor at the entrance to Pan Pacific Park,” the Councilmember said at the June 12th event. “I hope that by moving this statue and re-dedicating it here, we can bring greater recognition to Mr. Salomon as an important Revolutionary War hero.”

Ingels and Jones, who are husband and wife, are putting together the financing for a feature film about the Polish-born Salomon, who died young and became an obscure historical figure despite the pivotal role he played in the Revolution.

“His story reads like J.D. Rockefeller and Errol Flynn, from Poland to England to America, getting rich along the way, a staunch Revolutionary, making his way up to George Washington’s right hand,” said an enthusiastic Ingels. “And, nobody knows his name!”

Debby Rolland, Metro Region Superintendent for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, said her staff repainted and restored the 25,000-pound cement statue after it was moved to its current location. Rabbi Daniel Bouskila provided the invocation, Tenor James O’Sullivan sang the national anthem and the Jewish War Veterans of America Post 617 led the Pledge of Allegiance. Click here for the Channel 35 story on this event.

Sister Cities Cultural Day comes to the Grove

Color and culture filled The Grove on Sunday at the 2008 Sister Cities Cultural Day.

Japanese drummers, Indian folk dancers and Lithuanian ballroom dancers from St. Casmir’s Catholic parish in Los Angeles performed throughout the afternoon Sunday at the fourth annual Sister Cities Cultural Day at the Grove.

The performances were sponsored in part by Councilmember Tom LaBonge, President of Sister Cities of Los Angeles, Inc., a non-profit organization.

“This festival brings the wonderful folk dancing and music and brilliant costumes from Sister Cities across the globe right to the heart of Los Angeles. It is a lot of fun,” said Councilmember LaBonge, President of Sister Cities of Los Angeles, Inc.

A photo gallery of the event will be posted shortly.