I’ve fallen into a bit of an environmental beat lately with the Beverly Hills Courier. I’m also writing a lot more for the paper, so for now I’m going to post every other week or so with links and snips from my latest stories.
Beverly Hills City Hall Tower & A Return to Journalism
Carl Robinette reports on a seismic retrofit of the tower at Beverly Hills City Hall. See photos of the original tower and Beverly Hills Civic Center architecture by Charles Moore.
New Airbnb Restrictions
Carl Robinette reported on a Los Angeles City ordinance that places new restrictions on home-sharing through sites like Airbnb, including a ban on affordable housing being used as "de facto hotels."
New Apartments or New Green Space?
Carl Robinette recently reported on a development proposed near the Los Angeles River. The LA River is that iconic concrete canal you see in movies like Terminator 2, but with large parts of the river inhabited by green space and wildlife, some groups want to expand and open the natural environment in and around the LA River, while developers see an emerging opportunity for high-end housing near Atwater Village.
Combating Homelessness at the Neighborhood Level
Carl Robinette recently reported on homelessness in the Los Feliz area and what locals are doing to help. With a shortage of services for a sky rocketing homeless population, the city's homelessness crisis is more visible than ever.
Celebrating Indigenous L.A.
Carl recently reported on an indigenous people's celebration in Los Angeles for the Los Feliz ledger. Though much of native American history has been erased or mistreated, the article hopes to give local residents a sense of connection to the indigenous history of the land on which they live and help foster a sense of one community.
Bridge Over the River L.A.
Carl recently reported on a new bridge built to help cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians cross the Los Angeles River in North Atwater Village. The bridge saw some controversy after costs skyrocketed, but some residents are just happy to have a bridge to improve access to Griffith Park in the area north of Los Feliz Blvd.
Concerns Clash Over Possible Changes to Fletcher Drive
Carl recently reported on the possibility of “safety enhancements” to Fletcher Drive in Atwater Village, Los Angeles. Outspoken road-safety advocates say major changes are required for the roadway while business community activists worry that slowing traffic down on the thoroughfare will create gridlock in the neighborhood.
Scooter-mania Gets Curbed in LA
You’ve seen them, you might have ridden them and possibly even been endangered by them. Carl recently reported on attempts by Los Angeles City Council to bring a sense of order to the bonanza of app-rented electric scooters which have been lauded by the companies as the future of affordable transportation.
LA City Budget Breaks $10 billion
Carl recently reported on the 2019-2020 Los Angeles City Budget. Get the local spin on the big city problem for Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Hollywood Hills and more. “The street you commute on, the trees on your block, the safety of your neighborhood—these are bread and butter issues,” Ryu said in a recent statement. “I’m glad to see these priorities get the funding they deserve.”
