Over the past few months, I kept saying to myself, “You really need to go to the beach.” But I kept putting it off. This last weekend I was like, “It’s September already! Just go!”
So I took the train out to Santa Monica, and it felt so good to walk on the sand and hear the sound of the surf. It was crowded, but not too crowded, and it was cool to see people just hanging out and having a good time.
Lots of colorful umbrellas at the beach.A lot of people took the train to Santa Monica, but many others drove.
There were lots of families, and I enjoyed seeing the kids playing. One group of little kids was having so much fun just running down to the water, and then running back each time a wave came in. It’s amazing how children can find so much joy in something so simple.
Kids loved watching this guy make huge soap bubbles.The lifeguards were keeping an eye out for anyone who got in trouble.
The weather was mild. A gentle breeze was blowing. After wandering around for a while I just sat down on the sand and watched the surf roll in. I know I don’t have to explain this to anyone else who loves the beach. I felt so calm. It was just beautiful.
The number of massive data breaches is accelerating, and your personal information is increasingly at risk of being exposed. In June it was reported that identity verification company AU10TIX had exposed login credentials online, allowing access to sensitive user data including names, birth dates and drivers licenses. In July the news broke that hackers had stolen phone numbers, call records and text records of up to 109 million AT&T customers.
But the latest exposure of personal information is one of the largest ever, and one of the most serious. Back in April hackers claimed that they’d accessed the records of 2.7 billion people kept by a company called National Public Data that serves businesses doing background checks. This month the hackers offered the complete database on-line, which apparently includes names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and e-mail addresses. Having access to this kind of personal information would make it much easier for hackers to access your accounts, steal money from you or assume your identity.
This is a huge problem, and it’s only going to get worse. There are some things you can do to protect yourself. At the end of the LA Times article above, they offer some good suggestions, to which I would add: Don’t give away any of your personal info unless you really need to. Retailers and on-line services have become more and more aggressive about asking for your info, and most of they time it’s because they plan to share it with someone else. Don’t give them your data unless you really need to. Don’t sign up for services you don’t really need.
Unfortunately, in our surveillance society, there are also companies collecting your data without your knowledge. Google, Facebook and others have already been busted for this. Digital outdoor advertising, including billboards and bus stop displays, is also collecting your device data using wireless technology.
How much money is being lost due to cybercrime? According to the FBI, in 2023 over $12 billion was taken. That number is up $2 billion over 2022 and more than triple the amount reported in 2019. These numbers are expected to grow. And as data breaches become more frequent and more significant, hackers will have increasing access to personal info, making their job easier than ever.
This is why we need to start contacting our elected representatives to ask what they’re going to do to protect us. What’s really needed is legislation at the national level to set standards for companies that handle personal data, followed up with meaningful enforcement when those companies fail to comply. Many states are passing laws to address this problem, but in most cases the laws are too limited to offer the kind of protection we need.
We have to start taking this seriously. If you think you won’t be a victim, think again. Millions of people have already been hit by hackers. Real money is being stolen. Data brokers are collecting your info every day, and many of them don’t do nearly enough to secure the data. We have to take action. This has already gotten way out of hand.
These days government agencies are trying hard to modernize the way they operate by revamping their data management systems. This is understandable. Entities that interact with thousands or millions of citizens are trying to offer 21st century efficiency to the people they serve.
The problem is, very few government agencies actually understand the 21st century digital landscape. Often unelected bureaucrats are making decisions about tech contracts without having any idea whether the vendors can actually deliver what they’re promising. It’s even worse when politicians get involved, because as we know, politicians sometimes try to steer contracts toward people that have supported them.
So it’s really not surprising to learn that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has had some serious problems handling student data. In June it was reported that data belonging to LAUSD students had been obtained by a hacker and was being offered for sale on the dark web. This was related to the massive Snowflake breach, in which customers of AT&T, Live Nation and dozens of other companies had their info exposed. Then, at the beginning of July, it was reported that a whistleblower had alleged that AllHere, a vendor working with LAUSD, had violated the District’s privacy policies in the course of setting up an on-line information system to serve students and parents. The icing on the cake is that AllHere seems to have collapsed, and it’s unlikely it will be able to fulfill its contract.
If the whistleblower’s account is accurate, it appears that AllHere promised way more than it could deliver, and LAUSD didn’t vet the company thoroughly enough. This is actually a fairly common story. You may remember a few years back when the City of LA was trying to force neighborhood councils to switch to on-line voting. The City had signed a contract with a company called Everyone Counts, which claimed they were offering a tech breakthrough that would boost citizen engagement. They also claimed that the personal data submitted by citizens to verify their identity was absolutely secure. Not surprisingly, Everyone Counts was bought by another company, Votem, which collapsed soon after. All the hype about on-line voting turned out to be just hype, and no one was ever able to explain what happened to the personal data that citizens had submitted for verification.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho deserves a good deal of the blame for what’s gone down. Carvalho spent a lot of time hyping LAUSD’s tech ambitions. AllHere was supposed to be creating a comprehensive data management system that would allow LAUSD students and parents to find all sorts of information quickly and easily. The face of the system was an AI chatbot named “Ed”, which appeared as a bright, smiling sun. Carvalho went on the road telling everybody how great it was going to be. Check out this video from the ASU+GSV Airshow, where the Superintendent lays out his vision for what “Ed” could do for students and parents.
At the time, it seems that Carvalho thought LAUSD was on the cutting edge of a major breakthrough. Now it’s clear that he had no idea what he was talking about. Carvalho is just one of the legions of people who have been hyping so-called Artificial Intelligence without really understanding what it is or what its impacts will be. At this point nobody really knows how AI will affect the landscape, but there are still lots of people out there making ridiculous statements that have no basis in fact. As an example, check out this quote from the web page for the ASU+GSV Airshow.
Artificial Intelligence…
Ubiquitous. Invisible. Required for life.
Unfortunately, this kind of idiotic blather is saturating the media. Why? Because tech companies want you to buy in to an untested technology that they don’t even understand yet. It’s not about taking society to the next level. It’s about conning you into spending your money on something you don’t need.
To be fair, Carvalho is doing a tough job at a time when LAUSD (and school districts across the US) are facing serious challenges. He probably saw this tech initiative as a rare piece of good news that he could boast about. And the members of the LAUSD Board also deserve a good deal of blame. Just last March, the District issued a press release where board members lined up in support of the project.
This is a serious problem. Thousands of LAUSD students had their personal data posted for sale on the dark web. If the whistleblower’s allegations are correct, the problem could be much larger. Politicians and bureaucrats making decisions about technology need to realize the dangers. They need to stop believing the hype, and start getting serious about due diligence, or we’ll be seeing a lot more disasters like this one.
Back in 2017, I walked across the Fourth Street Bridge and took a bunch of photos, thinking it would be a great subject to write about on this blog. Now, only seven years later, I’m finally getting around to doing this post. What can I say? Time flies….
Fourth Place, leading up to the Fourth Street Bridge.
To my mind, the Fourth Street Bridge is one of the most striking bridges in LA. I don’t claim to be an architecture critic, but it seems like there was unusual amount of care put into the design. The streetlights, porticos and concrete railing were fashioned in a mix of Beaux Art and Gothic Revival styles that was carefully worked out by the architects. These aren’t just decorative elements that were tacked on. They’re well-suited to the scale and the massing of the bridge.
Fourth Place merges with the Fourth Street Bridge.The streetlights echo European Gothic design.Some of the piers feature built-in seating.
Constructed in 1931, the bridge was part of a massive investment in infrastructure made possible by the passage in the 20s of LA’s Viaduct Bond Act. (To show you how ignorant I am, I didn’t know until recently what the difference was between a bridge and viaduct. Apparently, a bridge is a small structure built to cross a fairly narrow river or ravine. A viaduct is a larger structure made up of a series of bridges that crosses a wide river or a valley. But I’m still going to call it the “Fourth Street Bridge”. Old habits die hard.)
A view of the bridge looking toward East LA.The San Gabriel Mountains to the north.Unfortunately, these days many of the porticos are filled with trash.
The Fourth Street Bridge was built by the LA City Bureau of Engineering under the supervision of Bridge and Viaduct Engineer Merrill Butler. Butler had a long career in LA, working for the City in various capacities until his retirement in 1961. Over the years the projects designed under his direction included the First Street (now Cesar Chavez) Bridge, the Hyperion Bridge, the Figueroa Street Tunnels and the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant.
The series of bridges that connect East LA to Downtown are part of a massive infrastructure nexus that played a key role in LA’s growth. In the latter part of the 30s, work began on the flood control projects that would shape the LA River as we know it today. One of the reasons for encasing the River in concrete was to protect the rail lines that ran adjacent to it. You couldn’t move goods without trains. And rising above the concrete channel is a vast network of power lines.
Rail lines next to the LA River.Miles of power lines run above the River.Rows of flat cars lying on the tracks below.
In 1995, the Fourth Street Bridge was retrofitted to bring it into compliance with current seismic safety standards. And in 2008 it was declared a Historic Cultural Monument by the City of LA.
The Cesar Chavez Bridge lies just north of the Fourth Street Bridge.Looking west toward Downtown.
Here are a couple of links, for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper. Thie first will take you to Water & Power Associates, which has a number of historic photos of the Fourth Street Bridge. And if you’re into LA history, check out the Museum tab in the index on the left. Their virtual museum offers an amazing collection of images and information.
And here’s a brief bio on Merrill Butler that was apparently written at the time of his retirement. Not surprisingly, it’s pretty superficial, but it also seems to offer a small snapshot of mid-century LA. A different time, a different culture.
Homeless encampment on Hollywood Blvd. near Gower.
The results of the 2024 Homeless Count have been released, and the CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) says “the numbers we are seeing are very encouraging.” Honestly, I don’t agree. I guess you could say the fact that the growth in the homeless population appears to have levelled off is a good sign, but the fact that we still have around 75,000 homeless persons in LA County does not seem “encouraging” to me.
If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend Tim Campbell’s most recent article in CityWatch. Campbell digs into the data and points out that, as we’ve spent increasingly large sums on homelessness over the last eight years, the numbers of people living on the streets have continued to rise. Here’s a quote:
LAHSA’s fiscal year 2016-17 budget was $132.1 million, and it had 200 employees. The 2016 PIT [Point-in-Time] count showed 46,874 homeless in L.A. County. By fiscal year 2023-24, LAHSA’s budget ballooned to mor [sic] than $840,000,000 and it had 800 employees. The 2024 PIT count showed more than 75,000 homeless in the County. For a six-fold increase in budget, and a quadrupling of staff, the County suffered a 60 percent increase in homelessness.
That doesn’t sound like progress to me.
In another recent article, Campbell talks about the structural problems with LAHSA. He points out that the agency doesn’t do a good job of gathering or tracking data, and there’s no meaningful accountability.
In my view, the problems with LAHSA go back to its beginnings. By the early 90s, LA City and LA County had been bickering for years over who was to blame for homelessness, with each pointing the finger at the other. So their solution was to create a joint powers authority that would supposedly provide better coordination and more effective services.
It hasn’t worked, largely because LAHSA was never given the authority to do the job. LAHSA actually has no power. It basically serves to funnel public money to various homeless services providers. Some of them do a good job, some of them don’t, but it doesn’t matter how well they perform because the agency just keeps writing checks. As Campbell points out, it would be hard for anyone, no matter how smart or talented, to make needed changes because LAHSA’s culture doesn’t allow that. LAHSA’s culture seems to designed to keep the money flowing and the bureaucracy growing.
Why is this? In my opinion, it’s because it’s run by politicians. The LAHSA Commission is 10-member body made up of politicians and political appointees. Two LA County Supervisors serve on the Commission, along with three people appointed by the remaining Supervisors. Mayor Bass also serves on the Commission, along with a Bass appointee, and two Garcetti appointees. One seat is vacant.
Of the five non-politicians on the Commission, apparently only one (Dr. Melissa Chinchilla) actually has a background in working with the homeless. The others are described as “an attorney, equity advocate and mom”, an “educator and community leader”, a “chief impact officer and owner at […] a social-sector consulting firm”, and a “passionate advocate” with a “Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development”. So on the 10-member LAHSA board, we only have one person who actually has a real background in serving the homeless. This seems like a serious problem to me.
As long as the agency is run by politicians, decisions will be made based on political considerations. These people are sitting on top of hundreds of millions of dollars. If LAHSA were to be restructured to provide better coordination and higher efficiency, it might turn out that it could provide more effective services for less money. This, of course, is not the outcome most politicians want. The point is to keep the money flowing, whether the program is effective or not.
There’s no simple solution to homelessness. It’s not just a matter of providing housing. These days homelessness is entwined with a drug abuse crisis and a mental health crisis. It should be clear by now that if someone’s addicted to fentanyl, just giving them the keys to an apartment is not going to keep them housed. Someone with serious mental illness needs treatment before they can move to independent living.
So I don’t want to pretend solving homelessness will be easy. But in my view, we could make more progress if we got the politicians out of the mix. LAHSA needs to be restructured to give it the power to create and implement policy. Instead of doling money out to various service providers, it needs to have its own staff working to accomplish definite goals with clear metrics. And instead of a commission made up of politicians and their appointees, it needs a commission made up of people with credible credentials in homeless services, mental health and substance abuse.
I realize the chances of something like this happening are close to zero. But as long as we keep stumbling along with the current, broken system, I doubt we’ll make any real progress on homelessness.
In 2021, some customers at the Hollywood Trader Joe’s were surprised when they were told that they now had to download an app in order to park in the underground garage. Those who took the time to read the privacy policy were even more surprised to learn that by downloading the app they were agreeing to let the company behind the app, Metropolis, track their browsing activity, collect information about services they used, and follow their activities across different devices.
Many landlords are now pushing their tenants to use apps for paying rent, handling complaints, etc., but renters should look at the privacy policy before getting on board. One such app, Door Loop, collects a lot of sensitive info from its users, including date of birth, job title, e-mail provider with (login info), social media you use (with login info), race, and social security number. Their privacy policy says they may share that data, along with any other data you provide, with vendors, consultants and third-party service providers. In other words, their privacy policy seems to describe how they can invade your privacy.
Now, when I talk to people about how their data is being collected by apps and services, their response is usually something like, “Oh, well, they already have all my data anyway.” Another common response is, “I haven’t done anything wrong, so I don’t care if they’re tracking me.”
If you don’t think giving up your data can create any problems for you, you need to think again. For instance….
Consumers who’ve bought cars from GM in recent years have been able to sign up for a service called Smart Driver, which collects data about your driving habits, like how often you brake quickly or whether you go over the speed limit. Supposedly it was up to customers to choose whether or not they wanted to participate. But it was recently revealed that GM had been collecting data from people who had never signed up for Smart Driver. Not only that, the company shared the data with a leading data broker. Why should this worry you? A number of GM owners have filed lawsuits alleging, among other things, that their insurance rates went up substantially because insurers had access to the data.
Let’s talk about mental health apps. There are a number of them out there, and lots of people are relying on them to deal with mental health issues. But unless the app you’re using is connected to your health care provider, there’s probably nothing to prohibit the company from sharing the data they collect with anyone they like. A recent report from Duke University found that data brokers advertise their holdings of sensitive mental health data, which includes information on people suffering from depression, ADHD, anxiety and bipolar disorder. This information is for sale, and there are few meaningful controls on who can access it or how they use it. Do you think insurance companies might want to know if you’ve been struggling with substance abuse? Do you think a prospective employer might be interested in knowing whether you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD? Could there be other folks out there who want to exploit this information for their own ends?
People download apps all the time for all sorts of reasons. Some apps may be useful, some of them may be fun, but it’s important to remember that many of them are designed and marketed with the sole purpose of collecting data from you. Collecting and sharing/selling your data is big business. In 2022 data brokers made more than $250 billion by selling consumer data. That number is only going to grow.
Apps are a crucial part of this ecosystem. When you use a browser to surf the net, there are some protections in place to inform you about what information is being collected and you can often choose to opt out of sharing your data. But with apps, they’re not only collecting your data, they’re sharing it as well, and there are no meaningful protections in place. When you download the app, you often get a small pop-up that asks you to agree to the company’s terms and conditions. That’s it. They generally don’t make any further effort to disclose that they’re going to collect your data. To learn about what you’re getting into, you’d have to read their terms and conditions, which contains their privacy policy, which usually starts with something like, “We take your privacy seriously.” The extent of the data they collect and their intent to share it with others is usually buried deep in these documents. And how many people actually take the time to read these things? Most people just click “Accept” and move on.
The best protection is to think carefully about which apps you use, and avoid downloading those that you don’t need. If in doubt, take the time to read the privacy policy so you at least know what you’re getting into. If you don’t, you’re taking the chance that the app will collect and share personal info that could have an impact on your life.
If you have kids, you should also be thinking about the apps they’ve got on their phone. What data are they sharing? If the apps are connected to social media, are they collecting info on family and friends? Are they collecting location data? Places your kids hang out?
Data brokers are making big money on this stuff because there are lots of folks out there that want to have access to your personal info, and they’re willing to pay good money for it. These include insurance companies, employers, government agencies and a host of others. Don’t assume that any of these people have any interest in protecting your privacy. In most cases, the only interests they’re protecting are their own.
One of Hollywood’s most beautiful buildings is finally getting the recognition it deserves. On April 18, the City of LA’s Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Yucca Vine Tower be designated a Historic Cultural Monument.
View of central tower.Top of central tower.
This Art Deco classic, constructed nearly 100 years ago as the Mountain States Life Building, was designed by LA-based architect Henry Gogerty. Currently occupied by the AMDA College of the Performing Arts, the list of former tenants includes Gene Autry’s Western Music Publishing, Motion Picture Daily, the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and Chao Praya, one of the first Thai restaurants in LA. In addition to designing other notable buildings in the Hollywood area, Gogerty worked on over 350 schools in Southern California. His firm is also credited with designing the Hughes Aircraft complex in Playa Vista and the Grand Central Air Terminal at the former Glendale Airport.
Historic image of Yucca Vine Tower from California State Library.
Thanks to John Girodo and the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, who submitted the nomination. Thanks also to Kathleen Perricone, whose thorough research in preparing the nomination made an excellent case for historic designation. For more background on this amazing building, take a look at the CHC agenda packet, which is available here. The packet contains a wealth of historic photos. You can jump to them by clicking on Historic-Cultural Monument Application in the index on the first page.
View of Yucca Vine Tower from west.Detail of base.
The designation isn’t final yet. It still has to be approved by the full City Council. Hopefully they’ll vote soon to give this gorgeous building HCM status.
In my last post I wrote that the City of LA was thinking about allowing the installation of alcohol vending machines at an apartment building in Hollywood. In doing some research on the building itself, I found that the owner of 1530 Cassil has partnered with a company that offers both residential and travel lodging, effectively turning at least some of the units into extended stay hotel rooms. While technically stays of 30 days or more would be legal, this seemed strange given that the building was approved as a housing project. The City’s determination letter made no mention of hotel rooms.
But the determination letter does state that the project is required to provide 20 units reserved for Extremely Low Income (ELI) households. The developer got a 70% density bonus to build way beyond what the zoning allowed in return for those 20 affordable units. I started wondering how many of those units were actually occupied by ELI households, so I submitted a Public Records Act Request to the LA Housing Department.
The response was disturbing. As of the end of January, the City had only received verification that three of the 20 affordable units were occupied by ELI households. What about the other 17 units? Are they empty? Are they being rented as extended stay vacation lodgings?
The developer of this project received a 70% density bonus under the Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Guidelines, which were the result of the voter-approved Measure JJJ. The idea was that project applicants would be able to build more than what was allowed under existing zoning in exchange for providing a percentage of affordable units. They would also benefit from a streamlined approval process. The City of LA claims that the TOC program is key to providing much needed affordable housing. But how much affordable housing are we really getting if the City isn’t enforcing the affordability covenants? I’m not the first person to raise this issue. Back in 2021, Capital & Main did some research and found that the City of LA wasn’t able to provide an accurate inventory of existing affordable units. They looked at LAHD’s on-line registry of affordable housing, and found that many affordable units were not listed. Capital & Main also reported that the City doesn’t maintain a centralized inventory of affordable units in mixed-income buildings. So how are people in low-income households supposed to find these apartments?
LA City Planning gave a 70% density bonus to the developer of 1530 Cassil, which was worth millions of dollars. In return, the developer agreed to provide 20 affordable units. But if the City’s records are correct, only three of them are occupied. This is a serious problem. City Hall likes to claim they’re creating lots of affordable units, but can we really believe their claims? The waiting list for affordable housing is a mile long, so why aren’t all of these units occupied by low-income households? And beyond that, why is City Planning handing out valuable density bonusses without following through with necessary oversight?
The politicians and the planners make endless promises, but time after time they’ve failed to deliver.
If you’ve spent any time at all in Hollywood, you know it’s not hard to get a drink there. Bars and nightclubs abound, and there are plenty of mini-marts and liquor stores with a wide assortment of booze. But what if you don’t feel like going out to a bar, and you’re too tired to even walk to the liquor store? How can you get high without leaving the comfortable confines of the building you live in?
Lucky for you, the owner of a brand-new apartment complex in Hollywood has come up with the answer: A vending machine that offers a full-line of alcoholic beverages! Yes, the owner of Sentral at Inspire Hollywood, 1522-1538 Cassil Place, has applied to the Department of City Planning for a permit to install two such vending machines in “club rooms” located on the fourth floor and the eighth floor, in both cases with adjacent outdoor decks. And LA City Planning seems open to the idea. A hearing was held on Tuesday, January 9, and while the Zoning Administrator agreed to keep the record open for two weeks for further comments, it seems likely that City Planning will approve it.
Why would you want to install alcohol vending machines in an apartment building? Well, reportedly the owner of Sentral at Inspire Hollywood feels that it’s a necessary step if he wants to compete with other buildings in the area. And of course, if City Planning approves this, you can bet that owners of other buildings will decide that they need these machines, too. (You may be thinking, “Wait a minute. What if kids try to use the machine to get booze?” While full details have yet to be revealed, it’s likely that these machines have the capability to do biometric IDs. Yes, this is legal in California.)
In other words, even though Hollywood is drowning in alcohol already, LA City Planning wants to jack up alcohol density even further. Never mind the numerous health harms associated with the consumption of alcohol. Never mind that research shows increases in violent crime are associated with increased alcohol density. It’s been clear for years that City Hall feels you can never have too many establishments selling alcohol. To cite just a few instances: 1) In December 2023 the City approved permits for FIVE restaurants to serve a full-line of alcohol from 6 AM to 2 AM daily at 5780 North Canoga; 2) In 2019 the City approved a Master Permit for TWENTY TWO alcohol-serving establishments as part of the Crossroads Hollywood project (Fortunately not built. Yet.); 3) In 2022 the City of LA approved the Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) which allows restaurants to serve alcohol without first obtaining a Conditional Use permit.
“We found that as alcohol outlet density increases so does the risk of MFPV [Male/Female Partner Violence] and that this relationship may differ for couples who do and do not report alcohol-related problems. Given that MFPV accounts for the majority of injuries related to intimate partner violence, policy makers may wish to carefully consider the potential benefit of limiting alcohol outlet density to reduce MFPV and its adverse consequences.”
The LA County Department of Public Health has also weighed in on this issue repeatedly, and you can read their findings in the report “Alcohol Outlet Density and Alcohol-Related Consequences by City and Community in Los Angeles County” (LA County Department of Public Health, December 2022). A quick look at Table 1A shows that Council District 13, which includes Hollywood, already has a high alcohol density. And Table 2A shows that CD 13 has a far higher rate of violent crime than LA County as a whole. But to give you a general idea of how many harms are associated with drinking too much, let’s just look at this one paragraph on page 24:
Excessive alcohol consumption continues to be a serious public health concern withsubstantial implications for disease, violent crimes, traffic collisions, work loss, and socialrelationships. During 2020 in Los Angeles County, alcohol was involved in an estimated4,060 motor vehicle crashes, 5,745 motor vehicle injuries, 123 motor vehicle fatalities,50,600 ED visits, 45,726 hospitalizations, and 2,498 alcohol-attributable deaths.
So excessive consumption of alcohol doesn’t just harm the individual who’s doing the drinking. It has the potential to cause substantial harm to the community.
The problem here is not just that a couple of alcohol vending machines are going to be approved for one apartment building. The problem is that this sets a precedent which will allow anyone else who owns a multifamily residential building to do the same thing. That could mean a substantial increase in alcohol density across Los Angeles, including in areas that are already suffering harms from over-concentration of locations serving alcohol. It’s likely that there are a number of landlords out there who would see these machines as a great way to increase revenue, and if City Planning says yes to Sentral at Inspire Hollywood, it will probably say yes to other applications that comes along.
If you have thoughts on installing alcohol vending machines in apartment buildings, you can contact the City Planning staff member assigned to this case.
Stephanie Escobar, City Planning Associate
Stephanie.Escobar@lacity.org
Be sure to include the case number in the subject line.
Ignacio Eugenio Lozano, Jr. (1927-2023), photo from La Opinión, courtesy of the Lozano family
Ignacio Eugenio Lozano, Jr., former editor and publisher of La Opinión, has died at 96. Lozano helped build the family-run newspaper into the most important Spanish-language print publication in Southern California. He holds a significant place in LA history, and La Opinión played a crucial role in giving voice to the region’s growing Latino population. Though the Lozano family is no longer involved in running La Opinión, it is still published today.
The Horizon and the Skyline 