Skip to Content
News

Headlines: L.A. Metro Station Plays Loud Classical Music to Try to Keep Homeless Away

10:14 AM PDT on March 16, 2023

Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.

—Westlake: Loud classical music is being used to drive the unhoused and drug dealers from Westlake/MacArthur station. “The idea is to create an atmosphere that is comfortable for spending short amounts of time transiting through our station, but not conducive to hours-long loitering,” said Metro in a statement about their piping of classical music into Westlake/MacArthur Park Station. [Press-Telegram]

— A judge has indicated he is inclined to allow a coalition of street vendors suing the city of Los Angeles over its no-vending zones to proceed with a legal challenge to the ordinance. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant stated in a tentative ruling that he is leaning toward overruling the city's first legal challenge to the petition brought on December 7th by three community groups. Community Power Collective, East Los Angeles Community Corp., Inclusive Action for the City, and two sidewalk vendors, Merlin Alvarado and Ruth Monroy. ... Chalfant is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday before issuing a final decision.

—A senior staff attorney with the ACLU reacted to the latest LA Times piece about Metro ridership being down due to drug use on red line trains. In a Twitter thread the ACLU affiliate, who also sat in Metros Advisory Committee, criticized the paper for not providing enough context in their report, mispresenting data, and "fearmongering." [Mohammad Tajsar]

—Anaheim: An 37-year-old Anaheim tax preparer has pleaded guilty for her part in an unemployment insurance scam during the COVID-19 pandemic involving four
state prisoners. ... Sandra Pineda pleaded guilty to 72 felony counts that include perjury, false statement, conspiracy, and money laundering. She also
admitted sentencing enhancements for aggravated white-collar crime exceeding $500,000. Pineda was scheduled to be sentenced on May 19th. [City News Service]

—The union representing roughly 30 thousand Los Angeles Unified School District cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodians, special education assistants, and other workers has set Tuesday as the date to begin a three-day strike. ... United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents the district's teachers and others, totaling another roughly 30 thousand workers, said its members would honor picket lines if Service Employees International Union Local 99 called a strike. ... On Monday, L-A-U-S-D Superintendent Alberto Carvalho sent a message to district parents and staff saying that a walkout by more than 60,000 workers would likely mean a closure of all schools in the district. [City News Service]

Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Become a Member

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Spot Check! Caviar Cakes, Champurrado Pot de Creme, Tamal Ice Cream, and Free Elote From Becky G

You can also party with L.A.'s first Black women-owned dispensary, enjoy a Lebanese legend past midnight, and pair quesabirrias with funnel cakes.

September 29, 2023

The Seven Best Tacos Along Metro’s K Line, From Crenshaw to Inglewood

The K Line is Metro's newest light rail line that cruises through the heart of Black Los Angeles, from Nipsey Square to Leimert Park. The taco scene along this route is all about hustle, featuring some of the cities must under-the-radar community gems like a historic L.A. taquería with a killer red salsa, lightly crunchy "enchilada tacos," and so much more. Next stop: flavor.

September 29, 2023

Is Hollywood’s Walk of Fame The World’s Worst Tourist Attraction?

A local news station scanned Google, TikTok, and other online reviews to cherry-pick a handful that calls the Boulevard "grubby, slightly scary... dirty, unsafe" and "one of the worst tourist attractions on the planet." We weighed in on the subject.

September 28, 2023

The Eight Best Punk Bars and Venues in Los Angeles

This may be the last generation of beautifully grimy punk bars and venues in a city that is overdeveloping all of these counterculture community spaces into the post-gentrification abyss. Go and support by buying drinks at all these places to make sure they stick around for the next generation.

September 27, 2023

L.A.’s Best Secret Ecuadorian Restaurant Opens Weekends Only at This Wilshire Blvd. Cafe

On weekends,Cafe Fresco transforms into one of the rare places in the city to find seco de chivo, llapingachao, guatita, and other regional Ecuadorian eats.

September 26, 2023
See all posts