Yes, it’s stupidly short notice, but if you’re available and so inclined, how about heading over to the Community Meeting on Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulations and Enforcement?

It’s TODAY – Tuesday, September 14

6:30 – 7:30pm

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock

2225 Colorado Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90041

Sorry, no fancy pictures or links (beyond this kinda crummy one) for you – but your support is critical and I’m just seeing this.

The Pasadena Police Department is looking for Lucio Morales, AKA Martin Beltran, for felony hit and run. Morales is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches, approximately 160 pounds, with wavy black hair. Anyone with information about him is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241.

Wednesday, Frank Paneno, an 83-year-old Pasadena resident, was riding his motorized scooter in the bicycle lane westbound on Cordova Street when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Morales that was traveling east on Cordova Street and making a left turn onto Chester Avenue. Morales struck Paneno in the intersection, dragging him and his scooter several feet before stopping. Morales, along with his passenger, stopped to pull the scooter and victim from underneath the vehicle. Morales got back into his vehicle and fled the scene, leaving his passenger and the victim behind.

Paneno suffered major injuries to his head and body. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

The suspect’s vehicle was located, abandoned in Los Angeles.

After some two years in the way of planning and designing, many hours of many weekends this spring were spent by volunteers digging and hauling and planting and nurturing and shaping and scaping what had long been the desolate corner of concrete at the intersection of Parkman Avenue and Silver Lake Boulevard south of Sunset Boulevard into the living “urban lounge” that is now one of Los Angeles’ newest pocket parks.

While I failed miserably and absolutely in my intentions to pitch in, thankfully there were enough of my neighbors who got involved and stayed involved and enlisted others that gave of themselves.  And it all culminated yesterday with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by City Councilman Eric Garcetti, who spoke eloquently about the importance of projects such as this.

Pictured above in the front row flanking the giant-scissor-bearing councilman are Julie Hansen and Ara Babian to Garcetti’s right, with Leon Kaye and John Southern to his left. Southern is holding a certificate of appreciation presented by the city’s Office of Community Beautification.

To make up for my lack of volunteer participation in the park’s creation, I’ll be helping maintain it with monthly visits to remove the inevitable trash that will accumulate. In addition, I plan to utilize it as a new gathering point for any future group bike rides I may host since it’s one that’s a lot pleasant than the parking lot at Silversun Plaza, what with its liquor store’s cranky bike-hating proprietor.

More info on the nonprofit Parkman Triangle Group is here, and below is  a pic of the space:

The LA Times is reporting that Judge Walker has ruled that Prop 8 which sought to remove the right to marry same sex couples was unconstitutional.  In his words regarding the trial “…Proposition 8 ‘fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license.Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples…’”

Appeals are anticipated but it is interesting to note that the pro-8 folks felt the ruling would be against their interests and filed a motion to prevent the contents of the ruling from being released.  They lost that motion and now the judges ruling will be used as a basis in coming appeals that may end in the Federal Supreme Court.

Rallies are planned tonight across the metro area and country for that matter.  Our local ones:

You remember that pesky proposition that took away the right for gay and lesbian couples to marry?  Well the courts are about to release their decision on the first of many challenges.  Judge Vaughn Walker is going to be handing down his verdict on whether or not Prop. 8 is legal.  His decision is expected to be revealed sometime this morning.  Rallies are planned around the state and country regardless of the outcome.  I ask that it be a common sense verdict with the rights restored, but realize this verdict is just one step in the legal process with appeals surely to be filed.

“On Tuesday, July 27th, and Friday, July 30th, cyclists gathered at the Beverly Hills Courthouse to protest the tepid sentence handed down by Judge Elden S. Fox for Celine Mahdavi. Mahdavi hit cyclist Louis Deliz and left him to die in the street on December 1st, 2009; Deliz was hospitalized for 49 days.

Mahdavi pleaded “no contest” to felony hit and run charges and threw herself on the mercy of the court, instead of accepting the plea deal offered by the DA. Judge Fox gave her 90 days of community service, and 3 years of probation. Mahdavi will spend less time in community service – 720 hours – than Deliz spent in the hospital – 1176 hours.”

It’s kind of disgusting that the penalty for hitting someone and fleeing the scene of the crime is lighter than the punishment for hitting them in the first place. Filmmaker Rick Darge was on hand earlier this week and filmed the protest. He made this short film to document what went down.

I’m entirely dumbstruck to learn that one of Silver Lake’s most recognizable and mobile icons, Dr. Marc Abrams — aka The Walking Man, The Walking Dude, Doc Walker — has died.  His age is being reported as 58 and he was apparently found dead Wednesday in the backyard hottub of his Silver Lake home.

In my seven years in Silver Lake, I’ve of course seen Abrams in his element countless times (and photographed him on any of several occasions). By chance one day a few years back while I myself was walking the hills west of the reservoir I found him coming out of his house to begin one of his marathon treks and felt like I’d graduated; not only did I know of The Walking Man, but now I knew of where he lived!

It’s a funny thing. Though he was in essence a stranger, there was nevertheless something very reassuring in seeing him out there on the sidewalks in his shorts, reading something or talking on his cell phone. Whether I was having a crap day or the world was in some way greased and going to hell, a fleeting encounter with him was a reminder that everything wasn’t entirely out of whack.

But now it is. And I know that sometime in the next few months I’m going to be biking or walking or driving somewhere in Silver Lake and wonder why it is I haven’t seen him in so long. Then I’ll remember, and it won’t surprise me if I get choked up like I am right now.

It is at least some consolation that so revered by the community as he was I can find him in at least three neighborhood murals I know of, including  Nicky Gagliarducci’s 2009 mural next to Local Restaurant (pictured above; click to enlarge). He has — sigh, had — a habit of popping up our of nowhere so maybe he’ll surprise me by showing up in other street art I don’t know about.

In the meantime I’ll fondly recall the last time I saw him in person, which was prior to the start of one of my Bike Every Saturday In May group bike rides. As he strode past where we’d gathered in the Silversun parking lot at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Parkman Avenue, one of us asked him if he had any advice. He stopped, turned and thought about it for a second. With a smile he fittingly gave us Satchel Paige’s “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.”

Then he walked away.

Rest in peace, Walking Man. Rest in peace, Dr. Abrams.

Hot on the back tire of my post Friday gushing with unbridled joy at finding a photo-op of our up-to-now notoriously bike-blind mayor actually riding an actual bicycle, comes news that Villaraigosa apparently liked it so much (and perhaps the positive reaction it engendered) that he ventured forth on two wheels again this Saturday evening, this time on an actual Mid-City street in the form of Venice Boulevard, whereupon at some point the driver of a taxi put an end to the enjoyment by reportedly cutting in front of him across the bike lane, causing Villaraigosa to brake hard, lose control, fall and break his elbow.

Lest I be slammed for callousness, of course I am relieved the mayor did not suffer greater injuries and certainly I wish for his speedy recovery. But upon hearing the news I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and plant my face in my hands at such a laughably ludicrous lightning-fast reversal of fortune. Not even two days after the mayor gleefully surprises me by doing what I long considered unfathomable, the unfathomable happens.

I hope hard that the mayor will get well and get on his bike and on the street again — and maybe he will — but I can see that not happening. While opportunity exists for Villaraigosa to turn this negative into a positive campaign to increase motorist awareness, I get the feeling in the interim we’ll just hear the usual suspects step out of their cars and up to microphones bemoaning this incident as being further proof that one takes one’s life in their hands biking this city.

With the thousands of miles of success I’ve had bike commuting all over this city — not without the  occasional crash — I obviously disagree.

Falling on a bike whether it results in a broken elbow or a bruised ego can certainly shake the confidence and motivation of even the most seasoned urban cyclist. It’s easy to take for granted the omni-precariousness of the activity: we’re balanced on two strips of rubber and rolling fully exposed alongside thousands of pounds of powerful steel boxes a percentage of which are operated by distracted and/or disrespectful drivers and we do so across debris-strewn city streets in various states of increasing disrepair most of which are designed to exclude us. When any of those myriad things that can go wrong do,  that delicate balance is broken and it’s a rude awakening to the ever-inherent risks and dangers involved. I defy anyone who has fallen to get back up in the saddle without feeling a sense of hesitation or fear. For some it’s momentary. For some — especially those just starting out –  that hesitation can fast-track into “what the fuck was I thinking!?” and it’ll be a looooong time before they ride the streets again.

That’s what might happen with the mayor, not because he’s unwilling, but because he’s the leader of the fifth largest economy in the world, and there are going to be a lot of official people in his official ear and on his official Blackberry telling him that whole bicycling thing was cute and nice while it barely lasted, but if he wants to officially keep that hobby up it’s time to strap the Schwinn to the back of the mayoral SUV, hop in the back seat and get on over to the LA River or Ballona Creek bikeways or the Marvin Braude beach bikepath or the Sepulveda Basin — anyplace where some motherfucking cab driver can’t pick the wrong time to be inattentive and nearly ruin everything.

Don’t listen to them Mr. Mayor. Get well. Get back on the bike, and get back on the streets.

I am drafting this blog post from my desk at an office building/warehouse in Chatsworth where the water has been turned off all morning. “Why has the water been turned off?” you ask (or more likely you’re not asking because you really don’t care, but I’m going to tell you anyway). The water has been turned off because last night the plumbing itself was stolen. That’s right, someone stole a length of copper piping from the line that runs in front of the building where I work–and probably other buildings as well. Apparently (who knew?) you can get about $200 reselling a section of piping like that, so people go cruising neighborhoods looking for accessible copper piping to dismantle and sell. I lived through the “no radio” days in the urban east coast, and I must say, this tops that. So now, we here at my office are all crossing our legs and holding it while we wait for the repair to be finished; my boss is ordering a cage for the pipes in front of the building; and somewhere a couple of guys are happily smoking crack. The economy? I’m thinking it’s not improving.

When I was growing up, my parents never took me to the dentist unless it was an absolute emergency, so I consider myself very fortunate to have had consistent, company-sponsored dental insurance for the past 10+ years. However, many people are without insurance and can’t afford to go to the dentist, even if it is an emergency. That is why the Hollywood / Los Feliz Kiwanis Club, the same people behind the Annual Pancake Breakfast, have partnered with Queens Care and the Hollywood YMCA to hold a free dental clinic for kids and teens throughout the summer.

The only problem: They need another 50 children (ages up to 18) to sign up before Monday, July 5 to keep the clinic open past the second week of July. That’s where you come in! Help us spread the word to families and organizations that can help. Parents will need to fill out an application (available in English or Spanish) before Monday, July 5.

For an application, please contact Robert J. Menz, President of the Hollywood / Los Feliz Kiwanis Club at robmenz31@yahoo.com or visit hollywoodlosfelizkiwanis.org for more information.

Every now and then we Trojans have to join up with those annoying Bruins on some things (and not just hating on Cal). This weekend, we join together on a sad note – mourning the loss of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

John Wooden and Bill Walton, 1970. Photo courtesy Vedia on Flickr.

I’ve been making some plans lately for the upcoming World Cup. I don’t follow soccer (football?) but I wanted to take part in the magnificent exercise in sports fandom that will be USA vs. England. Whatever their sport, fans tend to unite over great communal experiences like the World Cup, the Olympics, the Super Bowl or the Lakers in the finals.

We, as lovers of sport, also unite in recognizing legends, regardless of rivalry or affiliation. We all recognize the greatness that was John Wooden.

And all of us, Bruins, Trojans, whatever, felt our hearts sink a bit at the news that Wooden was “gravely ill”, and then when he eventually passed away last night. He may have been 99 years old and hadn’t coached in decades, but the loss of Wooden still leaves a big gaping hole in the sports world. Coaches with his level of success and, more importantly, his level of influence are one-in-a-million.

Well before I moved to California and learned about Trojans vs. Bruins (and on which side I stood), I learned about Wooden. I remember my 7th grade basketball coach preaching his wisdom to us in the locker room. His name is all over buildings in Westwood. My favorite monument to him is the bust carved out of wood that sits in the lobby at ESPN Zone in Anaheim (the “wooden Wooden”). He’s practically required reading for teachers and coaches of all levels.

Wooden represented the best of UCLA, of basketball, of Los Angeles, hell, all of sports in general. While normally I would be reveling in seeing the Bruins cope with a loss (like, say, in a football game), this time, I, and fans everywhere, will be right there with them.

This information is all just starting to roll in but it seems on Friday night the LAPD swarmed and attacked a group of cyclists on Hollywood Blvd. In the video above you can see an officer kick a cyclist as he rides by, and when the person filming it shouts at the officer he gets tackled and thrown to the ground. There are many other reports coming in on BikeSide LA some claiming officers drove cruisers into a crowd of cyclists, and that they stuck batons into the spokes of passing riders causing people to fly off their bikes onto the street. I wasn’t there, I didn’t see anything myself, but this sounds extremely messed up.

The Brooklyn Sandwich, with SMOKED Turkey is the bomb-diggettiest.  Actually I got in trouble for taking pictures of the pickles.  Well whatever.

The LA Foodbank box is filling up.  REALLY filling up about half way already, the cash box needs a little help.  Times are tough I know, but if you got a spare dime or two to help them out please stop  by and see us and the other nearly dozen enjoying the food and fun times at Canter’s.

ps…this is my post #700. I’ll be returning control of my log-on to RUTH666

Me, and my ... sandwiches

Yikes!

Nothing like the Last Days of Metbogs to get all us old glue horses out of retirement to post.

It’s been So Long since I posted anything here, though, that I can’t remember my danged password, and even when the system tries to give me a new one I can’t get in.

So I knocked Frazgo over the head and stole his login info!

Here we all are, blogging out hearts out for you -

More to come… at least until May 31, when the whole damned thing gets shut down.

(in the neighborhood right now? with some extra canned food for our food drive? Well Bring It On In!)

“I wonder if getting a PhD in American studies is going to prove I’m an American?”

– Tam Tran, quoted in an article in the Los Angeles Times

I suppose death is the time to reflect and celebrate a life – but what of the black void leading up to accepting the fact that a life should be celebrated because of a death?  Shrug.  I knew of Tam Tran for quite some time before I finally met her, at a party in which we bantered about the best way to serve cheese.  I also met Cinthya Felix then, and I snapped a few photos of both her and Tam with their best friends.  The picture still lingers in the electronic halls of Facebook like a Post-It reminder waiting to be appreciated, if only I were brave enough to look at it again.

Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix, both graduates of UCLA and from Southern California, died in a fatal car crash over the weekend.  Both were undocumented immigrants, brought here as children.  As they went on in their academic careers, they discovered they were ineligible for financial aid thanks to a myriad of statutes barring the release of such funds to undocumented individuals.  Private loans were not an option so long as applications required proof of legal status.  Heck, without proper ID, the pair would have had problems proving they were of age to watch The Hangover.  And so, Tam and Cinthya had to figure out some way to pay the bills in cash.  Cinthya came up with a pretty great website straight up asking the public for donations towards her graduate tuition at Columbia (she wanted to be a doctor).  Tam juggled as many jobs as she could (she wanted to be a filmmaker).  When they didn’t have enough funds, both took off entire quarters until they could re-enroll with the requisite price of admission in hand.

Recognizing they were not alone, the pair advocated tirelessly in support of the as-yet-unpassed DREAM Act, which would grant a carefully defined class of undocumented students residency in this country.  Tam testified before Congress in support of the legislation; her efforts drew the attention/ire of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who, out of sheer coincidence I’m sure, arrested her parents and brother three days after her public stance.

I didn’t know either well enough to presume that I know how they would want to be honored, but I do know that they wanted others to understand their cause, even if one, in the end, did not completely agree with their stance.  To that end, I’m posting a pretty great video Tam created called “Lost and Found (Story of a DREAM Act Student)”.  It was screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Film Festival in 2009.  It’s after the jump.

For those struggling with the loss of such honest-to-goodness great people, I suppose the best we can do is trust that the void won’t always be so dark.  And when we’re ready, the Post-Its will still be there to remind us all of Tam and Cinthya, and of our dentist appointment tomorrow at 3pm.  Don’t be late.

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