The Fountain Avenue Bike Lane and Streetscape Project got the green light to proceed at monday night’s city council meeting. The plan, as approved offered no changes significant changes to the staff recommendations and will move forward on an expedited basis.
Over 30 public speakers took to the public comment podium in an even tussle over the impacts of removing two lanes along Fountain Ave. to re-create the neighborhood with protected bike lanes as well as enhanced pedestrian safety and walkability.
John Meeks spoke during public comment: “I am the victim of the hit and run that took place on May 5th at the corner of Havenhurst and Fountain” and “I just implore you like Manhattan to put red, yellow, green stop lights at every intersection between Fountain and La Brea and La Cienega.” “They are killing people.” “I’m begging you I want to live, I want my neighbors to live.”
Alec White, Chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission spoke as a resident: “Ten years ago I took an oath to protect my Trojan family and community when I was sworn into an elected position in USC student gov’t. A couple of years later someone else took the same oath. I’ve always wanted to ask how that person felt for that moment, but I won’t be able to. Because that person is Blake Ackerman.”
Michael Nuttall echoed the fear of many others: “I avoid Fountain at all costs because it’s so dangerous.”
Adam Kroll spoke to the equity for those without cars: “we want to be able to walk down the street without fear”, “god for bid my mother ever walked down that street as someone who is elderly and have mobility issues.:”
Zenos Mason: “Every plan, every policy has winners and losers and everyone in this room knows that compromise is necessary. The deeper problem, I think, is a broken relationship, city management, council, and residents.”
Avana Adrade: “this is an important piece of a truely walkable city that will become increasingly valuable through time.”
Jeremy Benjamin pleaded with the city council. “Please give us bike lanes it saves lives. It is historically proven in other cities when bike infrastructure is taken seriously it helps with traffic. Everybody wins.”
Kevin Burton of the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition: “this project is not and never has been about the safety of bicyclists, its also about the safety of pedestrians and drivers.” ” the big problem is some vehicles go charging down that highway currently like charging bulls. The city needs to take that bull by the horns and charge into a safer fountain ave for all of us.”
Michael Selditch took the other side: “this project is dangerous, illegal and less safe then we are being told”, this is going to trap drivers, fuel frustrations and push them into reckless maneuvers”.
Stephanie Harker also opposed the item: “my concern is the lack of significant community input” and reflected on a lack of process. “this could be a streetscape for all or this could become the cities most expensive blunder in its 42 year history.”
Michael Greenfeld also opposed the item. “its going to be a disaster, – how much money you gonna make in contracts with the construction company?, – your gonna destroy the area. I’d like to know about the contracts, what money are they getting”
Edd Holman “here is a list of cities that have installed bike lanes and have since removed them or altered them, Philadelphia, Portland Oregon, Vista California, San Mateo, Culver City, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills. Some of the reasons — community pushback, traffic congestion, loss of parking, change of leadership.”
The final vote was split into three parts.
1) Accept staff report recommendation on item 1 and 3, and move forward with plan as designed. Final vote 3-2 with Meister and Heilman against.
2) Accept staff report recommendation on item 5 to move forward exempting the project from CEQA. The Final vote 3-2 with Meister and Heilman against exempting CEQA.
3) Accept staff report recommendation on item 2 and 4 for agreement of services for design of the project and install traffic calming measures along Fountain Ave as well as assessing peak hour parking removal. Passed 5-0 with all in favor.
[…] out, but Brazael stood firm—no demand for applause, just a compelling reminder of the ongoing Fountain Avenue streetscape battle. His words resonated as an affirmation that the fight over WeHo’s streets is far from […]
The clown show don’t stop. This Fountain avenue is one of the worst decisions ever in this city’s history
It’s NOT going to pull people out of their car to ride a bike on Fountain!! Who voted for the incompetent? More clowns
Big political Insiders own stock in the next big transportation thing. Electric helicopters. Make traffic as bad as possible so air travel will be next. Political Insiders ran Uber and Lyft. Valerie Jarrett and Tony West. Those folks completely ran roughshod on existing laws and transferred wealth to the richest people in America and abroad. Poor drivers burn through their cars and didn’t even get Social Security out of it. Big politicians are pushing nuclear energy. Buy nuclear stocks. When I found out that Andrew Cuomo had NNE, I bought it.
I’m very glad that the Council decided with the majority of residents who support the safety improvements on Fountain. In this day and age, it’s critical to cut through the noise of a loud handful of naysayers, hell-bent on denying reality.
We’ll see if Meister holds to her word and approves protected bike lanes on SMB once the Fountain project is assuredly deemed a success.
Good. I’m glad this passed and hopefully the work gets done expeditiously. Safety for people using Fountain can’t come fast enough.
Surprise, surprise. Didn’t see that coming. Lol. This city can is a joke. Completely dominated by kids with no real world experience and who are owned by Unite Here and the bike coalition. Millions of taxpayer’s money will be wasted on this. And probably millions more down the line when they undo what will be done just like in other cities. Vote these clowns out.
Meanwhile, a busy road like Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights doesn’t automatically get a white crosswalk symbol. No left turn arrow. There’s no crosswalk at Crescent Heights and Norton or at Norton and sweetzer. City council’s concern for safety is all for show. We overpaid for the parking lot at Crescent heights. We have that sketchy ambulance sitting there for months! Does Medicaid know where it’s money going? I’m sure there’s going to be some Kickback dollars in this Construction project. Everything is overpriced in the city. Meanwhile behind the post office you could buy and smoke meth. No… Read more »
Heilman and Meister were spot on about this ridiculous boondoggle. Sadly, they have no say against the other 3. Especially with Erickson’s lapdog Hang who only echoes anything that his master proposes. And how did staff keep a straight face saying one lane each way would not significantly slow traffic? That meeting was something out of a Twilight zone episode. And I wonder if any council members had to park in a lot on Santa Monica and Crescent Heights…or Plummer park, if they would vote for giving up their parking spots. If you ever wondered if those 3 tone deaf… Read more »
A biased steering committee chosen with no Fountain Avenue resident directly effected by the safety services eliminated through a bike coalition demand does not make for a great street for all. The arrogance of the majority council and the wasted public meetings show this last month of presentations were nothing more than a dog and pony show. Shame on city staff and majority council for this unpopular move.
The three council member majority who all were put into office with funds from “streets for all “and unite here local 11 were the ones who voted for this ill conceived project. Of course it was going to pass and they knew it. But the best moments of the evening came when three strong women called out John Erickson on his BS. Council member Meister looked him right in the eye and asked him “why are you lying?” Stephanie Harker asked him about the divisive, mean spirited, and untrue adjectives with which he attacks constituents who disagree with him… noting… Read more »
That makes four strong women who stand up to the divisive and mean-spirited bullying. I include Mikie Friedman in that honorable group.
The four of you spew hate toward me and at others over bike lanes is also divisive. But I can’t play that game and you can celebrate yourselves here – no matter what you all write about and share under the anonymity of Publius.
Amen.
Dear “friend”. (I say that sarcastically.) Did you know that they don’t want to fix the sidewalks for people like you in wheelchairs? They put that off and made bicycles for able-bodied young healthy people come first. How are they helping you and your wheelchair? Are you going to be able to ride your wheelchair in the protective bike lanes? Doubtful! Quite honestly, I think you are Larry Block just using a fake identity because you and I have had issues with each other in the past. Whoever you are, you are not my friend…you don’t really know what my… Read more »
Thanks but no need to deflect on me.
As soon as I post something here, their need to deflect will be transferred to me.
I have mobility issues and overgrown vegetation blocks a lot of sidewalks and there is zero code enforcement. Many people are walking with two dogs and completely block the sidewalk and I have to limp out in the street or have some sort of awkward Exchange. Many don’t feel safe and they get these big aggressive dogs and I don’t feel comfortable being near them. Yesterday, three lime bicycles completely blocked the sidewalk. The city does no enforcement. There is no traffic enforcement at any of the intersections.