Transit Authority Rap: I Got 99 Problems, And A Bus Ain't One

This PSA video comes from Louisville but the message is universal.

Eminent Domain

This kind of reminded me of Estalano's class :)
Atlantic Yards Project Clears Legal Hurdle

Five Best Walking Streets in L.A.

From the KCRW 5ive Things Series...

5 Best Walking Streets by Kevin Roderick

Los Angeles grew up as a driving city, and I’m as guilty as anybody of using my car for recreation and convenience more than necessity. Yet, I enjoy savoring a city’s sights and smells and personality on foot when I’m traveling — and lately I’m enamored of just parking my wheels where the mood strikes me and exploring L.A. from the sidewalk. Some of my favorite strips are obvious, some more of an acquired taste.
1 – Wilshire Boulevard.
OK, this may be too obvious. But America’s most quintessentially Automobile Age boulevard is appreciated in a whole new way while out and walking. I especially like the mile or so from Lafayette Park to Western. You stroll past dozens of storefronts that have seen decades of L.A. history, plus you can peer through the windows of the sublime former Bullock’s Wilshire department store.
2 – West Third Street.
Los Angeles feels like a walking city along the strip between Farmers Market and Beverly Center. A dozen places offer an inviting spot to grab coffee or a leisurely lunch, though the recently shuttered The Cook’s Library is definitely missed.
3 – Sunset Junction.
Sunset Strip has excitement and the curve through Pacific Palisades can feel homey, but there’s only one section of Sunset Boulevard that feels like an authentic urban community.
4 – Mission Street.
You can even take the Gold Line to this charming corner of South Pasadena and discover cafes, antiques and an outpost of a family store from the French Basque country.
5 – Abbot Kinney.
Sure, this is Venice’s most gentrified avenue, but there are still plenty of studios and surprises to encounter. The culinary options just keep getting better.

Where?

It's electric!

Check out my buddy's sense of adventure :)

Electric All Terrain Bike That Is Powerful, Practical, and Pure Pleasure!

UCLA Planners at Student of Color Conference 2009

This quarter UCLA Graduate Student Association (GSA) sent a delegation of graduate/professional students to the UC-wide Student of Color Conference at UC San Diego. This year’s theme, Building Our Leaders with Purpose: Activism, Wellness, and Reclaiming Education, engaged undergraduate and graduate students to be effective leaders, activists, and balanced individuals. The conference consisted of a diverse array of programming that aimed to encourage graduate and undergraduate students to intermingle with each other, despite campus affiliations. Five Urban Planning students were part of the UCLA delegation.

The Critical Race Studies Working Group at UCLA facilitated a workshop called "Critical Race Studies: A Way To Reclaim Our Space"

Cheye-Ann (pictured on the left), second year Urban Planning student was one of the facilitators.

11/21 - Garden School Foundation

Take a break from paper writing and get your hands a little dirty in the garden this Sat., 11/21!

Thanks,

Sasha

Sign the petition to improve biking to campus!

(Thanks, Herbie)

If you haven't already, please take a look at this petition encouraging the City of LA to improve bike access to UCLA when it updates its Bicycle Plan. If you agree that is worthwhile, please sign on!

Also, please pass the link to this petition on. Spread the word so we can get a lot of signatures and have a big impact! A more bikable Los Angeles benefits us all. UCLA has arguably the most bicycle commuters of any hub in the city, and any plan to improve bicycling in LA needs to address this campus.

Details are in the petition letter, but the short version is we want to be able to get to our campus safely.

http://www.petitiononline.com/uclabike/petition.html

UCLA Community Service Day This Saturday

Dear Bruins:

You may have heard about UCLA Volunteer Day that was open to new Bruins in September. Now, we are excited to announce a similar, one-day service event that is open to all students, faculty and staff at UCLA.

We encourage you to sign up for UCLA Community Service Day this Saturday, November 14^th. This Saturday, you can join hundreds of Bruins in volunteer projects at nonprofit organizations around Los Angeles.

The Community Service Commission will provide volunteers with transportation, as well as breakfast, lunch, and a T-shirt. This event gives you the opportunity to be engaged with the community while making a tangible difference.

If you would like more information or are interested in signing up, please visit http://volunteer.ucla.edu/student-volunteering/.

Sincerely,

Student Task Force

UCLA Volunteer Center

volunteer@ucla.edu

Fifth Ecology: Los Angeles Beyond Desire

While in Stockholm this summer, I learned about this project and picked up a copy of The Fifth Ecology: Los Angeles Beyond Desire. The project is a proposal for the LA River and experiencing Los Angeles without focus on consumption. The students who worked on the project are visiting LA - you have a few opportunities to hear their presentation and see their work over the next week.

The Fifth Ecology: Los Angeles Beyond Desire.

...An urban planning proposal for the Los Angeles River area in downtown Los Angeles. Developed by the post graduates at The Royal College of Fine Arts, Stockholm, Sweden... Check it out at Gallery 727 in downtown LA. [Preview at ArtWalk 11/12. Opening reception 11/15. Presentation on 11/16.] http://www.gallery727losangeles.com

You can find a copy of the publication here for a preview: The Fifth Ecology

The exhibit will be showed at Gallery 727 on 727 S. Spring Street, Nov 15 to Dec 12
http://www.gallery727losangeles.com

Program for the exhibition:
Sunday nov 15: Opening at G727 5 pm-9pm
Monday nov 16: Discussion and seminar with LADWP planner Carol Armstrong, councilmember Ed Reyes and Lupe Vela of the ad-hoc river comittee at G727 6 pm- 8pm limited number of participants, email mans.tham@gmail.com to sign up

Habeas Lounge at Art Walk tonight

How does downtown exist as a hub for MTA riders and bicyclists in the city?

Celebrate eight weeks of mapping and conversations during the final night of HABEAS LOUNGE: A PLURALISTIC DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. This event is the last in a series of DTLA explorations building a framework for ideas and exchanges about our shared city, conceived by artist Linda Pollack.

Art Walk night will be all about bicycles and public transportation. Pricey parking lots, scarce street parking, the threat of being towed...bicycle, metro and bus are THE alternative ways to get around DTLA and we want to hear what you think!

Advocates will be on hand to share their experiences and visions for transportation in LA, as well as challenges, from proposed master bike plans to everyday commuting.

Take the Metro Red Line from the Pershing Square station to 7th + Metro or ride up 7th Street from the Art Walk to dialogue, discuss, debate, and learn ways to connect to the carless city.

A bicycle valet service will be provided by the LA County Bicycle Coalition. Show your support for 7+FIG's decision to allow the bike valet by riding your bike so you can use the valet.

During the event, check out the HABEAS LOUNGE, designed by Ilaria Mazzoleni: a cardboard sofa built from bike boxes by architect Nina Marie Barbuto, projections of classic / contemporary DTLA films selected by Linda Pollack and Maryam Hosseinzadeh, maps and bottled specimens from workshops by Katie Bachler, urban placemaking by James Jones, film footage of LA shot from a helicopter and a Pontiac G6 by Italian artists/architects ERGOT, an oversized Metro map, and more.

Plus SNACKS and a DJ too!

Global Housing Prices 1970-2009

Interesting McKinsey Global Institute tracking of global housing prices. What was happening in the UK and Germany?

SUN Local/Organic Potluck

The Sustainable Urban Network is having a lunch-time potluck on our Veteran's Day Holiday, Nov. 11th. The theme is local and/or organic foods, so go explore your local farmer's market and make something yummy to share. All are invited to attend.

It will start at 1pm, and be held off-campus at Stephanie's house:

3532 Hillcrest Dr. LA, CA 90016

Alex Oster will be coordinating carpools for those who would like - sadly, public transport to this neighborhood is not that easy right now (until they get that Expo line up and running!). Email her at the SUN address - sunetwork@ucla.edu

We hope to see you there!

Future Bruin Planners

They're so articulate and adorable! We should have them to come to a planning event at UCLA.

Local CA Election Results Related to Land Use

The California Planning & Development Report posts results pertaining to land use. Interesting to see who is pro growth and who isn't. Always fun to read these with the Glaeser/Gyourko article in mind (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=302388)