Latest news with #Angelenos'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
'Beyond comprehension'; Chainsawed trees in downtown L.A. hint at city core's decline
Downtown Los Angeles has seen more than its share of indignity over the last few years. The pandemic sent office vacancy rates rising as masses of in-person workers stayed home, and, in turn, many restaurants and businesses shuttered. Homelessness soared amid interconnected economic, mental health and drug crises. And though downtown has since seen some development, a looming sense of disarray and decline lingers. After the 6th Street Viaduct was triumphantly unveiled, its hype quickly gave way to unruly street takeovers and copper thieves wire-stripping its lighting. Even as the skyline expanded, Angelenos' attention fell on two skyscrapers that taggers had almost entirely covered in graffiti. Which is why this weekend's shocking act of vandalism that took out six of the city's mature trees felt all the more disheartening. 'This has struck a chord," said Cassy Horton, a 37-year-old downtown resident. "It just really like flies in the face of everything that we're trying to do [to revitalize] the community, and for somebody to go around ... and set back what little progress we already have ... was really, really upsetting and hurtful." Read more: Vandals chainsaw dozens of trees across downtown L.A. Along with safety, she said, green space has been one of the top concerns of the almost 100,000 people who live downtown, so the attack on some of the area's few trees particularly angered people. "It's kind of an 'Enough is enough,'" said Horton, who serves on the board of directors of the Downtown Los Angeles Residents Assn., which advocates for more than 2,300 residents and community stakeholders. "A lot of the issues that we face when we're talking about homelessness and mental health and open-air drug use and all of these things — they feel really thorny and complicated. ... But something like this, it's become a bit of a rallying cry for people downtown. We want to have a warm, welcoming, safe public realm." Many of the downed trees were discovered Saturday morning, when images of the sawed trunks and their massive, felled branches lit up online message boards and went viral on social media. On Wednesday, the LAPD announced the arrest of Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, on suspicion of felony vandalism. Investigators say they linked the suspect to 13 downed trees in five locations across the city, and tips about additional trees continue to come. Groft was reportedly captured on surveillance footage using an electric chainsaw to cut down the trees on several different days, at several different times for more than a week. The earliest confirmed date was April 13. StreetsLA, the city bureau responsible for maintaining streets and the urban forest, said its teams confirmed a total of six trees vandalized downtown this past weekend: three ficus, two sycamore and one Chinese elm, according to a statement from bureau director Dan Halden. These large shade trees, many along South Grand Avenue, were severed at the base or cut several feet above the pavement. He didn't immediately respond to questions about trees that were cut in other parts of L.A. The StreetsLA team "quickly responded and cleared the debris from all six locations," Halden said. He said they were still evaluating the total cost of the damage and of potential replacements. For many, this blatant act of disrespect represents the latest failure by city officials to keep downtown from further deterioration, and underscores a gnawing feeling that the heart of Los Angeles has fallen by the wayside. 'It's indicative of the lack of regard,' said John Sischo, a longtime developer downtown. 'It's because no one is really caring. ... This stuff happens when there's not enough people." Sischo said it's hard to get people and businesses to return to the area when there are real and perceived safety concerns that remain unaddressed. A turnaround requires addressing homelessness through an engaged and proactive government that works cooperatively with business and local leaders, he said. He hasn't seen that yet. Read more: In Altadena, a fight to save the trees that survived the fire In many ways, Paul Kaufman, a small business owner downtown, agrees. 'There are some areas of progress, but it seems very halting," Kaufman said, who loves the area and believes it deserves better. "Something seems really great and then it withers. .... The real thing to make downtown work and feel safer is to have more people there." Downtown offices remain about one-third vacant, according to real estate brokerage CBRE, with the pandemic's effects still looming large. Crime rates in the area appear to be relatively stable over the last few months, according to available data from LAPD's Central Division, which covers all of downtown. (However, it's hard to comprehensively evaluate how much crime has changed over the last few years, as the LAPD recently overhauled how it records such statistics.) But there have been areas of progress and resilience: Apartments downtown have remained relatively full. New restaurants are opening, Metro's regional connector is up and running, and several new high-end retail and hotel spaces have debuted. Plus, plans to revitalize the L.A. Convention Center and gear up for the the 2028 Olympics promise a wave of investment in downtown. And perhaps that's why this violent assault on the community's trees "really struck a nerve," said Nick Griffin, the executive vice president of the DTLA Alliance, formerly the Downtown Center Improvement District. "In the downtown L.A. community, we are working to bring downtown back and [are] particularly focused on improving the public realm — this just seemed like such a senseless attack on that," Griffin said. 'It just seems so absurdly senseless." But he and other area organizers are hopeful the concern about the trees — and what it means about the state of downtown living — could inspire renewed action, investment and hope. 'In some ways, one of the key things that we're focused on is building the community and coalitions that it takes to revitalize a place like downtown," Griffin said. "There's no one silver bullet and there's no one organization that can do it.' Ricardo Sebastián, an entrepreneur who lives and works downtown, has been trying to change the perception of the neighborhood through social media and marketing campaigns — but unfortunately, it feels like this incident could hurt those efforts. 'This actually perpetuates the stereotype that downtown is dirty, filthy, unsafe," Sebastián said. 'We can paint and we can prime and we can build out storefronts and bring in really interesting businesses. ... But if we have people coming into town wielding chainsaws or defacing [buildings] .... we have to work that much harder." For some, that's the plan. Horton and other board members from the residents group have called for immediate action from city officials, both to replace the trees and to hold the perpetrator to account — in an effort to help "shift the anti-social, chaotic trajectory of our neighborhood," the group wrote in a letter to city officials. The group said it looked forward to working with officials, notably Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown, to ensure that "the loss of these trees signals the beginning of the end of the ongoing corrosion of DTLA's public realm." "We need champions; we need folks in L.A. to care about downtown and to see it as the heart of our city," Horton said. "It's where we convene, it's where we protest, it's where we go out. ... We're starting to see some of our elected leaders step up and support us, but our challenges are acute." Read more: Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León faces ethics fine for voting on issues in which he had a financial stake In a public statement, Jurado's office said her team was in "close communication" with the LAPD about its ongoing investigation, and that she had brought forward a motion that would increase penalties in the municipal code for tree injury violations, in hopes of deterring future incidents. The statement thanked the community for bringing the issue to officials' attention, saying "this is exactly what co-governance in action looks like. Stay tuned for updates." The office of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement calling the act "beyond comprehension." "City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees," Bass' spokesperson Zach Seidl said in a statement. "Those responsible must be held accountable." But some didn't see this incident as a sign of larger issues downtown, though there's a clear environmental loss with losing any tree: They provide shade, stormwater and pollution management and habitats for birds and other small animals. Urban trees have also been found to slow the deterioration of streets and reduce crime. "It's a huge hit," said Lee Coffee, who lives and works in downtown L.A., mostly lamenting the loss of shade. But he called the whole ordeal "kind of random." "The cleanup was really fast," Coffee said. 'I haven't noticed any other events like this." Times staff writers Roger Vincent and Clara Harter contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
24-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
‘Beyond comprehension'; Chainsawed trees in downtown L.A. hint at city core's decline
Downtown Los Angeles has seen more than its share of indignity over the last few years. The pandemic sent office vacancy rates rising as masses of in-person workers stayed home, and, in turn, many restaurants and businesses shuttered. Homelessness soared amid interconnected economic, mental health and drug crises. And though downtown has since seen some development, a looming sense of disarray and decline lingers. After the 6th Street Viaduct was triumphantly unveiled, its hype quickly gave way to unruly street takeovers and copper thieves wire-stripping its lighting. Even as the skyline expanded, Angelenos' attention fell on two skyscrapers that taggers had almost entirely covered in graffiti. Which is why this weekend's shocking act of vandalism that took out six of the city's mature trees felt all the more disheartening. 'This has struck a chord,' said Cassy Horton, a 37-year-old downtown resident. 'It just really like flies in the face of everything that we're trying to do [to revitalize] the community, and for somebody to go around ... and set back what little progress we already have ... was really, really upsetting and hurtful.' Along with safety, she said, green space has been one of the top concerns of the almost 100,000 people who live downtown, so the attack on some of the area's few trees particularly angered people. 'It's kind of an 'Enough is enough,'' said Horton, who serves on the board of directors of the Downtown Los Angeles Residents Assn., which advocates for more than 2,300 residents and community stakeholders. 'A lot of the issues that we face when we're talking about homelessness and mental health and open-air drug use and all of these things — they feel really thorny and complicated. ... But something like this, it's become a bit of a rallying cry for people downtown. We want to have a warm, welcoming, safe public realm.' Many of the downed trees were discovered Saturday morning, when images of the sawed trunks and their massive, felled branches lit up online message boards and went viral on social media. On Wednesday, the LAPD announced the arrest of Samuel Patrick Groft, 45, on suspicion of felony vandalism. Investigators say they linked the suspect to 13 downed trees in five locations across the city, and tips about additional trees continue to come. Groft was reportedly captured on surveillance footage using an electric chainsaw to cut down the trees on several different days, at several different times for more than a week. The earliest confirmed date was April 13. StreetsLA, the city bureau responsible for maintaining streets and the urban forest, said its teams confirmed a total of six trees vandalized downtown this past weekend: three ficus, two sycamore and one Chinese elm, according to a statement from bureau director Dan Halden. These large shade trees, many along South Grand Avenue, were severed at the base or cut several feet above the pavement. He didn't immediately respond to questions about trees that were cut in other parts of L.A. The StreetsLA team 'quickly responded and cleared the debris from all six locations,' Halden said. He said they were still evaluating the total cost of the damage and of potential replacements. For many, this blatant act of disrespect represents the latest failure by city officials to keep downtown from further deterioration, and underscores a gnawing feeling that the heart of Los Angeles has fallen by the wayside. 'It's indicative of the lack of regard,' said John Sischo, a longtime developer downtown. 'It's because no one is really caring. ... This stuff happens when there's not enough people.' Sischo said it's hard to get people and businesses to return to the area when there are real and perceived safety concerns that remain unaddressed. A turnaround requires addressing homelessness through an engaged and proactive government that works cooperatively with business and local leaders, he said. He hasn't seen that yet. In many ways, Paul Kaufman, a small business owner downtown, agrees. 'There are some areas of progress, but it seems very halting,' Kaufman said, who loves the area and believes it deserves better. 'Something seems really great and then it withers. .... The real thing to make downtown work and feel safer is to have more people there.' Downtown offices remain about one-third vacant, according to real estate brokerage CBRE, with the pandemic's effects still looming large. Crime rates in the area appear to be relatively stable over the last few months, according to available data from LAPD's Central Division, which covers all of downtown. (However, it's hard to comprehensively evaluate how much crime has changed over the last few years, as the LAPD recently overhauled how it records such statistics.) But there have been areas of progress and resilience: Apartments downtown have remained relatively full. New restaurants are opening, Metro's regional connector is up and running, and several new high-end retail and hotel spaces have debuted. Plus, plans to revitalize the L.A. Convention Center and gear up for the the 2028 Olympics promise a wave of investment in downtown. And perhaps that's why this violent assault on the community's trees 'really struck a nerve,' said Nick Griffin, the executive vice president of the DTLA Alliance, formerly the Downtown Center Improvement District. 'In the downtown L.A. community, we are working to bring downtown back and [are] particularly focused on improving the public realm — this just seemed like such a senseless attack on that,' Griffin said. 'It just seems so absurdly senseless.' But he and other area organizers are hopeful the concern about the trees — and what it means about the state of downtown living — could inspire renewed action, investment and hope. 'In some ways, one of the key things that we're focused on is building the community and coalitions that it takes to revitalize a place like downtown,' Griffin said. 'There's no one silver bullet and there's no one organization that can do it.' Ricardo Sebastián, an entrepreneur who lives and works downtown, has been trying to change the perception of the neighborhood through social media and marketing campaigns — but unfortunately, it feels like this incident could hurt those efforts. 'This actually perpetuates the stereotype that downtown is dirty, filthy, unsafe,' Sebastián said. 'We can paint and we can prime and we can build out storefronts and bring in really interesting businesses. ... But if we have people coming into town wielding chainsaws or defacing [buildings] .... we have to work that much harder.' For some, that's the plan. Horton and other board members from the residents group have called for immediate action from city officials, both to replace the trees and to hold the perpetrator to account — in an effort to help 'shift the anti-social, chaotic trajectory of our neighborhood,' the group wrote in a letter to city officials. The group said it looked forward to working with officials, notably Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown, to ensure that 'the loss of these trees signals the beginning of the end of the ongoing corrosion of DTLA's public realm.' 'We need champions; we need folks in L.A. to care about downtown and to see it as the heart of our city,' Horton said. 'It's where we convene, it's where we protest, it's where we go out. ... We're starting to see some of our elected leaders step up and support us, but our challenges are acute.' In a public statement, Jurado's office said her team was in 'close communication' with the LAPD about its ongoing investigation, and that she had brought forward a motion that would increase penalties in the municipal code for tree injury violations, in hopes of deterring future incidents. The statement thanked the community for bringing the issue to officials' attention, saying 'this is exactly what co-governance in action looks like. Stay tuned for updates.' The office of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement calling the act 'beyond comprehension.' 'City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees,' Bass' spokesperson Zach Seidl said in a statement. 'Those responsible must be held accountable.' But some didn't see this incident as a sign of larger issues downtown, though there's a clear environmental loss with losing any tree: They provide shade, stormwater and pollution management and habitats for birds and other small animals. Urban trees have also been found to slow the deterioration of streets and reduce crime. 'It's a huge hit,' said Lee Coffee, who lives and works in downtown L.A., mostly lamenting the loss of shade. But he called the whole ordeal 'kind of random.' 'The cleanup was really fast,' Coffee said. 'I haven't noticed any other events like this.' Times staff writers Roger Vincent and Clara Harter contributed to this report.
Associated Press
23-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The LA Fires: How Multiplatform Local Media Became a Lifeline
Originally published on Nielsen Insights Extreme weather events, such as the devastating fires in Los Angeles in January 2025, are becoming an increasingly frequent part of daily life, as explored in Nielsen's recent climate change report. These events not only disrupt communities, but also highlight the critical role of trusted local media. Los Angeles' local television stations, their digital platforms, and local radio stations kept locals informed on Jan. 8, 2025, when fires spread quickly through several neighborhoods across the city—demonstrating the importance of multiplatform audience strategies to meet urgent information needs. The power of local media in a crisis During the LA fires, local news became a lifeline for millions. On Jan. 8, Los Angeles viewers recorded over 1.1 billion minutes of local TV news alone, while impressions of that same news content on digital platforms alone surged by an astounding 1,693% over the average of the three weekdays prior. Similarly, local radio, with its ability to deliver hyper-local and timely updates, logged more than 97 million gross minutes, a 40% increase over the average of the seven days prior. These platforms proved indispensable as more than 200,000 people were evacuated from their homes, seeking real time, accurate information to navigate the crisis. Among radio listeners, news-talk formats saw a remarkable rise, with the average quarter hour share among persons age 12 and older doubling to 20%. This means that 20% of all radio listeners in the market at that time were tuned into news-talk stations. For adults 25-54, the share climbed to nearly 13%, reflecting the format's ability to engage audiences across age groups during critical moments. Multiple audience segments relied on local broadcast TV and radio. Hispanic households consumed nearly half a billion minutes of local TV on Jan. 8 representing a 321%* increase, while radio listening climbed to nearly 22 million minutes. Black audiences logged 121 million minutes of TV viewing, up 216%*, and nearly 5.5 million minutes of radio. Even younger audiences 18-34, demonstrated a notable shift in behavior during the fires, with linear TV viewing up by 324%. Multiplatform strategies: A convergence of linear and digital While each platform saw engagement grow on its own, the way Angelenos' accessed news during the fires shows us the growing trend for multiplatform strategies to reach today's audience. Nielsen's 2025 Upfront New Front guide outlines the concept of convergence TV—where streaming complements the strength of linear TV—and its impact was on full display in LA's local media engagement. For audiences, linear TV provided immediacy and authority, while digital platforms offered flexibility and on-demand accessibility. This ensured that audiences could stay informed at home and on the move. Adults 25–54, a critical demo for advertisers, showed the highest growth in digital viewing during the fires with consumption skyrocketing by 2,143%. Trust in local media When the stakes are high, trust becomes paramount. Social media provided timely updates, but also saw instances of misinformation creating confusion. Faced with this challenge, audiences turned to local media for fact-checked, reliable updates. According to Nielsen's 2024 Truth and Trust survey, 57% of viewers ranked local news among their top three most trusted outlets, with trust levels even higher among Black (65%) and Hispanic (52%) audiences. This trust underscores why local media remains a cornerstone of community connection and communication. The news viewing during the LA fires also highlights the power of culturally relevant and language-specific programming. For Hispanic audiences, local TV and radio played a pivotal role, with Spanish-language programming meeting the needs of LA's community. Providing culturally relevant content in language ensures that no audience is left behind during critical moments. Media engagement during the LA fires reminded us that local television and local radio don't just inform, they build community, combat misinformation and drive unmatched engagement. Methodology Los Angeles television audience data for this analysis was determined using Nielsen Local TV View (NLTV) data for local news programs tuning in minutes for the period Jan. 2-11, 2025, Live+SD, P2+, M-Su 3a-3a, includes KABC, KCAL, KCBS, KCOP, KMEX, KNBC, KRCA, KTLA, KTLA OT, KTTV, KVEA, KWHY, S1LA. NLTV is an online tool that allows users to analyze viewing within and across all measured Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs). Television data is derived from Nielsen's National TV Panel that is based on a sample of more than 42,000 homes and over 100,000 real people that are selected based on area probability sampling. Source: NLTV Program Report Los Angeles radio audience data for this analysis was determined using the PPM Analysis Tool for the Nielsen Audio Los Angeles Metro Holiday 2024 Week 5 survey which measured Jan. 2-8, 2025. Mon-Sun 6a-Mid, P12+, includes KNX-FM, KFI-AM, KPCC-FM, KRLA-AM, KZNO-FM, KTNQ-AM. Source: PPM Analysis Tool Radio Trend Report. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Nielsen
Los Angeles Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Three takeaways from Mayor Bass' State of the City speech
Good morning. Here's what you need to know to start your day. The city of Los Angeles was already facing the entrenched challenges of crime, homelessness, a housing shortage and traffic violence. Then came the destructive Palisades fire and President Trump's volatile trade war, which have disrupted the livelihoods of Angelenos in a major U.S. trade hub. Now city leaders are bracing for a nearly $1-billion budget deficit. How's the city doing with all that? Mayor Karen Bass gave her official answer Monday in the annual State of the City address, followed by her proposed budget to get L.A. through the coming fiscal year. Bass pointed to progress in reducing crime and street homelessness, but also highlighted the 'broken system' of city government, calling for 'a fundamental overhaul... to deliver the clean, safe and orderly neighborhoods that Angelenos deserve.' Here are a few key takeaways from Bass' speech and how the city's budget lines up with her rhetoric. Some city workers would lose jobs under Bass' proposal In the face of a massive shortfall, Bass said city leaders have reduced funding for the mayor's office, eliminated 'ghost positions' in the city's workforce and postponed some projects to save money. On Monday she vowed to increase efficiency in city government — which she referred to as 'broken' — in part through consolidating departments. Though Bass praised city workers as L.A.'s 'greatest asset,' she acknowledged that her proposed budget includes layoffs, calling it 'a decision of absolute last resort.' Bass' proposal, published in two parts, calls for eliminating about 1,650 currently filled positions and more than a thousand more that are vacant, city budget officials told The Times. Bass said the city attorney is meeting with legislators in Sacramento this week to 'advocate for resources.' 'Under her budget proposal, Bass would eliminate city commissions dealing with health, with climate change and with efficiency and innovation,' my colleagues Julia Wick, David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg reported. 'She would also combine some of the city's smaller agencies into a single entity.' The fire recovery effort is a focal point in upcoming funding Bass said the recovery effort for January's Palisades fire 'is on track to be the fastest in California history.' She announced new actions to speed up the recovery, including a new self-certification program for property owners seeking building permits and integrating AI into the process in an effort to accelerate building. Bass said the AI initiative could later expand citywide. 'We know the faster we can rebuild, the faster we can heal,' Bass said. 'We want to be fast, we want to be safe and we want to be resilient.' Bass' proposal would boost Fire Department funding by more than $103 million, roughly 12.6% higher than the department received for the current fiscal year. L.A. is preparing for the world stage — and asking for Angelenos' help Adding to the pressure, L.A. is slated to host World Cup matches next year, then the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. 'We want people not just to see our stadiums,' Bass said. 'We want them to see the real L.A., our neighborhoods.' To spruce up those neighborhoods, Bass announced Shine LA, a series of volunteer efforts aimed at 'cleaning, greening, and preparing our city for the world stage.' 'Every single month, we will bring Angelenos together side by side to unify and beautify our neighborhoods, improving parts, planting trees, painting murals and so much more,' Bass said. It's unclear if or how much the volunteer labor will replace services currently provided by city workers whose jobs may be cut. For more on Bass' financial plan for Los Angeles, read the reporting from my Times colleagues. We used to agree on Earth Day. Political division has changed the environmental priorities House Democrats, in El Salvador, say they were not allowed to meet wrongly deported man Californians mourn a pope who shared their values and brought excitement to church Beautiful, deadly: Wolves stalk rural California What else is going on Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Amid Trump tariffs, the world responds with a free export: Humor. There are many ways world leaders, businesses and consumers are grappling with the growing threat of a global trade war, but perhaps the easiest — and, for some, the most therapeutic — is to rely on dark humor. Other must reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Ross Hering writes: 'The KaaBoo festival held at the Del Mar fairgrounds 2015-2019 was the best festival ever. We attended three, including the first in 2015. Well organized, reasonably priced, easy parking, killer lineups each year, great food, great venue, great sponsors with plenty of freebies, acrobats, etc. The lineups were diverse. We saw many bands I otherwise would not have seen like, Imagine Dragons, Pink, Alanis Morissette, Muse, Billy Idol, Gwen Stefani, Billy Idol and more! Among my faves were Foster the People, Wallflowers, Dawes & Tom Petty & Heartbreakers — [a few weeks] before he passed away.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos you have taken of spots in California that are special — natural or human-made — and tell us why they're important to you. Today's great photo is from Times contributor Alex Papke from a swanky L.A party where guests play Rummikub, the latest tabletop game club to pop up in Los Angeles at a time when people, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are seeking alternative ways to connect with others outside of bars and nightclubs. Have a great day, from the Essential California team Ryan Fonseca, reporterAndrew Campa, Sunday reporterKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorHunter Clauss, multiplatform editorChristian Orozco, assistant editorKarim Doumar, head of newsletters Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Los Angeles Times
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
The funniest, weirdest and most niche bumper stickers seen around L.A.
Here in auto-saturated Los Angeles, the bumper sticker has always been a healthy form of self-expression. But in recent years, they've become far weirder than your average tourist-trap souvenir or presidential endorsement. 'This new wave of stickers,' writes Times contributor Renée Reizman, 'is more concerned with cracking self-deprecating jokes or aligning with a niche fandom. There's a bumper sticker for everybody. You can profess your love for John Cage, neon art or frogs. You can declare your other car is a poem, ask drivers not to stress out your dog or claim to be a silly goose.' Artists, small-business owners and residents are creating highly specific bumper stickers to serve their social circles and earn some laughs. In my neck of the woods, I've clocked 'ON A QUIET NIGHT YOU CAN HEAR MY BUICK RUST!' 'DREAMS HAPPEN,' and my personal favorite, 'I'D RATHER BE SLOWLY CONSUMED BY MOSS.' Alone, these stickers might make you smile, contemplate or drop your jaw. Together, they're a mosaic of Angelenos' collective conscious. To celebrate the colorful little decals that keep Angelenos rubbernecking on the road, we asked locals and visitors to share their favorite bumper stickers. Here's what they submitted. Where did you see it? 'Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village.'What'd you like about it? 'Made me stop and laugh.' — Robert Grenader, Los Feliz Where did you see it? '101 Northbound near Melrose.'What'd you like about it? '[It was] on a Honda Prelude. The composer Claude Debussy wrote a famous piece called 'Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. So ... Prelude 2PMFaun. Definitely a classical musician driving that one.' — Lee Bridges, Laurel Canyon Where did you see it? 'Foothill Boulevard, between Pennsylvania and Lowell [in] La Crescenta'What'd you like about it? 'Touché, all you obnoxious parents.' — Ben Elder, La Crescenta Where did you see it? 'North Westdale… On Barry, just south of Sardis (near a Whole Foods)'What'd you like about it? '[It was] in plain black, on white, without punctuation. It is poetry! — Dave Kopplin, West L.A. What'd you like about it? 'It says so much in so little text.' — Russ Charvonia, Ventura Where did you see it? 'In Lone Pine. The driver said he was from L.A.' — David Morrow, Bend, Ore. Where did you see it? 'On the 5, just south of Magic Mountain.'What'd you like about it? 'Made me laugh ... and continue to worry. It appeals to the literate.' — Theo Moreno, Cambria Where did you see it? Jefferson and Lincoln [in] Playa VistaWhat'd you like about it? 'A niche spoof on a classic California bumper sticker.' — Katie Purtill, Playa del Rey Where did you see it? 'It was parked in a red zone in front of Maury's Bagels in Silver Lake.'What'd you like about it? 'I think we can all relate to this a little bit. I also wonder what would happen to sales of Ozempic if we embraced this idea more fully.' — Ted Walker, Silver Lake Where did you see it? 'In Topanga.'What'd you like about it? 'First, the bumper sticker was thought of by the Topanga Assn. for a Scenic Community. This organization has been around since 1963. It was established to fight off overdevelopment in the Santa Monica Mountains, specifically in Topanga. We all in Topanga realize Topanga needs to be enjoyed by everyone. People move here because they see something that enriches their soul. We wanted to get the message out and remind all why they came here and [to] not bring with them the very thing they were trying to get away from. We want folks to breath deep and love Topanga for what it offers and not change it to suit a more urban environment.' — Roger Pugliese, Topanga Where did you see it? 'I was in the Valley, about to make a left onto Ventura Boulevard. I go to school at CSUN, so I have the privilege of escaping the Westside regularly.'What'd you like about it? 'The song immediately came to my mind when I read it, and I laughed out loud in my car so loud, like a huge dork, and it was fantastic.' — Alexis Evanoff, West L.A. Where did you see it? 'Palmdale near Antelope Valley Mall'What'd you like about it? '[It was] in a Lisa Frank type of font in soft pastel colors. I laughed out loud when I read it. The sweet tone is so passive-aggressive.' — Polly Drown, Palmdale Where did you see it? 'West L.A. in heavy traffic.'What'd you like about it? 'Cleverness. You see so many stickers saying I Brake For Squirrels, or Garage Sales or whatever. Brachiation is using your arms to swing through the tree branches, like gibbons and spider monkeys.' — Karen Hohenstein, West Hills Where did you see it? 'Seen at Foothill Ranch Library, Orange County.'What'd you like about it? 'Based on real events. College rugby team's plane crashed in snowy Andes in 1972. Survivors had little food ... they did have the dead bodies of family and friends. Of 45 people aboard, just 16 survived subfreezing nights until rescue 72 days later.' — John Grimshaw, Lake Forest
