Latest news with #BurbankAirport
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
California lawmaker, Jay Leno seek to exempt classic cars from smog check requirements
A California lawmaker is teaming with comedian and renowned automotive enthusiast Jay Leno to seek an expansion of smog check exemptions for classic cars. State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, introduced Senate Bill 712, all known as "Leno's Law," earlier this month. The bill, sponsored by its namesake celebrity, seeks to get rid of "unnecessary and burdensome smog check requirements for classic vehicles, ensuring they remain a celebrated part of California's culture and economy," according to statement from Grove's office. 'California has a rich automotive heritage, with some of the first classic cars rolling off assembly lines right here in our state, the senator said. 'These rolling pieces of history are more than just vehicles—they have strong cultural ties in our communities and supply thousands of jobs in the aftermarket parts industry." SB 712 would expand California's smog check exemptions to cover more classic cars. Under current law, vehicles manufactured before 1976 are exempt from biennial smog checks. Cars that are at least 35 years old may also be exempted, provided that they are s insured as collector motor vehicles, comply with emissions standards for their time and pass a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks. The proposed legislation would expand the exemption to all vehicles at least 35 years old, so long as they are insured as collector motor vehicles. "Senate Bill 712 will update the current law to include all classic cars that are 35 years or older, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby without burdensome restrictions that are driving some collectors and industry businesses out of the state," the statement said. As a lifelong car collector with a collection at Burbank Airport encompassing more than 180 cars and 160 motorcycles, Leno said the changes makes sense. 'California's rich classic car culture, sparked by the post-war hot rod boom and boosted by Hollywood's love for chrome and horsepower, has made it a paradise for enthusiasts like me," he said. "From the start, California has been a driving force in shaping car culture, with deep ties to classic cars and a global reputation as a hub for these timeless machines." But as time has passed, the state's regulations of classic cars have fallen behind, Leno said. "California's smog check laws for classic cars need to be updated—they vary too much from state to state, and California's rules don't match up with neighboring ones," he said. "Our classic cars are only driven for special occasions, weekend drives and car shows. I am excited to work with Senator Grove on SB 712 to make it simpler for us to preserve these pieces of history." Beyond keeping icons of California's automotive history on the road, SB 712 would also provide support to the state's massive specialty automotive industry, according to Grove's office. The state's aftermarket automotive parts industry generates billions of dollars each year while supporting small businesses, according to the statement. "SB 712 aims to safeguard this economic engine while honoring the state's pioneering role in car culture." It's estimates that the aftermarket automotive industry results in more than $40 billion in economic impact annually, including more than 149,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in taxes paid, representatives of Grove's office added. "From car shows to weekend cruises, classic cars bring people together and keep our history vibrant," Grove said. "With Jay Leno's support, we're sending a clear message: California values its automotive roots and the communities that keep them running." The first hearing on the bill is expected to take place before the Senate Transportation Committee in April. The text of the bill can be found online at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Jay Leno pushes for smog check exemptions for classic cars in California
New York Times
03-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
$2,500 Rentals in Los Angeles
To provide a resource for those displaced by the Los Angeles fires, this edition of 'What You Get' focuses on rentals rather than properties for sale. Los Feliz | $2,500 This one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 550-square-foot condo is in Los Feliz, a block north of Franklin Avenue. A bookstore, a French bistro and an improv comedy theater are all within walking distance, as is a Gelson's supermarket. A public elementary school is around the corner, and Fern Dell Nature Trail, which continues up into Griffith Park, is a five-minute drive. The Sunset Gower studio complex is also five minutes away, as are the Thai Town and Little Armenia neighborhoods. This part of Los Feliz offers easy access to the 101 freeway, with Studio City 15 minutes away and Downtown Los Angeles a 20-minute drive. Burbank Airport is 25 minutes away. Size: 550 square feet Indoors: Past the gated front entrance, the condo's front door opens to the combined living and dining room, which has a coat closet and windows that face a courtyard. The unit is being rented unfurnished, and is also available for sale. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, including a four-burner range. The sink is also stainless steel, and the cabinets above and below the countertops are painted white. The bedroom is behind the living space, with a ceiling fan and space for a king-size bed. Wide-plank floors line both the bedroom and the walk-in closet, and the en suite bathroom was recently updated with a glass-walled shower and new tile floors with a Spanish-style blue and white pattern. Outdoor space and amenities: The front courtyard is paved, with space for a small table and a collection of potted plants. This unit is allotted one parking spot. Utilities: Water and trash collection are included; electricity, gas and cable/internet are not. Contact: Toofun Golchin | Sotheby's International Realty-Los Feliz Brokerage | 619-990-605 Silver Lake | $2,650 This stand-alone one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage is in a complex of three units a block from Sunset Junction, one of Silver Lake's main shopping and dining hubs. Coffee shops, taco stands and cocktail bars are all within walking distance, as is an outpost of Erewhon, the popular organic grocery store. Bellevue Recreation Center, a park with a playground and basketball courts, is half a mile away, and the Silver Lake Reservoir and adjacent dog park are within a five-minute drive. By car, Echo Park is 10 minutes away, and both Koreatown and Downtown Los Angeles are less than 20 minutes away. Size: 595 square feet Indoors: The cottage sits at the back of the property, with steps leading up to a small front porch with views of the Hollywood sign. The living room has new hardwood floors and a window that looks into leafy treetops. The walls are painted white, and the living area is big enough to hold a sofa and a coffee table, plus a small desk or table. On the other side of the space is the kitchen, also updated as part of the recent remodel, with a stainless steel gas range and hood. The bedroom is off the living room, with two windows facing neighboring rooftops and the hills in the distance. The bathroom has a walk-in shower with a glass door, matte black finishes and an LED-lighted mirror above the new vanity. Outdoor space and amenities: The unit has access to a private yard, with mature landscaping and space for a dining setup. Tall hedges ring the property. Street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Utilities: Water, trash collection, and gardening services are included; gas, electric and cable/internet are not. Contact: Jenny Morant and Tyler Morant | Compass | 424-409-89765 Woodland Hills | $2,200 This one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo is in Warner Center West, a large building in Woodland Hills, a few blocks north of Ventura Boulevard. Warner Center is a master-planned community home to office buildings, retail space, and the practice facility of the N.F.L.'s Los Angeles Rams. A public library, a park and recreation center, and the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center are all within a five-minute drive, as is the Westfield Topanga shopping mall. The center of Calabasas is less than 10 minutes away, and the Encino and Sherman Oaks neighborhoods are 15 and 25 minutes away, respectively. Thousand Oaks is 40 minutes away. Size: 599 square feet Indoors: The front door opens to the living room, with a dining area set up closest to the entrance and a sitting area staged at the far end of the space, with sliding-glass doors that open to a street-facing balcony big enough for a set of chairs. The unit is being rented unfurnished, though the option to rent furnished and on a month-to-month basis is negotiable. The dining area faces the kitchen, which has a black-and-gray tile backsplash. Appliances include an induction range, a dishwasher and a built-in microwave. The bathroom is off the kitchen, with a floating vanity and combined washer-dryer, plus a walk-in shower with a built-in seat. The bedroom, which can fit a king-size bed, has a street-facing window and mirrored closet doors. Outdoor space and amenities: The complex has an in-ground swimming pool, a gym and communal laundry facilities. This unit comes with one parking spot in a garage. Utilities: Water, trash collection and use of the complex's amenities are included; electricity, gas and cable/internet are not Contact: Zoe Rudolph | Sotheby's International Realty-Sherman Oaks Brokerage | 818-601-1970
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
How Jay Leno's 2015 Tesla Model S P90D ended up in Fort Myers, Florida
How Jay Leno's 2015 Tesla Model S P90D ended up in Fort Myers, Florida Show Caption Hide Caption Celebrities help Southern Californians recover from wildfires Eva Longoria, Jay Leno and Jessica Alba were all seen volunteering to help with wildfire recovery. Comedian and car collector Jay Leno had a busy few days in Southwest Florida last week, as he performed stand-up comedy at Hertz Arena and attended a sold-out garage tour at the 2025 Naples Automotive Experience. Leno is known not only for his comedy, but also his extensive car collection, which he keeps in airline hangars at the Burbank Airport near his home in California. He doesn't typically sell cars from his extensive collection, but in order to make room for a then-new Tesla Model S Plaid, he put his 2015 Model S P90D up for auction in 2021. It was the first car he's sold in more than 30 years, and he sold it to a resident in Fort Myers, Florida. Leno originally purchased the blue Model S P90D through a phone call to Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. Nathan Davis, a representative of car customization shop FIT Automotive in Fort Meyers, heard about the auction and said he couldn't pass up the opportunity to bid on Leno's daily driver. "How often do you get to buy a car from one of the greatest entertainers and car collectors in the world?" Davis told the The News-Press. A plane ride and a $95,500 bid later, Davis was the proud new owner of Leno's Tesla. Typically after a car auction, the new owner will load the car onto a trailer and have it shipped home. But Davis had other plans. His wife had always wanted to take a Tesla on a cross-country drive to see how far the electric vehicle could really take them. Davis felt like this was the perfect opportunity to give his wife exactly what she wanted. Leno called Davis after the auction to discuss how they could get the car shipped back to Florida and was surprised when Davis revealed his plan for a cross-country roadtrip. "He thought we were crazy," Davis said. Leno greeted Davis and his family at the gate to his car collection and even took their bags from the trunk of their Uber. "He was extremely generous with his time," Davis said. "Anybody who's ever met Jay Leno will say the same thing: he's just an ordinary guy who knows how to entertain people. He's very kind and very humble." Davis said Leno spent an hour giving him and his family a one-on-one tour of the garage and of course, took a photo with everyone. Davis had one last request before he and his family left the garage: "Would you mind signing the dashboard?" One left-handed signature later and Davis was on his way back home with a new prized possession. After purchasing Leno's Tesla in 2021, the comedian told Davis to reach out whenever there's a show in his area and he'd provide tickets. So that's exactly what Davis did. Not only did Leno give Davis and his mother free tickets to the show, but he let them go backstage after the show and meet him. "The last show I got to go to was pretty special," Davis said.
Axios
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Axios
LA's wildfires sparked by rare collision of climate factors
At least three destructive, fast-moving wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles metro area early Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people evacuated, some having run on foot to flee oncoming flames. The big picture: The wildfires are the result of an unheard-of combination of factors at this time of year — the worst high wind event in Southern California since 2011, plus some of the driest conditions on record for early January. Downtown LA has received just 0.16 inches of rain since May 6 of last year, making it the second-driest period on record for May 6 to Dec 31, according to the National Weather Service. January is typically during the region's wet season. Bone-dry conditions in Southern California contrast with the northern parts of the state, where atmospheric rivers have squelched fire risks. Even worse, the region had an unusually hot summer that dried out vegetation even further. Threat level: Warnings for " particularly dangerous situation" red flag fire weather conditions and " extremely critical" risk continue across Southern California through late Wednesday as at least four significant fires burn in the LA metro area. Whipped by powerful Santa Ana winds gusting up to 99 mph, particularly in hilly terrain, the fires forced chaotic evacuations in parts of the area, particularly related to the Palisades Fire. High winds are affecting the wildfires, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph and higher in some lower elevations. Burbank Airport, for example, gusted to 84 mph. Near the Palisades Fire, winds have reached 98 mph, with 90 mph winds not far from the Eaton Fire near Altadena, Calif. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain referred to the high winds as an "atmospheric blow dryer" for its effects on trees and other vegetation. Context: Climate change is intensifying hydroclimate extremes, both wet and dry, including weather whiplash events where California see-saws between the two. With dry conditions lasting later into the fall, that means Southern California is more vulnerable to dry high wind events, Swain noted. " Climate change is increasing the overlap between extremely dry vegetation conditions later in the season and the occurrence of these wind events," he said in an online briefing. What they're saying: Alex Hall, also with UCLA, said the hydroclimate situation plus the strong winds have suddenly created a precarious situation. "Southern California has experienced a particularly hot summer, followed by almost no precipitation during what is normally our wet season," he said. "And all of this comes on the heels of two very rainy years, which means there is plenty of fuel for potential wildfires." What's next: More wind-driven wildfires may yet erupt before this event is over. Go deeper: Wind-driven fires in Los Angeles area engulf homes, force evacuations
