Lengthy Closures for Saturday Police Gala
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Open space at the new Police Administration Building has been closed since October 28 for Saturday's True Blue gala, put on by the Los Angeles Police Foundation.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Saturday evening's True Blue gala at the new Police Administration Building is expected to draw 800 guests, each of whom has contributed at least $500 to the non-profit Los Angeles Police Foundation. Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien will emcee.
It's likely that some Downtowners feel they've given their own mandatory contribution to the festivities. The new public park constructed as part of the headquarters facility has been closed since October 28, as has the linear landscaping along Spring street and sidewalks along both Spring and 2nd.
1st street and Main street will both be closed during the event, as will sidewalks between 1st and Temple. A sign posted on 1st says that the closure will run from 6pm on Friday through noon on Sunday.
During the building's recent opening, City officials touted the new facility's openness to the community.
While few would question the worth of the Police Foundation cause, the duration of the closures raises questions about how the new park space will be handled in the future.
According to the City's Public Way reservation system, the park space is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, November 10.
Paul Y on November 05, 2009, at 06:39PM – #1
I've totally been thinking the same things as I've passed by the past few days.
Why did they fence off even the sidewalks? It's bad enough that the public can't even enjoy the new park and now they can't even walk on that side of the street.
Why has the tent been up for a week for a ONE DAY event? If it is a rental then we are wasting money and we are also killing brand new grass.
Lame...
Ravi on November 06, 2009, at 11:48AM – #2
What about the street? There is an ITS sign on 1st Street that scrolls the message s l o w l y. I almost rear-ended the car in front of me (stopped at a red light) because I was trying to catch the street closure time/date. So the block will be off limits ... how much of 1st and 2nd Streets will be, too? Just curious - and the parking for the VIP crowd? Any ideas where they'll park?
Brigham Yen on November 07, 2009, at 02:06AM – #3
I was surprised, and a bit disappointed, to find out that very few downtowners were actually using this new park because the three times I went by this place since it opened, there wasn't more than a person or two in the park fronting 2nd Street.
Park Lover on November 12, 2009, at 08:34AM – #4
People do need to claim this space as a much-used public space. If they don't then whenever it is used by someone as a public space, it will be viewed with suspicion. It's important to use the space a LOT right now while the "way things go" at the new facility is still being determined. Can you imagine if its rarely used, then one day some people are playing frisbee or something, and a security guard comes and chases them off "due to security reasons"? It could happen.