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Think you’re going to party in the Hollywood Hills without the power going out? Think again. Also for today’s rundown: Postal machines removed from L.A., rats on dinosaurs in Santa Monica, and is a pandemic pepperoni shortage for real? Finally, the L.A. Zoo is set to open before the end of the month. First, some news.
Morning News Rundown
Mayor Eric Garcetti previously warned partiers that if they turned their homes into nightclubs, he would take action. Yesterday, the mayor made good on his threat. He authorized the City to shut down water and power service at a home in the Hollywood Hills that has repeatedly violated the ban on large gatherings and whose tenants include Tik Tok personality Bryce Hall. [KPCC]
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How has the Trump Administration’s plan to disrupt the postal service been working out in Los Angeles? According to one investigative report, 12 mail sorting machines have been removed in L.A. so far, which has precipitated a measurable slowdown in deliveries. [CBS Los Angeles]
Rats living on dinosaurs in Santa Monica? Well, sort of. EJA Associates LP, which holds property leased by restaurants along the Third Street Promenade, claims in a lawsuit that several ivy-covered dino sculptures are home to a major rodent infestation along the 1300 block of the promenade, posing a public nuisance to outdoor diners. EJA wants the city to either make the dinosaur sculptures go extinct and/or install anti-rodent measures. [ABC 7]
Pandemic pepperoni shortage? Say it ain’t so. Earlier this week, Business Insider reported that pizza makers are struggling to keep up with the pepperoni demand. However, at least one NELA pizzeria says the purported pepperoni shortage is overblown and that prices are still in check. Disaster averted! [Eastsider LA]
Per Metro’s latest board meeting, the agency is considering taking funds from a now-canceled High Desert freeway project (L.A.’s first new freeway in 25 years) and moving it to high-speed rail. We’ll see. [Streets Blog LA]
L.A.’s unemployment rate is still hovering in the 20% range, which means lots of Angelenos are still trying to navigate the state’s unemployment benefits system. On Wednesday, LAist posted an updated FAQ on unemployment in California. It answers questions like whether self-employed individuals can get UI if they already took PPP money and how applicants should navigate their claim through the system. Handy, and much needed. [LAist]
As I type this, California is literally in flames with 90 active fires burning in the state as of yesterday. It’s a lot to take in and track, but now we have at least one more tool. Google announced it’s adding fire info to Google Maps, partnering with local and federal agencies to collate and display data in the app, including the size, boundaries, and locations of fires in the U.S. [CNBC]
Say Hi to the Animals
Yesterday, the L.A. Zoo announced it’s reopening on Aug. 26, but you’ll need to lock in timed entry on its website (registration is open now). Facial coverings will be required, of course, and I imagine it’s going to feel a bit sparse there with limitations on visitors and social distancing requirements in place. Still, it’s nice to see a local institution getting back on its feet. Now, if we can just get this weather to cool down a bit. [We Like L.A.]
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