Apparently, traveling car-free is the in thing in L.A. for 2012.
>> NRDC’s Jessica Lass gets to her Santa Monica offices by bike — and wants you to “Make biking to work your 2012 resolution.”
>> Angeleno Jenny of The Next Big Ng recently spotted Ed Begley Jr. on Metro — and hopes for more celeb sightings on public transportation.
>> All the hipsters are riding the Metro night trains to bars and clubs, according to LA Times.
What’s your de-car-ing resolution for 2012?
Photo by Fire Monkey Fish
>> The City of Los Angeles wants yet more studies on the effects of bag bans before taking any action — nevermind that many, many studies have already been done and many L.A. County cities AND L.A. County have already banned the plastic bag.
>> According to LAist, “Several City Council members have pledged to get the measure passed before March 31, 2012 – before the state Legislature’s spring break.” Let’s hope that really happens.
>> Heal the Bay, the local nonprofit spearheading the bag ban effort, sounds optimistic. Mark Gold, head honcho at Heal the Bay, seems to believe that the city’s call for more studies “sends a loud message to Sacramento to move forward with a statewide ban.” That statewide effort failed back in August 2011. Think it’ll happen in 2012?
>> Last but not least — Santa Monica banned the plastic bag in September, and I’ve noticed many people are either bringing their own bags or doing without at stores since that time. What’s your experience been so far?
Earlier: Styrofoam and the City: The fate of plastic bags and polystyrene in LA
Photo by Kate Ter Harr
>> Santa Monica Bike Center opens this Friday! Pedal over to Colorado Ave. and 2nd St. to check out the full service spot with bike valet, bike rentals and repairs, and even showers and lockers for members.
>> The Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station got a Bike Stop. According to Metro’s The Source, “the new unattended facility features 40 bike parking stalls, a bike repair stand and small classroom area.”
>> Metrolink’s added bike cars! These are “passenger railcars outfitted with space for at least 18 bicycles.”
>> L.A.’s got a new bike sharing program — as part of Occupy LA. Local biketivist Roadblock, who set up the program, says “If Occupy LA is to achieve some of the most important goals of the movement, people are going to have to learn to reduce their oil dependency – the very addiction that keeps our country involved in endless foreign wars.”
>> Two new studies link bikes and money. One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives says bicycling in cities can save billions, while another study by an urban planning student shows better bike infrastructure can mean increased sales for local businesses.
>> Want a CSA box delivered to your door? Now we’ve got an option that’s more local than Farm Fresh to You. CSA California’s just started a delivery service to Westchester, Culver City, Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown, Burbank and the Valley. Prices range from $30 to $50, depending on the size of the box. Earlier: CSA California: Local farm in a bag.
>> Love slow food — but still haven’t signed up as a member of Slow Food USA because Whole Foods took your whole paycheck? Scrounge up the change in your couch because Slow Food USA’s offering pay-what-you-can memberships this month. Just join during September and a donation of any amount will give you a one-year membership — with all its yummy benefits and privileges.
>> Fancy yourself a pie maker? Enter KCRW’s 3rd Annual Good Food Pie Contest by today, Sep. 12, at 5 pm — then get baking! The contest happens Sep. 18 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the L.A. County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. If you’re among the first 100 contestants to drop off their pies on the big day, you’ll get a free Emile Henry pie dish. Not much of a baker? Just attend the big event — It’s free and tasty.
>> On Wednesday, a dilapidated Santa Monica house got transformed into eco-art with an ocean-friendly message celebrating Heal the Bay and other ocean-friendly nonprofits, just in time for Coastal Cleanup Day coming up later this month. The giant street art-inspired piece, made by artists whose work has been featured at MOCA, got bright happy coverage in both LA Weekly’s Style Council and the Santa Monica Mirror.
>> By Friday, the eco-art piece got visits from Santa Monica police and code enforcement. According to LA Weekly’s Informer, “neighbors, apparently not happy with the artwork, called, an area neighborhood resource officer paid the place a visit, and city code enforcement got involved.” Officials apparently want the piece taken down by Monday, though it’s unclear yet what the owners will decide to do.
>> For less controversial ocean-friendly art in Santa Monica, take in an exhibit of photographs from The Daily Ocean blog — written by my friend Sara Bayles, who’s racking up 365 days of cleaning up Santa Monica beach. The reception happens Sep. 17 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at 1612 Ocean Park Blvd. Cost: Free. Earlier: An interview with Sara Bayles — How to keep cool eco-activist style: Spiff up the beach.
>> Earlier that day, prepare for a morning on the beach because it’ll be Coastal Cleanup Day, when Californians clean up their sandy shores en masse. Select a site near you and sign up for the big day, happening Sep. 17 from 9 am to noon.
Image via Heal the Bay
>> New bag ban in Santa Monica. Since the beginning of this month, plastic bags are banned in big Santa Monica stores — and recycled paper bags cost 10 cents each. Earlier: Got extra reusable bags? Drop them off at Santa Monica’s Share A Bag spots.
>> New bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance. The city of L.A.’s ordinance went into effect yesterday, which means “physical assault or attempted physical assault, threats of physical injury, intentional distraction and forceful removal from street” of cyclists are now officially prohibited.
>> New CicLAvia grants. Got an idea how to take CicLAvia to the next level as a gigantic urban street fair? Win a $500 grant to help turn that idea into reality. The next CicLAvia happens Oct. 9. Earlier: What is CicLAvia?
>> LAUSD’s getting rid of it, but the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School district voted to keep flavored milk in school cafeterias.
>> Say bye bye to shark fin soup. LA Times reports that a shark fin ban’s cleared a key California Senate committee.
>> Trees or wine? A couple California wineries want to chop Redwoods to make room for pinot noir vineyards. Environmentalists say no to pinot. I vote for the trees — LA Times’ article reports on California wines’ “glut of inventory.”
Photo of a typical school lunch by Ben W.
>> Get a reusable bag already. Burbank and Laguna Beach are the next cities expected to ban the disposable plastic bag. Earlier: Styrofoam and the City: The fate of plastic bags and polystyrene in LA.
>> Ditch the blowdry. The girls at No More Dirty Looks are throwing down The Summer Hair Challenge: “Some time in the next week, when you get up in the morning, shower, shampoo and condition your hair using nontoxic natural products, comb it when you get out of the shower, and that’s it. No leave-ins, no heat. Once it’s dry, send us a pic.” That’s pretty much how I “do” my hair every day, so I’ll just need to snap a pic and send it in by Aug. 21. Yes, there’s a prize involved. Earlier: Book review: No More Dirty Looks — Get pretty by ditching ugly chemicals.
>> Milk the raw food debate. In case you haven’t heard, Rawesome — the Venice food club that hooks locals up with raw milk and other raw goodies — is in big trouble with the government. In Grist, David Gumpert writes “last week’s multi-agency assault on Rawesome Food Club in Venice, Calif., marked the first time individuals associated with a food club or a small farm had actually been thrown into jail, in this case charged with 13 felonies and misdemeanors, and held on high bail (requested between $60,000 and $130,000).” Read the whole article to see how the foodies are fighting back. Earlier: Farmageddon: Raw cheese (and other eco-foodie) debates hit the big screen.
Photo by Kate Ter Harr
>> Metro day passes are just $5 now! Enjoy the cheaper rides while they last –
>> Plastic bags are officially banned in Long Beach starting today — at least in the big stores. And paper bags will cost you 10 cents each — so remember to BYOB! In case you’ve forgotten, a plastic bag ban also went into effect for the unincorporated areas of L.A. County last month. Here’s how we’re doing on plastic bag bans in L.A County cities. Earlier: Got extra reusable bags? Drop them off at Santa Monica’s Share A Bag spots.
And soon you can expect:
>> Birth control sans copays. Insurers now have to cover birth control with no copays — which I think is big green news. Fewer unplanned pregnancies means fewer baby Americans means fewer resources needed. Earlier: Single and happy? Five single bloggers that make solo living fun.
>> Less trees and better views at Yosemite. Of course, hacking down trees for sightseeing purposes is a plan that’s proving controversial.
>> Less Chromium 6 — a.k.a. the Erin Brokovich chemical — in California tap water. California set the nation’s first public health goal for this carcinogen at 0.02 ppb — an unenforceable limit, but one that’s hoped to, you know, become enforceable. LA Times reports: “Environmentalists praised the new state goal, saying they hoped it would pressure state and federal officials to set enforceable standards for the metal and other drinking water contaminants.”
Photo by Fire Monkey Fish
>> How coal-choked is your life? Sierra Club’s new Coal In Your Life quiz tells you how scared you should be, based on where you life, how much mercury-tainted fish you eat, and what risk factors you have (via Grist). I scored a 3. So you know: “In your county – Los Angeles County, CA – approximately 138 asthma attacks and 5 deaths in 2010 were tied to pollution from coal-fired power plants.”
Earlier:
>> I got a bald spot for the environment — or how I got my mercury level tested
>> How to get your hair tested for mercury for $20
>> An Undie run against coal — and a roll against coal in Los Angeles
>> Why don’t we have tougher coal pollution regulation? Greenpeace’s new report Polluting Democracy names and shames 15 members of Congress who have prevented the EPA from improving coal power plant standards. Four are democrats; none are from California. (via Salon)
>> Coal isn’t the only source of L.A.’s air pollution, of course. LA Times reports that the EPA just got sued over smog in Los Angeles Basin. “In Los Angeles, an estimated 1 million adults and 300,000 children have asthma, outranking 23 other congested cities, according to the American Lung Assn.’s 2011 State of the Air report.”
>> One way to reduce air pollution: More Carmageddons? LA Times waxes lyrical about the potential beauty of less gridlocked streets, where people play where they live and enjoy biking around. The next CicLAvia happens in October, but if you want the 405 shut down again, it won’t be for a while: “Officials will get their next chance sometime in 2012, when the 405 is scheduled to be closed again so officials can finish demolishing the Mulholland Drive bridge.”
Image via Sierra Club/Coal In Your Life
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