ReportWire

Tag: alameda street

  • Police declare ‘unlawful assembly’ at downtown L.A. protest, use tear gas to disperse crowds

    [ad_1]

    Police on Saturday evening declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order for a small portion of downtown Los Angeles next to the Metropolitan Detention Center where demonstrators from “No Kings Day” protests had converged.

    Tense standoffs took place between police and the crowd in the area of Alameda Street and Aliso Street, with demonstrators accusing law enforcement of escalating tensions amid the carryover from peaceful daytime rallies.

    “A dispersal order for the area of Alameda between Aliso and Temple has been ordered … All persons in the area of Alameda and Aliso/Commercial must leave the area,” the LAPD posted on social media at 6:55 p.m. “All persons in the area have 15 minutes to comply. If you remain in the area you may be subject to arrest or other police action.”

    The day’s protests, which drew throngs of crowds in Southern California and across the nation, made pointed critiques of President Trump’s actions on transgender rights, foreign policy, the federal government shutdown, university funding and other matters. Protesters also took on the the the White House’s push to deport immigrants without legal authorization to be in the U.S. by undertaking raids in U.S. cities including Los Angeles. The Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal facility, has become a focal point over anti-ICE sentiment.

    On Saturday, tensions grew around 7 p.m., after LAPD declared the unlawful assembly and began to press a line of protesters outside the facility. Police shot multiple nonlethal rounds, used tear gas and brought in a fleet of horses in an attempt to push back crowds.

    By 8:30 p.m., protesters had largely abandoned their stand near the detention center while police tried to reestablish a line on the street in front of federal building.

    As of 9 p.m., LAPD had reported no arrests.

    [ad_2]

    Jaweed Kaleem, Christopher Buchanan

    Source link

  • Authorities release photo and description of ‘person of interest’ in 10 Freeway arson fire

    Authorities release photo and description of ‘person of interest’ in 10 Freeway arson fire

    [ad_1]

    The California State Fire Marshall’s office released a photo and description of a “person of interest” in connection with the massive arson fire that burned beneath Interstate 10 south of downtown Los Angeles leading to the closure of the freeway.

    Photographs from the scene taken at 12:31 a.m. on Nov. 11 show a man walking in the vicinity of Alameda Street and the 10 Freeway. He is wearing blue shorts and a black jacket and carrying a black backpack and a green scarf. He also has a knee brace on the right knee, and what appears to be burn injuries on his left leg.

    The fire, which closed both the westbound and eastbound lanes of the freeway affecting 300,000 vehicles who use the route daily, began under the overpass at Alameda Street and was fueled by wood pallets stored there.

    The freeway — one of the most heavily used routes in the country — is expected to open to traffic on Tuesday.

    Not long after the fire was extinguished did authorities determine that it was caused by arson. Although the exact cause of the fire was not revealed, Gov. Gavin Newsom at a news conference on Monday said that “there was [malicious] intent.”

    In addition to pallets, sanitizer accumulated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was stored under the overpass and helped fuel the flames, according to sources familiar with the probe who were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation.

    The office of the State Fire Marshal, which has jurisdiction over the property, which is owned by Caltrans, appealed for witnesses to call a tip line with information and noted those tips could be given anonymously.

    “We have identified the point of origin of the fire,” State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said.

    If the suspect is identified, authorities are asking the public to contact the State Fire Marshall’s arson and bomb unit at arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov or contact the Cal Fire arson hotline at 800-468-4408.

    [ad_2]

    Thomas Curwen

    Source link

  • Eazy-E is getting a Compton street named after him: Rapper ‘loved where he was from’

    Eazy-E is getting a Compton street named after him: Rapper ‘loved where he was from’

    [ad_1]

    Soon, you can be cruising down Eazy Street in your ’64.

    Next week, Compton will unveil the newly renamed road dedicated to the late rap icon Eazy-E, who was born and raised in the city. The rapper, alongside fellow N.W.A. members Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, MC Ren and Arabian Prince, popularized Compton through their era-defining West Coast rap albums. Eazy-E, whose real name is Eric Lynn Wright, died in March 1995 at age 30, days after he announced he had been diagnosed with AIDS.

    In September, the Compton City Council unanimously voted to rename the 100 block of Auto Drive South, which runs off of Alameda Street and into the Gateway Towne Center shopping plaza, as “Eazy Street.” A block party will be held at the street on Nov. 22 to celebrate the moment with performances and appearances from the “Boyz-n-the-Hood” rapper’s children and his former collaborators.

    “My dad loved where he was from,” said Erica Wright, the rapper‘s daughter, in a statement. “Nothing could keep him from Compton. Nothing could keep his parents from Compton. This will forever be a highlight in my life.”

    Eazy-E’s son Eric Darnell Wright Jr., who rapped under the name Lil Eazy-E, added, “The street naming serves as a symbol of recognition and commemoration, ensuring that our father … has a legacy that will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”

    “It is a wonderful way for the city of Compton to honor his influence and the cultural significance that he brought to the community,” said Wright Jr., who will perform next week alongside DJ Yella.

    Compton native Eric Lynn Wright was a high school dropout who dealt drugs for a living before shooting to stardom in 1988 when his rap group, N.W.A., dropped the debut album “Straight Outta Compton” as well as Wright’s solo project, “Eazy-Duz-It.” Both albums were released under Wright’s label, Ruthless Records, which he co-founded with Jerry Heller. The releases would be considered the opening of a new era for hip-hop, a genre and industry that had primarily been defined and commercially dominated until that point by East Coast acts.

    With iconic music videos showing Wright and his group parading through the streets of Compton, they placed the Los Angeles County city in America’s pop-cultural consciousness.

    Alonzo Williams, one of Wright’s earliest collaborators, is known as the godfather of West Coast hip-hop and now heads the Compton Entertainment Chamber of Commerce. He spearheaded the naming of Eazy Street. Williams was the owner of Compton’s Eve After Dark nightclub, which helped launch acts including Dr. Dre and Eazy-E and was referenced in the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show.

    Wright went to Williams for advice when setting up Ruthless Records and introduced him to Heller, Williams recalled in an interview with The Times’ 404 correspondent Greg Ruben. And even after Wright found fame, Williams said, the rapper would often visit him at his garage, where N.W.A. recorded their first songs. The two would pass time cracking jokes.

    Wright was active in the community and often paid for and hosted events for residents, Williams said. He hoped having Eazy Street would be an extension of that legacy.

    “People come to Compton to see what Compton has to offer,” he said, “and there are no tourist attractions in Compton.” He also plans to start the city’s own walk of fame.

    [ad_2]

    Jonah Valdez

    Source link

  • 10 Freeway closed in downtown L.A.: What you need to know to avoid the mess

    10 Freeway closed in downtown L.A.: What you need to know to avoid the mess

    [ad_1]

    A crucial stretch of the 10 Freeway remained closed through downtown L.A. after a major fire damaged the highway early Saturday.

    Here is what we know:

    Closures

    • 10 Freeway between East L.A. interchange and Alameda Street.
    • 10 Freeway westbound diverted at Alameda Street.
    • 5 Freeway north and south transition to 10 Freeway westbound.
    • 60 Freeway transition east and west to 10 Freeway westbound.
    • Alameda Street closed in area.

    Source: Caltrans

    Traffic effects

    Officials are urging drivers to avoid the area.

    “Angelenos planning to attend major sporting events in or around Downtown Los Angeles, please plan for delays and check for alternative routes. Traffic officers are on location to alleviate traffic impacts. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the impacted area. Please heed traffic officer instructions,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.

    “I would encourage people to avoid this area between the East L.A. interchange and Alameda Street,” added Lauren Wonder, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

    The big test will come Monday during the morning commute, if the freeway remains closed.

    Metro provided details on some mass transit lines available during the closure:

    • Line 78 (Huntington)
    • Line 18 (6th St)
    • Line 66 (Olympic)
    • Line 30 (Pico)
    • Line 33 (Venice)
    • E Line train
    • J Line bus

    What’s next

    The fire damaged the freeway pillars, but Caltrans is not sure how bad the situation is and how quickly repairs can be made.

    “We see what we call ‘concrete spalling,’ which is chips of concrete that come off, but we won’t know the extent of the damage until the structural engineers can go in and see if the rebar was burned or not,” Wonder said. “This is still developing.”

    Officials expect to provide an update Sunday afternoon.

    [ad_2]

    Times staff

    Source link

  • 10 Freeway in downtown L.A. shut down indefinitely following fire

    10 Freeway in downtown L.A. shut down indefinitely following fire

    [ad_1]

    The 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles was shut down indefinitely in both directions early Saturday after two wooden pallet yards caught fire, damaging an overpass and destroying several vehicles, including a fire truck, authorities said.

    Both westbound and eastbound lanes of the heavily traveled freeway are closed between Alameda Street and Santa Fe Avenue, while structural engineers assess the damage, said Lauren Wonder, a CalTrans spokeswoman.

    “As of now, the freeway is shut down indefinitely,” Wonder said. “I would encourage people to avoid this area between the East L.A. interchange and Alameda Street.”

    The fire was reported shortly after midnight in the 1700 block of East 14 Street after a pallet yard under the freeway caught fire and spread to a second pallet yard nearby.

    The massive fire prompted Californai Highway Patrol to issue a SigAlert and closed the freeway in both directions. Traffic on the eastbound lanes was being diverted at Santa Fe Avenue while traffic on the westbound lanes was being diverted at Alameda Street.

    Los Angeles fire officials said firefighters from 26 companies and one helicopter responded to the scene and prevented the fire spreading into nearby commercial buildings. Heavy equipment operators were also used to move debris around and allow firefighters to douse small pockets of fire.

    Firefighters douse the still smoldering massive pallet fire that gutted Fire Engine 17, right, which became stuck under the 10 Freeway overpass at 1700 block of East 14th Street on Saturday in Los Angeles.

    (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

    The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also assisted by boosting water pressure in the area to compensate for the high volume needed.

    Fire officials said the fire forced several homeless people to evacuate the area but vehicles parked under or near the freeway were damaged or destroyed. Officials said one of those vehicle was a fire engine.

    The fire was extinguished as of 10 a.m. but firefighters continue to mop up the area. Caltrans officials also remained on the scene.

    Wonder said hazmat teams are waiting on firefighters to finish mopping up the area and will head in to ensure that it’s safe for structural engineers to go in and assess the extent of the damage to the freeway.

    “We see what we call ‘concrete spalling,’ which is chips of concrete that come off but we won’t know the extent of the damage until the structural engineers can go in and see if the rebar was burned or not,” she said. “This is still developing.”

    [ad_2]

    Ruben Vives

    Source link