News rack crackdown.After a three-year battle with newspaper publishers, the city of Los Angeles
Later this month, city officials are slated to begin removing scores of racks in Studio City as the first in a series of targeted crackdowns resulting from passage of a new city ordinance. The focus of this first sweep will be on a two-block area of Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. near Laurel Canyon Boulevard Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). . "My neighbors have counted 159 news racks within that two-block stretch," said City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. . "I know residents want their newspapers, but they also want clean, vibrant neighborhoods." After Studio City, officials plan to remove racks in Hollywood, Downtown, Westwood, the airport area and San Pedro over the next several months. Citywide, there are an estimated 25,000 news racks. For years, residents and some merchant groups in several of the most affected communities have complained about blight caused by clusters of news racks. After three years of negotiations, the city reached a compromise with publishers, resulting in an ordinance that gives newspaper publishers seven years to conform to Verb 1. conform to - satisfy a condition or restriction; "Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?" fit, meet coordinate - be co-ordinated; "These activities coordinate well" a uniform color code Noun 1. color code - system using colors to designate classifications code - a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy . The ordinance that passed last December allows a maximum of 16 news racks per block. Meanwhile, each news rack must be permitted and registered with the city. Permit notices went out last month to all known newspaper publishers owning news racks in the city; a $21.69 fee per news rack has been set to fund the enforcement. Staff reporter Howard Fine can be reached by phone at (323) 549-5225, ext. 227, or by e-mail at hfine@labusinessjournal.com. |
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