ONE BIG THING: A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING
What Happened?
Starting next week on October 1, I’ll be participating in the Week Without Driving Challenge, where I’ll spend a full week getting around Los Angeles as a City Councilmember without driving my car.
Growing up in LA, I didn’t depend on my car in the same way I do today. As a young teenager, I used to find freedom putting together bikes and riding them around the neighborhood. Later when I got a job at a hotel downtown, I would take the blue line (now known as the A Line) or the 53 to work. Passing the time on public transportation helped me catch up on school work and sparked my lifelong love for reading.
But since I became a councilmember, I’ve found myself relying much more on my car. I still occasionally take Metro to work or ride my bike to get around the district, but driving often feels like the easiest option when you’re bouncing from event to event around the city.
For one week, I’m going to put that convenience aside and experience LA the way millions of Angelenos do every day.
Why it Matters
When I was little, before my mom could drive, she needed to get a document from a Santa Ana courthouse for her immigration file. It took her multiple buses and an entire day to make a trip that would have been a 45-minute drive
Nearly one in three Angelenos don’t drive a car. Millions of people across this city get to work, take their kids to school, go to the doctor, run errands, and live their lives without getting behind the wheel. They figure it out because they have to.
But when policymakers spend most of their time moving around LA in cars, it’s easy to lose sight of what the city feels like for everyone else. If we want to build a city where it’s safer and easier to get around, we need to experience those systems ourselves.
What’s Next?
Follow along at @cd13losangeles as I take on a full week without driving — and see how I get around LA when I can’t just grab the keys.
We’re also bringing the challenge to the community with a bike-in/bus-in screening of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? at Sunset Triangle on Thursday, October 7 at 7 PM.
And I want to hear from the Angelenos who already do this every day. Are you a non-driver in LA? How do you get around? Or want to take on the challenge yourself? Email us cd13comms@lacity.org and we’ll reach out!
Two More Quick Hits!
LA Residents Left in Legal Limbo by the Trump Administration
On Tuesday, City Council approved our motion to support Angelenos with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who are being left in legal limbo by the Trump Administration.
Over the past few years, the federal government has stripped protections from country after country, including Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti, and more. Now, hundreds of thousands of Salvadoran families across the country with legal documentation are facing uncertainty about whether they’ll be able to keep living, working, and supporting their families here.
We don’t know exactly what happens next. But that’s exactly why we need to start preparing now. Our motion asks the City to look at how we can help TPS holders stay informed, know their rights, access employment resources, and weather this unprecedented uncertainty.
Measure ULA Sets LA Record for Affordable Housing Investment
This week, City Council approved $466.6 million in affordable housing funding — the largest funding pool in the history of the City’s housing department.
About 70% of the funding comes from Measure ULA, and the money will support building new affordable housing, preserving existing affordable homes, and renovating aging properties.
This is a major investment in making housing more affordable for working Angelenos, and the plan also includes new requirements for quarterly updates on where these dollars are going, project timelines, and any major delays or challenges.
Save the Date – Organizing & Civic Engagement
Tuesday, September 29th –Get Ready to Vend in LA County(FREE workshop to learn how to apply for a sidewalk vending registration certificate)
Save the Date – Community Events
Saturday, October 3rd – South Central Community Bike Ride(FREE community bike ride)
Sunday, October 4th – Temple Art Market(FREE market with crafts, art, and jewelry)
CD13 Pet of the Week
Meet Kevin Hart, our pet of the week!
This sweet boy is a small pit bull terrier and a BIG love carrier! He is sure to provide all the cuddles and chuckles, just look at that smile.
If you are interested in visiting the comically cute boy, he is currently located at North Central.
