Joe Biden's Motorcade Likely to Clog Local Streets

One of the Westside’s busiest avenues will be subject to a rolling traffic closure during Monday afternoon’s rush hour, apparently to make way for Vice President Joe Biden’s motorcade towards a fundraiser.

The trip starts his two-day visit to Los Angeles, where he will speak at a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, featuring a performance by Carole King, at the home of Ann and Jim Gianopulos.

Jim Gianopulos is the Chairman/CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

The event, scheduled at 5:45 p.m., is billed as the “When WOMEN succeed America succeeds Cocktail Reception with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden.” According to an invitation posted on the website PoliticalPartyTime.org, other hosts of the event include DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, former Warner Bros. Entertainment Chairman Barry Meyer, film producer Peter Chernin, philanthropist Hope Warschaw and director/producer James L. Brooks.

Beverly Hills police issued an advisory today, which said a “dignitary motorcade” would “cause temporary road closures” along the eight-lane-wide Santa Monica Boulevard from the San Diego (405) Freeway east about two miles to Beverly Hills. The closures were scheduled for between 3 and 5 p.m.

The Secret Service and local police almost never release the Vice President’s exact route. And it was thus unclear how the motorcade would get to the 405 at Santa Monica Boulevard or what it will do in Beverly Hills.

Biden will join Mayor Eric Garcetti at a roundtable discussion on the minimum wage on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles events are part of a six-city, four-state, four-day Western trip for Biden, set to begin Monday in Las Vegas with an event on raising the minimum wage.

From Los Angeles, he will head to Bakersfield for an event with California State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state and congressional candidate Amanda Renteria, who is challenging Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to be in Los Angeles on Thursday. He is expected to attend a fundraiser at the home of actress and longtime supporter Gwyneth Paltrow.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.