🌱 210 Freeway Closes Five Days + Ad Targets Hill Street Clark Hotel

Good morning, Los Angeles, and happy National Fajita Day! Here’s what else is going on:

• 🚧 Prepare for a five-day freeway closure
• 🏨 Activists for the homeless want the City to open the Clark Hotel
• 🗄️ A rather large safe sat on a hillside

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First, today's weather:

☀️ Plenty of sun. High: 84 Low: 64.

🌡️ FYI: To locate a cooling center in Los Angeles, call 3-1-1, reach out to the Los Angeles Public Library Public Information Office at (213) 228-7555, or find your nearest location and its hours on the current list of county facilities.

⛽ Three Of The Cheapest Gas Stations In Los Angeles

• 76 at 3915 E Olympic Blvd., $4.74
• Kwik Serv at 2600 N Figueroa St., $4.79
• Arco at 2050 W Manchester Ave., $4.89

🤔 Homelessness Poll!

CNN reports that Los Angeles County has a homeless population of “more than 66,400 people.” The numbers are increasing. Do you think that city governments are doing enough? Are there better solutions? Please let me know your thoughts! So far, 29.6% favor more infrastructure investment, 17% want federal involvement, 1.5% say faith-based groups need to step up, 5.9% want the military to open its bases, and 43.7% ask for justice system involvement.

📰 Here are the top five stories in Los Angeles today:

1) If you routinely take the 210 Freeway, listen up! A five-day closure that started Wednesday at 10 p.m. has been announced. The closure is on the eastbound side, “between the 605 Freeway and Irwindale Avenue.” “Ramps from the 605 Freeway to the eastbound 210 will be closed, along with the westbound 210 Irwindale Avenue onramps, the westbound 210 connector to the southbound 605 and the eastbound 210 Mount Olive Drive onramps.” If all goes as planned, the stretch reopens Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (NBC)

2) The Clark Hotel at 426 South Hill Street has been sitting vacant for years. Organizations involved with people experiencing homelessness have long favored turning vacant hotel properties into housing opportunities. However, the owners of the property are a “press-shy family.” We learned on Wednesday that activists are upping the ante with “a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 14, urging the city of Los Angeles to open the vacant Clark Hotel” to the homeless. Doing so would provide an additional 348 to 500 units. So far, there’s been no response. (The Real Deal)

3) There was a safe on the hillside at Wrightwood and Mulholland drives on Tuesday. Nobody knows whose it is or how (or why) it got there. What we do know is that the PD recovered it and hauled it off as evidence. If you’re missing a safe . . . (KTLA)

4) The Los Angeles Zoo announced Tuesday that it will receive “$2.2 million in funding from the 22/23 State Budget for L.A. Zoo animal welfare, conservation and accessibility and inclusion projects.” Before now, the zoo hasn’t received state budget funds. Look for “state-of-the-art design elements and drought-tolerant native plants in the planned Angela Collier Garden education and event space.” Other improvements will benefit Cape Vultures and Trumpeter Swans. (LA Zoo)

5) Mark your calendars! The iconic Power House Bar at 1714 North Highland is coming back next month! Sure, it will be under new ownership and likely go in a new direction, but the operators assert they intend to keep it “as mellow and slightly gritty as it has been for the past 70-odd years, complete with a worn bar and low lighting.” Look for the grand opening information! (LA Eater)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Collage Making at the Central Library (1 p.m.)
• AltaMed Health Services hosts a National Senior Citizen Day Event (1 p.m.)
• Father John Misty with special guest Suki Waterhouse at the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever (6 p.m.)
• Leimert Park Comedy Night at 3339 W 43rd St (7:30 p.m.)
• *ESCAPATE* Reggaeton Party at the Apt 503 Lounge (10 p.m.)

📓 From my notebook:

• 🚒🔥 Surrounded by the Osby and Fire Department families, Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby ceremoniously hung his turnout coat and helmet on the Wall of Honor. (Los Angeles County Fire Dept. via Instagram)
• A sewing box full of stories and surprises 👀 is now on view in "Archive of the World." This special sewing box tells many stories — stories of artistic exchange through the materials and motifs used, stories of life in Mexico and more! (LA County Museum of Art via Instagram)
• Even film buffs have to get out from in front of the screen sometimes. Relive the iconic scene from "La La Land" (2016) and ride the 1901 funicular Angel's Flight Railway, located in Little Tokyo. Check out more fun things! (Discover Los Angeles via Facebook)
• Let’s build new learning about social-emotional wellbeing and academic success. Join the LAUSD during the Family Academy Webinar on Monday, August 22 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• Registration is now open for Brandford and Victory Valley Child Care Centers! Ages 2 to kindergarten accepted in a safe and caring environment. There are STEM focused activities and more! (LA City Recreation & Parks via Instagram)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Los Angeles Daily? Contact me at losangeles@patch.com