🌱 Fire At 43rd St. 2-Story Fourplex + Hate Alleged At El Compadre

Good morning, friends! Today, we appreciate the uphill battle that is Cat Herders Day! It's Sylvia, your host of the Daily. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know that's going on these days in town. Today's briefing includes news about:

• 🚓 A stolen truck crashing on Vernon Avenue
• ⚠️ A school worker rally at the district’s headquarters
• 🌇 A green light for the development at 5600 Hollywood Boulevard

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🌥️ But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 61 Low: 48.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Los Angeles

• 76 at 1460 S La Cienega Blvd., $3.99
• United Oil at 705 N Eastern Ave., $4.09
• Unico at 4072 Verdugo Rd., $4.15

⏰ New Year’s Resolutions Poll! 🎶
According to Forbes, only 8% of people making New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them. Even so, the experts suggest making resolutions because they encourage intentionality, optimism, and a positive effect on others. So, what are your resolutions for 2023? So far, 66.7% intend to meet new people or interact more with current friends. Another 33.3% plan to travel or experience something new.

Here are the top stories today in Los Angeles:

1. On Tuesday, just after 1 p.m., a pickup crashed into street vendors at 436 West Vernon Avenue. Reportedly, the truck was stolen, and the accident might have been the tail end of a police pursuit. “Debris from the crash was strewn in the street and parking lot, including the remnants of an umbrella from the fruit stand.” (KTLA)
2. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to 1118 West 43rd Street, a two-story fourplex, on Tuesday. The fire was contained to the “2nd floor of two units.” Forty firefighters put out the flames in 29 minutes. Reportedly, a search of the location was hampered by “excessive storage conditions creating challenges in making entry.” (LAFD)
3. Los Angeles school workers rallied in front of 333 South Beaudry Avenue, where the school district’s superintendent and school board met on Tuesday. These were “custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and classroom assistants” who went to the headquarters “as a step toward authorizing a strike.” Claiming they went “from heroes to zeroes,” they are dissatisfied with the ongoing bargaining that right now would get them “about $1,000 additional per year for most workers.” The district says it is “committed to compensating our employees fairly in this current economic environment, while also preserving our ability to provide services to our students.” (Yahoo!)
4. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to approve the development at 5600 Hollywood Boulevard. An appeal claiming “the project fails to comply with local zoning regulations, and would be incompatible with surrounding developments” had halted the project, situated “along the west side of St. Andrews Place between Hollywood Boulevard in the north and Carlton Way to the south.” The approval allows the developer to go forward with a 14-story building offering 150 units, of which 15 are designated as affordable housing. (L.A. Urbanize)
5. Did a staff member at Echo Park’s El Compadre restaurant chastise two men for kissing on Monday? Reportedly, a manager told the guests that “this is a family restaurant” where “we don’t allow that behavior.” The guest and his date left the restaurant at that time, but later he took to social media to talk about the situation. The restaurant posted and then deleted a statement that affirms its solidarity with the LGBTQ community and asks for “time to seek out what happened, gather more information, and take appropriate action.” In the meantime, the guest says, “I will never be back. I encourage you all to find another place too.” (Raw Story)

Today in Los Angeles:

• Preschool Storytime at the Playa Vista Branch Library (10 AM)
• Beastie Boys EXHIBIT at Beyond the Streets (11 AM)
• Sports Drive Comedy at Third Wheel Hollywood (6 PM)
• Billie Eilish at the Kia Forum (7:30 PM)
• Dudamel leads the Tristan Project Act I at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• "Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Saves Man from Choking! On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Sergeant Duncan was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department County Services Bureau and was patrolling an alley. Seeing a man was choking and could not breathe, Sergeant Duncan immediately applied the Heimlich maneuver. After about 5-6 thrusts, Sergeant Duncan was able to dislodge the food particles that obstructed the man's airway." (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via Facebook)
  
• "We've got a few new ornaments on the tree this year." (Los Angeles Public Library via Facebook)
• "Sheriff Luna, Actor Danny Trejo, along with other law enforcement and Industry experts will discuss the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and launch an innovative public awareness campaign regarding these deadly drugs." (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via Facebook)
• "This last weekend at The Ambassador, we bid a celebratory farewell to violinist Julie Gigante and her musical legacy at LACO after 34 remarkable years." (Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Year End Considerations and Divorce – Vesta's Beverly Hills/South Bay Hub (December 16)
• Winter UNCORKED (December 16)
• Holiday Small Business Popup (December 17)
• CONJURE THE LIGHT: A Night of Holiday Rock & Soul (December 19)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— 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