🌱 Mercy Housing Breaks Ground On Whittier Blvd + Best Pho In L.A.

Good morning, neighbors! Today, we play along with National Play Monopoly Day! It's Saturday in Los Angeles, and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know that's happening in the community, including news on:

• 🌊 The L.A. River Rangers program launch
• 🚘 Best driving times on L.A. highways for the holiday
• 👮 Available jobs at Los Angeles Airport Security

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌞 But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 75 Low: 48.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in Los Angeles

• Valero at 500 S Alameda St., $4.89
• USA Gasoline at 3541 E Cesar Chavez Ave., $4.89
• Unico at 4072 Verdugo Rd., $4.95

🦃 Thanksgiving Poll!
Thanksgiving is on November 24th. How do you celebrate? So far, 44.6% celebrate a big meal as a family tradition, while 30.1% don’t celebrate and treat it like any other day. In a smaller group, 1.2% don’t celebrate because they feel it glorifies the conquest of Native Americans; however, 24.1% choose to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving out of gratitude.

📰 Here are the top stories in Los Angeles today:

1) In the newly launched L.A. River Rangers program, according to a Thursday report, “127 young L.A. residents” will be hired to “help with the maintenance and beautification” of an 18-mile stretch along the river. The L.A. Board of Public Works will be in charge of the program. Right now, it's scheduled to last for 18 months. “Rangers can be part-time or full-time and must be 31 years or younger.” You can apply for the program at the Hire LA’s Youth website. (KTLA)

2) Mercy Housing broke ground at 3552 Whittier Boulevard, to build 63 affordable housing studio apartments for people who were previously homeless. “Common areas will include a lounge, a laundry room, a kitchen, and landscaped outdoor areas.” It's interesting to note that the developer uses “a modular, prefabricated model,” which cuts costs and speeds up construction. The projected completion date is August 2023. (Multi Housing News)

3) We learned on Friday that Los Angeles highways are among the busiest this Thanksgiving holiday. (In other news, water is wet!) However, researchers have nailed down the worst and best times to be on the road. On Wednesday, peak traffic time will be between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. If you're traveling for the holiday, head out before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. On Thursday, get on the road before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m. If you’re traveling back on the weekend, leave before 2 p.m. on Saturday or after 8 p.m. If you drive on Sunday, hit the road before 11 a.m. (Fox)

4) If you’re looking for a job, Los Angeles Airport Security is hiring! The division is looking for “new officers responsible for traffic control, vehicle inspections, access control and more.” If you want to get in on the action, you must submit your online application by Monday. The salary range is between $45,000 and $85,000. (LAX Airport, Los Angeles World Airports)

5) Who serves the best pho in Los Angeles? According to insiders, you cannot go wrong by heading to Phorage at 300 Overland Avenue or 7326 Santa Monica Boulevard. The primary meat option is rare beef, but you can also opt for oxtail. What sets this restaurant apart from others is the “fish sauce and other natural umami elements, which give the broth a greater level of savoriness.” (LA Eater)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Rise Up Against Addiction Walk meets at Grand Park (8 AM)
• Film Fest LA at Regal L.A. Live (11 AM)
• Lightscape Holiday Walk-Thru at the L.A. Arboretum (5:30 AM)
• BlackPink Concert at Banc of California Stadium (8 PM)
• Elton John plays the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour at Dodger Stadium (8 PM)
  

📓 From my notebook:

• "Thank you to the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce for hosting our Los Angeles County firefighters at the 2022 First Responders’ Appreciation BBQ!" (Los Angeles County Fire Dept. via Instagram)
• "Los Angeles Unified families: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no school next week, Nov. 21-25. School will resume on Monday, Nov. 28." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "The City of Los Angeles is now accepting applications for Locksmith! Salary: $92,498 (Flat-Rated) - $117,512 - Closes: December 1, 2022 - Visit https://governmentjobs.com/car... for more information on this opportunity! (City of Los Angeles - Jobs via Instagram)
• "Celebrity chef Carla P Hall helped us kick off a new partnership with JennieO in which we will exclusively serve antibiotic-free turkey and continue our commitment to elevate school nutrition." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "On November 16, 2022, your LAFD participated in a multi-agency Port Security Exercise for the Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach. Here's a quick look inside that exercise." (Los Angeles Fire Department via Facebook)

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Events:

• Venice Winter Fest (November 19)
• Angel City Christmas (December 11)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— 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