🌱 Overpaying At Pop-Up Restaurants + Construction's Illegal Dumping

Hi all! Today we enjoy National Pancake Day. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new copy of the Los Angeles Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including news on...

• 🤔 Opening City Hall to unhoused neighbors
• 🚘 A car hitting an apartment building
• 🏗️ The Radford Studio Center overhaul

💗 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:

A couple of showers. High: 57 Low: 48.

Are you tired of blending in with all the other real estate agents in Los Angeles? Stand out with a premium sponsorship in our newsletter. Gain valuable exposure for yourself to our highly engaged local readership. Click here to learn more about this exclusive opportunity.

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

• 76 at 3070 Glendale Blvd., $4.29
• Sinaco Oil at 11305 Santa Monica Blvd., $4.35
• United Oil at 4700 W Slauson Ave., $4.35

🍰 Spring Dessert Poll! 🍓
The first day of spring is March 20! Among the things we look forward to in spring are refreshing desserts. Which is your favorite spring dessert? So far, …

• 23.3% voted to write in Key lime pie
• 21.6% chose peach cobbler
• 21.6% opted for lemon bars
• 11.8% selected ambrosia salad
• 9.8% liked fruit tarts
• 5.9% wrote in cheesecake
• 2% loved mixed berry buckle
• 2% picked strawberry icebox cake
• 2% wrote in ice cream or coconut cream pie

📰 Here are the top stories today in Los Angeles:

1. The Los Angeles City Controller, Kenneth Mejia, took to social media on Sunday to remind people that we opened City Hall in 1987 to “shelter unhoused folks in the cold.” What prompted this post was that he saw “an unhoused person frozen lifeless, lying on the street as LAFD paramedics tried to save him.” In addition to City Hall, he also calls for opening rec centers and any other public facility. (LA Controller)
2. A 75-year-old man drove his sedan into a first-floor apartment unit at 6840 North Kester Avenue. His arm was hurt, and first responders took him to a regional trauma center. Nobody else got hurt. To make sure the structure was stabilized, the L.A. Department of Building and Safety came out to evaluate the damage. We still don’t know what caused the single-vehicle crash. (Los Angeles Fire Department)
3. Illegal dumping remains a problem. As of Monday, the three neighborhoods with the worst problems are Van Nuys, Sun Valley and North Hollywood. The three with the fewest number of complaints were Koreatown, Reseda and Florence. While all officials agree it’s a blight, their suggestions range from boosting awareness of the MyLA311 service, where you can report dumping and dumped items to “be(ing) more aggressive to reduce illegal dumping, especially by construction companies.” (Crosstown)
4. The Radford Studio Center at 4024 Radford Avenue is getting a makeover. On Monday morning, we learned that at a price tag of $1 billion, the property put together in the 1920s should help provide the studio space that L.A.’s currently missing. An estimated one million new square feet could be added, which could become, among other things, 20 sound stages, production offices and transportation hubs. (LA Urbanize)
5. Bartz Barbecue’s owner is telling customers they’re paying too much for their food. An $11 cheeseburger is “crazy.” According to Bartz, “most meat items are cheaper now than they were in 2019.” He also takes to task those who complain about the cost of labor, chiding them for underpaying their staff “all along.” However, he’s not just bark, but also bite. Bartz intends to lead by example on Friday by offering single Wagyu Smashburgers for $6 instead of $9 and having other discounted menu items. If you want to take him up on his offer, he’ll be at the Alondra Golf Course starting at 10 a.m. (Bartz Barbecue)

From our sponsor:

Are you tired of the unexpected expenses that come with home repairs? Choice Home Warranty is here to help. With their coverage for your home's major systems and appliances, you can rest easy knowing that they’ve got you covered. Their nationwide network of over 15,000 technicians are ready to help when you need it. Plus, their sign-up process is simple and there’s no inspection required to get started. Don't wait any longer, try Choice Home Warranty today and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is protected.

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Visit Mommy & Me "Momability Classes" at the Sephardic Temple (9:30 AM)
• The Koreatown Youth + Community Center and LA Food Bank give out Free Healthy Food for kids 18 and younger at 80 S Wilton Pl (11 AM)
• Bring your middle-schooler to Robotics at 961 E 61st St (12 PM)
• Show up for Tuesday Night Karaoke at Underdogs Sports Bar (9 PM)
• Sara Niemietz, Linda Taylor, Léo Costa, Daniel Pearson, & Ed Roth play tunes live at Seven Grand (10 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "ARLETA - It took thirty members of the Los Angeles Fire Department less than 17 minutes to access, confine and fully extinguish a heavy fire in the front portion of a vacant one-story home in the 10200 block of Bartee Avenue." (LAFD via Instagram)
• "Are You Ready to Join Our Team and Live the Dream? The LACoFD is pleased to announce the posting of the Firefighter Trainee (Paramedic) Exam. See the posted exam bulletin (with the full list of requirements), Study Guide, and more." (Los Angeles County Fire Dept. via Instagram)
• "In the City of Los Angeles: please report potholes, downed street trees, inoperative streetlights or traffic signals, clogged storm drains and any rainstorm related damage or issue *requiring action* by City of Los Angeles officials." (Los Angeles Fire Department via Facebook)
• "The cold weather continues this week. If you need a warm, dry place to stay, winter shelters are available. Call 2-1-1 or visit http://lahsa.org/winter-shelter for more information." (Los Angeles County)
• "Acclaimed chef and Netflix 'Chef’s Table' star Massimo Bottura returns to Los Angeles on March 8 to prepare dinner at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura." (LA Eater)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Los Angeles?

• Median Listing Home Price $1.1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $658
• Median Sold Home Price $885K

Check out more Los Angeles real estate information!

🐶 See adorable adoptable Pets Of The Week in the Los Angeles Area!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• The Best You Expo (March 3)
• The Best You Expo is coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center (March 4)
• 5th Annual The Best You Awards Ceremony and Charity Gala (March 4)
• Liddy Clark at The Peppermint Club (March 25)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at losangeles@patch.com