🌱 Rival Sabotages Street Vendor + Shots Outside Westwood Byblos

Happy Tuesday, people of Los Angeles, and happy National Dark Chocolate Day! Let's get this day started. Here are the most important things happening in Los Angeles today.

The world of street vending is more cut-throat than most customers understand. Also, there was a shooting outside the Byblos Restaurant. Finally, the disagreements over naming a length of a street after Vicente Fernández continue.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 64 Low: 47.

Here are the top five stories today in Los Angeles:

1. On Thursday, Tacos la Guera, a street vendor, set up business as usual. However, a rival food truck vendor vandalized the setup by “first throwing water on their food and then spraying their cooking fires with a fire extinguisher.” One of the street vendors said, “the man threatened to kill them, for not leaving the spot that he claimed was normally his.” The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department arrested the rival vendor at his home. (U.S. News, CBS)
2. There was a shooting Monday night outside the Byblos Mediterranean Restaurant and Hookah Bar, located at 1964 Westwood Boulevard. “Video from the scene showed multiple shell casings left in the street outside the restaurant.” Two people were injured and drove themselves to UCLA Medical Center. (KTLA)
3. Last Tuesday, we discussed that some members of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council don't want to go along with City Council Member Kevin de León’s idea of renaming Bailey Street between 1st Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in honor of the late Vicente Fernández. On Sunday, we learned that some LGBTQ+ activists are joining the protest. The Latino Equality Alliance supports the neighborhood organization that feels left out from discussions over the issue. If you’d like to give input, you may do so at the “upcoming Planning and Land Use Committee meeting on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at 6:15 pm.” (Patch, L.A. Blade)
4. In spite of L.A. being a real estate seller’s market, celebrities don’t think twice about picking up adjacent properties as they come on the market. We learned Sunday that this practice is being referred to as land banking. “Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel and model Miranda Kerr’s $100 million-plus purchase of two lots in Holmby Hills” are the latest examples. Apparently, land banking has been common practice in Malibu for some time. (The Hollywood Reporter)
5. Heart is replacing Club Rage at 8911 Santa Monica Boulevard. It is billed as “the biggest gay nightclub in the US.” NSYNC’s Lance Bass is a partner in the venture that will open on February 11. (L.A. Eater)

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Today in Los Angeles:

• Men’s Breakfast at Norm’s (7 AM)
• Archdiocese Employment Fair at San Fernando Mission Catholic Cemetery (10 AM)
• Exhibition - Supercars: A Century Of Spectacle and Speed at the Petersen Automotive Museum (10 AM to 5 PM)
• Virtual Book Club with the Palos Verdes Library District (11 AM)
• Lunar New Year Celebration Open House at the Spatial Sciences Institute (3 PM)

From my notebook:

• LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas approved all LAFD members (who so desire) to wear Rams caps until February 15th. • Go Rams!! • Note: Caps are not provided by the LAFD but are purchased by individuals opting to do so. (Instagram)
• Discover Los Angeles invites you to celebrate the Lunar New Year at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens on Feb. 5-6, with lion dancers, mask-changing artists, and martial arts demonstrations, as well as music, crafts, and more. (Facebook)
• An Obregon Park-East LA neighbor is looking for a referral for a company that does motorized gates/iron fences and are reasonably priced. (Nextdoor)
• A NoHo neighbor is wondering if anyone actually came across any N95 distribution? They haven't seen any at either a CVS or Rite Aid. (Nextdoor)
• A kind West of Lincoln Heights neighbor wants to know where they can donate some women's clothing. The Salvation Army is not accepting donation anymore. (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Understanding the Probate Process (Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A) (February 2)
• Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones - Webinar w/ Live Chat Q&A (February 2)
• Westridge Summer opportunities Fair (February 5)
• Benefits of a Medi-Cal Trust Webinar (w/ Live Chat Q&A) (February 5)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 8)
• 41st Annual CARSplus Convention : Networking for Success and Best Practices (February 25)
• [Free Masterclass] Increase Your Website Sales & Leads Using SEO (February 26)
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Announcements:

• Holiday Special $200 Off Rent For Patch Users! Santa Monica Apts (Details)
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That's it 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.