Local Palisades Groups Oppose Potential Digital Bus Stop Signs

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Two community groups in the Palisades have expressed their displeasure at the potential addition of digital advertisement signs being added to bus shelters. Pacific Palisades Community Council and Palisades PRIDE sent a letter opposing the potential change to Adel Hagekhalil, Executive Director & General Manager of the Bureau of Street Services/StreetsLA, along with Mayor Garcetti and Councilmember Bonin.

PPCC and PRIDE say the digital signs would be an eyesore in the community, and fear they would be a public safety hazard, despite being a potential revenue source for the city. The two groups want to block the Request for Proposals process so that local residents can give comment.

"PPCC and PRIDE respectfully request that the City halt the RFP process for the Project in order to allow public and local community input before any decisions are made as to specifications and scope of the Project," the letter says. "If BSS determines to go forward, it must do so in accordance with the Brentwood-Pacific Palisades Community Plan and the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Specific Plan, and it must engage in necessary environmental review and California Coastal Commission approval process, as required in the Coastal Zone."

In a separate letter, PPCC and PRIDE say they were unaware of the proposal, which they claim was only made available to registered businesses in the Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network.

"Principles of open government require that sufficient notice and an adequate opportunity for comment must be provided to local communities, including neighborhood and community councils, before such a widespread and impactful program is initiated," the second letter said.

The Bureau of Street Services and Board of Public Works has yet to respond on the issue.