The 7th Annual A Taste of South Park returns on Saturday, September 26, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at 11th Street and Grand Avenue.

‍ Graffiti removal from windows in the middle Oceanwide tower began the week of August 10 — but not without problems.

The L.A. Board of Building and Safety Commissioners unanimously voted the Hope Street properties at 1220, 1224, and 1246-48 public nuisance properties on Tuesday, August 25.  This status shifts the property from standard code compliance to mandatory government intervention and legal enforcement. With that designation L.A. officials have more tools, legally and financially, to enact on nuisance properties.

As you walk around South Park, you have likely seen a lot of people working very hard to keep our landscaping alive. Business Improvement District (BID) employees and property maintenance crews water rose bushes and other ornamental plants in tree wells and planters throughout the neighborhood. And yet, in many places, those plants look pretty shabby. In others, they’ve died altogether.

‍ Archer Aviation has just announced a partnership with AEG (developers and operators of LA Live) to provide a vertical takeoff and landing site (Vertiport) for access by their eVTOL all electric aircraft.  And this is happening soon – not well out in the future.  The partnership plans to have its air taxi service up and running before L.A. hosts the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games!

November’s General Election includes 14 statewide measures on taxes and state budget, housing and infrastructure, voting and elections, and healthcare and research. 

The  L.A. Charter Reform Commission was formed after the 2022 City Hall audio scandal where the LA City Council President, two other City Council Members, and the President of the LA County Federation of Labor were recorded during an hour-long conversation  revealing racist and derogatory language and political gerrymandering.

City of Los Angeles November ballot measures include funding for the L.A. Fire Department, finance rules for LAUSD Board of Education, and tax exemption for Palisades fire properties.

‍While there are 14 statewide propositions on the California ballot a few specific high-stakes measures are dominating media coverage, political spending, and campaign debates. The one most discussed is Proposition 40 referred to as the “Billionaire Tax” that lead to Propositions 41 and 42 which are counter measures to Proposition 40 from the opponents of the “billionaire tax.” 

Proposition 39 would amend the California Constitution to require government-issued photo ID for in-person voting and ID verification (such as the last four digits of an ID) for mail-in ballots. The voter ID would be provided free from the state. The proposition orders election officials to verify citizenship and perform audits.

There is no way to sugarcoat this month’s numbers: one condominium sold in all of South Park during the past 30 days.

‍One of the best parts of raising kids in South Park is that family outings don't require packing up the car for a long trip across town. Whether it’s a morning at Grand Hope Park, catching a Sparks game at Crypto, or a short walk up Grand, living downtown gives our kids a front-row seat to a host of unique spaces and experiences. ‍ ‍

  Enjoying a pleasant morning on Saturday, August 22, I attended the Third Anniversary South Park/Social District Farmer’s Market. The weekly farmer’s market is now in its third year on Grand Ave. and has become a firmly entrenched feature of our neighborhood.

A gathering of 200+ neighbors converged on the patio of Audio Graph to meet, mix, mingle, connect, engage, and socialize. Enjoy the photos!

‍When Dr. Lori Aliksanian moved to South Park nearly 12 years ago, opening a business here wasn’t part of the plan. She was already traveling to downtown almost every week from the South Bay and was drawn to a clean, walkable, and vibrant neighborhood, with plenty of restaurants, entertainment, and things to do. As a young woman and dog owner, South Park offered the kind of urban lifestyle she was looking for.

  Downtown Los Angeles Residents Association (DTLA RA) has been organizing and fighting for solutions to the open-air drug use in downtown LA as well as many other downtown issues. Their efforts grabbed the attention of the LA Mayor’s office and city officials are now responding.

Are you interested in volunteering to build community, support our local businesses, and advocate for the South Park neighborhood? If so, please consider applying for an open seat on the SPNA Board.