Helping the Neighborhood DLANC, Convention Center, Robo Cop
Community Updates
Open Position on Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC)
DLANC is seeking an interested business owner or employee for the South Park Business Director vacancy. Business owners or employees located within the South Park Boundaries (the light-green area on the Boundary Map) can apply for the seat.
This is an opportunity to voice the needs and concerns of your community to city leaders, departments, and other stakeholders in our neighborhood.
*All applicants must provide documents that show the following:
1. Government Issued Photo Identification & Proof of Age (I.D. or Passport)
2. Document(s) proving that they meet specific stakeholder requirements (Note: documents must show that you qualify as a stakeholder**)
*If you are unable or do not have access to provide or submit the required documentation, please contact us for assistance.
3. If you would like to apply to fill this vacancy, please contact debby.zhou@dlanc.com and bellanaomi.ostby@dlanc.com.
All documentation must be submitted by April 7, 2024, to be considered during the April Board Meeting. Applicants will be required to attend the April 9, 2024 meeting of the Board of Directors to answer questions and to be sworn in, if selected.
By Jens Midthun, Outreach Coordinator DLANC
LA Convention Center Expansion Needs Your Help
As reported in the January 2024 SPNA newsletter, the Los Angeles Convention Center expansion and modernization is before the LA City Council for approval/funding. In January, SPNA offered our support for the project at the LA City Council’s Trade, Travel & Tourism Committee.
Now we encourage South Park residents and business owners to submit public comment cards here https://cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment/?cfnumber=15-1207-S1 for the following reasons which can be included in your public comment:
The Convention Center is a critical asset to our community – it provides economic benefits through events and conventions.
The age and size of the Convention Center has resulted in the loss of events and conventions which reduces commercial activity in our neighborhood.
The LA28 Olympics games demand more of our Convention Center. The work needs to be done now vs. after the Olympics.
The city should seek a private/public partnership to minimize risk to the taxpayers and allow for an accelerated project timeline.
Despite the cost of the expansion project, the indirect benefits and boost to the economy far outweighs the cost to the city.
The convention center expansion project will encourage more hotel and hospitality development which provides additional tax revenue to the city.
The convention center expansion project will further aid the recovery of Downtown Los Angeles which was heavily impacted during the pandemic.
We need your support in building a stronger South Park neighborhood!
By Debra Shrout
Robo Cops Patrolling Hope & Flower
Have you noticed the Jetson’s Rosie the Robot look alike on 12th Street between Hope and Flower. The Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) are the newest technology to attempt to provide security in place of costly and sometimes ineffective humans.
I was brave enough to get close enough to this intimidating machine as it was taking a charging break in front of Muffin Can Stop Us. In addition, to some graffiti on her torso, I read, “RECORDING Audio and Video For Safety.”
The brand is Knightscope. Their website provides further info. “We use a unique combination of self-driving technology, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and electric “vehicles” to provide humans with extra eyes, ears, and a voice on the ground.” The site continues its pitch, “Unlike traditional security teams, we are workaholics. The force can work up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and we don’t complain about it. We are physical deterrents for illicit activities...”
It feels like a new chapter of “big brother” is watching us. It will be interesting to see how long they last, whether this becomes the trend, and its effectiveness. In the meantime, feel free to take a selfie with them. Just don’t pull the plug.
By Marty Goldberg