District Roundup

Now that the budget has been laid to rest (pending mayoral signature), we have some links around the district:

One of my first campaign promises was to build a branch library in Silver Lake. Thanks to the fact that Proposition DD, the 1998 Library Bond passed by the voters came in under budget, I successfully lobbied the Library Department to take the savings and build a library in Silver Lake. After securing additional funding, finding a site, and working to make it a "green" library (it will be one of the most environmentally sensitive buildings built in Los Angeles) that evoked some of the great Modernist architecture in Silver Lake, we moved forward. Curbed L.A. covers the latest news on the library.

This year's annual Cuban Festival in Echo Park was a great success on Sunday. Jamaican Salsero was there and captured some pictures and a video of the Salsa Kids.

Atwater Village Newbie covers a moment in time when the Red Car made its last journey to Atwater Village.

On Thursday night, in East Hollywood/Mid-City, I attended the Second Annual Bresee Youth Film Festival, which highlighted more than forty young filmmakers from local high schools who tackled this year's theme, High School Dropouts. I was one of the judges and the films were a collection of raw, gripping, moving works that put a new light on an issue getting new attention throughout our city.

On the wheels of Bike-to-Work-Week Will Campbell has a good piece in the Los Angeles Times on integrating bikes into the Los Angeles streetscape through mainstreeting, not bike lanes.

The latest Griffith Park news from the City.

And lastly, for a great visit of the Los Angeles of yesteryear, check out LA Time Machines.