Purple ‘P’ indicates offer of free parking
Free validated parking in Westwood, initiated by the Westwood
Village Community Alliance and officiated by Councilman Michael
Feuer, began on Nov. 21.
The busy shopping season before Christmas encouraged the idea
but the success has allowed the system to stay.
There are five parking lots sprinkled throughout Westwood that
participate with 41 merchants in providing service. The special
designated parking lots and stores are denoted by a big purple "P"
at the entrance or in the window.
The cutoff time when the free parking stops is 5 p.m. In
addition, stores require an expenditure of at least $10 for two
hours of free parking.
Benefits from this seemingly cheap and convenient way of
shopping in Westwood include lighter traffic from less cruising
around searching for a space and more relaxed customers.
"Our customers love it. Somehow when they come into our jewelry
store they seem more relaxed and comfortable," Leonard Friedman,
owner of Crescent Jewelers, said. "I guess they feel they have
already been welcomed by the easy-to-find free parking."
Santa Ana winds scour L.A. for second day
Fierce Santa Ana winds raked Southern California again Tuesday,
causing a house fire, countless toppling trees and keeping major
highways treacherous for trucks.
At least two deaths were blamed on the two days of wind: a man
crushed by a tree and a motorist killed in a crash when traffic
signals lost power.
Howling winds gusting 77 mph on Monday blew over big rigs, trees
and a home under construction. But the Santa Anas subsided slightly
today with gusts averaging 50 mph. Gusts to 64 mph were clocked in
San Gabriel Valley.
Fourteen tractor-trailer rigs were tipped over by the wind on
Monday, mostly along Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County.
Winds were expected to diminish Tuesday as pressure gradients
eased. The winds were generated by a flow of air into Southern
California and toward the coast from a high pressure dome over the
Great Basin.
The California Highway Patrol said roads closed earlier due to
high winds were open Tuesday, but I-10 through San Bernardino and
Riverside counties was hazardous for big-rigs and other high
profile vehicles.
It was a restless morning for homeowners coping with sporadic
power outages and the unrelenting window-rattling gusts.
During peak winds Monday, several airlines had to abort landings
at Burbank Airport and make a second try.
Passenger Bob Passolacque compared it to an amusement park
thrill ride: "It was like being at Magic Mountain. We were getting
blown all over the place."
Altogether, blackouts hit about 240,000 of Southern California
Edison’s 4 million customers for periods ranging from a momentary
blink to several hours, said Edison spokesman Kevin Kelley.
More than 30,000 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
customers also lost power for various times.
About 10,000 customers remained without power overnight, said
Valerie Roberts Gray, a DWP spokeswoman. Most of those without
power were in the San Fernando Valley area, she said.
The DWP expected to have service completely restored by some
time Wednesday morning, she said.
New UCLA emergency hotline established
UCLA has a new telephone hotline providing up-to-date recorded
bulletins in emergencies, such as an earthquake or fire. The number
is 1-800-900-UCLA.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports.