Candidates concerned that Mayor Garcetti will leave position mid-term

Candidates in Los Angeles’ mayoral race said they think incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti will be too preoccupied with running for higher office in 2018 to tackle the city’s fundamental issues. Although political consultant Bill Carrick said Garcetti has not yet decided about running for higher office, some candidates believe he will run for governor or […]

Westwood business owners struggle to obtain liquor licenses

If local workers want to get cocktails at happy hour after work, they have limited options in Westwood Village. The Westwood Neighborhood Council, which advises the city on alcohol permit applications, imposes conditions on businesses’ alcohol sales because state guidelines restrict the number of businesses that can sell alcohol in the district. Some say the […]

LA Metro’s Measure M sales tax increase garners support in Westwood

This post was updated on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. Some Westwood officials said they believe more voters will support a sales tax measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that would fund public transit across Los Angeles. Measure M would levy a half-percent sales tax, estimated to raise $860 million per year to build new […]

Westwood Neighborhood Council president to retire, reflects on term

Jerry Brown said he will remember lengthy council meetings, heated controversies and major victories as he prepares to end his final term as president of the Westwood Neighborhood Council this month. Brown, who has been president of the council since 2010, has been involved in controversial issues such as the implementation of a bus-only and […]

Metro Expo extension opens, connects downtown LA to Santa Monica

The Metro Expo Line extension opens Friday, allowing passengers to take the public rail to Santa Monica for the first time since the 1950s. The 15-mile line connects downtown to Santa Monica with a 45-minute ride. It includes a stop on Westwood Boulevard just south of Pico Boulevard. The first phase of the Expo Line, […]

Westwood Neighborhood Council recap – April 13

The Westwood Neighborhood Council meets monthly to discuss issues pertaining to Westwood Village and the surrounding areas. Comments by public officials Faisal Alserri, senior planning deputy for LA City Councilman Paul Koretz’s office, said his team is redrafting its Baseline Mansionization and Hillside Ordinances to limit the buildable area on lots to 50 percent of […]

New graduate class built around Westwood urban planning

A new graduate class will study Westwood Village’s urban planning and propose potential improvements to the neighborhood’s specific plan. Architect John Kaliski’s class at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs will explore the existing Westwood Village Specific Plan, which regulates land use and development design criteria in the Village, and prepare recommendations for the […]