LAFD Declares Red Flag Parking Restrictions Will Be In Effect Again Thursday

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, December 5, 2017.  Tuesday, neighbors who parked on the Freeway side of Corralitas Drive, in defiance of the Red Flag Day No Parking signs, got $68 tickets.  The point of the freeway side of the street being clear on Corralitas, where vehicle  access is extremely limited, is to have consistent access for emergency vehicles while leaving the street open for neighbors to escape safely.

After first lifting Red Flag parking restrictions 8 AM today, LAFD has called a Red Flag Day for tomorrow, Thursday December 7, 2017, beginning at 8AM.  Text of the message sent:

DATE/TIME: 12/06/2017 / 03:11:53PM

SUBJECT: RED FLAG PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT

The City of Los Angeles has declared that Red Flag No Parking Restrictions to be in effect starting 8:00 AM on 12/07/2017 and will remain in effect until further notice.

For additional information please visit our website at: http://notify.lafd.org/redflag OR call 3-1-1. Thank you for your cooperation.

Note: The Call Center's operating hours are from 08:00 AM to 4:45 PM daily including weekends and holidays.

Ref:notify.lafd.org-37005

LAFD Declared Red Flag Parking Restrictions In Effect Tues, Dec 5, 2017, Until Further Notice

Photo: Diane Edwardson September 9, 2009.  LAFD declared a Red Flag Day starting at 8AM, Tuesday, December 5, 2017.  LAFD's website has become difficult to sign up for, or change how you receive notices.  Some of us, who've been signed up for alerts since the program began, got notice; others did not.  Once again, I got a call and email but not a text.  I used to receive all three. I recommend following @LAFDtalk on Twitter.

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor June 19, 2016.  The Silver Lake Fire illustrated why Corralitas Drive is a Red Flag Day No Parking street.  There is only one access road, Rosebud Ave, to about 52 homes on Corralitas Drive, a substandard Hillside Street with hairpin turns.  If you didn't drive out before the Fire Dept arrived, you could not drive off the hill.  June 19, 2017 was not a Red Flag Day.  Neighbors a half a mile away, reported 6" embers blowing past their homes.  

The recent fires in Orange County, Napa Valley and Santa Rosa were wind driven fires.

December 1, 2011, we had a major windstorm that knocked down trees, knocked out power and started a fire on Lake View Ave.  

LAFD Declares First Red Flag Day In 3 Years

Photo: Diane Edwardson September 9, 2009.  LAFD declared a Red Flag Day starting at 8AM Tuesday, Oct 24, 2017.  LAFD's website has become difficult to sign up for or change how you receive notices.  Some of us, who've been signed up for alerts since the program began, got notice, others did not.  I got a call and email but not a text.  I used to receive all three. I recommend following @LAFDtalk on Twitter.

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor June 19, 2016.  The Silver Lake Fire illustrated why Corralitas Drive is a Red Flag Day No Parking street.  There is only one access road, Rosebud Ave, to about 52 homes on Corralitas.  If you didn't drive out before the Fire Dept arrived, you could not drive off the hill.  June 19, 2017 was not a Red Flag Day.  Neighbors a half a mile away reported 6" embers blowing past their homes.  

The recent fires in Orange County, Napa Valley and Santa Rosa were wind driven fires.
  
9:15 PM: Typos were corrected.

Red Car Property Neighborhood: Signs Of The Times

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, September 15, 2017.  Last week, LA City Fire Department began posting "No Smoking, No Discarding of Burning Objects" signs in the Hillside Area surrounding the Red Car Property and Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract (above photo at Allesandro and Rosebud - the sole vehicle entrance to the steep Semi Tropic hillside).

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, September 15, 2017.  The municipal code sections are referenced on the signs, here seen at the site of the 2016 Silver Lake Fire at the end of Corralitas Drive.  The LAFD has the authority to place these signs in Hillside Areas. 

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, September 15, 2017.  While brush may be cleared in many of the areas now, brush is often often dry for months before it is cleared.   Neighbors who've seen the same signs all over the Hollywood Hills for decades, noted their more recent proliferation in Beachwood Canyon and requested the signs for our neighborhood.  Several neighbors provided a list of suggested locations to the LAFD fire marshal overseeing the placement of the signs.

Photo: Jay Lieske, September 23, 2017.  Indeed, the fire marshal compared parts of our  neighborhood to neighborhoods in the Hollywood Hills.  We have many isolated areas like this one on Adelbert, right up against brush areas on narrow winding Hillside streets with no through traffic, in addition to public staircases and paper streets that are hidden and open to the Red Car Property.

Neighbors welcomed the signs as a reminder we live in a tinder dry hillside neighborhood.  Neighbors hope the signs get the attention of smokers who carelessly discard their cigarettes in dry brush areas.  At least one neighbor documented discarded cigarettes in parts of the neighborhood in the request for signs.  Neighbors noted areas where partying, homeless camps and squatter houses have attracted problems.  

I've asked for these signs for 25 years.  I'm grateful to the Red Car Property Neighbor who was able to devote time and energy into spearheading this project to making it a reality. 

Corralitas Drive: "Since CalTrans [Expletive Deleted] Woke Me Up This Morning"

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, August 27, 2017.  Sunday, a neighbor got a scenic sunrise shot because CalTrans started chainsawing on the 2 Freeway medians at 6:30 AM.

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, August 27, 2017.  The neighbor could not see what CalTrans was doing to the freeway through the neighbor's trees. However the work appeared to take place in the two medians on the northbound side, south of Rosebud Ave.  The neighbor wondered if there were any trees left on the 2 for CalTrans to remove.

Note: We're playing catch up for the month of August. This was post was actually published 8-28-17 and backdated to the date the photo was shot and originally published on Twitter. 

Reminder: Keep A Fire Lane Open*

*Post originally published July 2, 2015.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 4, 2014. Last October's fire on the slope between Lake View Ave and the Red Car Property (caused by a blown transformer), showed just how tricky it is for the LAFD to navigate our narrow winding streets.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Luckily, there was no wind and the damage was confined to the brush on a slope where homeowners had done their brush clearance.  A lot of neighbors on Lake View got a wake up call about the importance of keeping a lane of traffic open for emergency vehicles.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 4, 2014.  Most neighbors on this part of Lake View already  took brush clearance and tree trimming seriously. 

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, August 13, 2010.  Riverside Place is one of the narrowest streets in the neighborhood.  Many of our streets have only one access point.  It's not just the 4th of July when we need to keep a lane of traffic open to for emergency vehicles, but all year round.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 22, 2012.  LAFD Company 56 is our local fire station and they are about the only crew with a small truck who really know the intricacies of our often substandard hillside streets, as seen above on Peru and Walcott in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists Tract. 

Some of our narrow streets and "corners" have hairpin turns and steep grades and only one means of access.  Don't block the street because you couldn't walk a few hundred feet.  If it's too far for you to walk, it might be time for you to clean out your garage and park in it.   

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 12, 2015.  The short end of Corralitas is the widest and flattest part of the street.  It's also only part of the street where people can park cars on both sides. 

A few minutes before the above photo, I watched as a LAFD ladder truck, responding to the same call, made several attempts at a left turn from Rosebud onto Corralitas.  It could not make the turn.  This compact fire engine LAFD 220 was already on scene of the car accident.

Since record drought and 4th of July fireworks (that started in May) have hillside homeowners a little more on edge than usual this year, we remind you to take responsibility for your own neighborhood, beyond just doing your own brush clearance.  

If you see someone blocking the street, fire hydrant or red curb, politely ask them not to park there.  If they're "unloading their car," offer to help them, so they feel compelled to move their car faster.  If you're having a party, ask your guests to carpool, wear walking shoes, park legally and don't block anyone's driveway.  We actually a sign on our front door for parties "Did you park legally? Are you blocking neighbor's driveways?"  Inevitably, a handful of people turn around and move their cars before coming in the door.  

LAPD and LAFD are telling people, if you see someone shooting off fireworks, call 1-877-ASK-LAPD. If you see smoke, safely investigate.  If you see fire (not a BBQ) call 911.

Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract: Dead Trees, Brush Clearance

Photo: Corralitas Drive Neighbor, June 13, 2017.  Dry grass on the odd slope on Allesandro St at Rosebud Ave which is actually Sunflower Ave, but the maps are out of sync with the street signs.  (click on photos to enlarge.)

The odd slope is within the CalTrans easement, but like everything surrounding the 2 Freeway, no one takes responsibility for it. More than once in 27 years,  I've seen a CalTrans crew spray the weeds with poison.

Photo: Corralitas Drive Neighbor, June 13, 2017.  Enlarged from previous photo.  Dead Eucalyptus are in the Modjeska Street right-of-way, a paper street, on an  extremely steep slope in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract.  Looks like the Modjeska slope is in need of brush clearance too.  The City will never build  40' wide Modjeska Street right-of-way, as it is steeper than a 30% grade.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 22, 2016.  A year ago, the dead non-native Eucalyptus in the Modjeska paper street, were clearly evident as viewed from Corralitas Drive.  Eucalyptus trees all over the area have been dying suddenly for the past 4 years.  The Modjeska trees have been dead for more than a year.

Every year on and around the 4th of July, some idiots invariably shoot fireworks off over the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract.

Rosebud Ave & Corralitas: Homeless Guy's Camp Cleared, Returned, Vacated in In One Day

This story is told through neighbors' photos and their anonymous quotes received via text.  All photos are by five different Corralitas Neighbors.  Click on photos to enlarge.

June 6, 2017.  After six months and three couches, neighbors are fed up with the homeless guy's camp at the corner of Rosebud Ave and Corralitas Drive, under the 2 Freeway.  A number of neighbors complained about him stealing water and electricity from their front yards, public urination, fornication, dumping his trash on Corralitas, checking a doorknob on a garage, belligerently knocking on doors looking to borrow a corkscrew, potential animal abuse (dying doves red) and dumping one of his three couches on Allesandro once he got a new one.

Considering Rosebud is the only vehicle access to Corralitas Drive, it is totally understandable why neighbors were increasingly agitated seeing this guy here every day. He knows everyone's cars and schedules.  A recent increase in mail and package theft and a few break-ins on our normally quiet street has everyone on edge, regardless of whether or not the homeless guy was involved.

June 11, 2017.  Neighbors saw notices posted Friday, hoped this time the homeless guy would get the message and move on.

June 13, 2017, 8:23 AM.  Beginning around 8 AM, neighbors exercising and leaving for work, reported the Dept of Sanitation and "numerous other agencies, are supervising the homeless guy pack up his belongings."  

Neighbors were not too hopeful, since we've seen this before.  He's refused numerous offers of assistance to get off the streets from PATH, who were once again on site.

June 13, 2017, 8:23 AM. Several neighbors texted as they watched the homeless guy move his belongings in shopping carts across Allesandro.  "He's been prepared with 3 - 4 carts ready to wheel away."

Coincidentally, a June 12, 2017, LA Times story on the City settling a lawsuit  over discarding the homeless' belongings, mentions a Catholic charity handing out shopping carts to the homeless on skid row.  Neighbors still want to know who's handing out couches.

June 13, 2017.  By 9:30 AM,  the City hauled away his couch, swept the sidewalk and was gone. Any belongings that left behind that would fit in a 30 gallon trash bin would be stored for 90 days where he could retrieve them. (See City notice above.)  While the tunnel was clear, neighbors sent yet another flurry of texts, photos and a video.

June 13, 2017, 9:30 AM.  As soon as neighbors noticed his stuff parked temporarily on Rosebud across Allesandro more photos and texts came in. 

One neighbor texted "They let him take ALL HIS CARTS across Allesandro where he appears to be waiting for all to leave so he can move back in."  

Previously a neighbor questioned why he was allowed to have so many belongings blocking much of the sidewalk, exclaiming, "He's got more stuff on the sidewalk than I have in my entire apartment!"

June 13, 2017.  An hour later, the first cart full of stuff and his pet birds reappeared.  (Last time it took him three hours to reappear with a lot less stuf.) 

According to another neighbor who was driving by and stopped when he saw two "18-22 year olds were opening homeless guy's bird cage.  I asked if they knew him and they said they did.  They were helping him move back."

May 19, 2017, after outcry from multiple neighbors, LA City Dept of Animal Services determined the doves were dyed red and pink with a hair dye used on dogs, and there was no crime or animal abuse.

June 13, 2017, 12:41 PM.  Two carts and already bags of trash were appearing.  A neighbor commented she was sick of seeing him dump his trash around the corner on Corralitas.  It's not like there aren't trash cans all over the street he could use.

June 13, 2017, less than 10 minutes later he was captured on video pushing a third cart up Rosebud back to his "home."  Neighbors were hopping mad at this point.

June 13, 2017, 7 PM.  Neighbors, returning home from work, were not pleased seeing the homeless guy's carts on the sidewalk and one in the street.  Many had left the hill while the City was there in the morning.  A neighbor said, "Did some furious neighbor overturn his cart? Or did he do it?  Or did it simply roll to its demise?"
June 14, 2017, 6 AM.  Neighbors were even more surprised to see a vacant tunnel the following morning.  Neighbors reported everything was gone at 9 PM and 2:30 AM when they returned home.  

Further inquiries with neighbors indicated several had run-ins with the homeless guy in the afternoon while he was bringing his carts back.  Police were called on at least two occasions.  However, neighbors got tired of waiting and left.  So we're not sure where he's gone now. 

2 Freeway & Corralitas Drive: CalTrans Did Some Brush Clearance

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #1, June 3, 2017.  Saturday, a CalTrans crew cleared brush about 10' back from the chain link fence on Corralitas Drive. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #2, June 3, 2017.  Unfortunately, the work order did not include the steep slope directly adjacent to the southbound lanes of the 2 Freeway.  

Rosebud Ave & Corralitas Drive: Homeless Guy Paints Birds Red, Neighbors Cry "Foul"

*Updated

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, May 12, 2017.  A number of neighbors are alarmed the homeless guy's live doves appear to have been painted or dyed red and pink.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, May 12, 2017.  Several neighbors contacted me over the past few days saying the doves were now red.  Two took photos.  All were advised to call the City's Animal Abuse Task Force.  

One neighbor wrote in an email, "The birds do not look well at all, especially the red one.  I understand this guy is homeless and has issues, but it's not these poor birds fault."

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, May 12, 2017.  Neighbors were already concerned for the doves' well being  as their cage was too small for them to move much or stretch their wings.  Painting or dying the helpless birds has really crossed the line.

The homeless guy has tested the patience of Corralitas Drive neighbors since early January.  

Previous posts:
February 17, 2017
March 24, 2017
May 11, 2017

*May 19, 2017 UPDATE: LA City Dept of Animal Services determined the doves were dyed with a hair dye like one used on dogs.  Thus there was no crime nor animal abuse.  At the same time Animal Services met with the homeless guy on site, LAPD SLO Lenny Davis, and PATH outreach workers once again offered him services and once again, he refused, preferring to remain on the sidewalk.

Allesandro Street, 2 Freeway: Motor Homes, Dumping, Unwalkable Sidewalk, Dry Brush

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, May 11, 2017, 7 PM.  Two motor homes without license plates have been parked on Allesandro Street just south of Rosebud Ave, attracting dumping.(Click on photo to enlarge.)

This portion of Allesandro to Riverside Drive was a part of a "No Overnight Parking Zone," but the signs directly across from the controversial Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract 15-lot subdivision mysteriously disappeared when it was under construction.

Neither the City nor CalTrans takes care of the sidewalk adjacent to the 2 Freeway.  But then, it's not a real sidewalk, despite the City building ADA compliant ramps at all the intersections on Allesandro in the 1990s.  It's still a narrow strip of asphalt in a curb.  The lack of street addresses prevent all but the most persistent neighbors from getting dumping removed by the City.  Weeds, trash, dumping and telephone poles blocking the extremely narrow sidewalk are a challenge for any pedestrian.

CalTrans insists the "sidewalks" adjacent their freeways are the City's responsibility.  If homeowners are supposed to maintain the sidewalk adjacent to their homes, shouldn't CalTrans have the same responsibility? 

Wonder if CalTrans will be doing the brush clearance up on their parkway since it can no longer be seen from the northbound 2 Freeway due to the sound wall.

Corralitas Drive & Rosebud Ave: Homeless Guy Has Pets Now, Neighbors Fed Up

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, May 5, 2017.  Some neighbors are concerned about the homeless guy's new pets - a pair of live doves in a cage far too small for the birds. The cage is on the ground to the right of the couch.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Neighbors are fed up.  A few  raised concerns regarding animal neglect or cruelty with regard to the 2 doves kept in a cage that is barely big enough for one canary.

However, neighbors are far more frustrated by the City's inability to move the homeless guy and his belongings out of our only vehicle access route on and off the hill. In the past 6 weeks, a number of neighbors close to the tunnel on Rosebud, expressed anger over the homeless guy stealing electricity and water.  Several have chased him off their property when he attempted to charge a half dozen electronic devices plugged into a power strip at once. LAPD advised neighbors to lock their water and electrical outlets in lockboxes, in addition to filing police reports of trespassing. 

Regardless of whether or not the homeless guy is involved with the recent uptick in burglaries or mail theft in the neighborhood, he is the target of neighbors' ire.  It doesn't help that he makes no attempt to conceal when and where he urinates on the street.  (It's not a crime, but have some respect for your neighbors, dude.)  A number of women have told me they no longer feel safe walking through the tunnel on Rosebud because of the homeless guy.  They also no longer allow their children to walk through the tunnel either.

If we have to move cars parked on a City street every 72 hours, why should the homeless be allowed to reside on the same patch of city sidewalk for more than 72 hours?  His camp has been there continuously (with the exception of 3 hours) since the beginning of January. 

Background: February 17, 2017
March 24, 2017


UPDATE May 12, 2017: His live doves have been painted or dyed red.

Rosebud Ave & Corralitas Drive: Homeless Guy's Upgraded Campsite

Updated March 6, 2017*

 Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #1, February 14, 2017.  Homeless or IKEA promotion?   It's hard to tell the difference.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Corralitas Drive residents have been remarkably tolerant of the young homeless guy who took up residence on Rosebud Ave near the stop sign at Corralitas Drive more than a month ago.  The 2 Freeway overpass offers some protection from the rain. 

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #2, January 9, 2017. When the young homeless man showed up under the 2 Freeway in the heavy January rains, several neighbors attempted to engage and encourage him to move into supportive housing.  They contacted CD13, who quickly notified PATH, (People Assisting The Homeless).  One even neighbor organized interested neighbors in an effort to help move him off the street and into support services. 

PATH representatives and LAPD Senior Lead Officer Lenny Davis reached out to him.  Thus far, he's not moved into a shelter, choosing to stay on the street.  Neighbors are skeptical that he will move into one, since (even in each of the photos) there are often open bottles of alcohol near his bed. 

One of the largest impediments to moving homeless into supportive housing, is drug and alcohol dependency.  Unless they are willing to get off drugs and alcohol, they cannot move into housing.  The housing bonds passed in recent elections fail to address this very real problem.  County Measure H, on the March 7, 2017 ballot, would allocate some funds  toward support services, but it seems to be a drop in the bucket.

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #2, January 13, 2017.  This homeless guy has been tidy and  has not been belligerent like some of the meth-addicted homeless who've lived up on the 2 Freeway's landscaped medians (before the June 19, 2016 Silver Lake Fire).  However, neighbors are concerned that someone who reportedly is there all day and night knows when neighbors are coming and going.  Corralitas Drive is a very isolated street with only one means of vehicle access.  Our isolation makes us more self sufficient than most neighborhoods, but at some point, public safety becomes an issue.

Neighbors who own and live in their duplexes, have sent me email expressing frustration as a number of prospective tenants have told them they fear for their safety because of the homeless guy and the problems homeless attract. The tunnel has been hit with both Frogtown and Echo Park gang graffiti in the past month.  While the graffiti vandalism has always happened here, it now adds to the unease neighbors feel about the homeless guy.

Neighbors' patience has grown thin.  Many have said it's time for the guy to move on.  Hector from CD13 has been communicating with PATH and neighbors regarding this issue.  There are a myriad of issues involved.

Neighbors have been successful in using the City's MyLA311 app to get the graffiti painted out, usually within 24 hours of reporting it.  If the graffiti is on up on the 2 Freeway and inaccessible from the sidewalk, the City will not paint it out.  Report it to CalTrans.

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor #3, January 4. 2017.  A few days before the homeless guy showed up, the tunnel under the 2 Freeway on Rosebud Ave was the cleanest it's been in years.  The tunnel  is usually so trashed, that when it's clean, neighbors get pretty damn excited about it.  

A neighbor was so pleased seeing the clean tunnel, she sent me this photo of a woman walking her dog in the immaculately clean tunnel. As a 27-year resident of Corralitas Drive, I did not want to publish it, because I didn't want to advertise to dumpers and graffiti vandals.  A few days later, the homeless guy took up residence.  File it under: why we can't have nice things.

*UPDATE March 6, 2017: After giving 72 hour notice last week, the City's Department of Sanitation cleared the homeless guy's camp around 5 PM today.  He was back by 8 PM.  He even refused PATH's offer to get him into temporary shelter during recent rains.  Neighbors are growing increasingly hostile toward his continued presence.

You are not helping by giving him handouts.  You are enabling him to remain on the streets. It is best to allow the professionals to deal with this situation.  Contact PATH or another homeless services agency, if you want to help the homeless. 

For an explanation of the City's policy and process for moving the homeless: CD13.

2 Freeway & Corralitas Drive: Rainwatch

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, December 21, 2016.  CalTrans was watering their freshly planted shrubs on the southbound 2 Freeway parkway adjacent to Corralitas Drive (seen here, north of Rosebud Ave) ahead of the rain.

We're tracking rainfall totals in the Corralitas rain gauge:

December 21-22, 2016: 1.0"
Rain year to date: 4.6"
 

Corralitas Red Car Property: 49 Unit Zone Change Applied For. Here We Go Again

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 11, 2016.  Thursday, The Eastsider broke the news, an application for a zone change and tract map to allow for 49 condo units on the south end of the Red Car Property was filed with City Planning.  The property includes considerable slope that burned in the Silver Lake Fire, June 19, 2016. (Yes, that Eucalyptus Tree burned and is now a fire hazard on the Red Car Property.) (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The City Planning process for a zone change is a public process allowing for public review of the file and a public hearing, where neighbors have the right and responsibility to voice their opinions. 

The current property owner bought the Red Car Property in 2001.  They never got to the public hearing stage with a 2003 development proposal for 75 homes.  In the 2003 proposal, the "open space lot" was an unusable slope that would have been behind a 25' tall retaining wall.

In 1995, the neighbors won against a similar zone change proposal, when the planning commission agreed with then CD13 City Councilmember Jackie Goldberg, who spoke on behalf of the community, and denied the zone change.

The development history of the Red Car Property is long and sad when it comes to missed opportunities for park acquisition.   The exclusive option the Trust for Public Land held for 2 years on the Red Car Property was not renewed earlier this year.  Despite promises of funding from City, County and State sources, it would not be enough to acquire the property.  Public funding options for areas like ours are tricky due to the recent run up in real estate prices.  

When you look at the history of the Red Car Property, know that history repeats itself and opportunities change. One thing that does not change is the resolve of this neighborhood to fight for open space and against dense development.  Don't ever underestimate Red Car Property Neighbors. 

Read more:
The Eastsider
Red Car Property Development History
Legacy of Failed Development
2012: Why is the City doing such a good job of brush clearance when the private property is for sale? 

Editor's note: I apologize for the late post regarding the zone change application.  It is not a crisis, nor is there an immediate deadline.  The Eastsider's news did make the rounds of neighborhood email lists.  For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @RedCarProperty  

2 Freeway: Landscape Project? Do We Dare Hope For Trees?

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, September 14, 2016.  CalTrans installed a solar panel to power their irrigation project they've been working below the log cabins on Corralitas Drive.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, August 30, 2016.  Neighbors were wondering why CalTrans was digging loudly around the one Coast Live Oak Tree on the Corralitas side of the 2 Freeway for the past few weeks.  Vlahakis noticed that is was an irrigation project. 

Neighbors hope it means CalTrans will be planting trees on the 2 Freeway.  I wouldn't hold my breath.  Back in the early 1990s, CalTrans cut down all but 3 trees north/east of Rosebud on the Corralitas side of the 2 Freeway for an earlier "irrigation project."  In the 1990s, pleas to replace the trees to CalTrans fell on deaf ears. 

It was only after neighbors asked then Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa for help that CalTrans returned to plant some small shrubs instead of trees. What did we get?  Before Villaraigosa left the Assembly, we got mostly Peruvian Oleander, a pathetic yellow-flowering bush that never got much taller than 4'. Discussions with a CalTrans rep (shortly after the  Silver Lake Fire) indicated that's what they'd be planting again. 

2 Freeway: CalTrans Picked Up Trash

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, August 25, 2016.  A CalTrans crew picked up trash the CalTrans crew of tree trimmers left behind last week.  The neighbor said in a text "There were CalTrans people all over the bottom of the hill, along the highway and under the bridge [Rosebud] cleaning and working when I left this morning. "

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 20, 2016.  Remarkably, the Silver Lake Fire, which burned most of the 2 Freeway parkways between the Red Car Property and Riverside Drive, did not burn this part of the parkway from Rosebud & Allesandro to Riverside Drive where the Brazillian Pepper Trees were a pretty solid wall of green.  Neighbors were sad to see the green go last week.  CalTrans left the first enormous Eucalyptus in this shot, the same tree is still standing in the first photo.  It is the tree where the Red Tailed Hawks have a nest near the top third of the tree.  The hawks returned with fledglings to the nest on the night of the fire.