National Trails Day. June 1 was National Trails Day, the perfect time to celebrate the beauty of the County trails that we all love. Residents can find the perfect spots to hike, bike, or ride through brand new LA County Trails website (https://trails.lacounty.gov/) and the Trails LA County mobile app. These programs connect people with more than 550 miles of beautiful public trails across the County that play a vital role in encouraging and facilitating outdoor recreation and contributing to our health and wellbeing. They provide unparalleled opportunities for equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers, fitness enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and anyone else who wants to connect with nature and stay active. Trails LA County is made possible by a partnership of many different public agencies throughout the region joining with the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation. Now, go take a hike!
Support for the Natural History Museum. The Natural History Museum’s (NHM) has requested $10 million in one-time state funding to cover the first phase of the NHM’s proposed expansion project that reorients the museum’s entrance toward Exposition Park. This will include a new southwest wing that faces the future Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, creating a stronger connection to NHM’s neighboring institutions and community. Additionally, NHM estimates this project will serve an additional 220,000 visitors per year.
Cannabis Advertising and Marketing. By now, most County residents have seen at least one massive billboard advertising cannabis products, yet we do not fully understand how our laws govern these advertisements. Given the restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertisements, particularly because of how they may be marketed to children, it is essential that cannabis products adhere to a similar regime of adults-only advertising and marketing schemes.
In light of these concerns, the Board adopted a motion, written by Supervisor Barger, to instruct the County to conduct an analysis of current state law concerning cannabis advertisement, along with recommendations for how the County may create its own cannabis advertising and marketing regulations at the local level.
Grand Avenue Project. The Board has endorsed the next steps for the Grand Avenue Project’s Phase I, located in the Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project Area on South Grand Avenue. The entire block site is part of a large $720 million, 950,000-square-foot development that will include public benefits such as affordable housing, local low-cost retail space, and restaurants. This two-tower development will include an Equinox-branded hotel and a condo/apartment building, with tons of retail space and a small movie theatre. The building would seamlessly integrate with Disney Hall and provide a connection across Grand Avenue, heading downhill toward Hill Street and the rest of downtown.
Supervisor Sheila James Kuehl was first elected to represent Los Angeles County’s Third District on November 4, 2014, assumed office on December 1, 2014, and was reelected to her second term on November 6, 2018. Before her service on the Board, Supervisor Kuehl served eight years in the California State Senate and six years in the California State Assembly. She was the first woman in California history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California Legislature.