Listening in on the 3pm special Metro Board meeting. It's sort of the Metro Olympics/WorldCup Committee of the whole. Follow online here: boardagendas.metro.net/event/specia...

Here at the council's first ad hoc committee since January 26 (!) to discuss LA28's new procurement strategy, LA28's human rights strategy, and a motion to prioritize sidewalk repairs around venues.

Listen here — sorry, we can launch a rocket around the moon, but no video for committee meetings

I feel people instinctively flinch (as I do) or just SIGH at the "merry-go-round-from-hell" talk of homelessness governance and more bureaucracy.

So this story on what some unhoused people think of all the "bureau this, bureau that" talk might be helpful? lapublicpress.org/2025/04/unho...

Talked to a student journalist about my work and told them the journalism industry doesn't value journalists.

Hope I'm wrong — but, that's been my experience.

Big #MeasureHLA news: I filed a 2nd HLA lawsuit today. I am challenging several dubious loopholes that LA city uses to avoid HLA compliance - avoiding legally required bus/bike/walk/access upgrades: #largeasphaltrepair, slurry seal, breaking up large projects into small, & more. More details soon.

New curb-protected bike lanes under construction in #SantaMonica - on Colorado and Broadway

Dreading the day when I inevitably return an LA County Library book to the LA City Library.

Reportedly, the four bathrooms are still open, at least for the rest of the fiscal year (until 6/30). Councilmember Jurado's office did not respond to my email asking for an update and it's unclear where the funding is coming from.

At @metrolosangeles.bsky.social South Bay Service Council listening session on Metro Board Composition reform. Overwhelmingly public sentiment that the board needs major reforms. More transit riders & technical experts, not politicians

Are there any cities doing something creative with sidewalk delivery robot policy that I should look at?

#journorequest

L.A. invested millions in public bathrooms. Why are they closed? Three years into Los Angeles’s new public bathroom program, funding for the remaining four bathrooms is expiring.

LA used to have a bus shelter contract w/ JCDecaux to provide self-cleaning bathrooms, but that ended and the city chose a different bus shelter vendor (no bathrooms included).

afrolanews.org/2026/03/l-a-...

Throne, the bathroom trailer vendor for Metro, claims to eliminate the need for attendants with its app or text-based entry system (the bathrooms are cleaned by staff)

Yes, we have a Pit Stop program here (no self-cleaning toilets anymore). With the closure of most of the permanent bathrooms, the program has shifted to staffing porta-potties, as well as the units in Skid Row that are still open. 4ccm.org/pitstop/

The best seat in town It's a public bathroom, yes, but it's really a piece of infrastructure that unlocks access to the city

My latest dispatch 🇫🇷

LONG LIVE TOILET JOURNALISM

The @latimes.com's @davidzahniser.bsky.social shares stories of people kicked out of Inside Safe for rules that either don't make sense or aren't applied in any way that would (no visitors, or leaving the motel for >72 hours). Lack of housing options means ppl are stuck at shelters for months.

Joe Linton Sues the City of Los Angeles over Safety Improvements for Vermont Avenue - Streetsblog Los Angeles Linton is asking the city to implement the designs for Vermont Avenue that were approved in the city's Mobility Plan, now mandated by Measure HLA law

Measure HLA lawsuit report: today for the first time ever, a judge spent a couple hours talking over #MeasureHLA in open court. Here’s the basic background on my lawsuit from when it was filed last April la.streetsblog.org/2025/04/10/j...

Hello, I am a journalist and I enjoy pitching. AMA

Easier to find a public toilet in space than in Los Angeles

Donate to Support Mel's Indie Journalism, organized by Mel Buer My name's Mel Buer, and I am an independent multimedia journalist based in Los Angeles, Califo… Mel Buer needs your support for Support Mel's Indie Journalism

Some folks suggested I put together a little crowdfund to help me upgrade my camera gear, among other things, so here it is. I plan on doing a Spring subscription drive starting next week, but for folks who don't have the scratch to subscribe to my newsletter, I've got this. No pressure obvs :P

Cities and Transit Agencies Are Finally Getting On Board With Bus Stop Data Cities and transit agencies haven’t always prioritized the bus rider experience. New data standards could help change that.

Data! At the bus stop

Very exciting to nerd out about new data standards that could make transit stop amenities more visible to bus riders.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

A Night On The Road With A Relay Delivery Worker Delivery workers are among the hardest-working, worst-paid, most-endangered jobbers in town. We rode with one to give you an idea.

Delivery workers are among the hardest-working, worst-paid, most-endangered jobbers in town. We rode with one to give you an idea. buff.ly/PVYo9LA

Spring breaking I'm headed to Paris with a long list of your recommendations, plus an update on the Metro outage, and much, much more

Honored to be rounded up in Torched for my bathroom coverage — please read @awalkerinla.bsky.social on the ongoing Metro outage (wanna reload your tap card with a credit or debit card at a ticket vending machine? TOO BAD)

www.torched.la/spring-break...

Get on the bus, etc.

Some LA elites are allergic to public transportation for mostly vibes-based reasons that they have never full interrogated

Green perforated sheet of metal attached to a bus stop pole

Last I checked, the Westlake Sombrita was still there, but the top part with the solar light had detached from the bus stop pole. Not sure how effective it is at night

Unintended consequence of Sombrita: If you google "los angeles bus stop lighting" you get a flood of sad bus shade content.

I'm just trying to find out if BSL ever had a bus stop lighting program, lol

I don't know why this tweet says Throne bathrooms are self-cleaning. They are cleaned by ppl.

@thronebathrooms.bsky.social are there new self-cleaning features?

🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 18: It’s the LA City Council’s problem now News from an LA Reporter. In this issue, that includes a politically thorny proposal to create an appointed City Attorney, and mayoral candidates tackle 'mansion tax' at first debate.

🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 18: It’s the LA City Council’s problem now thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...

News from an LA Reporter. In this issue, that includes a politically thorny proposal to create an appointed City Attorney, and mayoral candidates tackle 'mansion tax' at first debate.

Asked about the pending bathroom closures, Mayor Bass' office responded that she is "fighting for Skid Row bathrooms" but didn't name a specific plan to keep these permanent bathrooms open.