Plus the meadow’s in Councilman Garcetti’s domain and he doesn’t get all blowhardy at any who disagree with him.

Problem solved!

I don’t agree with how LaBonge runs it. I understand Donna felt offended. I also understand that is a long running pattern with this council person.

El Chavo…lots of fireworks for sale in my area, including ahem stuff under the table that only the pyro’s in the mid-west are supposed to have.

Browne via Bustard’s computer…

You imply that only Donna’s wish to ban BBQs from Griffith Park is but one person’s idea. In this case, perhaps, but if so, it is no more than one other person’s idea—Tom’s—who wants the opposite for himself. And what Tom wants is far too dangerous in this almost unprecedented dry season.

Oh, and I have the photos up, as someone e-mailed me implying I did not have any such shots.

Our parks need to be mixed use serving as many people as possible. I’m certainly not advocating it be a giant BBQ pit but I also see nothing wrong with a couple of designated areas for the BBQs. That way those that like to do it can and those that don’t can simply stay away from that area.

My bigger point you missed is that we need to make it useful to as many as possible not fit just one persons idea on what the park should be.

I don’t disagree LaBonge was rude. I wonder why he keeps coming back.

And I think your beef should still be with the DOT and the system, not with Tom LaBonge asking for stuff more than other Councilmen – I bet constituents in other districts wish they were being looked out for as much as Tom. As for 7000+ drivers – do you really think a single one of them would say yes to speed bumps on a route they drive routinely? Thats as ludicrous an argument as asking crack addicts if there should be harsher penalties for drug dealers.

I don’t even know what to day about this. Come onnnnnnnn! The smell of a BBQ in the summer is one of the most wonderful things on earth, and I don’t even eat meat! Way to be a kill-joy…

Thanks for watching my back over there, Will! Much appreciated.

Annika, agree with you on this. Who says barbequeing is an inalienable right? It certainly stinks for everyone in the park who isn’t interested in eating at that moment – I won’t describe when I used to run on weekends and almost threw up- and is a major source of air pollutants. The ozone is always extra heavy above a BBQ spot.

Hi, David. Yes, it was caused by a ciggie, and we should all be grateful that smoking is still allowed in the Greek, Zoo, Autry, etc. Smoking for all! But let me ask you: when visitors see all the BBQ pits going, either for themselves or others, do you think they would then hesitate even a tiny bit before lighting up themselves? I don’t think so.

I agree that Tom is sensitive about fire, and I do think he is more a good person than bad. But he has so much power that even a little bad is dangerous. For instance, you might have a different experience with the DOT, but when I called them about all the traffic and street requests LaBonge has made, (this was 4 years ago) the process is pretty corrupt:
They get a letter from the Councilman on his own letterhead paper.(!) Then they need 75% of the community to agree, in writing. In the case of speedbumps on Commonwealth, they talked to 12 people on the street, and 9 of them agreed in writing! And they count who shows up at a community meeting as totally representative of that community! Then they went out to measure the speed, which was clocked at 37mph, by some drivers, when it should have been 25mph. Then they built the speedbumps! Only, the street was too slanted to put 3 in a row, so they stretched them all the way down the street.

So the almost 7000 drivers a day on this street – more now, since this was 4 years ago – are losing a little gas and getting more wear and tear on their cars because 9 people on that street (out of several thousand) signed the paper, and LaBonge pushed it through. Don’t underestimate the power of the Council in LA.