Sunset for All Means Gridlock for Everyone

A project called “Sunset for All” is already moving forward that would remove one lane of traffic in each direction on Sunset Boulevard and eliminate large amounts of street parking from Echo Park and Silver Lake all the way to West Hollywood. My opponents support this plan, and it could begin being installed as early as this summer. For most Angelenos, Sunset Boulevard is a street they rely on every day to get to work, pick up their kids, visit friends, or stop at a local business. Removing lanes of traffic on a corridor that is already heavily congested risks turning everyday traffic into permanent gridlock. Anyone who has been stuck on Sunset during a Dodgers game knows how quickly the street can become overwhelmed. This project would also eliminate street parking that residents, customers, and delivery drivers depend on, forcing people to circle blocks looking for a space and making it harder for small businesses to survive.

I support improving transit and creating safe options for cyclists, but transportation policy must be balanced and practical. If the City wants to remove street parking to make room for bus or bike infrastructure, it must first create enough parking so residents and businesses are not left scrambling for space. As City Councilmember, I will launch a district wide effort to build new city funded public parking lots and garages near commercial corridors and high demand neighborhoods. By expanding public parking before removing it from our streets, we can support small businesses, reduce traffic caused by drivers searching for parking, and make sure transportation improvements actually work for the people who live and work here. For those reasons, I oppose the Sunset for All project.

Parking

Parking in Los Angeles has become one of the most frustrating daily challenges for residents, workers, and small businesses. Too often, City Hall removes parking without offering any real alternative. My approach is straightforward: if the City is going to take away parking in some areas, it must first create more parking where people actually need it. As City Councilmember, I will launch a district-wide effort to build new city-funded public parking lots and garages in commercial corridors and high-demand neighborhoods. By identifying underused city-owned parcels, vacant lots, and appropriate development sites, we can quickly expand the supply of public parking so residents, customers, and workers are not forced to circle blocks looking for a space.

If our long-term goal is to build better bike and bus infrastructure, then we must first make sure there is enough parking so the transition is not painful for residents and small businesses. Too often, the City removes parking first and only later deals with the consequences. My approach reverses that. We should build a network of city-run, affordable parking lots and garages near business districts and transit corridors before removing street parking for bike or bus lanes. That way we can support small businesses, reduce traffic caused by drivers searching for parking, and create the flexibility needed to expand transit and bike infrastructure in a way that is thoughtful, balanced, and workable for everyone.

Public Transportation and Improving the Hollywood Boulevard Bike Lane

Whether you support bike lanes or prefer additional lanes of vehicle traffic, most of us can agree that the Hollywood Boulevard bike lane was poorly designed and needs improvement. As Vice President of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council and a resident who lives on Hollywood Boulevard, I was involved in every stage of the bike lane’s rollout. The City and the council office assured residents that it would add no more than ten minutes of travel time along the full route from Vermont to West Hollywood. In reality, congestion between Vermont and the 101 alone has increased by as much as 45 minutes during peak hours.

In response, I organized neighborhood meetings to hear directly from residents, bike advocates, and small business owners along the corridor. The concerns we heard were consistent. First, severe vehicle congestion, especially during rush hour. Second, lower than expected bike usage. Third, serious impacts on small retail businesses, many of which reported sales declines of 30 to 50 percent as customers avoided the area due to traffic and parking challenges.

As City Councilmember, my goals will be simple: reduce congestion, increase safe and meaningful bike usage, and protect small businesses from economic harm. I do not support expanding bike lanes across the district until we fix the problems with the lanes we already have. Before adding new infrastructure, the City must demonstrate that existing projects are working for residents, businesses, and cyclists alike.

Part of doing this correctly also means addressing parking. If the City plans to remove street parking to make room for bike or bus infrastructure, it must first create new public parking options so residents and businesses are not left scrambling for space. I will convene a working group of bike advocates, local residents, and business owners to evaluate what is not working and develop practical, data driven solutions. We can support active transportation without sacrificing neighborhood livability or small business survival, but only if City Hall is willing to listen and adjust.