Local News
LA councilmember urges action against Union Pacific for idling trains – NBC Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin De León announced Thursday he plans to file a motion this week to request that the city attorney’s office report back with potential legal remedies against Union Pacific for what the councilman called a long history of environmental and safety violations by the train operator plaguing two of the city’s predominantly Latino neighborhoods.
The motion, impacting residents in El Sereno and Lincoln Heights, is set to be filed at Friday’s city council meeting.
“Union Pacific has exploited our communities, treating the people of El Sereno and Lincoln Heights like disposable resources. They have poisoned our air, jeopardized our safety and dismissed our voices, all in the relentless pursuit of profit,” De León said. “We’re here to say today that those days are over.”
The motion states that Union Pacific has long violated state regulations with what De León called illegal stoppages — trains idling for hours on end along train tracks, often blocking intersections affecting the motoring public and emergency vehicles and adding to the area’s air pollution.
“Despite decades of complaints, the community’s voices have gone ignored. Union Pacific Railroad has built its empire by turning a blind eye to communities it pollutes,” De León said. “For years, there have been spewing poison into the air, poison that our children breathe into the lungs every single day, the lungs of our families who live here.”
NBC4 has also reported extensively on cargo thefts along stopped or idling Union Pacific trains in recent years near downtown Los Angeles.
“When you sort of kind of uncover it a little bit more, it’s because they were idling for the longest time,” De León said. “It was organized criminal cartel rings that decided to take advantage of that opportunity.”
Union Pacific provided the following statement: “Union Pacific has a history of working collaboratively with the City of Los Angeles and agencies who work directly with railroads. We have not received any communications from the Councilmember’s office related to the concerns referenced. His office has reached out previously on unrelated inquiries, and we responded accordingly. We would welcome an open dialogue with the appropriate city leaders to discuss any concerns with our operations.”
De León’s office provided video from two cameras set up at train crossings showing vehicles and people dangerously crossing over trains as they blocked intersection.
On at least one other occasion, video shows an emergency vehicle going around railroad crossing gates to continue on its route.
“There’s been years that we tried to complain about the train, the idling, which is not healthy for our community,” said Robert Vega, a longtime resident of the area. “If they were to park maybe a half block further down, it wouldn’t affect the community, but they insist on parking in front where it affects the community.”
De León is seeking several legal avenues from the city attorney’s office.
“I intend to submit a motion calling on the Los Angeles City attorney to report on all of our legal remedies, our options to hold Union Pacific accountable and sue them in a court of law,” he said.
Local News
Shohei Ohtani sets MLB record with homer and stolen base in same game in Dodgers’ 6-4 win over Rockies – NBC Los Angeles
Shohei Ohtani set a major league record by homering and stealing a base in the same game for the 14th time and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the last-place Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Friday night.
The win reduced the NL West-leading Dodgers’ magic number to four to clinch the division. Los Angeles is already assured of a postseason berth.
Ohtani’s 52nd homer and 52nd stolen base allowed him to break the previous mark of 13 games with at least one of each set by Rickey Henderson in 1986 with the New York Yankees.
“He’s lights out clearly,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’s ramped up his focus.”
Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead homer — his 30th — leading off the sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. He and Ohtani have homered in the same game 11 times.
SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
“It’s great being a teammate with Shohei, especially because of the things he’s been doing this year,” Hernández said.
The Dodgers tacked on two runs in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Tommy Edman scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly. Ohtani legged out an infield single to first base and then stole second. He was safe at third on a throwing error by center fielder Sam Hilliard and scored on Hernández’s infield single.
Ohtani had a go-ahead homer with two outs in the fifth after Andy Pages led off the inning with a solo shot. It was Ohtani’s 27th homer at Dodger Stadium, tying Cody Bellinger for the most at home in a single season.
SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
“To be able to cover that ball at the top of the zone, above the zone, go to the big part of the field, it’s pretty spectacular,” Roberts said.
Ohtani singled in the third and finished with his 11th three-hit performance of the season.
SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
He gave the crowd of 49,073 some thrills after the home fans had to watch long distance Thursday night when he became the first player in major league history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season at Miami.
The Rockies got home runs by Charlie Blackmon, Hilliard and Michael Toglia.
Alex Vesia (4-4) got the victory with one inning of relief. Michael Kopech pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone for the fourth time this season.
Ryan Brasier pitched the first inning to open the bullpen game for the Dodgers.
Let it fly, Andy. pic.twitter.com/Ew7hfPpCgu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 21, 2024
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Tyler Kinley went on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and hopes to face hitters next week. … RHP Anthony Banda (hand) will throw a bullpen this weekend.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-10, 4.68 ERA) makes his second start Saturday since coming off the IL. He’s 1-5 in his career against LA.
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-5, 5.54) is looking for just his second win of the season. He got hit hard by the Rockies on June 18, giving up seven hits, seven runs and two homers.
Local News
Large group of juveniles on bikes ransack 7-Eleven store in Pico-Robertson – NBC Los Angeles
A group of juveniles riding on bicycles ransacked a 7-Evelen store in the Pico-Robertson area Friday night.
The convenience store on 8500 W. Olympic Boulevard was hit just after 7 p.m.
More than 25 juveniles, some masked up, were seen fleeing the 7-Eleven with handfuls of snacks and drinks.
Last month, three 7-Eleven stores were hit within minutes of each other by large groups of teens on bicycles.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills in August that aims to crack down on smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes, making it easier to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves and increase penalties for those running professional reselling schemes.
Local News
Long Beach taco stand threatened by city’s new street vendor rules – NBC Los Angeles
A small taco stand on the corner of 7th Street and Termino Avenue that has become a favorite may soon be serving its last taco in Long Beach due to the city’s new street vendor rules.
Lines wrap around the block for the family-run and operated taco stand, Tacos Uziel. Owners Adriana Mancia and Luiz Perez said they started the taco stand for their son’s future.
“My taqueria is called Taco Uziel thanks to my son,” said Mancia. “We started this business for his future, so he won’t have to suffer as much as we had to.”
The young couple migrated separately from Oaxaca but met in Southern California as they worked for other stands around Los Angeles.
“I learned to cook little by little,” said Perez.
The training paid off with rave reviews of the stand’s el pastor and carne asada tacos.
“Sometimes the lines go all the way to the driveway back here, but we will stand in line because it’s that good,” said Chris Marquis, who lives in Long Beach and frequents Taco Uziel. “Hopefully they stay in Long Beach.”
The smell coming from the charcoal grill is enticing enough for drivers passing by to make a pitstop.
“I can smell the food from my car and I had to stop here,” said Donna Aragon, who lives in Long Beach and came for the first time with her husband to taste the tacos.
“It makes you hungry, even if you’re not,” said Keith Aragon.
Despite the taco stand’s popularity, Long Beach’s new vendor rules may force the stand to move.
“We don’t know how much longer we have here,” said Mancia.
Long Beach has been cracking down on unpermitted stands after working for months to educate owners on the new rules passed in February.
The city has even waived the cost of permits as well as licenses and is giving away 40 pre-approved carts that are now required.
To qualify for those carts you have to live in Long Beach.
The couple lives in Compton and said the permit process is difficult to understand.
“It’s very difficult to get permits because there are a lot of regulations for street vendors,” said Mancia,
The owners say if the city forces them to move, they’ll leave Long Beach for another city with more lenient rules.
Customers say it would be a big loss to Long Beach, not just the food, but the dream of a small family to give their 4-year-old a brighter future.
“If they move, we will follow,” said customer Maria Marquis. “Tell me where they are. Instead of walking over, we will drive over, whatever it needs to be.”
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