A summary of selected City Hall actions this past week affecting Central Los Angeles.

CITY COUNCIL

* YUCCA STREET OBSTRUCTIONS: Approved a plan aimed at reducing drug sales along Yucca Street in Hollywood by placing metal posts at the intersections where Yucca Street crosses Las Palmas, Cherokee and Whitley avenues. The posts will eliminate turns onto Yucca. The posts were tested earlier this year and found to significantly reduce drug sales in the area. Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg said that when the posts came down, drug dealers--who include gang members--got the impression that “they had won” and the problem became worse than before. Goldberg said the vast majority of the area’s residents favor the plan, but that most of the businesses along the affected stretch of Yucca were strongly against the proposal. One liquor store owner said that when the posts were up, his business went down 50%.

* TAYLOR YARDS: Approved the use of $25,000 of Community Redevelopment Agency funds to hire a consultant to study the redevelopment of Taylor Yards, the sprawling railroad yard near the intersection of the 110 and 5 freeways. As part of the redevelopment, a Hughes Market was recently opened just west of the railroad yard.

* MALCOLM X FESTIVAL: Approved the closure of 43rd Place between Leimert and Crenshaw boulevards and Degnan Boulevard between 43rd Street and 43rd Place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 21 for the third annual Malcolm X Festival at Leimert Park. The festival will feature games, a fashion show, food booths and entertainment. Proceeds from the event will go toward a Malcolm X scholarship fund to send children to the private West Boulevard Elementary School and Marcus Garvey School. Anyone interested in participating in the festival should contact Torrance Reese, the event’s organizer, at (213) 368-8105.

HOW THEY VOTED

How South-Central and Eastside City Council representatives voted on selected issues. * TRUANCY LAW: Gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that will allow police to issue tickets to minors suspected of being truant from school. The ordinance prohibits persons under 18 who are supposed to be in school from loitering between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. If a minor is ticketed by the police and found to be guilty of truancy, a juvenile court can levy a $50 fine or impose community service. However, the case will then be continued for 60 days to evaluate the student’s attendance record. If the student has no unexcused absences in that time, the court will throw out the penalty. Passed 12-1. Voting yes: Richard Alatorre, Mike Hernandez, Nate Holden, Rudy Svorinich Jr. and Goldberg. Voting no: Rita Walters. Absent: Mark Ridley-Thomas.