818 Roundup: Griffith Park tree vandalized, Glendale buys Americana’s green space, La Canada residents’ affordable housing concerns
Today is Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 and the high in Glendale is predicted to reach 71 and low of 43. Here are the top headlines from the 818 area code region:
Hikers in Griffith Park were stunned this week when they discovered that an often-photographed tree at a scenic overlook near the Hollywood sign was torn from its roots and tossed on its side, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 8-foot =cypress tree was located in an open area near the dead end of Dronda Drive beneath Mt. Lee. It was popular with tourists, who enjoyed posing next to it when photographing the sign.
Ending a gridlock after a tied vote last month, the Glendale City Council approved a proposal at Tuesday’s meeting to hire a consultant to gauge the likelihood that a possible tax measure would get voter approval. The gridlock came to an end when Councilman Frank Quintero put aside his philosophical beliefs against new taxes in order to ensure that the top-rated consultant would get the job, the Glendale News-Press reports.
After nearly two years of uncertainty about the future of the open space at the Americana at Brand, the City Council this week unanimously approved taking over the popular park as a city property, the Glendale News-Press reports.
In La Cañada Flintridge, residents filled the Council Chambers again this week to question officials about a state mandate that requires the city to zone areas for low-to-moderate income housing, according to the La Canada Valley Sun. Two weeks ago, concerned residents showed up at the Planning Commission meeting to push city officials to remove or change areas officials selected that would allow for various housing needs. City staff then made a few changes to the proposed new housing zones, and on Tuesday night, members of the commission voted to recommend the zone changes to the City Council. The City Council is expected to discuss the issue in January, the Valley Sun reports.
- After a recent incident where a mountain lion killed a La Crescenta couple’s pet dog, neighborhood residents gathered at a public meeting on Tuesday to hear from California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials about how to avoid and handle potential encounters with wild cats, coyotes and bears, the Glendale News-Press reports.
- In national news, the House of Representatives gave sweeping bipartisan approval to a budget bill backed by both President Barack Obama, his Democratic allies and a big majority of the chamber’s Republicans, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The 332-94 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where the Daily News reports Republicans are more skeptical. But the Democratic-led chamber appears sure to adopt the measure next week and send it to Obama for his signature.
-- Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com
Follow on Twitter: @Nicosharki.
-- Sameea Kamal, sameea.kamal@latimes.com
Follow on Twitter: @SameeaKamal.