Los Angeles, Ca

Concrete barriers mysteriously placed on streets across the San Fernando Valley

Published

1 year ago

November 23, 2024

Concrete barriers mysteriously placed on streets across the San Fernando Valley

The mystery remains over who is responsible for placing a series of concrete barriers on streets throughout the West Valley in Southern California.

Some believe the concrete cinder blocks are an effort to prevent homeless encampments and recreational vehicles (RVs) from parking in the area long-term.

Recently, the heavy, bright-colored blocks were installed in an industrial area of Chatsworth, just off Nordhoff Avenue. In other areas, rows of large 60-gallon barrels of water were placed on the street instead.

Both city officials and the mayor’s office confirmed they did not install the barriers or water barrels.

Residents in the area remain puzzled. Although the motive remains unclear, homeless advocates said the blocks are not a helpful solution to issues of homelessness.

However, residents and nearby business owners confirmed the barriers have been an effective deterrent against encampments and excess trash.

Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Large, 60-gallon barrels filled with water were inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)
Heavy, brightly-colored concrete barriers have been inexplicably placed on streets across the West San Fernando Valley area in a possible attempt to prevent homeless encampments and long-term RV parking. (KTLA)

Pastor Kathy Huck is the CEO of About My Father’s Business Homeless Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping and advocating for homeless residents.

Huck said the blocks and barrels are actually hurting the unhoused population.

“These barriers are not the answer,” Huck said. “To live in an RV is, I would say, discouraged because there’s no barrier for tents, but there are barriers in streets all over the West Valley for RVs.”

Huck said about 75% of the people she serves across the San Fernando Valley rely on their RV for shelter.

Many of her clients’ vehicles are in danger and subject to towing or destruction on a daily basis. With these blockades in place, they’re essentially displaced because they can’t find a safe place to park.

Huck said it also makes the job of homeless outreach workers more difficult because they can’t locate these individuals to help.

“We’re spending money trying to find people so we can get them immediate needs so that they’re taken care of until they are placed,” Huck explained. “How are people finding their clients? So, this undermines the City’s efforts to house people because you can’t house people that you can’t find.”

Tobie Von Bloes and Rob Lowe, a couple who lives in their RV, said it’s been tough to find a safe place to stop and rest.

“I just think people don’t really understand what we’re going through,” Lowe said. “They don’t like us here for some reason.”

“It’s getting really hard to find a place to park,” Von Bloes said. “And we’re just doing the best we can to live our lives. I think there are people that have given us a bad name and so the businesses really frown down on the motor homes.”

The L.A. Department of Water and Power also said they are unaware of the barriers. KTLA has reached out to the Department of Transportation and is awaiting a response.

If a private group or citizen is responsible for installing the barriers, the legality of the move remains in question.

Los Angeles, Ca

Ditch typing and note-taking – try these apps

Published

9 months ago

March 19, 2025

Press Room

Ditch typing and note-taking – try these apps

The future of voice to text is here.

I’ve been testing a variety of tools that make taking notes, transcribing audio, and even voice typing faster and easier than ever.

If you have a smartphone, you’re already halfway there!

Google’s Pixel Recorder app is free and built into their smartphone. It’s excellent for transcribing meetings, lectures, and conversations – all in real time.

Apple’s Voice Memos App recently added transcriptions if you’re upgraded to iOS 18.

Samsung’s Voice recorder app now offers transcripts too – as long as you’re on their latest One UI 7 software. (Check Settings > About Phone > Software Information)

Got an older phone? Try Otter.AI. It works great for transcriptions across devices and you get 300 minutes a month free.

Don’t want to tie up your phone?

I’ve been testing AI-powered digital audio recorders from a startup named Plaud.

The Plaud Note is thin, records for hours, and can even clip to the back of your phone to record calls. Just make sure you know your local laws before using that feature.

The Plaud Pin can be clipped to your shirt or worn on your wrist for hands-free recording.

Both devices sync audio to a companion app that auto transcribes and summarizes.

You get five hours of transcription a month included, with options to pay for more.

Pricing for each gadget starts around $160 dollars.

Want to transcribe audio files on your computer?

My favorite Mac app is MacWhisper. You can even get it completely free – although paid versions are avaialble with more features and options.

On Windows, check out Vibe Transcribe, also free.

And for a web-based option, Whisper Web gets the job done.

Finally, if you want to type less and talk more… there’s an excellent AI voice-to-text app called Wispr Flow. It was previously Mac only but just became avaialble for Windows, too.

One you install it, you pick a hotkey. Then, instead of typing just press and hold down that key and dictate what you want to write.

Since it uses the power of AI, you can even stumble or ramble and it will clean up your words and get the punctionation right.

It’s a gamechanger for responding to emails fast! You get 2,000 words free each week with options to pay for more.

Enjoy your newfound time!

Los Angeles, Ca

Prison officer survives alleged attack by inmate transferred from L.A. County

Published

9 months ago

March 18, 2025

Press Room

Prison officer survives alleged attack by inmate transferred from L.A. County

An alleged attack on a state prison officer by a 43-year-old inmate transferred from Los Angeles County is being investigated as attempted homicide, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials announced Tuesday.

The March 18 incident at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad reportedly unfolded just before 9 a.m. on what authorities describe as a “dayroom floor.”

The inmate, Anthony G. Ramirez, is believed to have pulled an improvised weapon from his waistband before attempting to attack custody staff member, according to a CDCR news release.

“Staff immediately responded, disarming Ramirez and placing him in handcuffs without incident,” the release detailed.

Anthony G. Ramiez, 43, seen in this undated mug shot. (CDCR)

The 43-year-old, who was transferred to SVSP in 2008 after being sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder, with enhancements for the use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury or death, was placed in restrictive housing pending the investigation and possible felony prosecution by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

Both Ramirez and the custody staff member were examined by medical personnel who noted no serious injuries.

Officials said that the California Correctional Peace Officers Association was notified of the incident and prison staff were offered peer support services and employee assistance programs.

Salinas Valley State Prison, opened in 1996, houses more than 2,400 minimum, medium, maximum and high-security inmates. The facility also offers vocational programs and academic classes and employs some 1,800 people.

Los Angeles, Ca

Algal bloom sickening marine mammals off Southern California 'will only get worse'

Published

9 months ago

March 18, 2025

Press Room

Algal bloom sickening marine mammals off Southern California 'will only get worse'

A toxic algal bloom leaving an increasing number of marine mammals stranded along Southern California beaches shows no signs of subsiding and “will only get worse,” officials said Monday.

“This week, we saw more stranded dolphins (both alive and deceased) than we saw during the major domoic acid (DA) bloom in 2023,” Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) Los Angeles posted on Facebook.

Recent tests showed DA-producing algae levels have increased, and officials believe that trend will continue in the coming weeks. “We anticipate that it will only get worse,” the post read.

MMCC asked the public not to approach sick dolphins or sea lions on the beach because they can become aggressive upon awakening from a seizure.

A dolphin stranded at Dockweiler North is seen in an image posted on March 13, 2025. (L.A. County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division)

“This is a safety issue for people and their pets as much as it is for the marine mammals,” officials said.

Beachgoers were also urged not to push stranded dolphins back into the water, saying it can reduce their chances of survival.

More information about domoic-acid poisoning can be found at https://marinemammalcare.org/domoic-acid/.

The volume of sick marine mammals has also had a financial impact on the MMCC.

“Our team is working heroically to respond to every call and to rescue every animal they can. Please share this post and give now at marinemammalcare.org/donate to give these marine mammals a second chance at life!” the MMCC stated.

Anyone who encounters a sick or stranded marine mammal can alert the nearest lifeguard and call 1-800-39-WHALE to make a report.