L.A. braces for Obama motorcade - Welcome to Los Angeles President Obama!

[flamingdem]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/10/la_braces_for_obama_motorcade.html



Los Angeles drivers are bracing for something that Washington residents are familiar with: gridlock due to a motorcade.

President Obama is arriving for a Democratic rally that starts at 2:15 p.m. EDT. Police and the local media have been warning about delays when four major streets around the University of Southern California will be shut for several hours Friday before and after the campus rally.

Obama is on the second day of a two-day swing through California to raise money for the Democratic Party and campaign for Sen. Barbara Boxer.

The president's last visit in August further clogged roads on the city's west side during the evening rush hour when streets were shut as the presidential motorcade moved from the airport to a fundraiser in the Hancock Park neighborhood. Motorists complained of being stuck in traffic for hours.

[flamingdem]

1. Waiting in the rain

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/crowds-line-up-for-obama-at-usc-after-the-rally-president-to-tape-interview-in-glendale.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01348863e9b1970c-640wi


As hundreds of people started lining up Friday morning at USC for President Obama's rally for Sen. Barbara Boxer, streets around downtown L.A. and the campus were about to be closed and bus lines detoured

The Los Angeles road closures are expected to begin around 9 a.m., and officials are warning of significant delays. Several South L.A. thoroughfares will be closed for more than six hours in the afternoon and during rush hour.

They also will be closed from 9:30 to 11:25 a.m., although some cars and pedestrians will be screened and allowed in, LAPD officials said.

Anyone traveling "in and around the USC campus" should expect delays and are encouraged to "plan another route if possible," LAPD officials said in a statement.

[Updated at 10:07 a.m.: Several thousand people were lined up behind metal barricades on the USC campus. Sandy McKenna, a 42-year-old graduate student in social work, said she normally drives from her home in Orange.

[flamingdem]

2. PHOTO: Queen Whitman impersonators at Obama Rally in LA

http://twitpic.com/2zub7q

?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1287771220&Signature=RJJK%2FVxWaQ5un8Rgkb3Rgg2RF8U%3D

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Last time he came it was a NIGHTMARE!

FOlks who don't live in LA don't realize how bad it was. Yes, we have traffic jams, but his motorcade brought LA to a standstill for 4 hours! Imagine sitting in traffic for 4 hours.

Nothing against Obama though

[flamingdem]

4. All the freeways are being impacted - 4 mile line to get in! nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. omg

[flamingdem]

5. Live blogging photos from the rally, to start in 15 minutes

http://www.neontommy.com/news/2010/10/obama-rally-at-usc-stories-pictures-video-commentary

[dhill926]

6. glad I can walk to my office............n/t