12/16/19 – Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks to Alliance Ouchi-O’Donovan scholars during the launch of ‘Cool Streets LA’
Mayor Eric Garcetti recently launched a new program called Cool Streets LA in an effort to equitably combat the effects of climate change in Los Angeles neighborhoods. The Mayor unveiled the first of 10 projects near the Alliance Ouchi-O’Donovan’s campus in South Los Angeles and several scholars, teachers, staff, and families were in attendance. Some seniors were even able to speak one-on-one with the Mayor, and a member of the yearbook staff interviewed him!
According to Principal Dea Tramble, the scholars were “excited to meet the Mayor and really appreciated that he included them in the press conference. The Mayor was genuinely interested in hearing from students and eager to hear their feedback on the Cool Streets initiative.”
Improvements to the area included 35,000 square feet of cool pavement, 14 new street trees, and four bus benches with shade canopies.
Mayor Garcetti noted in a press release that “rising temperatures put our local communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. Cool Streets LA is about taking action in ways that will make a real and direct impact on people’s daily lives.”
This initiative is part of Mayor Garcetti’s Green New Deal, which is focused on lowering temperatures, adding shade, providing hydration stations, and encouraging local businesses to be more energy efficient in L.A.’s hottest communities that are most dependent on public transportation.
Principal Tramble believes that “this gesture from the Mayor is a great start in prioritizing our community.”
