UCLA

|

Trial Date for UCLA Grand Hotel Coming

Byuclafaculty

In earlier posts on the UCLA Grand Hotel, we have noted that construction started off at a very leisurely pace but seemed to be picking up.  When yours truly went by earlier today (see photos), trucks were rolling in and out.  Other construction machines were wrecking the remains of parking structure #6.  Could it be that the more rapid pace has anything to do with the fact that a trial date for the lawsuit challenging the project will be set next week?  Is someone trying to get facts on the ground?  Note that the lawsuit, even if there are facts…

| |

More late night 405 troubles near UCLA

Byuclafaculty

The on- and off-ramps between southbound I-405 and Sunset Boulevard will be closed to all traffic from 9 pm until 5 am nightly from tonight (October 29) until the morning of Saturday, November 2nd. Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards should be open as alternatives. Good luck getting home:[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC4NmZSlDeY?feature=player_detailpage]

|

LA Conservancy Picks Up Story of UCLA Japanese Garden

Byuclafaculty

The Los Angeles Conservancy includes a story in its November-December 2013 newsletter on the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden UCLA has been blocked from selling through litigation.  We continue to suggest that UCLA work with conservation groups and the family to find a solution that will preserve the garden.  Litigation is costly for the university and its purpose should not be simply to gratify someone’s ego in Murphy Hall.  How about a focus that is less on “winning” and more on achieving the dual goals of garden preservation and revenue for UCLA? You can read the LA Conservancy’s story at:

|

UCLA History: Where’s the bridge?

Byuclafaculty

The roadway that connects the plaza between Dodd and Murphy to the one between Royce and Powell carries the sign above referring to a bridge.  Many in the UCLA community know the history but for those who don’t, the seeming roadway is in fact a bridge over a ravine that was long ago filled with dirt.  When the Westwood campus was being constructed, however, the ravine was a prominent feature and the bridge was one of the early structures built as the photo below shows. When the campus opened in 1929, crossing the bridge was a common occurrence as show…

|

A “Hole” Lot of Money

Byuclafaculty

We have noted in previous posts that progress on the UCLA Grand Hotel seemed leisurely whenever yours truly dropped by with his trusty cell phone camera.  However, there is now a big hole at the work site for the Grand Hotel where once Parking Structure #6 stood as you can see from the photos taken last Thursday.  Many parking spaces were removed by the demolition.  A small number will be built under the Grand Hotel for use only by the Grand Hotel’s guests, not by general campus parkers.  (The Hotel will have fewer spaces relative to the number of rooms…

|

Hints While You Puzzle Through Your Health Insurance Options from a Blog Reader

Byuclafaculty

As we are coming up to the open enrollment period for the various health insurance options, Prof. Bill Zame of Economics sent me an email with a cautionary note readers may want to consider.  (Edited excerpt): When insurance plans use the term “out of pocket maximums,” they do not mean what an ordinary lay person would mean by the term. As used by the insurance industry and the [open enrollment] plans, only healthcare expenses that are “ordinary and necessary” (by [industry] standards) are included toward  “out of pocket maximums” and only charges that are deemed to be in the range normally…

|

More Waiting

Byuclafaculty

Our previous post involved waiting until Wednesday for a revelation about the future of UC. This post involves waiting for UC-Berkeley and LA City to reveal more about the earthquake safety survey in the LA area.  Blog readers will recall that at least one building in a related survey by the LA Times was UCLA-owned. Ending days of mixed messages, the city of Los Angeles sent a request Thursday formally asking a UC Berkeley engineering professor for a list of concrete buildings that could be at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake. The professor, Jack Moehle, responded quickly, saying…

| |

More Problems for Night Owls on the 405 Near UCLA

Byuclafaculty

Segment: Mulholland Area: Skirball Bridge and Full I-405 Closures On Saturday, October 26, 2013 and continuing through Monday, October 28, 2013, the contractor will be pouring the Skirball Bridge deck which requires:  Full southbound I-405 closure from Valley Vista Bl to the southbound Skirball Center Dr on-ramp on Sunday, October 27, 1am to 4:30am with lanes closures starting on Saturday, October 26 at 10pm Full northbound I- 405 closure from Getty Center Dr to the northbound Skirball on-ramp on Sunday, October 27, 3am to 6am with lane closures starting on Saturday, October 26 at 10pm  The Skirball Bridge will be…

|

UCLA will appeal eviction from VA baseball stadium

Byuclafaculty

UCLA ROTC cadet in 1930s From the Westwood-Century City Patch: UCLA will appeal a federal judge’s ruling that effectively locks the university out of Jackie Robinson Stadium—which is on Veterans Administration land in West Los Angeles —where Bruin baseball has been played for decades, it was announced Tuesday… If appeals fail, the university may have to vacate the stadium after the 2014 season… U.S. District Judge S. James Otero ruled in August that by not using the land to provide health care for vets, the VA is in violation of federal law. Otero issued a written ruling Monday rejecting efforts…