#Vehicle Transport Los Angeles

[diytransport]

Vehicle Transport In Los Angeles: The Easiest Way To Move Your Car

If you're looking for a trusted vehicle transport service in Los Angeles, DIY Transport is here to make your car shipping experience seamless and stress-free. Whether you're relocating, purchasing a car, or simply need to move your vehicle across the country, we provide top-notch door-to-door vehicle transport solutions. Los Angeles, with its bustling traffic and sprawling urban area, presents unique challenges for moving vehicles, but with the right service provider, you can rest easy knowing your car is in good hands. In this blog, we’ll answer common questions about vehicle transport to help you understand why DIY Transport is the best choice for vehicle transport in Los Angeles. Vehicle Transport Los Angeles

1. What is vehicle transport, and how does it work?

Vehicle transport refers to the process of shipping a car or other vehicle from one location to another. At DIY Transport, our service is designed to be simple and efficient. Once you book our service, we pick up your car directly from your desired location, whether that’s your home, workplace, or another spot. We then transport your vehicle safely and deliver it to your designated drop-off location. With our door-to-door service, you won’t need to worry about driving to a terminal—we handle everything for you.

2. Why should I choose DIY Transport for vehicle transport in Los Angeles?

DIY Transport stands out for several reasons. First, we provide a door-to-door service that takes the stress out of transporting your car. Our professional team is highly experienced in navigating the complexities of Los Angeles vehicle transport, ensuring your car reaches its destination without delays. We also offer competitive pricing, so you can enjoy peace of mind without breaking the bank. Whether you’re shipping a sedan, SUV, luxury car, or motorcycle, we have the expertise to handle any type of vehicle.

3. How much does it cost to transport a vehicle in Los Angeles?

The cost of vehicle transport varies based on several factors, including the distance of travel, the type of vehicle, and the time of year. However, at DIY Transport, we work hard to provide affordable and transparent pricing. When you request a quote from us, you’ll receive a detailed breakdown of the costs involved, so there are no hidden fees. We also offer different shipping options, such as open transport and enclosed transport, so you can choose the solution that best fits your budget and vehicle type.

4. Is my vehicle insured during transport?

Yes! One of the key benefits of using a professional service like DIY Transport is that your vehicle is fully insured during the transport process. This means that in the unlikely event of any damage, you’re covered. Our carriers are licensed and insured, giving you extra confidence that your car is in safe hands. We prioritize the safety of your vehicle throughout the entire process, from pick-up to drop-off.

5. How long does it take to transport a vehicle to or from Los Angeles?

The duration of vehicle transport depends on the distance of the shipment. However, DIY Transport is known for its efficient and timely service. For vehicle transport in Los Angeles, we strive to offer flexible scheduling and deliver your car within the timeframe that works for you. Whether you need quick delivery across state lines or a longer cross-country journey, we’ll keep you informed of your vehicle’s status every step of the way.

Why Choose DIY Transport for Vehicle Transport in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is known for its heavy traffic and complex road networks, which can make vehicle transport a challenge. By choosing DIY Transport, you’ll benefit from our extensive experience in navigating the unique landscape of Los Angeles. Our vehicle transport service ensures your car is moved with care, professionalism, and speed.

From individual car owners to dealerships, our clients trust us for reliable, on-time deliveries. Whether you’re moving a car for personal reasons or handling a business transaction, we tailor our services to meet your needs. Plus, our customer service team is always ready to assist you with any questions or concerns during the process.

Conclusion

When it comes to vehicle transport in Los Angeles, DIY Transport is the name you can trust. We provide a hassle-free, affordable, and fully insured solution for shipping your vehicle, with a focus on delivering excellent customer service. Whether you need to transport a vehicle across town or across the country, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your Los Angeles vehicle transport needs and get a free quote on your next shipment. Visit DIY Transport to get started!

[coastalcartransport]

Los Angeles Car Shipping: Efficient and Safe Vehicle Transport

When you need car shipping in Los Angeles, professional services provide a reliable and efficient solution. Whether relocating, purchasing a car from out of state, or needing long-distance transport, experienced auto transport companies ensure your vehicle is in good hands. With options for both open and enclosed carriers, they cater to your specific needs, offering protection and peace of mind. Los Angeles car shipping services feature real-time tracking, insurance coverage, and trained drivers, ensuring timely delivery. Trust local experts to handle your vehicle safely and efficiently, making your car shipping experience seamless and stress-free.

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Tesla Robovan Prototype, 2024. An electric, autonomous vehicle the size of a small bus, designed for transporting up to 20 people and/or cargo. Revealed at Tesla's We, Robot event in Los Angeles, the are no details yet about when is will become available, how much it will cost or how far it will travel on a single charge. 

[batboyblog]

Welcome to Infrastructure Week, Biden edition.

For the 4 years of the Trump Presidency it felt like every other week was gonna be "Infrastructure Week" but some piece of chaos derailed the Trump White House's plans.

well Yesterday, May 13th 2024, The Biden Administration declared this week Infrastructure Week to highlight ALL the major work they've done in the last 3 years.

Under the 2021  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law $454 billion in funding has gone to over 56,000 specific projects across all 50 states, the territories, DC, and tribal communities.

The White House launched a Map of all the projects you can look at

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of President Biden's wider Investing in America agenda, and together with the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the American Rescue Plan, all passed by Biden and Democrats in Congress has brought $866 billion dollars in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments.

They released a State by State factsheet to show projects in all 50 states, all the territories and DC

Roads & Bridges: The Biden Administration has launched improvements on 257,000 miles of roads, and repaired 13,000 bridges. This $300 billion investment in our roads and bridges is the biggest since President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system in the 1950s. The Administration has given special attention to addressing historic injustice in our infrastructure. Many minority communities have been divided by highway bypass projects from the 1940s forward, such as the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta Georgia. The Biden-Harris Administration is now helping reconnect divided communities and righting historic wrongs. The Department of Transportation put out a video highlighting the story of Philadelphia's Chinatown, how being split in half and have a multilane highway in the middle of their community effects them, and how the Stitch project will positively impact the people who live there who have fought for years for such relief.

Rail: The Biden Administration has invested  $66 billion for rail, the largest investment in passenger rail since the inception of Amtrak. The President recently announced $16.4 billion for 25 passenger rail projects on the Northeast Corridor. This will improve service for riders from Boston to Washington DC. President Biden has also announced $8.2 billion in new funding for 10 major high speed passenger rail projects across the country. These include a high speed rail project to connect Los Angeles with Las Vegas, which broke ground April 22nd. Planned to be finished in 2028 in time for the LA Olympics, the train will take 2 hours to get from Rancho Cucamonga, California to downtown Las Vegas making it the fastest way between the two cities.

Transit and School Buses: The Administration has invested $90 billion in public transit, the largest in American history. To date the DoT has helped replace 3,000 public buses with low or zero emission buses while the EPA has replaced 5,000 school buses with clean buses.

Electric Vehicle Charging, EV Batteries & Critical Materials: The Biden Administration is the first to directly invest in electric vehicle charging. the number of publicly available charging ports on America’s roads has surpassed 182,000, over a 90% increase since President Biden took office. The President has also invested in domestic manufacturing of batteries, already five manufacturing plants have broken ground.

Clean Water: The President invested over $50 billion government-wide for the largest upgrade to the nation’s water infrastructure in history. This funding places us on a path to meet the President’s commitment to replace every toxic lead pipe in America and works to close the wastewater gap for 2 million people who lack basic sanitation. These funds have already financed over 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects across the country, including over 800 projects that will deliver clean water for Tribal communities that lack basic water services. To date, the Administration has deployed funding that will help replace up to 1.7 million toxic lead pipes. 

High-Speed Internet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $65 billion to help ensure that everyone in America has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet—regardless of their income, race, or zip code.  Over the last year, all 56 states and territories have developed their plans for how they will spend more than $40 billion in funding to connect every unserved location within their borders. That funding comes atop $1 billion for middle-mile infrastructure, which will build more than 12,000 miles of fiber across 370 counties. These projects, will connect 10,500 people, 1,600 farms, and 295 businesses directly to fiber networks. The Department of Commerce has also awarded 148 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, serving over 280 Tribal Governments, which will connect more than 65,000 Tribal households, subsidizing thousands of devices, and funding digital inclusion activities for Tribal communities. 

Deploying Clean Energy: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes more than $62 billion in funding at the Department of Energy to advance our clean energy future by investing in clean energy demonstration and deployment projects, developing new technologies, and modernizing our power grid. This includes an investment of over $20 billion to upgrade the nation’s grid—a critical component to achieve President Biden’s goal of delivering a 100% carbon-pollution free power sector by 2035. 

Legacy Pollution: Thanks to funding in the The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law the EPA has been able to cap 8,000 orphaned oil and gas wells, with tens of thousands more to be plugged in the years to come. Over 100 Superfund sites have also been cleaned up or started with funds from the Law as well.

And More!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Morgan Stephens at Daily Kos:

California is gearing up for a high-stakes clash with President-elect Donald Trump over environmental policy and immigration—and it’s happening before Trump is even sworn into office.  On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a bold warning announcing he would intervene if the Trump administration rolls back the federal tax credit for electric vehicle rebates. If the credit is removed, Newsom pledged to provide a state-funded $7,500 rebate for electric vehicle buyers in California.  “[Z]ero-emission vehicles are here to stay,” Newsom said in a press release. “We will intervene if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California. We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future—we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.”

California’s environmental transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.  Los Angeles was once shrouded in a thick haze of smog, and the state struggled with dangerous air quality into the late 20th century. Following the creation of the California Air Resources Board and the Federal Air Quality Act, both in 1967, the state began to dramatically improve its air quality. And now California is a national leader in the fight against climate change. It recently reached its goal of 100 days with 100% carbon-free, renewable electricity for at least a part of each day. The state hit another milestone this year, with more than 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold in the state.  "This milestone comes a little over two years after California eclipsed the 1 million ZEV sales mark," Newsom’s office stated in a press release. But the fight isn’t just about clean cars.  California Attorney General Rob Bonta is preparing for a legal showdown with Trump over immigration policies, including Trump’s planned mass deportations. 

In a recent interview with The Nation, Bonta made it clear the state will take every available step to protect its immigrant communities—no matter what the Trump administration throws at them. “I’ve been preparing and readying for this possible moment for months, and in some cases years, depending on the topic,” said Bonta, adding, “They want to do what they want, when they want, how they want it, even if it violates the Constitution or a federal statute.”  Bonta’s team is also worried about “the harm that will be visited on Americans, including Californians, that will be the result of unlawful activity and, in the immigration space, xenophobia, racism, discrimination, fearmongering, scapegoating,” he said.

California is a key state in the battle against Donald Trump in his 2nd term, just like his first term.

[mariacallous]

With the Olympic torch extinguished in Paris, all eyes are turning to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics.

The host city has promised that the next Summer Games will be “car-free.”

For people who know Los Angeles, this seems overly optimistic. The car remains king in LA, despite growing public transit options.

When LA hosted the Games in 1932, it had an extensive public transportation system, with buses and an extensive network of electric streetcars. Today, the trolleys are long gone; riders say city buses don’t come on schedule, and bus stops are dirty. What happened?

This question fascinates me because I am a business professor who studies why society abandons and then sometimes returns to certain technologies, such as vinyl records, landline phones, and metal coins. The demise of electric streetcars in Los Angeles and attempts to bring them back today vividly demonstrate the costs and challenges of such revivals.

Riding the Red and Yellow Cars

Transportation is a critical priority in any city, but especially so in Los Angeles, which has been a sprawling metropolis from the start.

In the early 1900s, railroad magnate Henry Huntington, who owned vast tracts of land around LA, started subdividing his holdings into small plots and building homes. In order to attract buyers, he also built a trolley system that whisked residents from outlying areas to jobs and shopping downtown.

By the 1930s, Los Angeles had a vibrant public transportation network, with over 1,000 miles of electric streetcar routes, operated by two companies: Pacific Electric Railway, with its “Red Cars,” and Los Angeles Railway, with its “Yellow Cars.”

The system wasn’t perfect by any means. Many people felt that streetcars were inconvenient and also unhealthy when they were jammed with riders. Moreover, streetcars were slow because they had to share the road with automobiles. As auto usage climbed and roads became congested, travel times increased.

Nonetheless, many Angelenos rode the streetcars—especially during World War II, when gasoline was rationed and automobile plants shifted to producing military vehicles.

Demise of Public Transit

The end of the war marked the end of the line for streetcars. The war effort had transformed oil, tire, and car companies into behemoths, and these industries needed new buyers for goods from the massive factories they had built for military production. Civilians and returning soldiers were tired of rationing and war privations, and they wanted to spend money on goods such as cars.

After years of heavy usage during the war, Los Angeles’ streetcar system needed an expensive capital upgrade. But in the mid-1940s, most of the system was sold to a company called National City Lines, which was partly owned by the carmaker General Motors, the oil companies Standard Oil of California and Phillips Petroleum, and the Firestone tire company.

These powerful forces had no incentive to maintain or improve the old electric streetcar system. National City ripped up tracks and replaced the streetcars with buses that were built by General Motors, used Firestone tires, and ran on gasoline.

There is a long-running academic debate over whether self-serving corporate interests purposely killed LA’s streetcar system. Some researchers argue that the system would have died on its own, like many other streetcar networks around the world.

The controversy even spilled over into pop culture in the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which came down firmly on the conspiracy side.

What’s undisputed is that, starting in the mid-1940s, powerful social forces transformed Los Angeles so that commuters had only two choices: drive or take a public bus. As a result, LA became so choked with traffic that it often took hours to cross the city.

In 1990, the Los Angeles Times reported that people were putting refrigerators, desks, and televisions in their cars to cope with getting stuck in horrendous traffic. A swath of movies, from Falling Down to Clueless to La La Land, have featured the next-level challenge of driving in LA.

Traffic was also a concern when LA hosted the 1984 Summer Games, but the Games went off smoothly. Organizers convinced over 1 million people to ride buses, and they got many trucks to drive during off-peak hours. The 2028 games, however, will have roughly 50 percent more athletes competing, which means thousands more coaches, family, friends, and spectators. So simply dusting off plans from 40 years ago won’t work.

Olympic Transportation Plans

Today, Los Angeles is slowly rebuilding a more robust public transportation system. In addition to buses, it now has four light-rail lines—the new name for electric streetcars—and two subways. Many follow the same routes that electric trolleys once traveled. Rebuilding this network is costing the public billions, since the old system was completely dismantled.

Three key improvements are planned for the Olympics. First, LA’s airport terminals will be connected to the rail system. Second, the Los Angeles organizing committee is planning heavily on using buses to move people. It will do this by reassigning some lanes away from cars and making them available for 3,000 more buses, which will be borrowed from other locales.

Finally, there are plans to permanently increase bicycle lanes around the city. However, one major initiative, a bike path along the Los Angeles River, is still under an environmental review that may not be completed by 2028.

Car-Free for 17 Days

I expect that organizers will pull off a car-free Olympics, simply by making driving and parking conditions so awful during the Games that people are forced to take public transportation to sports venues around the city. After the Games end, however, most of LA is likely to quickly revert to its car-centric ways.

As Casey Wasserman, chair of the LA 2028 organizing committee, recently put it: “The unique thing about Olympic Games is for 17 days you can fix a lot of problems when you can set the rules—for traffic, for fans, for commerce—than you do on a normal day in Los Angeles.”

[justforbooks]

John Ashton

American actor best known for his role as Sergeant John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop films

In several action comedies of the 1980s, John Ashton, who has died aged 76 from cancer, played disgruntled, buffoonish or flummoxed figures caught up in chaotic situations not entirely of their own making.

The first, Beverly Hills Cop (1984), was originally intended as a dramatic vehicle for Sylvester Stallone: “Stallone was going to make it ‘Rambo Blows Up Beverly Hills’ or something,” said Ashton, who first auditioned for the film in that form.

When it was subsequently retooled for the overnight sensation Eddie Murphy, it became a comedy in which other cast members were also permitted to be funny. Among them was Ashton, who played the dyspeptic Sergeant John Taggart. With his partner, Detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), he is assigned to keep an eye on Murphy’s irreverent Detroit native Axel Foley, who makes waves as he hunts a killer in Beverly Hills.

Foley runs rings around the pair. During a stakeout, he inserts bananas into their car’s exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to stutter and stall when they try to follow him. Ashton’s irritability was nicely offset by Reinhold’s peppy naivety. One of the pleasures of the film was seeing Taggart gradually come around to Foley. Having begun the movie at loggerheads, they end it as allies.

After witnessing the enthusiastic response to the movie at an industry screening, Ashton and Reinhold stopped by a Los Angeles cinema a few weeks later to see how it was going down with the public. Seated in the balcony, they marvelled at the audience “hooting and hollering and screaming and yelling”.

Directed by Martin Brest and released in the US in December 1984, Beverly Hills Cop took $316m worldwide, and was one of the country’s top 10 highest grossing films in 1984 and 1985.

Ashton and Reinhold returned in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), as well as the recent fourth instalment, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), in which Taggart has now been promoted to police chief. “If we were gonna do [another] Beverly Hills Cop, the only way it could happen was if all of us were in it,” said Murphy earlier this year.

Less commercially successful than Beverly Hills Cop but far superior was the buddy movie Midnight Run (1988), also directed by Brest. It starred Robert De Niro as a dishevelled bounty hunter transporting a turncoat Mob accountant (Charles Grodin) across the US. Ashton was superb as the comically coarse Marvin Dorfler, a rival bounty hunter who tries repeatedly to intercept the duo and claim the money for himself. Dunderheaded the character may have been, but Ashton also showed convincingly that he could be intimidating when the need arose.

The role had been written as a straightforward heavy. “But that’s not how I played him,” said Ashton, who approached Marvin instead as someone who was simply doing his job. It worked: though the character died halfway through George Gallo’s script, Brest ordered a rewrite. “About a month in, Marty said: ‘We can’t kill Dorfler, the audience will hate us!’” Ashton recalled. He was spared and given additional scenes, including a memorable appearance during the tense climax.

Seeing Ashton square off repeatedly against De Niro was among the film’s highlights. It was also vital to him to win the role in the first place. He had arrived at the audition to find “about 30 guys in the hallway going, ‘I can’t believe I gotta read with Bobby De Niro’. Everybody’s freaking out.” Ashton, on the other hand, was champing at the bit. “Nobody’s getting this role but me,” he decided.

During the ensuing improvisation, De Niro was meant to hand him a set of keys. As he went to take them, De Niro tossed them on the floor. “Fuck you!” barked Ashton, sparking an escalating exchange of obscenities. “I know every other actor picked those up,” he reflected. He later discovered that, once he left the room, De Niro had told Brest: ‘I want him.’”

Ashton was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Edward and Eva (nee Wells), and raised in Enfield, Connecticut. He was educated at Enfield high school and Defiance College, Ohio, then studied theatre at the University of Southern California. In 1970 he won a scholarship to travel abroad, and appeared in theatre productions across Europe.

He always referred to theatre as his first love, and it was in that medium that he won his only prizes: a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award in 1973 for A Flea in Her Ear, and a Drama Logue award in 1982 for a production of Sam Shepard’s True West, in which he starred opposite Ed Harris.

His first film was the slasher thriller An Eye for an Eye (1973). He then became a familiar face with guest spots on TV shows such as Kojak, Columbo and Starsky & Hutch. In 1978 he appeared in six episodes of the soap opera Dallas as a crony called upon to do the dirty work of JR Ewing (Larry Hagman).

Film work included the acclaimed cycling drama Breaking Away (1979), the Charles Bronson thriller Borderline (1980), John Schlesinger’s chaotic comedy Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), the monster movie King Kong Lives (1986) and several John Hughes projects: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), She’s Having a Baby (1988) and the children’s comedy Curly Sue (1991). In 1989 he played a worried father whose seven-year-old son is kidnapped in the factually based TV drama I Know My First Name is Steven (1989), and at a press conference to promote the film, tearfully recounted his childhood memories of being followed home from school by a stranger.

There was much talk of a follow-up to Midnight Run, and even a script that Ashton read but felt was not up to snuff. A trio of undistinguished sequels were eventually made for TV without the original personnel. In the first two, Another Midnight Run and Midnight Runaround (both 1994), Dorfler was played by Ed O’Ross.

Ashton worked continuously in film and television. Notable parts included a prison guard in Instinct (1999) with Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr, and yet another cop in Ben Affleck’s impressive thriller Gone Baby Gone (2007). Ashton’s final performance was as a judge in two forthcoming westerns: Hot Bath, Stiff Drink an’ a Close Shave and its sequel, Hot Bath an’ a Stiff Drink 2.

He is survived by his third wife, Robin Hoye, and two children, Michelle and Michael, from his previous marriages to Victoria Runn and Bridget Baker, both of which ended in divorce.

🔔 John David Ashton, actor, born 22 February 1948; died 26 September 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

In the late 1960s and 1970s, the wedge-style of design was popular among automobile designers. Ray Cannara, a native Floridian, won a $4000.00 scholarship in the 1962 Fisher Body Guild contest at age 15. At age 18, he was accepted as a student at the prestigious Art Center for Transportation Design in Los Angeles, California. He later worked as a career designer at Chrysler. Prior to starting school, he designed and built this vehicle which uses a modified 1958 Chevrolet chassis with a 283cid V-8 placed in mid-engine configuration. He drove the car from Florida to California in 1966 during his college years. He kept the car in his possession until the mid-1970 after which it languished in storage prior to its restoration being completed in early 2022.

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

1966 Cannara Special Roadster

[rjzimmerman]

EPA will grant California the right to ban sales of new gas cars by 2035. (Washington Post)

Excerpt from this Washington Post story:

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to grant California permission to set stronger climate rules for cars and SUVs — a move that President-elect Donald Trump could attempt to reverse — according to two people briefed on the matter.

The EPA intends to issue California a waiver as soon as next week to enforce its rule aimed at banning sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035, said the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The Trump administration will probably try to revoke the waiver, although those efforts could run into legal obstacles.

The EPA plan underscores how President Joe Biden is racing to Trump-proof his climate legacy before leaving office next month. Just this week, his administration moved to block new mining in a sensitive watershed and to ban two cancer-causing chemicals used in a variety of consumer products and industrial settings.

Under the Clean Air Act, California can receive a waiver from the EPA to set tougher vehicle emissions rules than those of the federal government. More than a dozen other states follow California’s stricter rules, collectively accounting for about 40 percent of the U.S. auto market.

The California Air Resources Board, the top air pollution regulator in the state, approved a rule in 2022 that would phase out sales of new gasoline-powered cars and SUVs, culminating in a ban by 2035. The EPA in March finalized its own rule that would require automakers to more gradually ramp up EV sales while slashing emissions from gas-powered models.

California has requested a total of eight waivers to enforce climate regulations — not only for cars but also for heavy-duty trucks, trains and commercial harbor craft. It is unclear whether the EPA plans to issue other waivers in addition to the one for cars, the two people said.

Environmentalists have vowed to challenge the Trump administration’s possible waiver revocation in court, just as they did during Trump’s first term.

“There’s no provision in the Clean Air Act that says you can revoke a waiver. There are lots of provisions that say you may not grant a waiver if you choose not to,” said Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign. “So see you in court, Mr. Trump.”

Ann Carlson, who recently served as chief counsel to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said it would be difficult for the incoming administration to revoke the waiver, because it stands to help California comply with federal air pollution standards.

“Is the EPA going to say you can’t set standards to come into compliance with our own pollution rules? That puts the EPA on shaky legal ground,” said Carlson, a professor of environmental law at the University of California at Los Angeles.

[reasonsforhope]

"California just cracked down on pollution from transportation in two major moves, part of an effort to improve air quality and cut carbon emissions at the same time. 

On Friday, the California Air Resources Board unanimously approved a rule that would ban the sale of diesel big rigs in the state by 2036. The mandate, which will apply to about 1.8 million trucks — including those operated by Amazon, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service —  is reportedly the first in the world to require trucks to ditch internal combustion engines. The news came one day after California became the first state to adopt standards to limit pollution from trains. 

Trucks and Diesel

The regulations are intended to improve air quality and trim carbon emissions from transportation, the source of about half the state’s greenhouse gases. Trucks and trains spew diesel exhaust, full of soot that contains more than 40 cancer-causing substances, responsible for an estimated 70 percent of Californian’s cancer risk from air pollution. 

The trucking rule requires school buses and garbage trucks to be emissions-free within four years. By 2042, all trucks will be required to be “zero-emission,” meaning there’s no pollution coming out of their tailpipes. The deadline comes sooner for drayage trucks, which transport cargo from ports and railyards to warehouses — typically short routes that require less battery range. New drayage trucks must be “zero-emission” beginning next year, with the rule applying to all drayage trucks on the road in 2035. 

Currently, medium and heavy-duty vehicles account for a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions statewide. In August, California clamped down on pollution from passenger vehicles with a plan to end the sale of new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.

People breathing pollution from freeways and warehouse hubs have long called for stricter air standards. In the port cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles, some 6,000 trucks pass through every day, exposing residents to high levels of ozone and particulate matter, pollutants linked with a range of problems including respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease. Long Beach residents who live the closest to ports and freeways have a life expectancy about 14 years shorter compared to people who live further away...

Trains and Locomotives

According to the new rules, the state is banning locomotive engines that are more than 23 years old by 2030. It also bans trains from idling for more than 30 minutes, provided that they are equipped with an engine that can shut off automatically.

The stage for the rule was set by a single line buried in the Biden administration’s proposed auto emissions rules, in which the Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering allowing states to regulate locomotives. Still, California’s new rules may spark a legal battle with the rail industry, which argues that the state doesn’t have the authority to make such sweeping changes.

Though railroads only account for about 2 percent of the country’s carbon emissions from transportation, switching to trains powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells would provide some benefits in the effort to tackle climate change. The public health gains would be even bigger: The California Air Resources Board estimates its new rules for trains, passed on Thursday, would lower cancer risk in neighborhoods near rail yards by more than 90 percent.

“This is an absolutely transformative rule to clean our air and mitigate climate change,” Liane Randolph, the chair of the air quality board, said ahead of the vote on the trucking rules on Friday. “We all know there’s a lot of challenges, but those challenges aren’t going to be tackled unless we move forward … if not now, when?”"

-via The Grist, 4/28/23

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

CHICAGO, Illinois  — Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrators blocked roadways in Illinois, California, New York and the Pacific Northwest on Monday, temporarily shutting down as part of a coordinated day of action against Israel’s war in Gaza.

In Chicago, protesters linked arms and blocked lanes of Interstate 190 leading into O’Hare International Airport around 7 a.m. in a demonstration they said was part of a global “economic blockade to free Palestine,” according to Rifqa Falaneh, one of the organizers.

Traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area was snarled for hours as demonstrators shut down all vehicle, pedestrian and bike traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge and chained themselves to 55-gallon drums filled with cement across Interstate 880 in Oakland.Kibbutz Nir

Similar protests were held across the United States and around the world, after the group A15 Action called for coordinating a “multi-city blockade… in solidarity with Palestine.”

“In each city, we will identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact,” the group said on its website.

Protesters marching into Brooklyn blocked Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. In Eugene, Oregon, protesters blocked Interstate 5, shutting down traffic on the major highway for about 45 minutes. Protesters also blocked roads Monday in Philadelphia, and anti-Israel rallies were held in Los Angeles and other locations.

Demonstrators chant slogans at an outdoor shopping mall in downtown Los Angeles during a “Strike for Gaza” protest calling for the US to stop funding Israel and for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, on April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Robyn Beck / AFP)

Near Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation said a demonstration closed the main road to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Social media posts showed people holding a banner and waving Palestinian flags while standing on the highway, which reopened about three hours later.

Protests were also planned in Canada, Italy, South Korea, Colombia and Belgium, while the X account for A15 posted photos of demonstrations in Greece, Spain and Australia.

[rockbottomhq]

𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰, 𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔱𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔢𝔫 . . .

spooky season is right around the corner and rock bottom headquarters are happy to announce that they'll be treating everyone signed to the agency to a trip to california to partake in a week of theme parks and haunted houses to celebrate properly—all expenses paid. friends and family are more than welcome to tag along as well.

the trip will span between october 8th and october 15th. accommodations have been booked at disney's grand californian hotel and spa and hotel amarano. you have your choice of where you want to stay and you're more than welcome to pick roommates of your choice. luxury company vehicles will act as shuttles and will be available at each hotel to transport you to and from each event throughout the week.

leading up to the trip, select musical acts will be chosen to play gigs at some of our favorite venues across los angeles—you didn't expect this to be all play and no work, did you? the show schedule will be released shortly, but in the meantime, here's a breakdown of what the week will look like.

oct 8: arrive in los angeles oct 9: free day oct 10: oogie boogie bash at disney california adventure oct 11: haunted horror nights at universal studios hollywood oct 12: haunted hayride at griffith park oct 13 free day until 9pm, then halloween party oct 14: free day oct 15: check out, head home

for each free day on the itinerary, the agency has booked several different things to participate in. tickets to various guided haunted ghost and paranormal tours, several haunted houses, and pumpkin patches will be available each free day. we'll also have passes available to disneyland, disney california adventure, and universal studios available for those who would like to attend the parks on their free days, as well as the days rock bottom has set aside for everyone to attend at the same time. for those who might want a more relaxed free day, premium spa services will be available at disney's grand californian hotel and both hotels will have unlimited access to various pools, hot tubs, and on location dining experiences.

a separate post will be made with all of the details for the halloween party at the end of the week, but trust us: you don't want to miss that.

this is an optional event, but we'd love as many of you to participate as possible. if you have any questions regarding the trip, please feel free to reach out on the main or in our discord server ( we're launching that so soon ). happy halloween!

[marveldcnerdys]

Robbie Reyes: The Modern Ghost Rider

The mantle of Ghost Rider, a supernatural anti-hero empowered by the Spirit of Vengeance, has been passed down through several individuals since its inception in Marvel Comics. Among these, Robbie Reyes stands out as a unique and modern iteration of the Ghost Rider. Introduced in 2014, Robbie brought a fresh perspective to the character while maintaining the fiery legacy of his predecessors. This article explores the origins, powers, character development, and cultural impact of Robbie Reyes as Ghost Rider.

Origins and Introduction

Robbie Reyes first appeared in "All-New Ghost Rider" #1, written by Felipe Smith and illustrated by Tradd Moore. Unlike the previous Ghost Riders, Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, who rode motorcycles, Robbie’s mode of transportation is a black muscle car, specifically a 1969 Dodge Charger. This significant departure from tradition highlights Robbie’s modernity and urban roots.

Robbie is a young Latino man living in East Los Angeles, a community grappling with crime, poverty, and gang violence. As a mechanic, he works hard to support his younger brother, Gabe, who is physically disabled and relies on Robbie’s care. Robbie’s life takes a dramatic turn when he enters a street race to win money for his brother. During the race, Robbie is ambushed and killed by gang members seeking drugs hidden in the car. However, Robbie is resurrected by the spirit of Eli Morrow, a former serial killer and Satanic worshipper. Together, they form a tenuous alliance as the new Ghost Rider.

Powers and Abilities

Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider retains many of the signature abilities associated with the character, such as:

Hellfire Manipulation: Robbie can summon and manipulate hellfire, which he uses as a weapon or to empower his car.

Enhanced Strength and Durability: In his Ghost Rider form, Robbie’s physical abilities are significantly heightened, allowing him to overpower opponents easily.

The Hell Charger: Robbie’s Dodge Charger becomes a supernatural vehicle capable of immense speed, durability, and even vertical movement on walls.

Spirit Possession: Unlike previous Ghost Riders who were bonded with the Spirit of Vengeance, Robbie is linked to Eli Morrow. This unique dynamic adds an element of internal conflict, as Eli’s malevolent nature clashes with Robbie’s morality.

Character Development

Robbie Reyes’ journey as Ghost Rider is marked by personal growth, familial bonds, and moral dilemmas. Initially, Robbie is reluctant to embrace his new identity, fearing the influence of Eli’s dark tendencies. However, his love for Gabe and desire to protect his community drive him to harness his powers for good.

Throughout his comic run, Robbie’s relationships play a pivotal role in his development. His bond with Gabe is heartwarming and serves as a grounding force amid the chaos of his double life. Additionally, Robbie’s interactions with other Marvel heroes, such as the Avengers and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., further expand his character’s depth and integration into the Marvel Universe.

Key Storylines

"All-New Ghost Rider" Series: Robbie’s debut series lays the foundation for his character, exploring his origins, struggles with Eli’s influence, and his efforts to protect East Los Angeles. The series is celebrated for its dynamic artwork and fresh narrative approach.

"Secret Wars" (2015): During the multiverse-shattering events of Secret Wars, Robbie plays a minor but memorable role, showcasing his resilience and determination in the face of cosmic threats.

"Avengers" (2018-2021): As a member of the Avengers, Robbie steps into the spotlight, fighting alongside iconic heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man. His tenure on the team solidifies his status as a prominent figure in the Marvel Universe. Key arcs include battles against the Celestials and the demon Mephisto.

"King in Black" (2020-2021): Robbie’s Hell Charger proves instrumental during the war against Knull, the God of Symbiotes. This storyline highlights his resourcefulness and the unique capabilities of his supernatural vehicle.

Cultural Impact and Representation

Robbie Reyes’ introduction marked a significant step toward greater diversity in comics. As a young Latino hero, Robbie resonates with readers from underrepresented communities, providing representation in a medium that has historically lacked inclusivity. His struggles with societal issues like gang violence and economic hardship reflect real-world challenges, making his story relatable and impactful.

Moreover, Robbie’s portrayal on the small screen in "Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (portrayed by Gabriel Luna) brought the character to a broader audience. The adaptation stayed true to his comic origins while expanding his narrative, earning praise for its authenticity and depth.

Comparisons with Other Ghost Riders

While Robbie Reyes shares the mantle of Ghost Rider with Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, and others, his character stands apart due to:

Urban Setting: Robbie’s story is deeply rooted in modern urban life, contrasting with the more mythological and supernatural backgrounds of Blaze and Ketch.

Unique Bond with Eli Morrow: Unlike the Spirit of Vengeance, Eli’s presence introduces a psychological aspect, as Robbie must constantly battle his influence.

Focus on Family: Robbie’s relationship with Gabe adds a heartfelt layer to his character, emphasizing the importance of family and sacrifice.

The Hell Charger: The car’s inclusion modernizes the Ghost Rider aesthetic and provides a fresh visual and narrative element.

The Future of Robbie Reyes

As the Marvel Universe continues to evolve, Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider has immense potential for growth. His inclusion in major storylines and crossover events signals Marvel’s commitment to developing his character. Speculation about future adaptations, including a potential standalone film or series, keeps fans excited about what’s next for the fiery anti-hero.

Conclusion

Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider embodies the perfect blend of tradition and innovation, honoring the legacy of the character while carving out a distinct identity. His compelling origin story, unique abilities, and cultural significance have cemented him as a vital part of the Marvel Universe. As comics and media continue to embrace diversity, Robbie Reyes stands as a symbol of representation, resilience, and redemption—a modern Ghost Rider for a new generation.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Motorisation – The American Way

In 1925, the General Motors Corporation set about systematically destroying non-motor transport systems in America. They bought up the largest manufacturer of urban and interurban buses in the US. In 1926 they set up the Motor Transit Corporation (which became Greyhound), which agreed to purchase all its equipment from GM. General Motors then bought up all possible competitors, destroying the commuter services of Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut. In cities, the only way that a new market for the buses could be created was for GM to finance the conversion of electrical tramway systems to motorbuses. Tramways were bought, converted to buses, then sold to local companies that were compelled to buy General Motors equipment. This continued until 1935, when the American Transit Association exposed GMs chicanery. Company executives and employees then “independently” set up another holding company with other car and oil companies, National City Lines, in 1936. Once more local companies were forced to agree to buy only new vehicles that used GM/Standard Oil products and Firestone tyres. In 1936 GM also set up a company with Standard Oil and Firestone Tyres that bought up US train companies and closed them down. By 1956 over 100 electric surface rail systems in 45 cities had been acquired and closed down. Before the motorisation of California by GM, Los Angeles was a beautiful city of lush palm trees, fragrant orange groves and ocean air.

Now it is a wasteland. Trees are dying in a petro-chemical smog. Orange groves, polluted by lead from petrol fumes, were paved over for 300 miles of freeways. The air is a cesspit into which four million cars daily pump 13,000 tons of pollutants. Fifty years after the American road lobby started work, the US transport system is a nightmare. Pedestrians and cyclists have been bullied off the streets, railways have almost vanished, and half the area of most cities consists of roads and parking lots. The road lobby bankrolls many politicians to vote against clean air and fuel efficiency, making American cars the most wasteful in the western world.

[beardedmrbean]

A Los Angeles social justice advocate was killed on Monday when a homeless woman, who lived out of her car, broke into his home and shot him.

Michael Latt, 33, the founder of the social justice group Lead With Love, was the victim of a “tragic act of violence” after he was found suffering from a gunshot wound before being transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect, identified as Jameelah Elena Michl, broke into the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood home around 6 p.m., the LAPD announced in a statement.

Michl, 36, remained on the scene and was taken into LAPD custody while she was standing outside the home.

A motive behind the shooting — as well as whether Latt and Michl knew each other — remain unknown, but the incident is being treated as a random act of violence, according to the LA Times, citing police sources.

Michl was arrested and booked on a murder charge and is being held on $3 million bail, as her vehicle was booked as evidence.

Latt’s family paid tribute on his Instagram page, saying he spent his career helping others, especially from minority groups.

“Our beloved son, brother, grandson, fiancé Michael Latt, fell victim to a tragic act of violence Monday night,” the post read alongside a photo of Latt, his brother and his parents. “Our family, Michael’s extraordinary friends and colleagues are shattered by the profound grief of losing our Michael.”

“He devoted his career to supporting others, championing organizations that raised up women and artists of color, along with leveraging storytelling, art and various mediums to create enduring change and instill communities with hope, love and inspiration. Michael will never be forgotten and we can all carry on his legacy of love, compassion and fierce dedication to positive and lasting change.”

Latt’s neighbors didn’t hear the gunshots but remembered the activist as a sweet guy who lived with his partner.

“I’m heartbroken, I’m shocked,” Avarie Shevin, Latt’s next-door neighbor, told to KTLA. “I was looking out my window and saw a female standing in the walkway with her hands up and they took her into custody.”

“He is a super-sweet guy,” Shevin said. “He and his girlfriend lived there with a dog and a cat. He’s just very mellow. I can’t wrap my brain around what could’ve happened that caused him to be shot and killed. I keep picturing his face and I cannot believe he has passed.”

Latt founded Lead With Love, a marketing consulting firm focused on elevating black and other underrepresented entertainers in Hollywood.

He was photographed with rapper Common in 2020 at a rally in Kentucky for Breonna Taylor, the black EMT killed by police inside her own residence during a raid.

[mariacallous]

On Wednesday, New York governor Kathy Hochul shocked the state and the country when she announced she would indefinitely shelve New York City’s long-in-development congestion pricing scheme. The policy, in the works since 2007 and set to begin in just three weeks, was designed to relieve car traffic, curb road deaths, and send a billion dollars in annual funding to the city’s transit system by charging drivers up to $15 a day to enter the busiest parts of Manhattan, with rates highest at “peak hours.” (Truck drivers and some bus drivers could have paid more than $36 daily.) At heart, the idea is straightforward, if controversial: Make people pay for the roads they use.

But congestion pricing was also set to become one of the most ambitious American climate projects, maybe ever. It was meant to coax people out of their gas-guzzling vehicles, which are alone responsible for some 22 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions, and onto subways, buses, bicycles, and their feet. Policymakers, researchers, and environment nerds the world over have concluded that, even if the transition to electric vehicles were to happen at lightning speed, avoiding the worst of climate change is going to require fewer cars overall.

Now, the movement has seen a serious setback, in a country where decades of car-centric planning decisions mean many can only imagine getting around in one very specific way. Just a few years ago, cities from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Chicago began to study what pricing roads might look like. “Cities were watching to see what would happen in New York,” says Sarah Kaufman, who directs the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation. “Now they can call it a ‘failure’ because it didn't go through.”

On Wednesday, Hochul said her about-face had to do with concerns about the city’s post-pandemic recovery. The congestion pricing plan faced lawsuits from New Jersey, where commuters argue they would face unfair financial burdens. Cameras and gantries, acquired and positioned to charge drivers while entering the zone, have already been installed in Manhattan, to the tune of some $500 million.

Kaufman, who says she was “flabbergasted” by Governor Hochul’s sudden announcement, says she is not sure where the policy goes from here. “If we can’t make courageous, and potentially less popular, moves in a city that has transit readily accessible, then I’m wondering where this can happen,” she says.

Other global cities have seen success with congestion schemes. London’s program, implemented in 2003, is still controversial among residents, but the government reports it has cut traffic in the targeted zone by a third. One 2020 study suggests the program has reduced pollutants, though exemptions for diesel buses have blunted its emissions effects. Stockholm’s program, launched in 2006, upped the city’s transit ridership, reduced the number of total miles locals traveled by car, and decreased emissions between 10 and 14 percent.

But in New York, the future of the program is unclear, and local politicians are currently scrambling to figure out how to cover the transit budget hole that would result from a last-minute nixing of the fee scheme. The city’s transit system is huge and sprawling: Five million people ride the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s buses and subways, almost double the number that fly every day in the US.

In New York, drivers entering the zone below Manhattan’s 60th Street would have been charged peak pricing of $15, but would have only faced the charge once a day. They would have paid $3.75 for off-peak hours. Taxi and ride-hail trips in the zone would have seen extra fees. After years of controversy and public debate, the state had carved out some congestion charge exemptions: some vehicles carrying people with disabilities would not have been charged, lower-income residents of the zone would have received a tax credit for their tolls; and low-income drivers would have been eligible for a 50 percent discount.