Our councilman Eric Garcetti is back on the blog with a report on his visit to Pensacola, Florida, where for two weeks he rose at 4:30 in the morning as part of the Naval Reserves program to which he devoted his vacation time. Garcetti also talks about a newly instituted green program of which he was co-initiator. The program creates a fast lane for contractors who employ green strategies, getting credits for using green power, employing water efficient landscaping, building near public transit, and using recycled materials during construction.

The same day I received Garcetti's e-news, I found a bright green flyer wedged into my front gate. Bannered "Occupational Medicine Program" it was from City of Angels Medical Center on West Temple Street -- visible from the only 101 freeway ramp to Echo Park. The flyer offered one service: "To treat your injured employees we provide on site...physician available 24 hours a day" etc. etc. Well and good, but I don't have any injured employees, and I wouldn't know where to get any (ebay?) even if I were inclined to respond to a flyer delivered to my two-bedroom house. But, if I do get a hold of any injured workers I'll be sure to bring them on down to City of Angels. Wondering also if there's a bulk discount.

This evening, Echo Park exported at least one band -- Future Pigeon, which rehearses at the old Echo Beauty shop on Echo Park Avenue. Future Pigeon flew all the way to Eagle Rock to participate in what looks like a very lively one-day music festival.

Meanwhile, back in ol' CD 13, Dov Charney of American Apparel fame is rumored to be the purchaser of the now robin's egg blue apartment building on Morton Avenue. Bucking the olive and earth tones mandate of recent years, the building looks like a two storey, multi-unit puff of cotton candy with white trim. According to Chicken Corner's sources, Mr. Charney may have said he was buying the building to house his workers from the garment industry. Reasonable enough, as Echo Park is pretty close to the downtown garment district. Good business? Maybe. Altruistic? Unlikely, but one never knows, do one? Well, we'll be waiting to see if there's a dress code in the building. Or a company store.