...but Echo Park Lake does.

Notice of Street Vacation: LAUSD has posted signs near Marathon Street declaring that the public street will be closed permanently -- from Mohawk to Alvarado -- starting July 9. The district does not seem to think it needs a permit to do so. But, according to reliable sources, it DOES need a permit -- obtained from the Bureau of Engineering after city council authorizes it by vote -- and it does NOT have one. And the council president, Eric Garcetti, who represents this area, is on record strongly opposing the LAUSD project of building a school building at the Marathon Street site. It's the infamous "Site 9A," where 200+ have been kicked out of their homes. Once again, the LAUSD has hewn to its principle of grab first, ask never.

Meanwhile, reports of eery quiet in Echo Park over Independence Day Wednesday were greatly exaggerated. It did get thoroughly noisy. Never louder so than at Echo Park Lake, which is now littered with fireworks debris, and burned palm trees.

At least the pedal boats are still kicking. During the day on the 4th, they were all taken as people celebrated the news that the boats will be back in business until September. Friends of mine had to race down to the boathouse to make sure they could get a boat.