Tens of thousands hit the street for Wilshire CicLavia

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The weather was gorgeous and the riders came out in force for L.A.’s 9th CycLavia event. No one knows for sure how many people hopped on their biked or skates to join to the fun yesterday, but organizers say turnout was higher than the last time the event was held on Wilshire Boulevard a year ago. The event covered six miles of Wilshire between downtown and Fairfax Ave. There will be two more CycLavia events this year. In October, the route will lead from downtown to surrounding communities. And in December, South L.A. will host its first CycLavia. Backers hope that CycLavia can turn into a monthly event by 2017.

filnerFormer San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has finished serving 90 days of home confinement for sexually harassing numerous women. Filner – who served 10 terms in the House of Representatives before being elected mayor of San Diego – will be on probation for the next three years. More than 20 women accused of Filner mistreatment. In October he pleaded guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor battery charges. Filner resigned last August. He’s barred from ever again running for public office.

More than 400 students from across the U.C. system are expected to rally at the Capitol today. The students are asking for alternative funding solutions for California higher education and drawing attention to the lack of funding from the state. The activists say that more and more students are being buried by massive debt because of funding cuts. To drive the point home, the rally will feature tombstones of each student’s amount of student debt. Students will also meet with lawmakers throughout the day to convince them to call on Governor Jerry Brown to allocate more money for education in his proposed state budget.

artinitiative.jpegLACMA, The National Gallery of Art and three other museums are putting together what they call the largest outdoor art show ever this summer to showcase American art nationwide. Curators are asking the public to vote online to choose which artworks will be featured on 50,000 displays for the “Art Everywhere” initiative. Members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America are donating the space. Museums have nominated 100 artworks to choose from. Including some from big names like Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keefe, and Andy Warhol.

ggbridgeIt’s going to cost you another buck to get across the Golden Gate Bridge. Starting today, the bridge toll will rise to $6 for people who use the electronic FasTrack system. Everyone else will pay $7. The toll hike was approved earlier this year despite opposition from people who commute each day between Marin County and San Francisco. Bridge officials say the extra cash is needed to chip away at projected $142-million deficit over the next five years.