Don't Drink & Drive...cocktail napkins in WeHo bars! Free Metro rides!

In West Hollywood this Yuletide Season, Public Safety joined forces with the local Sheriff's Department to kick off a promotion to curb driving under the influence during the festive Christmas and New Year's celebrations ahead.

Cocktail napkins are being distributed in trendy watering holes around WeHo with a timely message emblazoned on their face.

"Don't Drink and Drive!"

The main purpose is to persuade revellers to take a taxi (cheaper that a DUI) or drag along a designated drive on the night locals and out-of-towners alike hit the strip for a madcap night out-on-the gay old town!

The Center for Disease Control has reported that motorists are killed every thirteen minutes in car crashes.

Non-fatal injuries occur every two minutes.

In the event a table-hopper is too blitzed to read the message, the Sheriff's Department has hammered the point home, by parking a slightly demolished SUV in front of the Station at San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvd in WeHo proper.

The Sunset Strip Business Association has hopped on the band-wagon, too.

Tipsy-tows are being offered to single drivers in need of a lift home on Christmas Day and New Year.

The rides are free including those who are non AAA Club members.

Metro Line bus services are also free on New Year's Day.

In addition, a free shuttle service will run along Santa Monica Boulevard from 8 p.m. on December 31st to 4 a.m. on January 1st (2011).

Info:  323.848.6414

Happy Holidays!

http://www.thetattler.biz

MTA...mistreats homeless man in blanket! Bus Drivers need training...

Joseph & his coat of many colors!

I was quite shocked to witness an ugly incident tonight on a Metro Transit bus on route through (Beverly Hills) to downtown Los Angeles (Carrier No. 4).

When a homeless man wrapped in a blanket stepped onto the bus, the driver snapped at the down-on-his-luck rider in two-seconds flat.

"You can't come on here dressed like that," he snarled angrily.

Since I do have a background in law - and day-to-day differences of opinions tend to be easily dealt with by virtue of a human trait known as common sense - it was pretty disturbing to encounter such revolting conduct  by a bus driver on a major public transit line in the United States.

I like to think that if the Mayor was aware that this kind of cruel insensitive conduct was going on at the MTA, that he would step in and take appropriate action to ensure drivers are better trained in the future (so they can handle  issues that arise without discriminating against citizens and/or violatingtheir rights).

By the way, the blanket the homeless person was wearing was not torn or dirty - by any stretch of the imagination.

 In fact, the cover was surprisingly clean and crafted in bright eye-catching colors.

I suppose if Joseph hopped on the bus in his coat of many colors, the ignorant MTA worker would toss his sorry a** into the gutter, too.

Frankly, I've seen women attired in shawls and ponchos, who paled in comparison.

But, the wrong-doing on the part of the MTA worker, did not end there.

When the driver yelled at the man, and demanded he take off the blanket, his gut reaction was to toss his fare into the change machine and dart to the back of the bus.

Obviously, he was cold (and hungry) and did not want to be turfed out into the street.

At this juncture, the bus driver picked up the phone and threatened to call the police, if the man did not get off the bus.

Curious, since the gentleman was not violent, but relatively meek and mild in nature.

As it turns out, the rider was short on his fare - so the MTA driver jumped on that issue - to try to eject him.

Passengers now became disgruntled because the driver swore up and down that he was not going to drive on until the man got off the carrier.

Compassionate city residents offered to pay the man's fare in the alternative.

"I don't want the dollar. I just want him and his blanket off of MY bus."

Kind-hearted individuals tried to convince him not to act so mean.

"It's not me," he lamented. "The MTA doesn't want homeless people on the bus in blankets."

Is that true Mr. Mayor???

The driver relented after about ten minutes, shifted gears, and drove on.

In the final analysis, this driver was not only a complete and utter sh**,  but also lacked training and compassion for his fellow man, as well.

If anyone should get the boot from MTA, it should be the employee in question.

His conduct was reprehensible and should not be tolerated in a civilized society.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Race...relations in LA LA Land! Telling it like it is...

'Ya know you're in Los Angeles if you spy African Americans chauffeuring city dwellers around on the Metro Bus line and delivering up the morning mail, Latinos manning service counters and drive-thru windows at fast-food take-outs, and Asian bakers rustling up doughnuts with sprinkles on 'em for rush-hour commuters to munch on during the hectic trek across town.

And, what about the white folks?

Well, they're sipping on hot java in comfy leather easy-chairs at Starbucks, complaining about it to anyone within earshot.

It's a rat race out here on the West Coast, alright!

http://www.julianayrs.com