President Biden is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday for a star-studded fundraiser that is expected to raise millions of dollars from thousands of supporters. But many more Angelenos are likely to be affected by the presidential visit, due to traffic.
The meeting, which will feature former President Obama, actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts and other celebrities, is scheduled for Saturday night at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. At least one protest outside is planned.
Roads and street parking in the area, including the LA Live entertainment complex that houses the theater, will be blocked at times and heavy traffic is expected. Additionally, it is unclear where Biden, first lady Jill Biden and Obama will stay during their stay in Los Angeles, but highway closures should be expected as their motorcades tour the city.
Los Angeles police and transportation officials referred questions about the road closures to the U.S. Secret Service, which declined to provide details but warned of potential congestion.
“The United States Secret Service works closely with our local law enforcement partners to minimize disruption to the public while ensuring the highest level of security,” said Secret Service spokesperson Melissa McKenzie. “For safety reasons, we cannot reveal specific caravan routes in advance, but the public can expect intermittent road closures and parking restrictions as part of the visit.”
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation was more direct.
“Commuters should anticipate delays downtown and plan accordingly,” said spokesman Colin M. Sweeney.
The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted airspace for “VIP movement” in a swath of the region from 4:45 a.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Sunday for pilots who do not fly presidential, passenger, cargo, military, police or air ambulance.
The traffic jams caused by presidential visits are not surprising, given the enormous security resources needed to protect the leader of the free world, particularly when he is not in a secure location like the White House or a carefully curated event space. previously examined.
But in Los Angeles the resulting traffic jams are also legendary. They were so bad during Obama's term that the phrases “Obamajam” and “Obamageddon” became part of the local vernacular.
“Mr. President, I chose you to be in the White House, not the 405,” one commenter wrote on Twitter during a 2012 Obama visit to Los Angeles for a fundraiser at George Clooney's Studio City home. There are times besides rush hour when you can visit Los Angeles”
Obama's advisers clearly learned from such experiences, increasingly using helicopters to transport the president around the city and reduce road and highway closures.
Biden has also created traffic jams when visiting the region, such as when parts of the 405 Freeway were closed during a weekday rush hour so the president could travel from Century City to media mogul Haim Saban's sprawling estate in Beverly Park. for a fundraiser in February.
