Weekly News Roundup – April 7, 2014

21-year-old San Pedro Man Found Dead in Glendale

A body found stuffed inside a suitcase that was dumped in the Verdugo Wash in Glendale was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office last week as belonging to Victor Moreno, a 21-year-old from San Pedro. A maintenance worker discovered the suitcase last Monday morning before alerting authorities. Glendale police said there were no obvious signs on the body pointing to the cause of death, but they are calling it a homicide. An autopsy is pending.

Buscaino Outlines Proposed Tax Increase to Fix Broken Streets and Sidewalks

At a public hearing at Los Angeles City Hall last Wednesday, Councilmembers Joe Buscaino and Mitchell Englander outlined a proposed sales tax increase that would pay for a backlog of badly needed repairs to broken streets and sidewalks throughout the city. The hearing came weeks after a top city analyst recommended a half-percent sales tax increase to generate $4.5 billion to help pay for the repair of 8,700 lane miles of streets in D or F condition and 4,600 miles of broken sidewalks in the city. The proposed tax hike could go before voters this November.

Overnight Closures Coming to Vincent Thomas Bridge Connectors Several Nights This Week

You might have to make a detour getting on and off the Vincent Thomas Bridge a few nights this week. Starting last night and ending Thursday night, CalTrans is closing the bridge on ramp from Gaffey Street and the Harbor Boulevard exit ramp overnight between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The closures are part of an ongoing project to add a lane to the Vincent Thomas Bridge – 110 Harbor Freeway connector.

Mary Thomas Passes Away

Mary Thomas (née DiCarlo), the wife of the late California State Assemblyman Vincent Thomas, after whom San Pedro’s iconic suspension bridge is named, passed away on March 26 at the age of 97. A funeral mass was held for Thomas this past Monday at Mary Star of the Sea Parish.

Red Bull Previews Racing Event Coming to the Port of Los Angeles

Last Wednesday, Red Bull gave the media a preview of the Global Rallycross Games it will be bringing to the Port of Los Angeles this fall. Rallycross drivers went for a spin in the same spot in the outer harbor where Cirque du Soleil pitched its big top last year. The Red Bull Global Rallycross Games will be broadcast live by NBC on Sept. 19 and 20.