Anybody out there ready for the odd bit of good news?

We all should be, what with the continuing recession/depression, unemployment that won’t go down, unending Afghanistan… And it is getting closer to Christmas.

So, from the thank-goodness-for-small-favors-and-the-occasional-infusion-of-political-will department came a ribbon cutting Saturday along the banks of the Los Angeles River: the eight-mile stretch of freshly paved and dutifully yellow-lined Elysian Valley asphalt is now officially open for rubber, both tire tread and Nike sole.

It’s always  hard to get an accurate crowd count, and the cops left before we could ask them (peace has its advantages), but approximately 200 people listened — and cheered — as Los Angeles councilmembers Eric Garcetti, Tom LaBonge, and Lupe Vella, representing councilman Ed Reyes, talked up the accomplishment under Saturday’s threatening early afternoon skies.

“The dream moves a step closer to reality,” Garcetti said, referring to eventually creating a bike path that will run the entire 51 miles of the river, from the Sepulveda Basin in the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. Flanked by the L.A. River Keepers, teens who advise those along the river not to trash it and pick it up when ne’er do wells do, it was a day in which public and private cooperation inspired even the most cynical.

Scott Wilson, founder of North East Trees, listened as Ron Olive, of the Dept. of Public Works, told onlookers the project took 10 years to realize. And L.A River Expeditions founder George Wolfe beamed when Vella said “We want nonmotorized kayak access next year.”

Amen.

Flyfishers should be happy because the new access and traffic cuts the threat of meeting people you really don’t want to meet while carping under the 2 freeway. In the past, this area had a bad rep.

Finally, a young man named Jesus rode his new, donated bike alongside Garcetti and LaBonge, southward toward the future. The only thing missing was a donated fly rod for Jesus to strap onto his shiny silver ride.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

This from KCET producer Justin Cram:

The KCET Departures StoryShare event is this Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Crystal Park in Elysian Valley.

The event coincides with the opening celebration for the Elysian Valley Pedestrian/Bike Path.

Crystal Park is located off of Crystal Street, South of where Fletcher crosses over the LA River and North of Riverside drive. Parking is street only and Crystal Street will be closed for the event. For more information on parking, traveling to the
event, and location, please go to kcet.org/storyshare

You do not need an appointment to participate in the StoryShare event, simply arrive to the event between 10am and 2pm and locate the KCET Departures booth. You will be able to tell your story on camera, or if you prefer, as audio only.

For those of you who have already sent in a teaser of your story, we have begun to publish these on the KCET StoryShare site as some of you cannot make it the event. Feel free to contact me via email if you would like to adjust or add to your story on
the site.

See you on the river (tomorrow!), Jim Burns