L.A. River Focus of Chamber Meeting

Businesses opportunities along the Los Angeles River was the subject of Wednesday afternoon luncheon sponsored by the United Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley. The event at Porter Valley Country Club featured a presentation of the Los Angeles River Project Master Plan, a proposal spearheaded by the city to turn the 31-mile portion of the river from the western Valley to San Pedro into a string of parks and riverfront businesses. Engineer Miguel Luna provided an extensive overview of the project, which is still being developed and is at least two years from construction pending City Council approval. He said the proposal could help turn the river from a flood channel into a major economic engine. “If people are drawn to it, businesses can benefit from that foot traffic, not only locally, but regionally,” he said. Valley sites being considered for large-scale projects include Canoga Park High School, Sepulveda Basin and Griffith Park. A workshop meeting to discuss the plans is Feb. 6 at Canoga Park High School at 6:30 p.m. Click here for more information. The Chamber event also featured introductions by Ron Kaye, editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, and John McKeon, the paper’s new editor.