April 08--President Obama arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday night for a quick visit to attend political fundraisers.
Yes, this is a political story. But in Los Angeles, it's also a traffic story. Or at least potentially a traffic story.
The president landed at Los Angeles International Airport at 7:24 p.m. and shook hands and said hello to a crowd waiting.
His daughter, Malia Obama, also was spotted before they boarded helicopters bound for the next stop.
He'll start in Bel-Air for a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception and dinner with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the committee's chairman, Ben Ray Lujᮠ(D-N.M.). There are plenty of big names among the guests of the event, which has tickets ranging from $15,000 to $66,800 per couple and is hosted by Cindy and Alan Horn.
Those guests include Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall, Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams, Lyn and Norman Lear and Barbra Streisand and James Brolin. The money will help House Democrats as they try to flip some Republican seats in what many expect to be a strong year thanks to boosted presidential turnout.
On Friday morning, Obama will turn his attention to helping Senate Democrats, who have a legitimate chance of reclaiming control. He'll appear at a $33,400-per-couple breakfast hosted by Jennifer and Tobey Maguire in Los Angeles. The event has been described by the White House as a "roundtable" and is closed to reporters.
What follows is a Q about the president's visit.
Will the president's visit cause an infamous "Obamajam"?
It's hard to know. Some of his visits have caused traffic delays for hours. But his last trip caused relatively little disruption because he moved for parts of the trip by helicopter.
Presidential visits have generated excitement but also grumbling from motorists. After some drivers complained about having to wait in traffic for two hours in 2014, some vented on Twitter using the #obamajam hashtag.
What streets should I avoid?
The White House does not release the president's exact movements in advance, but officials say he will attend two fundraisers before leaving Friday for San Francisco.
According to City News Service, Los Angeles police recommended that motorists avoid the following areas Thursday:
* South Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
* Sunset Boulevard between Sepulveda and Beverly Glen boulevards, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
* St. Pierre Road and St. Cloud Road between Bel Air Road and Beverly Glen Boulevard, from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.
* Sunset between Beverly Glen and Royce Drive, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
* Hilgard Avenue between Sunset and Weyburn Avenue, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
* Tiverton Avenue between Le Conte and Weyburn avenues, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Police recommend avoiding the following areas Friday:
* Hilgard Avenue between Weyburn Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
* Sunset between Loring and Burlingame avenues, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
* Bristol Avenue between Sunset and Westboro Street, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
* North Cliffwood Avenue between Westboro and Highwood streets, from 10:30 a.m. to noon
* Sunset between Bristol Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* Hilgard will be closed from 4 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday. Malcolm Avenue will be closed from 7 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday. Cliffwood Avenue will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Isn't Donald Trump visiting L.A. too?
Not now. GOP presidential contender Donald Trump was scheduled to arrive for a speech Friday at noon at his Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes, but the candidate's campaign announced a change of plans Thursday morning.
"Mr. Trump has rescheduled his California trip and will be campaigning in New York. He looks forward to returning to California in the weeks ahead," his campaign said.
Trump's previous visits to Southern California have not resulted in major traffic problems. But they did bring out protesters and counter-protesters.
In July, scores of protesters marched outside a Bel-Air hotel where he was speaking. A smaller group of counter-protesters was also there.
Trump also faced protesters when he gave a talk in San Pedro.
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.
