Over 100,000 participants packed the streets of Downtown Los Angeles to Venice Beach on Sunday April 21 for the 15 mile CicLAvia event.

CicLAvia closes city streets to cars to allow bikes, pedestrians and others to enjoy a park like setting. The event is permitted by the Bureau of Street Services Investigation and Enforcement Division. Street Services Investigators ride along with participants to ensure all permit regulations are met for public safety.

Over the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd, the BSS resurfaced First Street extending from San Pedro Street all the way to Grand Avenue. The cold milling and paving operations were coordinated with numerous businesses and offices to ensure a smooth and successful project that stretched from the iconic Disney Hall to historic Little Tokyo. This project was completed just in time for runners of the L.A. Marathon to glide through downtown L.A., while a brand new street waited for city hall employees travelling to work on Monday morning.

Although not very well known outside City government, the Bureau of Street Services, Investigation and Enforcement Division has a major impact on preventing blight by enforcing laws related to the use or misuse of the public right-of-way.

Recently, LA’s Channel 35 City View program did a report on the activities of the Investigation and Enforcement Division and the appointment of 13 Investigators as law enforcement officers. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and Capri Maddox, President of the Board of Public Works attended the swearing in ceremony for 13 Street Services Investigators as they graduated from the police academy.

On Feb. 16, 2013, the driver of an 18-wheel, refrigerated tractor trailer hauling produce decided to exit his vehicle to take care of an important matter but unfortunately, he forgot to set the brakes. The truck began rolling forward with the driver running behind and the truck rolled through the inter section of Fenwick Street and Sunland Blvd. At a high speed, the truck jackknifed west of the Sizzler Restaurant on Sunland Blvd in front of the "Welcome to Sunland Tujunga" sign and knocked out a traffic light. The truck caught on fire and in the process, a big portion of the load was emptied into the street. Sunland Blvd was closed except for the one slow north bound lane and the Bureau responded to this accident immediately. Other responders included: LAPD, LAFD, DWP, DOT, and the Bureau of Street Lighting. By the end of the night, the Bureau removed from the street approximately forty cubic yards of burned debris and vegetables, protected the areas that had suffered damage as a result of the accident, and ensured that all slippery conditions were abated.

At the Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony on February 6, BSS Executive staff recognized employees who have performed their duties above and beyond expectations. The ceremony took place in the Sub-basement Room of the Public Works Building, where Street Services Supervisor Raul Garcia, Equipment Operator Robert Webb, Field Engineering Aide Roy Bangugilan, and Truck Operator Jose Ulloa were recognized for their performance, dedication and undivided commitment to the Bureau’s mission. In addition, service pins were presented to Rudy Aguilar and Sergio Medina for 30 years of service and Jeffrey Costa and Rick Croymans for 25 years of dedicated service. Congratulations to all of them!

As a part of the Bureau’s Employee Recognition Program, BSS Director Nazario Sauceda and Assistant Directors Joe Cruz, Ron Olive, and Abe Navarro personally delivered breakfast to Crew #004 and Crew #065 at the North Hollywood Yard on the morning of February 5th, 2013. Crew #004 members include Frank Schoenwald, Albert Moreno, and Tom Eng whose diligence decreased the number of service requests and complaints generated in their maintenance area. Meliton Diego, Martin Garcia, and Sam Kekina of Crew #065 were recognized for their rapid and efficient response time to requests related to weed abatement and lot cleaning. The Executive team took the time to thank the employees for their commitment to delivering quality street services in a timely and efficient manner while they all enjoyed a delectable breakfast.

On Monday, February 4, Councilman Dennis P. Zine launched a $1 Million Sidewalk Repair Initiative in Council District Three. Bureau qualified staff has identified approximately 50 locations that are in need of major repair. This initiative addresses one of the most critical infrastructure challenges and one that significantly impacts the quality of life in neighborhoods. "By addressing this need we are reducing liability, increasing public safety, eliminating blight, and improving the overall quality of life in the West San Fernando Valley," said Councilman Zine. BSS Director Nazario Sauceda added "When you invest in Public Works, you invest in public safety."

On Saturday, February 2, BSS Director Nazario Sauceda delivered a presentation on the State of the Streets to the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition at the Hollywood Constituent Center. During his presentation, the Bureau Director explained in detail the sophisticated and scientific methodologies used by the BSS to properly manage the largest and most congested municipal street system in the nation and arguably, in the world. Major emphasis was placed on fully describing the benefits of utilizing the state of the art Pavement Management System (PMS) such as MicroPAVER. Through the use of MicroPAVER, the BSS systematically and strategically selects street maintenance and rehabilitation needs and also determines the optimal time of repair by predicting future pavement condition. By the end of the meeting, those who attended were able to gain a much better understanding of the BSS’ efforts and practices to properly manage a streets system that is equivalent to a four-lane highway between our City and the City of Paris, France.

As the Bureau moves forward towards the goal of completing a historical 800 miles of Pavement Preservation (the size of Oakland's entire street network), the need to keep all of the elements of the operation in perfect marriage becomes extremely critical. In resurfacing, three components are basic: labor, materials, and equipment. With the undivided support and assistance of the Fleet Services Division of the General Services Department, the Bureau has been able to secure the purchase and lease of five new profilers. In addition to possessing the latest green technologies, these profilers have a 700 horsepower and they run on four tracks that make them easy to operate. The clean running Tier III Caterpillar engine and all of the parts on these machines are made in the U.S.A. Reliability, power, maneuverability, and clean air are the common denominators of these new profilers that will be instrumental in the accomplishment of this historical goal.

On January 13, 2013, Investigators from the Bureau of Street Services, Investigation and Enforcement Division, Bike Patrol rode along with participants in the Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon. The event featured runners on a scenic coastal route along the shores of marina Del Rey, Venice and Playa Del Rey.

On Monday, January 14, 2013, the BSS faced and dealt with an occurrence that most people who live in our City are not too familiar with: Black Ice.

Due to the extremely cold weather, which was reported in the low 30's, some streets in the San Fernando Valley were covered with black ice, which by definition is "A thin, nearly invisible coating of ice that forms on paved surfaces". Among the locations experiencing this rare phenomenon were Van Nuys Boulevard, Plummer Street, Beverly Glen Boulevard, and Mulholland Drive. Numerous crews were diligently assigned to these locations to secure the areas first and then to perform the necessary work to make the streets passable again. The prompt intervention of the Bureau forces was highly appreciated by residents and commuters who constantly stopped by to thank the dedicated BSS employees.

On Thursday December 13, 2012, the Bureau was presented with one of the Quality and Productivity awards in response to the December 1, 2011 violent wind event causing thousands of tree failures in the northeastern section of the City.

The Bureau was a recipient due to the multi-Divisional coordination and utilization of over 450 employees. The Bureau placed all staff on twelve hour shifts around-the-clock for a week. Within three days, the Bureau had provided safe access to all City streets and completed all clean up operations within three weeks. Without Divisional coordination, providing this timely and efficient response would have been impossible.

The Bureau’s timely and efficient response resulted in minimizing the use of overtime funds. The Quality and Productivity Commission recognized this as the award was given within the Cost Savings Category. The Bureau is proud of this accomplishment and extends its thanks to all of its employees who participated and were key to the Bureau’s receiving this award.

On September 20th, the BSS held its quarterly employee recognition award ceremony. During the ceremony the Bureau’s Director recognized and celebrated extraordinary dedication and commitment by awarding the following employees with certificates of recognition: Shirley Law, Noe Galvez, Gary Gsell, Antonio Acosta, Herbert Fragosa, Wayne McGee, Sigmund Stringer, Michael Yudico, Bobby Savannah, Hugh Lee, Ronald Moore, Larry Morales, Arturo Pacheco, Kenneth Rozier, Maricela Aguilar, George Gonzalez, Nicholas Lopez, John Sapone, Agustin Villa, and Ronald Olive.

During the same event, the Director also presented service pins to the following employees with over 20 years of service: (40yrs+) Gary Gsell, (35yrs+) Antonio Acosta, Herbert Fragosa, Wayne McGee, Sigmund Stringer, Michael Yudico, and Bobby Savannah, (30yrs+) Hugh Lee, Ronald Moore, Larry Morales, Arturo Pacheco, Kenneth Rozier, and Maricela Aguilar, (25yrs+) George Gonzalez, Nicholas Lopez, John Sapone, Agustin Villa, and Ronald Olive. Without a doubt, the highlight of the event was the recognition of Gary Gsell’s 44 yrs of Civil Service.

Gary started his career with the bureau in 1968 at the age of 19. As a result of his vast institutional knowledge, he has become "the face of the Bureau on the witness stand" representing the Bureau in about 200 depositions and 70 trials for city litigation claims in the past three years alone. "This place has become like a family to me," he said. "Generations of people have worked with me, fathers and sons and in some cases grandchildren." Congratulations to Gary for his 44 years of service!

View our collection of pictures for this event

On September 28th the Board of Public Works recognized BSS for the completion of a historical high of 747 miles of Pavement Preservation during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012. The President of the Board of Public Works, Andrea Alarcón and the rest of the Public Works Commissioners took time to thank BSS employees for their combined sacrifice and their high degree of commitment and dedication to the residents of this great city which made the monumental accomplishment possible. President Alarcon also praised the BSS for "finding ways to accomplish these monumental goals during these tough economic times." BSS Director Nazario Sauceda explained that "while this is indeed a historical high, the Bureau is on its way to surpass this number since the Pavement Preservation goal for the current Fiscal Year is now 800 miles."

On Friday, August 24, 2012, Mayor Antonio Villaragosa visited the North Hollywood Street Maintenance Yard to thank all of the BSS employees for reaching a historical 747 miles of pavement preservation and the completion of 300,000 small asphalt repairs during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. The Mayor stated that even with these tough economic times the City is facing, the Bureau finds a way to continue to provide the highest quality services to its customers. He posed for pictures with employees and congratulated Street Maintenance Division employee Robert Caudillo on his last day of work after 35 years of City service!

View our collection of pictures for this event

Rather than taking the standard seven or eight days to complete this project, BSS Resurfacing crews profiled and resurfaced Avalon Boulevard between Manchester Avenue and 108th Street in TWO days, beginning Saturday, July 14 and concluding Sunday, July 15. Since using multiple paving machines results in a join in the pavement that can affect the smoothness of the street, the BSS used three pavers simultaneously, allowing each to complete an unbroken strip one third of the width of the road. The result is a smooth, homogenous application of asphalt with a clean, professional look.

Have you ever wondered how the Bureau of Street Services keeps track of the condition of all the streets in a city the size of Los Angeles? On a regular basis, BSS conducts a comprehensive survey of the City’s 6,500 miles of street using MicroPAVER™, a state of the art pavement management system. The Bureau’s Pavement Management Section divides the city’s street network into 69,000 segments. Each segment is surveyed using a specially equipped van, which takes digital images of the street surface and uses lasers to capture roadway roughness and rutting data. Each street segment is given a grade from "A" to "F." Due to the huge size of Los Angeles, the Pavement Management Team completes the survey once every three years. The results inform which streets receive priority for maintenance and resurfacing, ensuring that the streets that most benefit from BSS attention are given priority. The results from each survey are published in the triennial State of the Streets report. To find out more about the conditions of the City’s streets, see the complete report on our website in English or Spanish.

State of the Streets Report (English)
State of the Streets Report (Spanish)

On June 26,2012, former Board of Public Works President Cynthia M. Ruiz held a book signing for her newly published book "Finding Sane Relationships in a Crazy World." Bureau of Street Services Director Nazario Sauceda attended this special engagement and congratulated Ms. Ruiz on this new facet of her life. The book draws from Ruiz’s life experiences as an environmentalist, rehabilitation counselor, mediator, community activist, and public servant and teaches how to create better, more positive relationships in both work and personal life. Fifty percent of proceeds from the book will be donated to local charities. The book can be ordered through www.cynthiamruiz.com. We wish her the best!

Director Nazario Sauceda

As BSS crews performed maintenance work on Leland Avenue in San Pedro on June 21, 2012, Councilmember Joe Buscaino (CD 15) arrived to thank the Bureau of Street Services (BSS) for the work done in his district during this fiscal year. The Councilman took the opportunity to talk to BSS Director Nazario Sauceda and asked him to explain to his constituents the different pavement preservation techniques used by the Bureau to maintain the largest municipal street network in the nation. Mr. Buscaino had received concerned comments that streets that had been repaved only two years before were being repaved again. Sauceda explained that the streets were not being repaved but that rather a slurry seal was being applied. Slurry seal is a very cost effective pavement preservation procedure that places a thin rubberized coat on the street surface to preserve it in good condition for up to seven years. For its slurry seal, the BSS utilizes an innovative formula that incorporates crumb rubber from waste tires. This environmentally friendly technique allows the BSS to recycle more than 100,000 waste tires every year while protecting the serviceability of the city streets. The Councilmember and Director Sauceda also discussed Buscaino’s future vision for the district, and how the Councilman and the BSS can work together to continue improving the quality of life for CD 15 residents. The full video can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX98hxq_iRo

As part of National Public Works week commemoration, on May 23, the Board of Public Works awarded diplomas of service to five of our finest. Mr. Orlando Maxwell, an Equipment Operator in our Resurfacing and Reconstruction Division for his role in both Neighborhood Improvement and Quality of Life Contributions; Miss Audrey Netsawang of our Engineering Division and Mr. Matthew Wood of our Urban Forestry Division, for their contributions in terms of Environmental Impact; Mr. Bill Nobregas of our Lot Cleaning Division for his Quality of Life Contributions; and Mr. Jerry Caropino of our Special Projects Division for his contributions in Economic Responsibility. Congratulations to all of them.

Under the leadership of the Mayor’s Office the BSS collaborated with MTA and the Department of Transportation to repave Canoga Avenue in preparation for the scheduled opening of the Metro Orange Line Extension (MOLE).

The Bureau dedicated both of the City’s Municipal Asphalt Plants along with two combination crews to this project because the resurfacing was requested on an accelerated timeline. The preparation work for the resurfacing was completed in eight days, while the 18,000 tons of paving was done in only four days. Normally, a job of this magnitude requires nearly a month to complete. In one Saturday, the crews paved 1.4 miles of road using 6,000 tons of asphalt – more than four times the average daily production. The resurfacing will ensure a smooth ride for Orange Line patrons when the extension opens this summer.

San Pedro residents had one major concern about their local Target store – the street entrance was constantly flooded, resulting in a messy, rutted and pothole-filled drive into and out of the store’s parking lot. Phone calls to Councilmember Joe Buscaino’s office about the driveway were so numerous that they even outnumbered calls about the White Point landslide.

The cause of the problem was a natural spring which runs down Capitol Street, where the Target store is located. The water seepage created constant puddles of water in the gutter in front of the store. As cars crossed through the puddle, they spread the water onto the asphalt. The continuous moisture led to rutting and potholes. The situation was so severe that the Bureau of Street Services was compelled to send crews as frequently as twice a week to repair the deteriorated asphalt.

On April 24, 2012, BSS crews arrived to construct a "splash apron," a concrete pad inserted into the roadway directly in front of the Target driveway. As drivers exit through the water in the gutter, they will drive onto the concrete splash pad, rather than directly onto asphalt. The concrete, which is far more resistant to water than asphalt, will receive the majority of the water from the gutter, alleviating the stress on the street. The splash apron, which will last more than twenty years, will provide cost savings to the City and a far more attractive and comfortable entry and exit to San Pedro shoppers.

On April 6, 2012, George Gonzalez, the BSS’ Chief Forester, addressed an important delegation from the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of their visit was to promote international cooperation and an exchange of knowledge and best management practices in protecting and enhancing urban forest and wild land resources.

The presentation included an overview of the immense size of Los Angeles’ urban forest and the challenges in maintaining such a large and diverse tree population. The City’s urban forestry program was presented to the delegation as well as the Bureau’s partnership with community organizations such as Million Trees LA, which help to keep our urban forest healthy by promoting tree regeneration. The Bureau’s sustainability and recycling efforts, especially our greenwaste recycling program, proved particularly interesting to the delegation.

The presentation was followed by questions and answers. Contact information was exchanged and the Bureau can now count the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China as colleagues in our efforts to improve local and global environments through sustainable urban forestry.

For a long time, residents of Delgany Avenue in Westchester had to walk around or climb over "The Beast," a stretch of concrete sidewalk elevated an astonishing four feet by the roots of an enormous Eucalyptus tree. "The Beast" was even a key feature of a KCET news segment on LA’s sidewalks. Months before being highlighted on television, however, the BSS and Mark Grant, Special Projects Director in Council District 11 had worked hand in hand to come up with a plan to tame and eliminate this monster. Under the leadership of Councilmember Rosendahl, the team was able to secure funding for repairs and in early February 2012, BSS crews arrived to slay "The Beast." The scope of work included the removal of the massive tree, rebuilding the adjacent retaining wall, and replacing the concrete sidewalk and nearby access ramp. Residents in Westchester can now enjoy their evening walks without the fear of facing "The Beast" anymore.

On Wednesday, March 14, BSS Assistant Director Joe Cruz presented Certificates of Completion to the Fall 2011 class of the Bureau's Motor Sweeper Operator program. One half of the students were BSS employees. The 14-week program allows graduates to act as substitute motor sweepers, allowing them valuable practice in preparation for the practical portion of the civil service exam to become a motor sweeper. It also gives the Bureau greater flexibility in meeting its street sweeping goals by providing a reliable supply of trained substitute and replacement drivers as the need arises. Like other Bureau educational programs, the Motor Sweeper Operational program is held in conjunction with Los Angeles Trade Technical College and the classes can count towards an associate's degree.

On Thursday, March 8, the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, a coalition of all the Neighborhood Councils in the San Fernando Valley, held their 9th Annual Mixer at Carla's Café in CBS Studios in Studio City. At the mixer, VANC Chair Jill Banks Barad presented BSS Director Nazario Sauceda with their "Got It" Award for Making Government More Responsive to the People. The award was given to Sauceda for his history of work with the Neighborhood Councils, including helping them develop strategic plans for their work with the Bureau. Director Sauceda was also honored with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition by a representative of Congressman Howard Berman's office. "(Director Sauceda) does a fantastic job" said Banks Barad of the award. "He is richly deserving of recognition." Sauceda thanked Banks Barad for the award, stating that "I strongly believe in Neighborhood Councils and the difference that they make in City government. It is my pleasure to meet people that are instrumental in their communities."

On Friday, March 2, Bureau of Street Services Director Nazario Sauceda presented 14 BSS employees and one Bureau of Sanitation employee with Certificates of Achievement in Street Maintenance Technology. The certificate program, taught in a collaborative arrangement between the Department of Public Works and LA Trade Tech, benefits Bureau and the Department and allow the recipients to better assume leadership roles in their offices and in the field. Over 850 people from the Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Sanitation, Airports and other City agencies, as well as private citizens, have taken these classes since the program began in 1991. The friends and families of the graduates, Department of Public Works employees and representatives from LA Trade Tech were on hand to congratulate the graduates in the ceremony at the Public Works building.

Streets for People, an organization that offers cost-efficient and expedient ways of creating public plazas out of underutilized portions of LA's streets, has partnered with several city agencies, including the Bureau of Street Services, to create a pedestrian plaza at Griffith Park and Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. The one block stretch of Griffith Park Boulevard (between Sunset Boulevard, Maltman Avenue and Edgecliffe Drive) was converted into a pedestrian plaza named Sunset Triangle Plaza that opened on March 4. The plaza features potted plants, seats and tables and a colorfully painted street surface to make an inviting space for residents to sit, stroll and play. The plaza also hosts a twice-weekly Farmer's Market. Traffic will be diverted to a nearby street for the duration of the installation (approximately one year). The creation of the plaza has been enthusiastically supported by the Silver Lake Improvement Association and neighborhood businesses and residents.

Streets for People, a joint project of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the City of Los Angeles Planning Commission, worked with the Departments of Transportation, Planning, and Public Works; the Office of Councilmember Eric Garcetti; community-based organizations including the Silver Lake Improvement Association, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and local businesses to see the project through to completion. The Bureau of Street Services aided other agencies in gaining legal clearance for the street closure and in negotiating a maintenance and liability agreement for the plaza with the local community. The BSS looks forward to continuing to work with Streets for People to further Mayor Villaraigosa's mission to create a greener, pedestrian-friendly LA.

The Los Angeles City Council confirmed the appointment of Interim Director Nazario Sauceda as Director of the Bureau on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at City Hall's Council Chambers. Sauceda had risen through the ranks of the BSS since starting there as a Field Engineering Aide in the late 1980's. He was appointed Assistant Director in 2003 and has served as Interim Director since the retirement of William A. Robertson in February 2011. The Mayor, in recommending Director Sauceda to the City Council, stated that he was confident that the Director "has the confidence, ability and enthusiasm to successfully lead the Bureau of Street Services." Director Sauceda plans to continue the work he began during his tenure as Assistant Director and Interim Director, which included the implementation of new state-of-the-art street paving technologies and the creation of new and more durable asphalt mixes that are better for the environment.

The Bureau of Street Services (BSS) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the 2012 Roads & Bridges/ARRA Recycling Award! Roads and Bridges, an acclaimed trade journal, and the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association chose the BSS over nominees from around the country for the Cold Planing category for Projects such as the resurfacing of iconic Hollywood Boulevard. During this 18 month project, the BSS paved 232 miles of roadways utilizing 25% to 50% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in addition to operating the Cold-In-Place Recycling Machine (CIPR). By using the state-of-the-art CIPR, crews could convert existing failed asphalt into a new base material, rendering unnecessary several hundred thousand tons of virgin aggregates and ultimately saving taxpayers millions of dollars while conserving environmental resources. This award was made possible by the leadership of Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and his unprecedented commitment to the City's Pavement Preservation Program. BSS Interim Director Nazario Sauceda will accept the award on behalf of the Mayor and the City of Los Angeles at the ARRA Annual Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Fla.

On the night of November 30, 2011, the Southern California area experienced a violent windstorm. An unusual convergence of high and low pressure weather systems sent winds that in some areas were recorded in excess of 100 miles per hour. The City of Los Angeles was not spared.

Although no part of the City was spared, the northeastern communities, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Glassel Park, and Mount Washington, were especially impacted. The violent winds lasted only eight to ten hours but left devastation in their path. The winds were particularly devastating to the urban forest as trees failed wholly or in part resulting in dozens of blocked streets, crushed cars, and damage to homes and properties. High voltage power lines also failed in large numbers due to tree failure and thousands of Los Angeles residents were left in the dark.

The Bureau of Street Services received hundreds of tree emergency calls on December 1 and by early morning had fifty crews responding to the event. In the early stages of the event, the Bureau's primary task was providing timely first response to secure emergency sites and provide public access.

By Monday, December 4, 2011, the number of tree emergency requests had reached over 1,500 locations and continued to rise. The Bureau began clean-up operations while continuing first response to new requests. The Bureau continued to divert employees to the storm response and began to make significant progress on all facets of storm activities.

By Monday, December 12, the storm totals were in excess of 1,900 locations and the Bureau has responded to all requests and will continue inspecting streets to address any needs.

On Monday December 5, 2011, BSS Interim Director Nazario Sauceda joined Councilmember Herb Wesson, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce President Chang Lee, Board of Public Works Commissioner John Choi and others in officiating the ribbon-cutting of the Olympic Boulevard Streetscape Project in Koreatown. The project was funded equally through federal transportation money and the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. The Bureau of Street Services was instrumental in providing the design and project management, sidewalk improvement, street furniture installation and tree planting, among other services. The 1.1 mile stretch of Olympic Boulevard, which is the heart of Koreatown and the site of the annual Koreatown Parade and Fall Festival, will now enjoy the benefits of 80 new trees, 70 bus stop benches, 40 trash cans, decorative crosswalks at 5 intersections and 4 entry gateways featuring elements of traditional Korean architecture. Councilmember Herb Wesson spoke of the special bond between Korea and the United States, and described Koreatown as "one of the centers of the great city of Los Angeles." BSS Interim Director Nazario Sauceda praised the project, stating that it will "bring to Koreatown a sense of identification that LA needs." Both Sauceda and CRA/LA Commissioner Greg Lippe highlighted the economic development aspect of the project, pointing out that the build-out of the Streetscape created 31 jobs, and expressed the hope that the project will attract more visitors and businesses to the Olympic Corridor. Chamber of Commerce President Chang Lee and BSS Landscape Architect Anne Kim were presented with plaques to commemorate their instrumental roles in conceiving the project and seeing it through to completion. Afterwards, attendees enjoyed a performance of traditional Korean dancing and witnessed the ribbon-cutting by Councilmember Wesson inaugurating the fabulous improvements to one of Los Angeles' most vibrant neighborhoods.