“The mayor did local business a real disservice, by making that statement,” T. Donovan, an employee at a popular cheese and charcuterie store in the Valley, told reporters, shaking his head. “This could have been a really great opportunity to jumpstart community and neighborhood spirits.” His store was offering a “Carmaggedon” sandwich, which included ingredients sourced from farms west of the Los Angeles city center and away from the Sepulveda Pass.
Because of the furor leading up to the weekend, the lack of tension shocked many people when the closure actually occurred. People weren’t even driving on freeways and streets unaffected by the closure. The streets were, for once, close to empty and free from traffic. In a
sense, it was as if a breath of fresh air had descended on the city. People realized that maybe they didn’t need cars to survive in Los Angeles. This realization only strengthened the response to the need for public transportation in Los Angeles.