Obamageddon Hits LA as POTUS Returns for Fundraisers, ‘Ellen’ Appearance

Los Angelenos brace for traffic delays and road closures as Obama hits Hollywood for cash

President Obama Departs White House For Los Angeles
Getty Images

President Barack Obama is back in Los Angeles to hit Hollywood’s ATM for cash and tape an appearance on the “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

The President’s visit will likely bring with it the usual traffic delays and road closings — an on-the-street disruption commonly referred to as “Obamageddon.”

Obama is expected to attend a reception in Hancock Park hosted by “Cougar Town” producer Danny Rose and his husband, entertainment lawyer Aaron Rosenberg.

Tickets will range from $1,000 per person to as high as $33,400 per couple. John Legend is expected to perform.

Later, Obama is attending a dinner at the home of Sam and Leah Fischer, hosted by HBO President of Programming Michael Lombardo and partner Sonny Ward, with tickets starting at $10,000 each for the Democratic National Committee, according to media reports.

According to the White House, POTUS will remain in Los Angeles overnight. He is scheduled to fly to Palm Springs on Friday for a Monday summit of Asian leaders. On Tuesday, the President will be at Sunnylands resort in Rancho Mirage, California.

Obama was last in Los Angeles for a series of fundraisers including a roundtable discussion at the Pacific Palisades home of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, a $1,000-per-person concert by Jamie Foxx at the home of Ed and Robin Berman, also in Pacific Palisades and a dinner the home of designer Michael Smith and his partner, James Costos, a former executive at HBO now serving as U.S. Ambassador to Spain.

Here’s a list of areas that could experience traffic delays, according to the LAPD:

THURSDAY, FEB. 11

  • 3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.: The area around N. Hollywood Way between N. San Fernando Boulevard & Forest Lawn Drive
  • 4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m: The area around N. Hollywood Way between Forest Lawn Drive & N. San Fernando Boulevard
  • 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m: The area around Rimpau Boulevard between W. Pico Boulevard & W. 6th Street
  • 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m: The area around Wilshire Boulevard between S. Hudson Avenue & S. Arden Boulevard
  • 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m: The area around W. 4th Street between S. Muirfield Road & Lorraine Boulevard
  • 8:45 p.m. – 10:30 p.m: The area around Crenshaw Boulevard between Wilshire Boulevard & West Adams Boulevard
  • 8:45 p.m. – 10:30 p.m: The area around Wilshire Boulevard between the 405 Freeway & Malcolm Ave (Expect heavy traffic in the Westwood Village area)

FRIDAY, FEB. 12

  • 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m: The area around Wilshire Boulevard between the Westwood Village area and the 405 Freeway
  • 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.: The area around S. Bundy Drive between Ocean Park Boulevard & the 10 Freeway

Other areas with hard closures or other restrictions:

  • LAX Airport: NB and SB lanes of Sepulveda Blvd between Lincoln Blvd and Century Blvd will be closed to vehicular traffic for an eight minute period between the approximate hours of 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 11 and 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 12
  • Los Angeles High School: School will close at 3 p.m. South Rimpau Boulevard will be closed between Edgewood Place and West Olympic Boulevard from approximately 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank: Olive Avenue will be closed between North Pass Avenue and Hollywood Way from approximately 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • South Rossmore Avenue, Hancock Park: South Rossmore Avenue will be closed between West 3rd Street and Wilshire Boulevard from approximately 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • West 6th Street will be closed between South Muirfield Road and South Arden Boulevard from approximately 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • South Windsor Boulevard, Hancock Park: South Windsor Boulevard will be closed between West 2nd Street and West 5th Street from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • West 3rd Street will be closed between South Plymouth Boulevard and Lorraine Boulevard from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 11
  • Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles: Hilgard Avenue will be closed between Weyburn Avenue and Le Conte Avenue from approximately 10 p.m., Feb. 11, through 10 a.m., Feb. 12

Comments