On 11/22/11 a tragic traffic accident claimed the life of Rabbi Berish Landau Z”L, an 88 year-old Holocaust survivor, and critically injured Rabbi Samuel Jacobs, a teacher at Yeshiva Rav Issacsohn Toras Emes Academy. Rabbi Jacobs was escorting Rabbi Landau through the eastbound crosswalk of Oakwood Ave. intersecting La Brea Blvd. in Los Angeles. They were both struck by a vehicle heading north on La Brea when the vehicular traffic signal turned green while they were in the crosswalk.
It has been reported that prior to this tragedy Councilmember Paul Koretz, whose district includes the accident site, was placed on notice that the pedestrian signal at said intersection did not provide reasonable time to cross and posed a serious danger. Most troubling was that immediately following this tragedy, the City did not respond by extending the time on said pedestrian signal.
In response to the City’s lack of action, Rabbi Hershy Ten, President of Bikur Cholim, wrote to Councilmember Koretz and Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) General Manager Jaime de la Vega requesting an immediate extension of time to be added to the aforementioned pedestrian signal, as well as a formal evaluation of all pedestrian signals in the area, and a timeline in which to expect these items to be addressed. While both City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s offices expressed an interest in this matter, as of 3:00 PM Tuesday 12/13/11 both Koretz and de la Vega have remained silent to said requests.
Ten stated, “This is a matter of public safety. The La Brea/Beverly/Third Street area is heavily concentrated with daily pedestrian traffic of all ages children walking to school, congregants walking to synagogue, and mothers walking their children.”
In view of the potential of additional fatalities and injuries, Rabbi Ten contacted the remaining Los Angeles Councilmembers requesting them to make every effort possible to motivate an immediate response from their colleague and LADOT.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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7 Responses
What the name for tehillim
Please continue to daven for Shmuel Choni ben Leah.
He should have a refua shelema bekarov!
Rav Shmuel Choni ben Leah לרפו״ש
#1 – Shmuel Choni ben Leah.
What about the poorly designed crosswalk on Beverly and Formosa? When you cross, you don’t see any flashing yellow lights. Nor can any car going east bound see any flashing lights as s/he approaches the intersection, if s/he already passed the lights a half block earlier. A major flaw and sakonah. The lights should flash on both sides of the streets in each direction.
The previous YWN article sates his name as “Shmuel Choni ben Leah”
Paul Koretz received the Jewish vote in the past election , but has remained silent on issues of major concern to the community. This includes the closing of the fire station in Pico-Robertson and the traffic issues mentioned in this article. LA city council elections are notorious for low turn-out, the community will be able to send a clear message in the next election.
Please daven for Rabbi Jacobs!
Boruch dayan emes.