Tiger Team V: the hits just keep coming

This press release came across the transom late this afternoon. Looks like Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is having another traffic news conference Tuesday morning. If I'm counting correctly, that's four in the past week in which transportation was the topic.

This one concerns the Tiger Team, or more specifically Tiger Team V. These are traffic officers who drive around town and tow people who are illegally parked and blocking traffic during rush hour.

Nothing wrong with that, I suppose. But I do think it's worth pointing out that someone in the mayor's office clearly loves assigning Roman numerals to traffic programs . Last weeks' traffic signal news conference was for Operation Bottleneck Relief IV. And now we've got Tiger Team V.

To put it in more cinematic terms, if Mayor Villaraigosa was a boxer, last week he would have had to take on Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV) and this week Tommy Morrison (Rocky V). That's a lot of getting hit in the head in a week's time -- be sure to wear headgear, Mr. Mayor, and remember it's all about the footwork!

Besides from the terrible acting, by the way, Rocky V was much better than Rocky IV, IMO. But neither was as good as Rocky Balboa, the sixth Rocky movie (above photo). Feel free to show support for my excellent taste in movies on the comment board.

--Steve Hymon

Press release from the mayor's office follows the jump.

7:00 AM -- CHINATOWN -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, joined by Los Angeles City Councilmember Wendy Greuel and Traffic Control and Parking Enforcement Chief Jimmy Price, will hold a news conference to announce the deployment of Tiger Team V, a special fifth installment of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s anti-gridlock traffic enforcement team. Northwest Corner of the Hill Street and Ord, (Across from the Chinatown Branch Public Library, 639 N. Hill Street), Los Angeles, CA 90012.

This time around, Tiger Team traffic control officer units will patrol 25 LA “Hotspots” (most frequently parking violated areas) throughout the City, ticketing and towing motorists who illegally park their vehicles on the streets during the morning rush hour times of 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and the afternoon rush hour times of 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The Tiger Team V will designate 13 traffic control officers and tow trucks along 25 LA “Hotspot” locations which will include areas along Pico Boulevard, Westwood Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, De Soto Avenue, Figueroa Boulevard, Hoover Street, La Brea Avenue, Broadway Street and Hill Street.

photo: Neil Leifer / MGM

Comments

[Oscar]

NO way...

I agree Rocky Balboa was a better than Rocky IV....but Rock V should have never been made.

Will Tiger Team III get to fight Mr. T and Hulk Hogan?

[K. Hahn]

Well BOB2, he at least looks better than Jim Hahn.

[BOB2]

All hype and publicity all of the time. Antonio has done very little except hold press conferences, and engaging in some really dumb ideas, like his one way fiascos. Since his vice mayor and number one advisor drives a Hummer this is the level of quality transportation advice he seems to get. If you don't really have solutions, just hold press conferences?