Amidst the spectacular flower arrangements that burst into a colorful explosion on our sidewalks, the BID also has to address the side effects of the biggest flower shopping holiday of the year. Illegal dumping of green waste and cardboard is a sad byproduct of this and other major holidays in the flower district. Our teams work overtime to pick up the large piles of trash left behind by businesses with little or no trash service. We work closely with the City to identify these businesses and warn them in advance of the potential penalties.
The other byproduct is traffic congestion. Since 2022, the BID has employed a strategy that’s made Mother’s Day a safer and more enjoyable shopping experience. Each year, the BID pays for a team of traffic control officers (TCOs) from the LA Department of Transportation to be stationed at San Pedro and Agatha Street. Agatha is a small street with limited curbside parking. Shoppers would illegally double park on Agatha St. for “curbside sales,” which are not allowed. The resulting back-up of cars onto San Pedro St. caused heavy congestion, blocked intersections and resulted in several road rage incidents. The presence of TCO’s throughout the holiday weekend is a winning traffic-calming approach.
