President Barack Obama departed Los Angeles Thursday afternoon after a second day of heavy traffic for Los Angeles-area motorists concluded his trip to Southern California.
Air Force One left Los Angeles International Airport about 3 p.m. after the president spoke at a trade college downtown, attended a fundraiser and met with supporters at the iconic Jewish deli Canter’s.
Obama’s Los Angeles visit, which began about 3 p.m. Wednesday, snarled traffic and prompted complaints on social media under the hashtags #ObamaTraffic and #ThanksObama.
On Thursday, the presidential motorcade had left his Beverly Hills hotel about 9:30 a.m. bound for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at a private home, according to a pool reporter traveling with the president.
About 25 supporters who contributed up to $32,400 for the privilege joined the president at a home in the Pacific Palisades area, a DNC official said.
About 11:15 a.m., he arrived at Canter’s Deli on Fairfax Avenue to meet with four Southern Californians who had written to him about the economy or their career struggles, according to the White House.
The president arrived for his speech at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College south of downtown Los Angeles about 12:20 p.m.
At the ticketed event, Obama was heckled by someone shouting about Jesus Christ and the universe, but the man was booed by the crowd, which began yelling “O-ba-ma” in unison.
“I’ve actually met that guy before,” the president joked as the man appeared to be escorted away. “A couple years ago, and he had the same line. He needs to update his material.”
After a speech of 23 minutes, the president eventually left the college and headed via helicopter to LAX, where he boarded Air Force One.
The president’s visit came amid a West Coast tour that started in Seattle Tuesday and included a stop in San Francisco.
On Wednesday evening, Obama attended a fundraiser at the home of television screenwriter and producer Shonda Rhimes in Hancock Park.
The Los Angeles Police Department had issued a traffic advisory for Thursday, saying the following areas should be avoided because of travel delays:
- The area around Beverly Boulevard and North Doheny Drive from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The area around Sunset Boulevard and Mandeville Canyon Road from 9 to 11 a.m.
- The area around Sunset Boulevard and Barrington Avenue from 10 a.m. to noon
- The area around Grand Avenue and West Washington Boulevard from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The area around Figueroa Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 1 to 3 p.m.
- BUS STOP: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; ROUTES: MTA 40; 1 to 3 p.m.
- BUS STOP: Figueroa Street; ROUTES: MTA 81; 1 to 3 p.m.
- BUS STOP: Washington Boulevard; ROUTES: MTA 35, 910; 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- BUS STOP: Flower Street; ROUTES: Montebello 50; 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- BUS STOP: Grand Avenue; ROUTES: Montebello 50; 4:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hard street closures will take place along West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Hoover Street and South Figueroa Street, Figueroa Street between Exposition Park Drive and West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and West Washington Boulevard between South Flower and Grand Avenue, LAPD stated. South Flower Street between West Washington Boulevard and West 23rd Street, South Grand Avenue between West Washington Boulevard and West 23rd Street will also be affected by hard closures.
Police advise public transit riders to contact Metro for alternate bus stop locations.
