Obama touts job plan at LA fundraiser

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- President Barack Obama arrived in Los Angeles on Monday to attend two fundraisers in hopes of tapping into some deep Hollywood pockets in a bid for re-election.

The president arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at about 4:40 p.m. and quickly boarded a helicopter bound for the Brentwood area. He was then loaded into a motorcade en route to the first fundraiser at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ABC's "Modern Family" was the emcee at the event, where about 800 paid a minimum of $250 a ticket to hear Obama speak.

Obama spoke about the American Jobs Act, education and infrastructure.

Obama's speech was briefly disrupted by someone who called him "the Antichrist." The shouting man was drowned out by Obama's supporters, who chanted "four more years."

The event also featured performances by rapper B.o.B and the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles.

His fundraising effort will later move to the Fig & Olive restaurant on trendy Melrose Place. Tickets for the dinner cost $17,900 per person, or $35,800 per couple, with proceeds going to the Obama Victory Fund.

Obama has been holding fundraising events up and down the West Coast for the past few days. He is scheduled to leave the Southland on Tuesday morning on a flight to Denver.

Monday morning, the president held a town hall meeting in Mountain View hosted by the networking site LinkedIn. Obama took questions on health care, Social Security, job-training programs, taxes and business regulations

After the event, Obama flew to San Diego for more fundraising in La Jolla, where he met with dignitaries, Marines and families at MCAS Miramar.

In West Hollywood, road closures began to take effect in the afternoon. Road closures planned until noon on Tuesday include:

• Sunset Boulevard from Doheny Drive to Sweetzer Avenue.

• Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard.

• Olive Drive from Sunset Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard.

• Holloway Drive front Sunset Boulevard to La Cienega Boulevard.

• La Cienega Boulevard from Sunset Boulevard to Rosewood Avenue.

• Fountain Avenue from La Cienega Boulevard to Sweetzer Avenue.

• Delongpre Avenue from Fountain Avenue to Flores Street.

• San Vicente Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard to Melrose Avenue.

Obama was in San Jose on Sunday. He is on the road promoting his jobs plan as well as his re-election hopes. He has several campaign fundraisers planned, which is expected to raise millions of dollars.

Although there is excitement when the commander in chief visits Southern California, residents also brace for the likelihood of traffic delays.

During past presidential visits, street closures caused traffic gridlock and frustrated drivers were left to wait it out in their cars.

"Nervous about traffic," said West Hollywood resident Steve Montal. "But hopefully everybody is prepared for it, especially from the last time. He is going to be at Fig & Olive, he's going to be at House of Blues. So hopefully everyone knows to keep away from those areas and we are probably going to be doing a lot of walking, no driving."

Several day cares and schools in the area have decided to close for the day to not deal with the traffic.

Avoiding the area all together may be everyone's best bet. But if you have to travel to the area be aware of the road closures and bring a healthy dose of patience.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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