Another packed calendar: the 50th anniversary of the Watts Riots, the Mobility Plan goes to council, and much more below.
- Monday 8/10 - This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Watts Riots. A number of events have been scheduled for this week and later this month to look back at what was and how Watts has changed. The riots fundamentally altered the public space, and folks will gather tonight at 6 p.m. at the Grant AME Church (10435 S. Central Ave.) to share their remembrances in “Watts’ Story by Watts’ People.” The Watts Village Theater Company will also perform a preview of its new play, “Riot/Rebellion," and pay tribute to Lynn Manning, founder of the theater company, who succumbed to cancer last week. Contact: Danna Walker at 240-498-6193.
- Tuesday 8/11 - The full L.A. City Council will vote on the proposed Mobility Plan 2035 - see earlier plan coverage here and here. Will Councilmembers Koretz and Cedillo seek to gut bikeways? Will the whole thing get approved quietly on consent? Meeting starts at 10 a.m. at council chambers at City Hall. View the full agenda here.
- Tuesday 8/11 - At 10 a.m. will see the opening of “Watts: Then and Now’’ -- an exhibition featuring contemporary and archival photography of a changing Watts. The exhibition runs until Oct. 8. at the Library Cultural Art Center of Cal State Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson. Contact: Amy Bentley-Smith, 310-243-2455.
- Tuesday 8/11 - At 2 p.m. Chuco's Justice Center will host a conversation entitled, “Has Anything Changed? Community Solutions for Policing in L.A.’’ The dialogue will look at the impact of poor police-community relations on the origins of the rebellion and current constraints on the mobility of community members, particularly youth. Chuco’s Justice Center, 1137 E. Redondo Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact: Abraham, 323-802-5821.
- Tuesday 8/11 - The City of L.A. has decided to hold yet more community hearings regarding the legalization of street vending in Los Angeles. The first of two workshops this week will be held Tuesday on the Westside, at 11338 Santa Monica Blvd. (Felicia Mahood Center) at 6 p.m. Find out more about the issue here: L.A. Street Vendor Campaign.
- Tuesday 8/11 - Metro is hosting Active Transportation Strategic Plan Open House Workshops. This one will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building at 4117 Overland Avenue in Culver City. Details at Metro.
- Wednesday 8/12 - Nothing massive at the L.A. City Council Transportation Committee meeting at 3 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda includes some Metro and Expo coordination, background checks for transportation operators, and more. View the full agenda here.
- Wednesday 8/12 - Another opportunity to give input for Metro's Active Transportation Strategic Plan at an Open House Worshop at L.A. Union Station from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Details at Metro.
- Wednesday 8/12 - Great Streets will host an open house on their plans for Cesar Chavez Avenue. Improvements may be similar to those discussed here, at St. Louis and Cesar Chavez. The format is informal, and residents are invited to drop in to the Boyle Heights City Hall Community Room at 2130 E First Street between 6 and 8 p.m
- Thursday 8/13 - Metro is hosting Active Transportation Strategic Plan Open House Workshops. Thursday's will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 38350 Sierra Highway in Palmdale. Details at Metro.
- Thursday 8/13 - The second workshop of the week on the legalization of street vending will be held in Hollywood, at 855 N. Vermont Ave. (Student Union Building) at 6 p.m. See the L.A. Street Vendor Campaign facebook page for more details.
- Thursday 8/13 - Abode Communities and East LA Community Corporation will be hosting an interactive community workshop on two proposed affordable housing developments on Metro-owned sites located at 1st/Soto and Cesar Chavez/Soto. There will be housing, commercial, and design stations where you can hear about the findings collected from recent community-based focus groups and provide your input. Snacks, childcare and Spanish translation will be provided. The workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at PUENTE Learning Center (501 S. Boyle Avenue).
- Saturday 8/15 - See the (sorry) state of L.A.'s pedestrian infrastructure on SoCal Stair Climbers "POC Walk." POC stands for Pedestrian Over Crossing or Piece of Cake. The walk is free, 19.8 miles, traversing 14 POCs, 3 PUCs, 35 Stairways, and there are shorter options using the metro Gold Line. Starts at 7:30 a.m. at Belvedere Park in East L.A. Details at Facebook event.
- Saturday 8/15 - Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission will present the symposium, “Watts Revolt: 50 Years Later.’’ The event begins at 9 a.m. and will be moderated by retired Judge Jan Perry, Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez, Cheryl Harris, Francisco Ortega, attorney Pamela Samuels and Dr. Edward Savage Jr. at Charles R. Drew University’s Keck Auditorium, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles. Contact: 213-403-0148.
- Saturday 8/15 - Great Streets will host a pop-up open house on location at the intersection of Cesar Chavez and St. Louis in Boyle Heights to discuss potential changes coming to the rest of the avenue. Drop by between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Sunday 8/16 - Watts Re:Imagined will host a block party at the Grant AME Church to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the riots and celebrate new steps forward and changes coming to the community's landscape. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. at 10435 S. Central Ave.
Did we miss anything? Is there something we should list on future calendars? Email joe@streetsblog.org.
