Four Years in the Making, CicLAvia Southeast Rides Strong
Sadly, a scheduling snafu meant that I was out of town for CicLAvia Southeast this past weekend. Having to settle for watching the photos pop up on social media was not nearly as good as being there in person. But it was still pretty great, believe it or not.
May 16, 2016
Friday Corner of Shame: Burned-Out Structure Knocked Down, Remains Unremediated for a Year
Riddle me this: A dilapidated two-story apartment building in your neighborhood burns so brightly that as many as 70 firefighters from 36 units are dispatched to put down the fire. The structure becomes unstable. It is eventually knocked down so as to prevent it from collapsing on its own.
May 6, 2016
Little-Tokyo-to-Watts Ride Explores Shared History of Japanese- and African-American Angelenos
The unity bike ride - the third annual effort between the East Side Riders Bike Club and the Asian and Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance (APIOPA) to link the communities that lie along the historic Central Avenue corridor by unearthing their shared history - kicked off yesterday's event with a discussion of the origins of Little Tokyo.
May 2, 2016
Gov. Brown Directs $176.6 Million to Expedite Cleanup in Communities around Exide
According to a press release, California Governor Jerry Brown just signed legislation directing $176.6 million "to expedite and expand [lead] testing and cleanup of residential properties, schools, daycare centers and parks around the former Exide Technologies facility in Vernon, California."
April 20, 2016
Re:code L.A. Comes to Boyle Heights Saturday to Talk Updates to Zoning Code
Re:code L.A. is holding a forum in Boyle Heights Saturday (TOMORROW) morning from 9 a.m. to noon to talk with the community about the city's $5 million, five-year effort to update its outdated zoning code.
April 15, 2016
“More than Just Food” Looks at Role of Community Services Unlimited in Advancing Food Justice
"Food is a way in which you can get folks to think critically about their environment," Lawrence De Freitas, a staff member with South Los Angeles-based Community Services Unlimited, Inc. (CSU), tells researcher and author Garrett Broad in an interview for Broad's new book, More than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change. [Broad will be hosting a talk at CSU Saturday, details here.]
March 25, 2016
Residents Debate Priorities for Mariachi Plaza at Second Design Workshop
"If it wasn't for Garage [Board Shop and Sk8 for Education program]," 9-year-old skater "Bite Size" told me, "I'd probably be hanging out with the wrong type."
March 15, 2016
Planning for Mariachi Plaza Begins Again; How it Will Tie in to Other Area Projects Remains Unclear
A jacuzzi.
March 4, 2016
“Ovaries so Big…” that They’ve Got Their Own Documentary
The Ovarian Psyco-Cycles have been a game-changer in the Los Angeles cycling landscape. And now, with a documentary featuring the stories of three of their members set to debut at South by Southwest (SXSW) this year, they are essentially announcing that they are here to stay. Y con ganas.*
March 1, 2016
Street Beats Inspires Spontaneous Episodes of Dance, Music, Joy, and Safety on Crenshaw Corner
Last week, the Street Beats team converted the extremely busy and often dangerous intersection of Crenshaw and Florence into a play zone.
February 26, 2016