South LA
Streetsblog LA
Hope on the Horizon?: The Crenshaw Line and the Question of Jobs
At the Ready-to-Work rally on Saturday organized by the Black Worker Center, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas reassured the crowd of job hopefuls gathered in Leimert Park that the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Metro had adopted in 2012 would ensure a portion of the jobs for the Crenshaw Line would go to the disadvantaged.
September 9, 2013
How Green is Your Thumb?: L.A. Community Garden Council May Want you to Make a Presentation at Annual Gathering of Community Gardens
You're a gardening whiz.
September 4, 2013
L.A. Approves Cycle Tracks, But Council Motion Could Derail South Fig. Plans
At long last, it looks like the City of Los Angeles is ready to build some cycle tracks. Earlier this week, the City of Los Angeles certified the environmental documents for the South Figueroa Streetscape Project, known to social media buffs as MyFigueroa! The plan calls for reducing South Figueroa from five mixed-use travel lanes to four and adding cycle tracks, buffered bike lanes, improved sidewalks, better transit access and Continental Crosswalks.
August 30, 2013
Help City Planners Prioritize Mobility Enhancements and Programs
Over the last few weeks, emails from staff at LA/2B (the effort to integrate Complete Streets principles and community input into the Mobility Element of the City’s General Plan) have been popping up in my inbox, encouraging me to participate in prioritizing the programs proposed for the Mobility Element's Action Plan in their online town hall.
August 16, 2013
As City Considers Removing Ban on Parkway Vegetable Gardens, Some Communities Continue Planting
Later this morning, the Los Angeles City Council will consider a motion to formally halt the ticketing of individuals who plant vegetable gardens in the curb strips in front of their residences. Wesson promised the motion in 2011, after a Steve Lopez column in the Los Angeles Times told the story of one resident who planted such a garden, shared healthy food with his neighborhood, and was promptly ticketed by the city.
August 13, 2013
“You Don’t Belong Here:” Sheriffs Profile Reporter
"Hi," said a terse voice to my left.
August 12, 2013
MyFigueroa! Plan for LA’s First Protected Bike Lanes Clears Environmental Review
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning released the Final Environmental Impact Report for the South Figueroa Streetscape Project (MyFigueroa!). The $20 million MyFigueroa! Project will bring Los Angeles its first protected bike lanes and a transit-only lane while removing some street parking and mixed-use travel lanes.
August 8, 2013
“Invest in Us!” say South L.A. Youth in Response to Questions about How to Curb Violence at Town Hall with Garcetti
When asked by his group's facilitator whether he believed the youth in South L.A. had opportunities -- opportunities to grow, succeed, try new things, advance their education, you name it -- one young man said he was convinced that the answer was a resounding "no."
August 7, 2013
Support the United Riders of South L.A. as They Ride in Gardena this Weekend (UPDATED)
If you've followed this blog at all recently, you're probably familiar with the disturbing video showing some of our favorite South L.A. superheroes -- the East Side Riders and Los Ryderz -- getting pulled over, frisked, and handed bogus tickets while on a memorial bike ride for Benjamin Torres.
August 6, 2013
Got Justice?: Observations on a Food Justice Youth Summit and Food as a Means to Youth and Community Empowerment
When speaking with a major non-profit about their decision to put gardens in South Los Angeles, Garrett Broad says he was struck by their declaration that, after running the data, "it just so happen[ed]" that the highest incidences of heart disease, diabetes, and other health risk factors were found there.
July 31, 2013