Generacion Suicida’s South LA punk roar

June 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment


Generacion Suicida

Generacion Suicida. View more photos on Flickr | Generacion Suicida

The name “Genraction Suicida” – “suicide generation” – could be seen as a way for Kiwi Martinez and Tony Abarca to thumb their noses at the people who said they would never become successful. Martinez, the drummer, and Abarca, the guitarist and vocalist, both dealt with their share of struggles and discouragement growing up in South L.A.

Martinez came to the United States from Guatemala when she was 12 months old and ended up attending John C. Fremont High School in South L.A. There, she was failing classes and felt like teachers didn’t care about their students’ education or future.

See also on Intersections: Sergio Urida and Bombassmuzik, the last of the South LA record stores [Read more…]

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MyFigueroa could bring bike lanes to Figueroa near South LA

April 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment


MyFigueroa-ARN

L.A. cyclists, drivers and pedestrians are reacting to the L.A. City Council’s MyFigueroa project, an initiative to create more bike lanes, cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways on Figueroa Street from Exposition Park through Downtown L.A.

“If you’re adding more bike lanes … You’re just going to increase the congestion,” said Christina Ramsey, an L.A. native who drives on Figueroa every day.

“I can potentially get somewhere faster for less money and breathe in fresh air while doing so,” said Asha Anderson, a college student who bikes near Adams Boulevard and in downtown L.A.

One in ten households in L.A. does not have a car, according to the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition. The group is pushing for city planners and politicians to change the way they look at transportation in the city as a whole.

Learn more in an audio story from Annenberg Radio News:

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Crime survivors likely to be victims of crime again

April 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment


One in five people in California has been a victim of crime in the past five years, according to a study released Tuesday by the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at the University of California Berkeley’s School of Law. The study was commissioned by Californians for Safety and Justice.

The study is called Untold Stories of California Crime Victims: Research and Recommendations on Repeat Victimization and Rebuilding Lives.  It is based on interviews and focus groups with people who have been victims of repeat crimes.

“People in certain communities are more likely to be repeated victims of crimes,” said Lenore Anderson, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice.

Low income communities, people of color and young people are more at risk of being repeatedly victimized, according to Anderson.

This story from Annenberg Radio News features comments from Anderson and LAPD Officer Munish Bharadwaja of the 77th Street Police Station.

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Push to reduce foster child sex trafficking

March 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment


Rachel Thomas, a survivor of sex trafficking who founded Sowers Education Group. She testified Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors. Photo courtesy: ATVN

Rachel Thomas, a survivor of sex trafficking who founded Sowers Education Group. She testified Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors. Photo courtesy: ATVN

L.A. County Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Don Knabe introduced a motion to require state licensed foster parents to complete annual training that would make them aware of signs that children under their care are being sexually exploited.

Last year, the Department of Children and Family Services received 281 referrals of children being sexually exploited.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors wants to train foster care staff to prevent exploitation. The training will include identifying victims, understanding their needs and their pattern of behavior.

Watch a video from Annenberg TV News with comments from Mark Ridley-Thomas and Rachel Thomas, a sex trafficking survivor who founded Sowers Education Group.

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South LA could get Promise Zone funding in Obama’s 2015 budget plan

March 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment


Obama | The White House

Obama discussed the 2015 budget at an elementary school in Washington D.C. | The White House

President Barack Obama released his 2015 budget proposal on Tuesday, revealing a plan to create 40 new “Promise Zones” nationwide — a major bump from last year’s designation of just five. As a low-income neighborhood, South Los Angeles stands to benefit, said Rep. Karen Bass.

“I’m thrilled by the resources he’s putting in,” she said. “In regards to South L.A., he’s calling for the establishment of 40 more Promise Zones, so that could really increase the possibility that an application from South L.A. would be successful.”

Last year, Obama passed over South L.A. in selecting neighborhoods eligible for funding that could improve education, housing and public safety. Instead, he picked L.A.’s Pico-Union, Westlake, Koreatown, East Hollywood and Hollywood neighborhoods. The move left some L.A. leaders and activists feeling that South L.A. had been neglected. [Read more…]

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