Northeastside residents want their children on the same ‘playing field’
George Garcia, Community News Reporter
September 17, 2019
For children who grow up in working poor communities, one of the best escapes from the sometimes brittle nature of their lives is to play at the park. To get fresh air and just be a child. To join a sports league and learn to work as a team. That has become harder to do in recent years at Rio de ...
Since Immigration Raids, Eastside Market Vendors Report Struggles
Meghan Bravo, Community News Reporter
September 16, 2019
El Mercadito, one of the markets that contributes to Los Angeles’ reputation as a cultural hotspot, was once full of life, laughter and the energy of crowds of people. That vibrancy has diminished considerably since threats of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in recent years and be...
‘California Dream’-Turned-Nightmare
Richard Tzul, Community News Reporter
September 16, 2019
Connie Lach said she moved to California so she could enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and nature. What she didn’t expect was that she would be living so close to it: She became homeless early last year when she had to vacate her apartment in South Central Los Angeles. Like Lach, about 59,000...
El Mercadito: A piece of a home and the heart for many Mexican Americans
By Meghan Bravo, Community News Reporter
September 10, 2019
El Mercado de Los Angeles, called “El Mercadito,” is not only a place for good Mexican food like flan, chuleta, esquites, churros, but a place for community members to embrace their culture. The market, which is in Boyle Heights, was founded in 1968 as a place where goods were sold to Mexican...
Festivities abound for Mexican and Central American Independence Days
By Fernanda Hernandez, Community News Editor
September 10, 2019
In honor of Central American and Mexican independence days – on Sunday and Monday, respectively – we compiled a list of local celebrations this week and profiled two of the biggest Latinx shopping centers in Los Angeles, the Mercado de Los Angeles in Boyle Heights and the Alameda and El Faro swa...
‘Meet,’ greet and ‘swap’ stories
By Anibal Duarte, Community News Reporter
September 10, 2019
At the Alameda and El Faro swap meets in Vernon, you can get an acupuncture session, a quinceañera dress, a tostada ceviche and a pony ride all in one place. The meet operates almost every day. It has more than 250 vendors and frequent visitors are known to run into neighbors and friends there, a...
Comics VS Toys in Eagle Rock serves an increasingly diverse audience
Christopher Lazaro, Community News Reporter
September 7, 2019
Comic book enthusiasts in Eagle Rock say one of the neighborhood’s best-kept secrets is Comic VS Toys. The small shop is just blocks from Eagle Rock city hall. For nearly two decades, the store has been giving customers not just comic books, but also a place where people -- including a growing number of female customers -- can simply can geek out and talk about their favorite superheroes. Comics VS Toys employee Luis Lemus said comic book readers seem to be getting more diverse. “It’s great that there’s a diverse group of people who are interested in comic books. We have ev...
Students with disabilities report obstacles
Kenya Romero, Community News Reporter
August 29, 2019
Being late to class because of full or broken elevators. Waiting weeks for a chair that’s easier to get into than regular classroom seats. Receiving class materials with fonts or colors that can be hard to read. Students with disabilities say these are some of the problems on local college campuses,...
Home-grown hashtag campaign fights for women’s rights
Denae Ayala, Community News Reporter
August 28, 2019
Why should women be subjected to paying extra for menstrual products; earning less than men, on average, for certain jobs; and losing income and sometimes, respect, for maternity leaves? Those are some of the questions at the center of a new local social media campaign, “We Are #MissValued.” “...
Firefighters prepare for fire season, and encourage homeowners to do so, too
Evelyn Rodriguez, Community News Reporter
August 28, 2019
A brush fire that started in Eagle Rock triggered evacuations Sunday and provided area residents with a stark reminder that fire season is around the corner. The upcoming fire season – which runs from about September to November – could be more catastrophic than years past, according to several fire experts. Fires require oxygen, heat, and fuel but strong gusts from the Santa Ana winds make Southern Cal...
4 Reasons To Check ‘La Puente Live’
Monica Tamayo, Community News Reporter
August 28, 2019
There are many great night markets in Southern California but the new and improved “La Puente Live” is especially worth checking out. The night market recently moved to a new location at Stimson Avenue and Central Avenue -- next to city hall, the city library and a county building. It’s a major improvement. H...
Uninsured and in pain: A street vendor’s story
Yeskya Mondejar, Community News Reporter
June 4, 2019
In the early 1990s, Oralia Figueroa Castaneda and Ignacio Torres moved to the United States with their two children. He was thrilled to eventually land a job as a restaurant manager and settle with his family in Huntington Park, a small city near Los Angeles. The restaurant was among businesses...
Miles Gaius, Contributing Artist
April 26, 2019
Miles Gaius, Contributing Artist
April 8, 2019
Miles Gaius, Contributing Artist
April 8, 2019