Community News – University Times

Will later school start times help or hurt local residents?

Denae Ayala and Tahiti Salinas

January 20, 2020

Students in El Sereno and Downey say they look forward to later school start times, as required by a state law that goes into effect during the 2022-2023 school year. Meanwhile, parents and administrators interviewed are ambivalent, with some worried about unintended consequences for teachers’ commutes and pa...

Does graffiti contribute to or damage local murals?

Antonio Gonzalez, Contributing Writer

January 20, 2020

Artists and community members from South and East L.A. weigh in on graffiti that appears on local murals. Some artists feel it is disrespectful, while a local art history professor see the expressive value of it. This video was produced for JOUR 4820 Digital Journalism....

Weaving a Life for Herself, One Dream at a Time

Fernanda Hernandez, Community News Reporter

January 18, 2020

When Maria Garcia was a sophomore at Esteban Torres High School in East Los Angeles, she remembers feeling as if life was full of possibility. “We would always have people from colleges explain the opportunities that we had if we were great students,” she said. “They talked about the financia...

Racism without borders

Fernanda Hernandez, Community News Reporter

January 8, 2020

Migrant detention centers near the U.S.-Mexico border are harsh as it is. They can be even tougher for folks of indigenous or African ancestry. The racism these groups face often starts well before their journey to America: It is sometimes the reason why they’re fleeing Mexico in the first pl...

Earthquake preparation 101: What you should do before the “big one” hits

Catherine Valdez, Community News Reporter

January 8, 2020

We all know that California has a lot of seismic activity but not all of us are properly prepared should a major earthquake strike. “My son was 2 months when the 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico City in 2017. Watching the news and images on social media about the aftermath literally took [away] hours...

Should Vernon offer more housing options?

Anibal Duarte, Community News Reporter

January 8, 2020

How does a city 5.2-square-mile city with fewer than 200 people living in it have such a rich history? It has to do with business and politics. The city of Vernon has had fewer than 200 people living in it for the past eight years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Even though it has so few ...

Fear on the streets

Richard Tzul, Community News Reporter

December 29, 2019

It’s not just getting drenched on rainy days that he has to deal with. It’s not just the loud noises at all hours from teenagers walking by, inches away from him. It’s not just going days, sometimes weeks, without food. One of the things Robert Ang is most vulnerable to as a homeless person is crime...

.Paak’ed Park

Brennan Hernandez, Community News Reporter

December 23, 2019

Low-income families from Los Angeles and others were treated to free haircuts, massages, manicures, food and gifts -- and the opportunity to hear live music from famous artists like The Game, YBN Cordae, Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, Kali Uchis and The Free Nationals -- at the third annual .Paak Ho...

From South Central LA and Proud of It

Rosio Flores, Community News Reporter

December 4, 2019

“I live near USC.” For years, this was my standard response when someone asked where I lived. I had been conditioned to avoid naming my neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles. That’s because when I did, the reactions varied. Raised eyebrows of surprise. Polite, but condescending words or looks o...

Can the LA River Path Improve Air Quality and Commutes?

Anibal Duarte, Community News Reporter

November 20, 2019

There is palpable excitement in communities about the LA River Path, but in Vernon, the hopes are especially high. That’s because Vernon is home to thousands of businesses. Although only about 112 really live in the city, nearly 38,000 people commute there from surrounding places, according to a 20...

More Than Just Shelters

Edward Nelson, Community News Reporter

November 20, 2019

Animal shelters may conjure images of dogs and cats in small cages -- awaiting execution. Think of the animated Disney film, “Lady and the Tramp,” where dogs appear to be mistreated behind bars. Some of today’s shelters tend to be cleaner with bigger cages, offering more services for the dogs a...

Do Poorer Cities Have Fewer Cops?

Edward Nelson, Community News Reporter

November 20, 2019

When most people think of Southern California, they think of beautiful beaches, Disneyland, and Tinseltown. What they may not be aware of is that 24 percent of Los Angeles County residents are living in poverty, according to an L.A. Times article. Experts say that poverty can breed crime in neighborhoods because of the simple fact that those residents are desperate...