The Brief

There’s a room in a South Bay library where stars sparkle on the ceiling, fish and bubbles float in a glowing tube and a giant beanbag chair beckons from the floor.

You can step on tiles and watch bright colors swirl under your feet, look into a mirror and see your reflection in a swirling tunnel of light and run your hands across a crunchy-smooth wall of sequins.

There are books on the shelves about disability, autism and neurodivergence. Dominoes, colorful magnetic tiles, interlocking gears and other games and toys fill the plastic drawers.

Welcome to the sensory room at Harbor City-Harbor Gateway Branch Library, the first of its kind in the Los Angeles Public Library system.

“I don't really want to be the quiet library where you can only come and sit at the hard wooden table and you know, quietly read a book,” said Stephanie Sutton, the branch’s young adult librarian. “I think that there is a place for that … but kids and teens, in general, they want a cozier space, a space where they feel welcome, where they can say, ‘This is a space for me.’”

The room, which opens to the public Thursday, is part of a multi-library effort to welcome people who may process the world a bit differently into spaces typically associated with calm and order.

“For kids, there's a lot more opportunity for self-exploration,” Sutton said. ”It's a much more inspiring space, but it's also a safer, more welcoming space.”

Defining neurodiversity

At least 14% of California students have a known learning or physical disability, and some estimates suggest the population could be much larger.

People with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities or traumatic brain injuries may identify as neurodivergent.

“Neurodiversity is the idea that there are lots of different ways that brains work and that all of those ways are valuable and important and valid in our community and in our society,” occupational therapist Kira Bender said.

She’s hosted parenting workshops at the library and acted as a consultant on the development of the library sensory spaces.

One trait under the neurodiversity umbrella is processing sights, sounds, textures, tastes and smells differently. For example, one person might not be able to sit still and concentrate, or melts down when spending time in a brightly lit environment.

Bender said if a patron goes to the library but is too overwhelmed by sensory input, they may have to leave before they can reach their goal for visiting.

“They won't be able to take advantage of the resources that should be available for all members of that community,” Bender said.

Many of the features in the sensory room are meant to be touched, including these lights, which change color with a tap.

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Kids can use the light board to explore colors, shapes and letters.

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Bender said it’s a misconception that neurodivergent people are not social and don’t want to visit public spaces.

“They want to connect with their communities and their environments in the same ways that everybody else does,” Bender said. “It's just that the systems and the spaces are not necessarily accessible to them.”

Creating a 'more magical' space for all families

The library has long offered services for people with disabilities including audiobooks, dyslexic-friendly fonts in e-books and career and education resources.

In recent years, the library started hosting “sensory story times” for small groups with toys like putty and squishy bracelets to engage children’s senses while they listened. Then three locations started piloting “sensory kits” filled with tools and toys that families could check out like a book.

“Library spaces are not meant to be static,” said youth services librarian Kadie Seitz. “They're meant to adapt and change and grow with the needs of our communities that we serve.”

Youth Services Librarian Kadie Seitz demonstrates one type of flexible seating that allows kids to sit backwards and bounce slightly in place. There are also beanbag chairs and "wobble" stools that allow kids to move in different ways. “What we really try to put in these spaces is that there's something for everyone,” Seitz said.

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But changing the physical space is expensive, so the library applied for a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to renovate spaces in five branches with the neurodiverse community in mind.

The Central Library, Arroyo Seco, Canoga Park and Harbor City-Harbor Gateway branches each received $20,000. A private donor also contributed $20,000 to the Venice Branch.

“We had applied for future IMLS funds to continue and expand the positive work that we're doing,” Seitz said. “Unfortunately that is not going to happen, but we are looking for other resources in the future.”

The Trump administration recently put the entire staff of the independent federal library and museum agency on leave, and its future — and funding for local libraries — is uncertain. The California State Library has lost at least $3 million in funding so far.

Harbor City targeted a room in the northeast corner of the library with a large gray table and several chairs used for studying. The renovation also included refreshing the furniture and decorations in the children and teen spaces.

“This was all remodeled and reconfigured to transform it from sort of what used to be a utilitarian functional space into something a little bit more magical,” said Sutton, the young adult librarian. “A little bit more in line with what the library tries to be for the community, which is just a much more engaging, vibrant environment.”

The librarians consulted with Bender, the occupational therapist, and also referenced sensory spaces at other libraries, including in Alameda County and Danbury, Connecticut.

Bender said the introduction of the sensory room aligns with a concept called the curb-cut effect: Think of the part of a street curb with sloped breaks. They were originally added to help people in wheelchairs move from the street to the sidewalk — but they also make it easier for people pushing strollers, riding bikes or pulling a wagon of groceries.

“When a space or a system is designed for the needs of the population that needs it the most, they're actually able to enable participation and access for everyone,” Bender said.

Sutton said the sensory room offers kids, teens and families options. “You could just sit down and chill out and listen to the soothing sounds of the bubble tube and pet the seal,” Sutton said. The seal, right, did not yet have a name when LAist visited the library in April, but patrons may be invited to weigh in.

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For example, the sensory room offers toys and tools that are accessible to all children, not just those who identify as neurodivergent.

“Even before a child is able to understand spoken words or written words, they are able to touch and feel and hear and taste sometimes in order to interact with their environment,” Bender said.

Sutton said her daughter also informed the development of the space. She is neurodivergent and processes sensory information differently from her twin brother.

“When I have brought her to the library over the last nine years ... she's running around, she's making noise, she has a hard time sitting still,” Sutton said.

Now when she visits, she can choose from a variety of chairs including stools, beanbags that vibrate, and a disk that allows you to sit cross-legged and wobble. (Running is still not allowed in the library — walking feet are encouraged).

“It was really special then to be able to say I have some experience with this,” Sutton said. ”How can I then share that with the community?”

On Friday Southern California Edison filed lawsuits against Los Angeles County and several other agencies over their alleged roles in the Eaton Fire.

Two lawsuits were filed.

In one suit the utility company alleges Southern California Gas delayed shutting off gas in the burn area for several days after the fire, making the blaze worse.

“SoCalGas’s design and actions caused gas leaks, gas fires, reignition of fires, gas explosions, and secondary ignitions during the critical early stages of the Eaton Fire,” according to the suit.

The claim goes on to say this contributed to the spread of the fire and made firefighting and evacuation efforts more difficult.

In the second suit the utility company alleges the Eaton Fire was made worse by the local government response, “including due to the failures of LASD, LACoFD, OEM and GENASYS in issuing timely evacuation alerts and notifications,” the claim reads.

The same filing says that L.A. County was to blame for vegetation and overgrown brush in the Eaton Canyon area that fueled the blaze.

It also named the City of Pasadena, and its utility system Pasadena Water and Power, the City of Sierra Madre, Kinneloa Irrigation District, Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association, Las Flores Water Company, and Lincoln Avenue Water Company as parties responsible for water systems running dry in Altadena as the fire broke out.

Edison says hydrants running dry compounded the extent of the disaster.

Those claims will be heard in the L.A. County Superior Court, which is also handling L.A. County’s lawsuit against SoCal Edison.

Edison itself is the subject of hundreds of lawsuits from survivors of the Eaton Fire, which could cost the company billions of dollars in settlements.

Edison has said its equipment likely sparked the Eaton Fire, and filed these suits, in part, because it believes these various entities should share some of the blame for the disaster, which resulted in the destruction of thousands of buildings and the deaths of 19 people.

A compensation program Edison for fire survivors who forgo suing the company has made settlement offers to more than 80 of those who applied.

A new organization is taking over production of the MLK Day Parade, almost 40 years after the first parade was held in South L.A. to commemorate the civil rights leader.

Bakewell Media, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper (a partner of The LA Local), was granted the permit in September to organize the parade for the first time by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. Formerly called the Kingdom Day Parade, the parade has been rebranded as the Los Angeles Official Martin Luther King Day Parade. The parade was previously produced and organized by Adrian Dove and the L.A. chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality California (CORE-CA).

With less than a week before the parade kicks off, LA Local reporter LaMonica Peters sat down with Danny Bakewell Jr., president and executive editor of the LA Sentinel, to discuss the details and what attendees should expect.

This Jan. 12 interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Why did you decide to produce the MLK Day Parade this year?

Bakewell: It all started because Adrian Dove, who was the previous promoter, had announced that he was retiring. When he announced he was retiring, LAPD, city council offices and other people said, “Hey, we still want to do the MLK Day parade. Would you guys be interested? You have the infrastructure to put it together.” And we said yes.

What’s different about this year’s production?

We’re going to start the parade with a singer performing “Lift Every Voice.” We’re going to play the message from Bernice King at the start of the show. Obviously, we have Cedric the Entertainer as our grand marshal to add the entertainment value, but the community has always been and will continue to be a major part of this parade.

Is ABC 7 covering the parade this year? 

It’s still going to be televised by ABC. We’re working diligently on how the show is going to be, but ABC has been a great partner.

What was the preparation for this parade?

Thanks to our corporate sponsors, we have a number of bands. The truth is, particularly in LAUSD at this time, and other school districts, they don’t have the funding to just get a bus and get here. I can’t say enough about Airbnb to Bank of America, all of our corporate sponsors, who are supporting all of the youth organizations.

Were there any unexpected challenges while preparing for this parade? 

This [The LA Sentinel office on Crenshaw Blvd.] is usually our command center during The Taste of Soul. It dawned on me last week that we’re going to be a mile away [from the parade route]. So, we made the decision to bring in a trailer to be our office at the corner of King and Crenshaw boulevards.

Any special guests this year besides the grand marshal?

I’m working on a surprise guest to be the singer for the national anthem. No matter what, we will give tribute to the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice” as loud as we can next Monday.

What’s the long-term vision for this parade, if Bakewell Media continues to produce it?

We see the MLK Day Parade, and we want the world to see and expect to see this parade, the same way they see the Macy’s Parade, the Hollywood Parade or the Rose Parade. BET has come in this year as a partner. So there’s an opportunity to possibly do a national broadcast on BET. Not that we would lose our local television, but we see this as a major parade in this community and in the national African American community, celebrating the great work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So, we are very excited.

Bits of conversation drift out of Aladdin Used Books as people lined up at the register with stacks of books.

The bustle of activity is bittersweet as the Koreatown bookstore will close its doors at the end of January after 13 years in the neighborhood.

Jina Lee, store manager, said declining sales at the Koreatown branch led to the decision to close the store. In recent years, staffing at the 5,000-square-foot store on the third floor of Madang Mall dropped from six to two, Lee said.

“This was a happy place for everyone,” she said, “but we were struggling.”

On a recent January afternoon, the shop looked lively as customers took advantage of the clearance sale on Korean and English books, CDs, DVDs and other media.

Koreatown resident Jin Lee wishes he visited the bookstore more often.

“It would have been great if it had been this crowded all the time,” Lee said. “But nowadays, people don’t read paper books and prefer devices, so it’s hard for all bookstores.”

Some customers traveled from as far as Orange County and the Inland Empire to visit one last time.

Minjung Kim, who moved from Koreatown to Fullerton five years ago, still made trips to the bookstore after she moved away.

“It’s the only place that sells this many new and used Korean books,” she said.

Each visit to the bookstore was important to David Artiga of Pomona, because it gave him a chance to connect with friends over literature.

“I feel like this is really negative for the community,” he said. “The importance of having a well-versed society, keeping in touch with literature and art is so important. And now this place is just going to be gone.”

South Korea-based Aladdin Used Books opened its first U.S. brick-and-mortar store in Los Angeles in 2013. The store carries around 50,000 new and used books, with a majority in Korean.

Customers will still be able to order books through Aladdin’s website after the store closes.

Ken Derick, a Koreatown resident, walked around the store aisles with a stack of books.

“It’s like we’re kind of moving towards a new technology, like everything’s virtual and online,” he said.

Longtime customer Anthony Kim said he’s enjoyed looking for gems in the English-language shelves.

“My Korean ability is rather limited but I’ve always enjoyed browsing their English language sections,” he said. “And now that I have a niece and nephew, their children’s book section has always been a great place to pick up new books for them.”

Valerie Laguna perused the shop’s CD section, a bygone experience in the era of streaming.

“I really like their CD collection and their literature collection they have in English,” she said.

“I was so sad about it, I immediately texted my friend,” she said. “I’ve gotten so many of my favorite books and my favorite CDs from this place. I feel like losing a place like this is just so sad and makes a huge dent in the community and culture.”

Less than a mile away on Western Avenue, Happy Bookstore owner Jung Jae-seung said it has been difficult for bookstores for some time now. His Korean-language bookstore is also struggling in an era when so many people have abandoned print media.

“It’s really about how long printed books can survive,” Jung said. “From that point of view, it’s hard to be optimistic.”

South L.A. or South Central? More than 20 years ago, that question came with high emotions for some residents who were sick of the stereotypes they saw in media coverage of their neighborhoods.

So in 2003, the Los Angeles City Council renamed the collection of communities south of the 10 freeway in an attempt to cut ties with the connotations of poverty and crime that some believe came to represent South Central after the turbulence of the 1980s and ‘90s. Today, you see South L.A. on official documents, maps and even historical and cultural districts.

Even though city officials moved to wipe away the old name, some locals never stopped calling the area South Central — a name that for them represents history, resilience and Black and Latino culture.

“I think it will always be South Central for its residents and for the people that were born and raised here,” said Evelyn Alfaro-Macias, a social worker who was raised in Historic South Central and whose office is on Hoover Street. “It means home. It means culture. People should respect the name South Central.”

What and where is South LA, anyway?

By the early 2000s, television news and pop culture had given South Central a reputation for violence and chaos that some were eager to shake.

Helen Johnson, a resident of Vermont Square, helped lead the campaign to change the name.

“I think the media can make you or either break you,” 72-year-old Johnson told reporters in 2003 after the city council approved the name change, according to the L.A. Times. “This is what you’ve done to us. You’ve broke us.”

Supporters of the change included then-Councilmember Janice Hahn, who is now a county supervisor and said at the time that the South Central name had become “mostly derogatory.”

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who was working then as executive director of the nonprofit Community Coalition, said the area’s image problem wasn’t just about its name.

“If the media paid a little more attention to covering positive things in the community, that will also help,” Bass said, according to an L.A. Times report.

The LA Local has reached out Bass and Hahn’s offices, as well as L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

The exact borders of South Los Angeles, or the area formerly known as South Central, are fuzzy.

The South Central name originally only applied to the neighborhood around Central Avenue south of downtown Los Angeles, but it spread west as populations grew.

City planning documents today designate a strip of neighborhoods between Interstate 110 and Arlington Avenue as South Los Angeles and tag the Central Avenue neighborhood as Historic South Central. Others, including academics and the city tourism board, use a map of South Los Angeles that stretches to the border of Culver City.

This is what the community told us

Some businesses in the area adopted the South L.A. name, notably South LA Cafe, the coffee shop that has grown to five locations and become a local institution.

More recently, some groups have made a concerted effort to embrace South Central, like the South Central Run Club or South Central Clips, an Instagram-based group that sells skatewear-inspired “South Central” apparel. (Even South LA Cafe today sells some merch with the South Central name.)

Several locals told The LA Local the official designation never changed anything for them.

“It’s South Central for me. That’s where my roots are,” April Brown said. “When you go anywhere across the country, across the world and you say South Central, they know exactly what you’re talking about.”

To Emily Amador, the name change erases the history of South Central, including “the Black migration that occurred, redlining that created what we know today to be South Central and the demographics, which are here today, which is Black and brown and undocumented.”

Ulysses Alfaro, who was born and raised in the Historic South Central neighborhood, said he uses South L.A. with people from out of town but South Central with locals.

South L.A. is a geographic designator, he said, but he considers South Central to be an identity: “That’s where the grinders are, the hard-working people that work their butts off, their asses off. The ones that keep the city running.”