Why so many new L.A. apartments don't have plans for on-site parking
Drive to any busy part of L.A., and discussions often turn to parking within a matter of minutes. Go to any local government meeting on new housing, and parking tends to come up even faster. So it may be surprising to hear that in car-centric Los Angeles, thousands of new apartments are now being developed with little to no on-site parking. Some neighbors worry any influx of renters without dedicated spots of their own will turn the hunt for street parking into a bloodsport. But housing advocates say there are good reasons to build without parking. Joining to discuss the latest in this ongoing push and pull is David Wagner, LAist housing reporter.
Read David's full story here
The Supreme Court weighs bans on sleeping outdoors
The Supreme Court is considering whether banning homeless people from sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. The case is considered the most significant to come before the high court in decades on homelessness, which has reached record levels in the United States. In California and other Western states, courts have ruled that it’s unconstitutional to fine and arrest people sleeping in homeless encampments if shelter space is lacking. A cross-section of Democratic and Republican officials contend that makes it difficult for them to manage encampments, which can have dangerous and unsanitary living conditions. The Justice Department has also weighed in. It argues people shouldn’t be punished just for sleeping outside, but only if there’s a determination they truly have nowhere else to go. The case comes from the rural Oregon town of Grants Pass, which started fining people $295 for sleeping outside to manage homeless encampments that sprung up in the city’s public parks as the cost of housing escalated. The measure was largely struck down by the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also found in 2018 that such bans violated the Eighth Amendment by punishing people for something they don’t have control over. The 9th Circuit oversees nine Western states, including California, which is home to about one-third of the nation’s homeless population. The court is expected to decide the case by the end of June.
With files from The Associated Press.
SoCal history: The L.A. River — from lush water source to concrete channel
The L.A. River stretches from the San Fernando Valley down to the ocean in Long Beach and is probably L.A.'s oldest landmark, being featured in movies such as "Terminator 2" and "Grease." But, the river at the center of L.A.'s inception looked very different from the river modern Angelenos may know. The Tongva people were some of the earliest residents to settle along the river, which later became inhabited by the Spanish and eventually turned into the thriving city of Los Angeles, the river a main source of freshwater. However, inextricably linked to the river's history is also the history of floods and catastrophe. The flood of 1938 killed over 100 people, and led to the river's current iteration, a trough trapped by concrete. Joining us today to talk about the long and fraught history of the L.A. River and what its future may hold is Patt Morrison, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of "RIO LA: Tales from the Los Angeles River." Plus, we want to hear from you -- what does the L.A. River mean to you? Share your favorite spots along the channel, its under-appreciated beauty, or what you like to do there most. Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
How have Californians been adjusting to the state composting law?
Two years into a state law that requires Californians to keep food waste out of the trash and in a separate container many are still having a difficult time figuring out how or what to compost. LAist surveyed its listeners last month and received hundreds of responses which has been compiled into a new guide of the most frequently asked questions about SB 1383.
Today on AirTalk, we revisit the unfunded state composting mandate in California and how listeners are struggling to comply. Joining us to talk about composting in California and locally is Erin Stone, LAist climate emergency reporter. She’s written several stories on the law, the latest of which is titled, Your Guide To Following California’s 'Compost' Law. Also with us is Michael Martinez, executive director and founder of LA Compost, a community-based composting group for the City of Los Angeles. Have questions about how to get started or how to properly compost in your area? Give us a call at 863-893-5722 or e-mail atcomments@laist.com.
Native plants AMA: Introduction to SoCal classics & natural pesticides
As we live in a more climate-conscious society, you may all wonder what simple steps you can introduce to your home to build a sustainable garden long-term. Whether it be climate change, the cost of water usage, or defending gardens from pests, you might want a resource to help answer some of the questions. Today on AirTalk, we're joined by Theodore Payne Foundation executive director Evan Meyer to answer listeners' questions on Southern California native plants and how to take good care of them this spring and for the foreseeable future. What advice do you need for planting or fortifying native plants in your garden? Join our on-air conversation by calling 863-893-5722, emailing atcomments@laist.com, or reaching out through our comment box.
SoCal’s botanical paradise: The best gardens to visit this spring
It’s that time of year when gardens explode in a palette of colors. After another year of historic rainfalls, mother nature might be painting with more hues than usual. The blooms we often hear about are the “super blooms” on public land, like the Antelope Valley or Lake Elsinore. But flowers don’t discriminate where they grow. Today on AirTalk, we’re talking about the best gardens in SoCal, from the public to the private, Descanso Gardens to San Diego’s Balboa Park. We want to hear from you. What is your favorite garden to visit? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
