How To LA

#74: At this point, we’re all well aware that climate change is an ever-growing threat to our lives and our environment. We’ve seen the mounting evidence over the years. All the scientific reports just seem be getting worse. The future — at times — looks grim.

All this can lead to a phenomenon called “climate doomism.” It’s the narrative that the damage to our environment has been done and, really, there is nothing we can do about it.

But this mindset is super problematic, and is making our environmental issues worse. So today, LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone hangs out with Isais Hernandez, a content creator known as Queer Brown Vegan, to chat about this negative outlook and how to fight against it.

Guest: Isais Hernandez, environmental educator and content creator for Queer Brown Vegan 

Learn more about his work here: https://queerbrownvegan.com/



OTHER RESOURCES: 

If you’re struggling with climate anxiety or want to learn how to fight climate doomism, check out The Climate Psychology Alliance.

To find opportunities to help fight the effects of climate change locally, Climate Resolve connects communities to come up with equitable solutions. 

Get involved in local organizations like Pacoima Beautiful, which was founded in 1996 by five moms who were distraught about the pollution and trash in their community. Today, the environmental justice group continues to clean up neighborhoods all over the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond. 

(Update) #25: Alright folks - Brian's out for a couple weeks on a trip of a lifetime. Check out the last episode in the feed if you want to hear all about it. Don't worry, we're gonna have two full weeks of fresh new episodes for y'all. But to kick the week off, we're revisiting an episode from last fall that is just as relevant now as it was then... With a new special election to replace Nury Martinez in City Council District 6.

To follow the election and the candidates, check out this article on LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/politics/la-city-council-district-6-special-election  

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The L.A. City Council has a LOT of power... But how do their decisions actually affect the lives of Angelenos? And how is it determined what areas of L.A. they control? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is looking for answers. He speaks with Caitlin Hernández, a reporter for LAist who's been been following the City Council and the fallout from the leaked tape scandal.

Also, don't forget -- there's an election happening. If you live in L.A. city, there are four council seats on the ballot. 

Guests:
Caitlin Hernández, LA explained reporter for LAist
José Del Rio, political consultant active in the 2021 redistricting process.

#73: California is home to around 2 million undocumented people. And in Southern California, roughly 80,000 of them have DACA, Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (although some stats put that number higher). It allows people to get a work permit, to pay in-state tuition, and to get a drivers license. But there are a lot of freedoms it doesn't grant, like freely traveling outside the US.

HTLA host Brian De Los Santos has had DACA for about a decade. He recently got approved to do something big: he's going to Mexico for the first time since he was 2 years old, through a process called advance parole.

It's a travel permit that allows DACA recipients to leave the country and come back. However, the permit is issued with a very specific time window, and is only given for certain travel reasons. 

And the big one: it doesn’t guarantee admission back into the country. But despite the stress, Brian's taking the opportunity to go Mexico and see family he hasn't seen since he was a toddler.

Today on How To LA, Brian's bringing in a couple of his friends and fellow DACA recipients to talk about all of his hopes and fears for the trip, and what it's like to live with DACA in the U.S., which is very much like living in limbo every day. We've got more of Brian's story over on LAist.com, so be sure to check that out: 

As A DACA Beneficiary, I’ve Been Waiting For This Trip To Mexico All My Life

If you have DACA and want to apply for advance parole, it's very important that you with an immigration attorney. These organizations can help get you started:

CALIFORNIA MEXICO CENTERhttps://www.california-mexicocenter.org/cmdsummer2023/

CARECEN LAhttps://www.carecen-la.org/can_i_apply_for_advance_parole?locale=en

Guests:
Chris Farias, LAist social media producer;  José Alonso Munoz, deputy communications manager for United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led support network

Music Credits This Week:
Chris Schlarb, The Mod Archive, Quetzal, Naran Ratan, Natalia Lafourcade, Austin Cross, Old Saw, & Anthony Barilla

BONUS: Hey everyone, this is Brian De Los Santos. We want to introduce you to a new podcast from our colleagues at LAist Studios: California Love - K-Pop Dreaming. It’s all about the rise of K-pop and its told through the lens of the Korean diaspora in LA, so we know you’ll love it. K-pop Dreaming is hosted by Vivian Yoon, a Korean American actress and writer. Take a listen.If you want more, take a listen to additional episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/california-love

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Dreaming

This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit kia.com
to discover movement that inspires.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

#72: There's nothing quite like al fresco dining on a warm L.A. day. Ever since the pandemic, we've got a ton of places to do that all around the city, thanks to some restaurant hustle and quick action from the city to turn parking spaces into outdoor dining areas. But now our beloved parking lot patios are at risk – IF a proposed city ordinance is passed. How To LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist's Gab Chabran about what's at stake for restaurant owners and diners, and what can be done to preserve the outdoor dining we hold so dear in LA.

Guest: Gab Chabran, LAist associate editor, food 

Read his story for more: LA Restaurants May End Outdoor Dining If Permit Fees Are Raised.

#71: The devastating quake in Turkey was a stark reminded - yet again - that the Big One is coming. L.A. could get get hit with a similarly sized quake any time within the next 30 years. Maybe even tomorrow. Preparing for such an event may seem overwhelming (or like the LAST thing on your to-do list) but we're here to show you it's not so hard to do (and might even be fun!). A trip to Smart & Final (or Costco or Wal-Mart) can set you up with what you need. Maybe REI for a few extras. Join How to LA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis on this survival shopping trip. 

Guest: Jacob Margolis, LAist science reporter

For more about the earthquakes in our region, listen to The Big One: Your Survival Guide.

#70: L.A. is bracing itself for a serious cold front, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal. There's gonna be hail, tons of rain, and even snow.  The mountain ranges could get as much a 7 feet but it's expected to snow at much lower elevations than usual.

But don't worry - as the temperature drops, the HTLA team has you covered with a bunch of great take-out options to keep you feeling nice and cozy.

#69: We're back with another edition of How I Got Started – the segment where L.A.'s movers and shakers join us to demystify exactly how they got to where they are in their field. This time, Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with a legit changemaker: Yolanda Davis-Overstreet. She's a mobility justice strategist responsible for getting crosswalks and bike lanes installed in her neighborhood of West Adams, and putting a big spotlight on road safety in L.A. – one the deadliest cities in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists.

She's also directed a new documentary,Biking While Black.It screened at the Pan African Film Festival this month and is an official selection of the Black Film Festival of New Orleans and the Seattle Black Film Festival, both taking place this spring.

To learn more about Biking While Black, check out the film's website here: https://www.bikingwhileblack.com/