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Podcasts Take Two
Pop-up play streets in Boyle Heights, a look at air quality in LA neighborhoods and June 16th is Buster Keaton Day in LA
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Jun 15, 2018
Listen • 49:35
Pop-up play streets in Boyle Heights, a look at air quality in LA neighborhoods and June 16th is Buster Keaton Day in LA

Boyle Heights is the center of an LADOT experiment to transform streets into temporary parks, L.A. celebrates its first Buster Keaton Day.
Children play at a Pop up play streets event.
Children play at a Pop up play streets event.
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Pop up play streets
)
"Superposition" by Mark Ryden from the Cat Art Show.
"Superposition" by Mark Ryden from the Cat Art Show.
(
Courtesy of the artist and the Cat Art Show
)
People participate in the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown in Los Angeles during the annual celebration of the Lunar New Year.
People participate in the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown in Los Angeles during the annual celebration of the Lunar New Year.
(
J. Emilio Flores/Getty Images
)
Fernando Lopez, left, his children Elizabeth, Bricia, Fernando, and Paulina Lopez, and wife Maria Monterrubio own Oaxacan restaurant, Guelaguetza. Lopez and Monterrubio are moving back to Oaxaca after 20 years in Los Angeles.
Fernando Lopez, left, his children Elizabeth, Bricia, Fernando, and Paulina Lopez, and wife Maria Monterrubio in front of their family-owned Oaxacan restaurant, Guelaguetza.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A tourist looks at goods at The Happy Lion Arts and Gifts shop on Chung King Road in Chinatown.
A tourist looks at goods at The Happy Lion Arts and Gifts shop on Chung King Road in Chinatown.
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Mae Ryan/KPCC
)

Heading into the weekend, we talk to the project manager of an ambitious new LADOT project that transforms streets into temporary parks, like the one on Michigan Street in Boyle Heights Saturday. Plus, we find out why the city of L.A. has declared June 16th Buster Keaton Day. And we talk to the researcher behind a new study about air quality in different L.A. neighborhoods.

https://twitter.com/CapRadioNews/status/1007616247004041216

What happened this week in state and local politics

California has announced where the money's gonna go. State legislators approved a $200 billion dollar budget plan Thursday night. We look at whether the golden state is more focused on spending or saving. Also, LA mayor Eric Garcetti finds favor on the Daily Show, and "rogue" GOP members fall short of forcing an immigration vote. 

Guests:

- Raphe Sonenshein, Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State L.A.

- Ben Adler, Capitol Bureau Chief at Capital Public Radio

People participate in the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown in Los Angeles during the annual celebration of the Lunar New Year.
People participate in the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown in Los Angeles during the annual celebration of the Lunar New Year.
(
J. Emilio Flores/Getty Images
)

USC examines L.A. air quality, and Chinatown's is the worst

The worst air quality in the L.A. metro area can be found in Chinatown, Downtown L.A. and Lincoln Heights while the best air is in Altadena and Glendora. That's according to new research from the University of Southern California, which measured U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data against factors like proximity to things like freeways and parks. You can read the full study here.

Guest:

- Yao-Yi Chiang, USC science professor

Children play at a Pop up play streets event.
Children play at a Pop up play streets event.
(
Pop up play streets
)

Boyle Heights to host yet another pop-up play street this weekend

The L.A. Department of Transportation has quietly embarked on a novel concept. Every couple months, it's been closing down a street that's usually teeming with traffic and converting it into a park for a day. Most of these pop-up play streets so far have been in Boyle Heights, like the one happening Saturday on a block of Michigan Street.

Guest:

- Naria Kiani, project manager with Kounkuey Design Initiative

A Three-State California?

Appearing on November's ballot, the Cal 3 initiative will suggest hacking the state into three region areas as a means of simplifying political unease. We explore the themes and motives of the past “split” proposals and the difficulty of this becoming a reality.

Guest:

- Volker Janssen, California Historian at Cal State University Fullerton

Fernando Lopez, left, his children Elizabeth, Bricia, Fernando, and Paulina Lopez, and wife Maria Monterrubio own Oaxacan restaurant, Guelaguetza. Lopez and Monterrubio are moving back to Oaxaca after 20 years in Los Angeles.
Fernando Lopez, left, his children Elizabeth, Bricia, Fernando, and Paulina Lopez, and wife Maria Monterrubio own Oaxacan restaurant, Guelaguetza. Lopez and Monterrubio are moving back to Oaxaca after 20 years in Los Angeles.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

LA is gearing up for the World Cup

The U.S. may not be playing in the World Cup, but in Los Angeles, the fact that Mexico's National Team IS playing is a pretty big deal. Its match against Germany kicks off Sunday morning at 8 AM Pacific Time. There will be a lot of bars and restaurants open early so Angelenos can take in the action. One of them is the Oaxacan eatery Guelaguetza in Korea Town.

Guest:

-Bricia Lopez, one of Guelaguetza's owners 

https://media.giphy.com/media/1hMgFXBE6ATRgVjHyh/giphy.gif

Jun 16th is Buster Keaton Day

The City of Los Angeles has a new holiday. June sixteenth, is now Buster Keaton Day in L.A., honoring the pioneering comedian, actor and filmmaker. A contemporary of Charlie Chaplin, Keaton was at his peak during the silent film era and was known for performing prat falls and comedic stunts with a stoic expression that earned hime the nickname "The Great Stoneface."

"Superposition" by Mark Ryden from the Cat Art Show.
"Superposition" by Mark Ryden from the Cat Art Show.
(
Courtesy of the artist and the Cat Art Show
)

If you're looking for something to do this weekend

Marielle Wakim of Los Angeles Magazine and Take Two’s Leo Duran join forces on a “best of” list for things to do this weekend in Southern California from the feline-friendly Cat Art Show to a city-wide ice cream social from LA Food Fest.