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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Chinese Birth Tourism, New Homeless Numbers, and LA’s Ice Cream Scene

    A new study paints a bleak picture of LA County’s homeless situation, finding 13,000 new homeless people a month. And Rowland Heights is a typical community in the San Gabriel Valley, now it’s become the American capital of Chinese birth tourism.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Aug 25, 2015 • 51m Listen

    A new study paints a bleak picture of LA County’s homeless situation, finding 13,000 new homeless people a month. You’ve probably seen evidence of this: encampments under overpasses, and streets lined with overflowing shopping carts. Two city ordinances aimed at cleaning things up were implemented in July. But they’re controversial, confusing, and unevenly enforced. And Joe Biden looks to be eyeing the Oval Office again. He met with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on Saturday, and has already made stops in Iowa and New Hampshire this year. After unsuccessful campaigns in 1988 and 2008, can Biden win? Then, Rowland Heights is a typical community in the San Gabriel Valley. Chinese restaurants and Asian markets anchor miles of strip malls, and single family homes line the suburban side streets. It’s also become the American capital of Chinese birth tourism. Finally, L.A. is in the middle of an ice cream renaissance. New, artisanal frozen dessert spots have opened all over the city.

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:00

      New Study Finds Growing Homeless Population

      A new study paints a bleak picture of LA County’s homeless situation. There are 13,000 new homeless people a month, according to the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research group based in L.A. Driving around, you’ve probably seen evidence of this: encampments under overpasses, and streets lined with overflowing shopping carts.

      Read the story
      17 min
    2. 18:20

      Biden 2016?

      Joe Biden looks to be eyeing the Oval Office again. He met with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren on Saturday , and has already made stops in Iowa and New Hampshire this year. These moves have some in the political class asking: really, Joe? After unsuccessful campaigns in 1988 and 2008, does Biden stand to win this time?

      Read the story
      11 min
    3. 30:02

      Chinese Birth Tourism in the San Gabriel Valley

      Rowland Heights is a typical community in the San Gabriel Valley. Chinese restaurants and Asian markets anchor miles of strip malls, and single family homes line the suburban side streets. But Rowland Heights has also become the American capital of Chinese birth tourism.

      Read the story
      13 min
    4. 44:51

      Ice Cream Renaissance

      L.A. is in the middle of an ice cream renaissance. The pricey ice cream chain Jeni’s opened its first West Coast location in Los Feliz this year. Around the corner, there’s often a line out the door at the Churro Borough, where they serve $5 churro ice cream sandwiches.

      Read the story
      6 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:0017 min

      New Study Finds Growing Homeless Population

    2. 18:2011 min

      Biden 2016?

    3. 30:0213 min

      Chinese Birth Tourism in the San Gabriel Valley

    4. 44:516 min

      Ice Cream Renaissance

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand