Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Re-envisioning L.A.’s Civic Center, Watts Riots: Housing Policies
For years, city planners have been floating ideas to make L.A.'s Civic Center more cohesive and now that downtown is booming, there’s a new urgency to re-envision the space. And, we look at how housing policies contributed to unrest in Watts 50 years ago. It’s a story of racist housing policy and segregation and we’re still seeing the effects of those policies today.
By Madeleine Brand • • 50m ListenBanner Image: Downtown Los Angeles Civic Center (currently)
In this episode
4 storiesRe-imagining L.A. Civic Center
L.A.’s Civic Center is a strange mishmash of city, state and federal buildings, dotted by empty lots and awkward pedestrian walkways. And then there’s the L.A. Mall - a hundred thousand square feet of underground retail space that’s only about a third occupied.
Read the story11 minWatts Riots: Housing Policies
All this week, we’re taking a look back at the 1965 Watts riots. Today, we explore how housing policies contributed to unrest in Watts. Madeleine explores the forces that crafted Watts into an African American community in the ‘40s and ‘50s.
Read the story18 minDecriminalizing Sex Work
Yesterday, the global human rights group Amnesty International voted to support policies that decriminalize sex work. That includes selling sex, buying sex, or being the owner of a brothel. About 400 Amnesty delegates from 60 different countries voted on the proposal, which is the result of two years of research.
Read the story9 minParking Tickets as a Moneymaking Tool
The City of Long Beach has decided to make its parking rules less insane. Currently, street sweeping restrictions start at 4 a.m. , which means getting up before dawn to move your car. These restrictions led to plenty of tickets and plenty of cash in the city coffers.
Read the story7 min
