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Here are all the areas in the city of L.A. still zoned only for Single-Family Homes

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In a study conducted by the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley last year, researchers found that “78% of residential land in the Greater Los Angeles region and 74% in the city of Los Angeles itself was zoned exclusively for single-family homes, prohibiting apartment buildings and other multifamily developments.”

Image/Map/Data is courtesy of the Othering & Belonging Institute of UC Berkeley, California.

Additionally: “Consistent with prior research, which we summarized in our report, we found a disturbing relationship between the degree of single-family zoning, racial demographics, and racial segregation. In particular, we found that restrictive zoning had a strong exclusionary effect. We found, for example, that municipalities with the highest percentage of single-family-only zoned residential areas had the highest percentage of white residents and the lowest percentage of Black and Latino residents. We also found that the highest observed levels of racial residential segregation occurred in the communities with the highest proportion of single-family zoning.”

Find and download the full report here.

J.T.

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L.A. VS BARCELONA THIS SPRING

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This update notes the second day of SEIU Local 99’s work stoppage and strike, as well as the recent L.A. County Motion to rename Grand Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park in honor of the former L.A. City Council and L.A. County Supervisor’s legacy for local government and Latina women in Los Angeles.

Our update also reminds listeners that this Thursday, March 23rd we chat with the Council Member for the 8th district in Los Angeles, Marqueece Harris-Dawson (@mhdcd8). Items for discussion include policies engaging homelessness and housing insecurity in the predominantly Latino and African-American district, the new Destination Crenshaw initiative, L.A.’s relation to the city of Inglewood, and more.

Last but not least, we announce the Barcelona Barrios Excursion. That’s right, J.T. is headed to Spain for the first time ever and invites you to come with; it’s going to be an unforgettable learning experience.

Also, remember to submit your voicemail to the new J.T. Weather Report!

Here are the four easy steps to take when calling into the hotline:

I. Choose an interesting nickname for yourself to keep your anonymity.

II. Tell me which side of The City (or County) you’re calling from.

III. Tell me how you’re liking the weather, or if you’ve seen anything interesting through it like a downed power line, fallen tree, a pack of opossums, etc.

IV. Keep it under a minute! This helps us tune in to more reports rather than less.

***And if you’d like to keep your number anonymous as well, did you know that pressing *67 before you dial a number keeps your number blocked? That’s right!

Submit your voicemail to the J.T. Weather Report at (213) 458-5042.

For more of these updates and then some, follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.

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OUTFEST FUSION FILM FESTIVAL, UTLA RALLY AT GRAND PARK, AND MORE UPDATES

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A reminder for this evening and then some.

First up, the Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival takes over Los Angeles online and in person starting next Friday; the festival is the largest of its kind for LGBTQUIA+ communities in the city and features “dramas, comedies, documentaries, short films, special events and more.” Mara Tatevosian (@maratatevos) (she/her/hers) is a fellow for Outfest Fusion’s 2022|2023 Film Programming Fellowship and a queer Armenian-Iranian-American filmmaker and curator. She has graciously volunteered her time to speak with us about Outfest Fusion tonight and you do not want to miss it.

Secondly, UTLA is having a rally this Wednesday, March 15th, 2023 at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. See you there, maybe?

Next up, on Thursday, March 23rd, we chat with none other than the Council Member for the 8th district in Los Angeles, Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Items for discussion include policies engaging homelessness in the predominantly Latino and African-American district, the new Destination Crenshaw initiative, L.A.’s relation to the city of Inglewood, and more. Set a reminder because it’s gonna be another one to remember.

Finally, we received our 2nd Listener Report for the new J.T. Weather Report!

Here are the four easy steps to take when calling into the new hotline:

I. Choose an interesting nickname for yourself to keep your anonymity.

II. Tell me which side of The City (or County) you’re calling from.

III. Tell me how you’re liking the weather, or if you’ve seen anything interesting through it like a downed power line, fallen tree, a pack of opossums, etc.

IV. Keep it under a minute! This helps us tune in to more reports rather than less.

***And if you’d like to keep your number anonymous as well, did you know that pressing *67 before you dial a number keeps your number blocked? That’s right!

Submit your voicemail to the J.T. Weather Report at (213) 458-5042.

For more of these updates and then some, follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.

EPISODE 112 – COUNCIL MEMBER SOTO-MARTINEZ NOTES UPCOMING TOWN HALLS IN ECHO PARK

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Hugo Soto-Martinez joins the podcast for the third time and for the first as the official Council Member for CD-13. We discuss the new council member’s plan for the district, his office’s strategy on combating homelessness, his office’s coordination with Mayor Bass’ Safer Inside initiative and L.A. County to bring unhoused people indoors, and the possible implementation of conserving mentally unstable residents without housing through California’s new CARE Act.

We also discuss the council member’s outreach to small businesses in CD-13 as they recover from losses suffered over the pandemic, including businesses in the Frogtown neighborhood; and we touch on plans for partnerships between the council member’s office and current service-providers in the district, as well as the mechanics of L.A. City Hall, including where much of L.A.’s policy is actually developed: L.A.’s committee meetings. Last but not least, we ask the council member regarding when new field representatives for CD-13 will be announced, as well as on updates for none other than the fence still surrounding Echo Park lake.

Don’t forget to leave a voicemail at our new hotline for L.A. weather! Tell us how you’re liking this ☔️ weather (or not liking it) and which side of the city (or county) you’re calling from:

J.T.’s VOICEMAIL: (213) 458-5042

For more of these cuentos and then some, please follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.

COUNCIL MEMBER SUGGESTS ECHO PARK LAKE FENCE SHOULD BE DOWN BY LATE MARCH

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Firstly, we shout out the city of L.A.’s brand-new Charlotta Bass day, which took place this February 14th, 2023. We also recognize that USC has officially rolled out a new Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab at its Annenberg school. Learn more about Charlotta Bass here.

Secondly, we shout out Mike Bonin’s What’s Next, Los Angeles? podcast. The former council member is interviewing candidates for the upcoming election to fill CD-6, or the southern half of the San Fernando Valley’s seat at L.A. City Council.

We also note that Council Member Soto-Martinez spoke with Kate Cagle of Spectrum news recently, during which he suggested that the fence surrounding Echo Park lake should be taken down around late March before it’s two-year anniversary after being placed there by former representative for the area Mitch O’Farrell. Soto-Martinez states that this is because the park’s maintenance is not solely on him and his office to take care of, but on L.A.’s Parks and Recreation department as well. He and his team are also working with local service-providers to support unhoused people who may look to reside at the park upon the fence’s being taken down, according to the report.

Finally, we share some thoughts on a recent discussion at L.A. City Hall over a new redistricting process, including competing proposals between the city and state Senator Maria Elena Durazo’s office. Our photo for this episode is provided by Associated Press photojournalists Damian Dovarganes and Marcio Sanchez.

For more of these updates and then some, please follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.