Laws That Shaped LA
The Laws That Shaped L.A. will spotlight regulations that have played a significant role in the development of contemporary Los Angeles. These laws - as nominated early on by a variety of experts we've been polling - may be considered by readers and nominators to have either been beneficial to the city or malevolent.
Laws That Shaped LA:
The World War II hero most publicly associated with this law's passage is rumored to have, while sitting stuck in traffic, called himself a "numbskull" for doing so.
Laws That Shaped LA:
Despite the state spending fifty percent of its funds on road-building, traffic congestion was getting worse.
Laws That Shaped LA:
Thanks to a a 75 year old law, the mighty Los Angeles River is an exception to the-let's-look-at-our-waterways-rule.
Laws That Shaped LA:
In the rush to grab all the newly available transportation dollars, cities such as Los Angeles made a Faustian bargain.
Laws That Shaped LA:
The Federal Housing Administration played a dramatic role in shaping the design of post-war suburbs across America.
Laws That Shaped LA:
Is the guy standing in the traffic island, hawking mangoes, a criminal?
Laws That Shaped LA:
Thanks to this piece of legislation, many of the water bodies of the United States are by now, cleaner.
Laws That Shaped LA:
According to tennis legend Billie Jean King, there has been a 1,000% increase in girls playing high school sports since Title IX.
Laws That Shaped LA:
Editor's Note: The Laws That Shaped L.A. column is going on an August writing and research break. Original columns will return in September. In the meanwhile, please enjoy the column archives. To suggest a "Law That Shaped L.A." or otherwise...
Laws That Shaped LA:
A hold-up of a TV newscaster and a horrific school shooting in Stockton pushed State Senator David Roberti to consider a ban an assault weapons.
Laws That Shaped LA:
We often hear about the trolleys and light rail lines that once dotted the L.A. street grids -- but why don't we hear more about the once-popular jitneys?
Laws That Shaped LA:
Thanks to a 1978 city proposition, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics ended with a $232.5 million surplus, which helped fund youth sports organizations throughout the city.
Laws That Shaped LA:
Thomas Jefferson was one of the founding fathers of our nation. But did you know he also had a hand in how the L.A. streets are laid out?
Laws That Shaped LA:
Next time you wiggle your feet in the coastal sand, remember that there's a reason why California beaches are open to the public.
Laws That Shaped LA:
There was a time, not too long ago, when "mentally deficient" or "feebleminded" people were sterilized against their will.
Laws That Shaped LA:
The world is not a free expression-type of place. In America, how are journalists and others allowed to be citizen watchdogs and activists?
Laws That Shaped LA:
Constant flooding of the L.A. River prompted the city to pass a law that essentially buried it underneath concrete.
Laws That Shaped LA:
With the Porter-Cologne act of 1969, the state gained all control of water use and quality. What did that mean for water-thirsty Los Angeles?
Laws That Shaped LA:
The Bracero Program streamlined the process of immigration for farm workers between 1942 and 1964. How have things changed since then?
Laws That Shaped LA:
State legislator David A. Roberti is most proud of his work on providing housing for "every strata of people," including 33,000 new emergency shelter beds for the homeless.
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