February 2011 Archives
Commentary:
Come winter, the steelhead should be running up Southern California's many flat-bottomed rivers and creeks. They once took their cues from the powerful storms that roll ashore between November and March, dumping heavy rain on upcountry watersheds. When the...
Movie Miento:
It took the death of a poet for me to sit up and wonder what the hell is going on in Ciudad Juarez.
Government:
Just months into a new Los Angeles law banning standalone mobile billboard displays on city streets, operators behind them are trying to find loopholes. One of the more prolific examples (and one that will likely induce a double take) are bicycles.
Around SoCal:
Every story - even the ones that end "They all lived happily ever after!" - dangle an implied demand for more.
Commentary:
California State Senate candidate Ted Lieu and his supporters make frequent use of mailers in preparation for the upcoming February 15th special election. The problem is, our mailboxes are only flooded by candidates and supporters with money.
History:
Los Angeles County was once the top agricultural producer in the country from approximately 1910 to 1955.
Arts & Culture:
Martha Colburn brings a collection of her short, dazzling animations to REDCAT on Monday night for a night of explosive imagery and sound that echoes the political avant-garde filmmaking of the past.
Commentary:
This week, the city began a one-year "trial partnership" with the County Art Museum to manage the future of the Watts Towers, which need $5 million for further conservation efforts.
Places:
Compton was once known for its sugar beets, cauliflower, and pumpkins. Albeit vastly different today, the city's agricultural neighborhood Richland Farms gives a glimpse of the past tradition of growing food. One good example is the community garden found along the Compton Creek at Raymond Street Park.
History:
Governor Brown's recent call to return some authority - including financial responsibility - to local governments has brought new attention to the complex and challenging relationships among California's counties, cities, special districts, and other governmental authorities. Our region's archives are a tremendous resource for helping us unravel and understand the history of California's patchwork of local government bodies
SoCal Focus is a daily blog about the people, places and issues in and around Southern California.
