Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Eastside

In an effort to show how transportation, open space, planning and other issues are intertwined with the health, culture, livability and strength of a community, Streetsblog and The California Endowment teamed to bring Streetsblog’s coverage to a hyper-local level in Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. Sahra Sulaiman is Communities Editor for Streetsblog Los Angeles and oversees work in South Los Angeles and Boyle Heights. Her work and that of our former Boyle Heights-specific writer Kris Fortin can be found here. Contact Sahra at sahra[at]streetsblog.org or on twitter: @sahrasulaiman.

Map and timeline for intersection upgrades in preparation for the demolition of the 6th St. Viaduct. Source: 6th St. Viaduct Replacement project

Filed Under: Hidden Gems in Fact Sheets. A Protected Bike Lane for the Sixth Street Viaduct

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jul 23, 2015 | 8 Comments

It is now nearly the end of July. The suggestion made at the February groundbreaking for the 6th Street Viaduct that estimates that the bridge would be closed for demolition in July were “aggressive” has proven more than true. The closure of the existing bridge will come no earlier than October of this year, and […]

Stalin, Hugo, and an apprentice at the Watts Cyclery keep Watts moving for as little money as possible. Their adult customers cycle out of necessity and can often barely afford to keep their bikes moving. Sahra Sulaiman/Streetsblog L.A.

How a More Inclusive Bike Week Can Help Move Us Toward “Bike Life”

By Sahra Sulaiman | May 15, 2015 | 2 Comments

“I can honestly say my faith in humanity has been restored today,” Joey said Wednesday as we popped his back tire back on his bike and I packed up my patch kit. “If I ever see you in the street again, I promise I’ll pay you back somehow.” His declaration was quite sincere. He was […]

Testing Around Exide Plant Continues, Community Voices Frustration over Lack of Clarity in Results

By Sahra Sulaiman | May 12, 2015 | No Comments

“I still don’t have a clear picture of what the results [of the lead testing in the Expanded Assessment Areas] are,” said a representative of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. We were now nearly two hours into a community workshop explicitly intended to brief residents on the extent to which lead emissions from Exide Technologies’ secondary smelting operations […]

At What Point Could this Have Been Stopped?: Community Celebrates Exide’s Closure, Seeks Full Accounting from New DTSC Director

By Sahra Sulaiman | Apr 14, 2015 | 2 Comments

“We won, folks. We won!” Monsignor John Moretta addressed the crowd that had gathered at Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights to hear about the process by which the closure of Exide Technologies’ embattled lead-acid battery recycling facility would begin. “Siempre adelante. Siempre adelante.” [Always moving forward.] To a degree, the conversation that took place last […]

Metro Takes Another Step Forward in Effort to Build and Preserve Affordable Housing at Transit Hubs

By Sahra Sulaiman | Apr 2, 2015 | 12 Comments

In case you haven’t heard, we’re in a bit of an affordable housing crunch. According to the L.A. Times, “the city recently estimated that 82,000 additional affordable units will be needed by 2021.” Non-profit developers have been aware of this problem for some time. Approximately 8000 families applied for the 184 units of affordable housing […]

Boyle Heights Youth Research Community Challenges, Find Proposed TOD Solutions Don’t Go Far Enough to Help Neediest

By Sahra Sulaiman | Mar 19, 2015 | No Comments

“So…” I begin, looking around the table at CALO YouthBuild students Abigail Navarro, Irvin Plata, Stephanie Olwen, and Eric Aguayo. I am there to ask them about how the youth at this charter school — a school whose student body is comprised of at-risk students aged 16-24 who struggled at one or more traditional high […]

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