Recent Streetsblog LA posts about South LA

In an effort to show how transportation, open space, planning and other issues impact the health and character 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 the Communities Editor for Streetsblog Los Angeles and is leading our coverage efforts in these communities. This page serves as a place to read Sahra’s and all of Streetsblog’s coverage of issues in South L.A. Contact Sahra at sahra[at]streetsblog.org or on twitter: @sahrasulaiman.

Meet the Falcons: How a Lost Bid for the Youth Football Championship Can Still Be a Win for a Community

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 20, 2012 | 11 Comments

“Oh, school doesn’t interest you?” volunteer coach Anthony Thomas asked the 8 year-old boy who had come to football practice with poor marks on his report card. “School has things to teach you,” he said firmly, but lovingly, as he disciplined the boy and another 9 year-old player with similar issues with drills that clearly […]

Los Angeles Walks Moseys into Leimert Park, Speaks with Residents about Aspirations for Their Neighborhoods

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 16, 2012 | No Comments

“My son calls it “Poo-poo Island,” said Heather Presha of Stocker Plaza, a sizeable grassy island at the intersection of 8th and Garthwaite Aves. She was presenting her group’s summary of the issues of concern and areas of opportunity in her neighborhood to the approximately 25 community members and pedestrian and health advocates gathered at […]

South L.A. Neighborhood Bike Ambassadors Confer with Planners on Bike and Mobility Plans

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

Last night, between 15 and 20 members of the South L.A. Neighborhood Bike Ambassador (NBA) group gathered in the (amazing!) Civil Rights Museum at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee to talk with Jane Choi (Dept. of City Planning’s LA/2B), David Somers (Dept. of City Planning’s Bicycle Planner), and Nate Baird (Dept. of Transportation’s Project Coordinator […]

Celebrating Victory on Election Night in South L.A. with Community Coalition

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 7, 2012 | 1 Comment

Just before the elections, the L.A. Times definitively declared that “South L.A.’s zeal for politics has faded.” That declaration seemed unfair for two reasons. One, the article was not actually asking residents of South L.A. about politics, in general. It was asking whether or not black people were still enthralled with Obama and believed that his […]

Democracy is Much More than Voting. Sometimes it Involves Bikes. And Gardening.

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 7, 2012 | No Comments

Voting is great and all, but it is only one part of democracy. Democracy works better when people take an active role in making their communities better year round. That theme of service was more actively promoted after the election in 2008, when Obama asked people to channel their enthusiasm and energy into community service. […]

Weekend Guide of Community Activity and Activism in South LA

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 2, 2012 | No Comments

One of the exciting things about covering South L.A. is how active the communities within the area are. So active, in fact, I cannot always keep up with everything that is going on. Instead of writing stories this week, I’ve been catching up on piecing together the interviews, photos, and stories I’ve been tracking for […]

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