Greater LA

Morro Bay is a small fishing village of roughly 10,000 people, known for its iconic view of a volcanic rock off the coast. A new project would add about 200 floating wind turbines in the distance. Some local fishermen are worried that the “skyscrapers” may cause disruption to their livelihood and sea life. Others are banking on what the farm brings to the region — jobs and a big step toward California’s goal of reaching 100% clean electric power by 2045.

Roughly 3 million Americans picked up a golf club for the first time last year. That spike in popularity is playing out across Southern California, where courses are completely booked and golf stores can’t fill their shelves fast enough. Since most pandemic-era restrictions have been lifted and options for outdoor activities have expanded, some Angelenos wonder if these new golfers will continue playing.

An explosion rocked a South LA residential neighborhood on Wednesday when the LA Police Department tried to detonate a cache of illegal fireworks they seized earlier in the day. Seventeen people, including 10 law enforcement officers, were injured in the blast. Fireworks can cause injuries, pollute the air, increase the risk of wildfires, and terrify pets. But many LA residents can’t resist setting off fireworks anyway.

Fireworks won’t be the only thing causing a scene this July 4 weekend. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has vowed to remove the homeless encampments from the Venice Beach boardwalk by Independence Day, and the city is planning to start sanitation cleanups on Friday. While LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin plans to move those living by the boardwalk to hotels over the next month and a half, unhoused advocates will likely show up to protest enforcement and displacement.

Downtown LA’s Tower Theatre officially became the site of a new Apple store on June 24. Some historical features of the building have been preserved, or even rebuilt, like the classic clock tower. But the building has also received many modern embellishments. The long-standing “Tower” lettering on the exterior is now illuminated with the Apple logo plastered above. With renovations like this and eased pandemic restrictions, are more people returning to downtown LA? 

Since August 2020, the mutual aid group Bicycle Meals has been delivering bags of sandwiches, fruit, snacks, masks, and hand sanitizer to unhoused residents of Koreatown. But now volunteers are back to work as the economy reopens, and they can’t donate so much time preparing meals and pedaling them to those in need. Also, the venture is largely self-funded, and contributions from local businesses aren’t constant. So how will the organization pivot post-pandemic?

Today’s show looks at various ways people can enjoy the summer across LA. First up, a kayaking trip down the LA River. Then, a visit to various locales where people can enjoy the sights and sounds of Europe without hopping on a plane. And lastly, all the best frozen treats to enjoy in the Southland.

Last year, LA cleared 80 tents from the south side of the Penmar Golf Course near Venice Beach. LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin held it up as an example of how to quickly and humanely break up large homeless encampments, and is fast-tracking a similar plan for Ocean Front Walk. But where did the people from Penmar go?

Just as air travel is ramping up this summer, rideshare availability is slowing down. People looking for an Uber or Lyft are finding spiking rates, long wait times, or a total lack of availability. Some people are seeking out taxis, while others are paying steep prices for a short ride.

OC Supervisors are expected to discuss reviving a proposal that would extend term limits, while also capping those terms for a lifetime. Currently, supervisors can hold office for two consecutive terms — each term lasting four years. After a break, they can run again later for up to two more terms at a time.

The new ballot proposal would replace those rules with a lifetime limit of 12 years, meaning supervisors can serve three consecutive terms. Critics say the proposal’s language is a sneaky way for supervisors to stay on the board longer.