Greater LA

Forget sourdough bread and rollerskating. Letter writing is one of the latest trends to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s not just a way to beat quarantine loneliness, it’s also a way to financially support the ailing USPS.

California has banned gatherings of non-household members. Engaged couples must decide whether to postpone their pre-pandemic plans indefinitely, or make all-new pandemic plans. Miriam Hershman and Sagar Yadav just got married in front of five guests at Hershman’s grandparents’ front yard in Sherman Oaks. The bride got dressed in her dad’s old bedroom. They played their first dance off an iPad. The reception was catered by the groom’s favorite: Domino’s Pizza.

Earlier this week, some West LA residents placed dozens of boulders below a 10 freeway underpass on Cattaraugus Ave, in an attempt to prevent people experiencing homelessness from erecting tents there. The backlash from homeless advocates, activists and their supporters came quickly. A group of volunteers removed many of the stones a few days later.

Food service jobs nationwide are down 2.5 million since February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Southern California, it’s been devastating for the hundreds of thousands of restaurant workers. Many of them are immigrants, and COVID-19 has exposed how few safety nets exist for this labor pool. Manuel Villanueva is a labor organizer with the nonprofit Restaurant Opportunities Center. Since the pandemic began, he’s been fielding calls 24/7 from out-of-work cooks, dishwashers, and bar hands who don’t have anyone else to turn to. 

The LA Rams host the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday at their brand new home: SoFi Stadium. The complex held a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony today. The multibillion dollar development is billed as a destination, complete with outdoor parks and shiny, sleek finishes. But some longtime Inglewood residents say the stadium is already hiking up the housing market, leading to further gentrification.

On this Labor Day, Greater LA replays highlights from the past few months. Condors are making a comeback — after being on the brink of extinction. Librarians are working as contract tracers during the COVID-19 pandemic. And some folks are trying to find love virtually.

A viral video of three transgender women being attacked in Hollywood on August 17 has opened up a larger conversation on what’s being done to protect trans women. A self-defense coach for trans and queer people says people rarely get help. Another woman was moved by the video and thus created self-defense kits for trans women. LA county officials announced a rapid response hotline in the event of a hate crime, but some say it is not enough.

KCRW looks at a program at the West LA VA that allows unhoused veterans to camp on the property and access services. At least one LA City Councilmember, Joe Buscaino, is considering a similar designated campsite in his district.

Pandemic or not, being outside is a daily ritual for dog owners. Neighborhood dog parks are one of the few places right now where people can socialize with strangers and build community. KCRW visits one dog park in the San Fernando Valley.

Skid Row has about 4,700 unhoused residents, and it’s tough for them to find clean water. And so, a group of USC students and volunteers has been delivering water to Skid Row every Sunday since mid-July. The group is known as Water Drop LA, and they’ve already collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. 

“It's really important that when we go into these spaces, we're not going into them with the savior complex,” says cofounder Aria Cataño. “We're not looking at this as a solution or as our one good deed for the day. What we try to emphasize with our volunteers is that this is part of your community.”