Greater LA

Activists are calling for systematic changes in policing, as protests continue nationwide over the police killing of George Floyd. Gang interventionist Skipp Townsend says the recent protests and looting are a way for African American communities to express deep feelings of pain and burden.

“It is probably the worst thing in the world to be African American and know that we are the less numbers, we are less likely to succeed. We are more likely to be shot,” he says.

Because of this fear, Townsend says the current law enforcement system in America needs to be dismantled.

Some peaceful protests turned violent in LA and nationwide over the weekend. KCRW checks in with communities sweeping up the glass and debris. The local organizer of Black Lives Matter shares about what she believes justice looks like. 

Santa Barbara has shut its main downtown road, State Street, to cars. Now, people are walking while keeping their distance, and restaurants are expanding dining rooms onto the sidewalks. LA County officials are considering a similar move.

At a federal prison along the Central Coast in Santa Barbara County, more than 1,000 inmates and correctional officers have tested positive for COVID-19. The impact weighs heavily on the surrounding community and family members of inmates who want to see early releases and better communication.

Growing up in LA, musician Mikel Jollett did not have it easy. He escaped from a cult at a young age, and he struggled to maintain a relationship with his father. He still got into Stanford and eventually became the frontman of the indie band called The Airborne Toxic Event. Jollett’s story is the focus of a new memoir and album, both titled "Hollywood Park."

Data reveals that African Americans are especially susceptible to COVID-19. Health experts point to a range of reasons: lack of testing, higher rates of underlying conditions, distrust of the medical establishment.

Even before COVID-19, securing a place to live in Avalon on Catalina Island was hard. There are cars, next to no crime, and 360 degree ocean views. Islanders call it paradise. But the waitlist for an apartment can be five years long, and the prices are comparable to West Los Angeles. But with stay-at-home orders, the beach town that relies so heavily on tourism has been devastated.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many Angelenos are sewing face masks as a way to generate income and find a sense of purpose when life feels like it’s coming apart at the seams.

It’s tough to maintain social distance inside jails and prisons. California officials are turning to zero cash bail so some inmates are released early. However, there are reports of repeat offenses. Meanwhile, State Senator Robert Hertzberg wants to rethink bail. He’s authored Senate Bill 10, which puts the decision to release an inmate into the hands of a judge and a computer algorithm — instead of requiring the inmate to pay to get out. Angelenos will vote on SB-10 in November.

On this episode of Greater LA: The writers and publishers organization PEN America is looking for help from LA City Hall to support local literary professionals. A high school student recounts her journey to being a slam poetry champion. And, in the time of physical distancing, the director of LA Theatre Works says radio plays are having a moment.