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Concrete Dreams Workshop: Los Angeles Sidewalks Past, Present, and Future

On April 10th, 2024, we hosted an online workshop titled “Concrete Dreams: Los Angeles Sidewalks Past, Present, and Future.” Over 75 people joined us in a 90-minute discussion, bringing together experts, legal thinkers, public agency staff, community advocates, and interested individuals to discuss the ongoing challenges and future opportunities for LA’s sidewalk infrastructure.

 

  • Recording of the meeting: (link) 
  • Slide deck: (link)
  • Meeting agenda: (link)

Workshop Overview: We began with an overview of the current state of LA’s sidewalks, highlighting systemic neglect and the urgent need for reforms. Key data points from the 2021 Controller’s Audit on LA’s Sidewalk Repair Program illustrated the gaps and areas requiring immediate attention, underlining the critical need for a robust sidewalk master plan.

 

A Discussion on Sidewalk Accessibility with Disability Rights Advocates: The focus then shifted to user experiences, featuring three community leaders who use wheelchairs and navigate LA’s sidewalks daily:

 

Cynde Soto: Shared her lifelong experiences as a wheelchair user and her work with Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF). She emphasized the need for increased civic participation and community organizing around disability rights.

 

David Radcliffe: Discussed his advocacy with the Writers Guild of America, West, and personal experiences with cerebral palsy, highlighting the importance of media representation and opportunities for disabled talent.

 

Hector Ochoa: Spoke about his struggles with LA’s broken sidewalks and his decision to prioritize getting a car due to accessibility issues. As Director at EDGE College Transition Services & Independent Living Services, he ensures the disability community’s voice is heard in policy discussions.

 

The Class Action Lawsuit and Accessibility Failures in LA’s Sidewalks and Crosswalk: Paula Pearlman, an attorney and disability rights advocate, provided an in-depth analysis of the 2016 class action lawsuit against the City of LA, known as the Willits case. She discussed the settlement agreements, the mandates they outlined, and the city’s current progress in meeting accessibility standards. Her insights are crucial in understanding the legal landscape and the city’s obligations moving forward.

 

What’s happening now? What does the recently approved voter measure: Healthy Streets LA mean for sidewalks and access? We discussed the recently approved Healthy Streets LA ballot measure, which aims to enhance street infrastructure. The group explored the measure’s implications for sidewalk accessibility, opportunities it presents, and potential challenges in its implementation.

 

Q&A and Conclusion: The workshop concluded with a lively Q&A session, reinforcing the importance of collective effort in advocating for accessible sidewalks.

For more information, contact us at hello@investinginplace.org. 

 

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the discussion!

hello@investinginplace.org

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Estolano Advisors

Richard France

Richard France assists clients with strategic planning, visioning, and community and economic development. He is a strategic planner at Estolano Advisors, where he has been involved in a variety of active transportation, transit-oriented development, climate change resiliency, and equitable economic development projects. His work in active transportation includes coordinating a study to improve bike and pedestrian access to transit oriented districts for the County of Los Angeles, and working with the Southern California Association of Governments to host tactical urbanism events throughout the region. Richard also serves as a technical assistance provider for a number of California Climate Investment programs, including the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities, Transformative Climate Communities, and Low Carbon Transit Operations programs. He has also taught at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Richard received a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and his M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.

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Matt Horton

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