Advocates and citizens in Boyle Heights, a historic and predominantly Latino neighborhood on the Eastside of Los Angeles, are hoping for more than economic development from the city's Great Streets initiative.
"The 'Great Streets' initiative Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti launched last month is designed to boost the economy and local culture in the neighborhoods around 15 of the city's major boulevards. But residents and neighborhood advocates who live near one of those streets -- Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights -- say an emphasis on promoting safe, healthy activity is just as important."
The article includes interviews with a wide-range of users who experience difficulties in safe access to the public right of way in Boyle Heights.
"Broken sidewalks are a persistent part of life in Los Angeles. But in Boyle Heights, where about a quarter of households have no car and therefore walk to school, stores, or bus stops, the need to fix them seems more acute. Many of Boyle Heights’ Latino residents also suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes, and a recent afternoon on Cesar Chavez Avenue illustrated how…the challenges that come with poor health are often made worse by deficient street infrastructure."
FULL STORY: Could 'Great Streets' lead to a healthier Boyle Heights?
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