Latino advocates and activists in Los Angeles blame California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for failing to remove lethal lead pollution in predominantly Latinx communities near the previous Exide Technologies, Inc. battery recycling factory in southeast Los Angeles, leaving locals angered and fearful. Efforts to clean the factory began in July 2017 after the DTSC announced its plan to remove lead pollutants from the area surrounding the abandoned plant located at Bandini Boulevard, Vernon. Almost six years later, many homes in the southeast LA community continue to have high levels of lead, which exceed the state health standards.
Author Archives: Nova Blanco-Rico
Nova Blanco-Rico is about to graduate with a degree in journalism from California State University, Dominguez Hills and is a freelancer for CALÓ NEWS.
Posted inEnvironment
MICHAEL MARTINEZ, LA Compost, improve LA environment for Latinos
LA Compost currently has 43 community compost locations where community members drop off food scraps for processing into compost as well as 10 locations in LA farmer’s markets. The work done by the organization has led to hundreds of thousands of pounds of organics being diverted from landfills each year. Having parents who utilized the earth and refurbished the forgotten, Michael Martinez aimed to share those teachings and ultimately founded LA Compost.
Posted inEnvironment
Tzunu, Energy Foundation host forum on SB 1137 and pollution
Four environmental justice experts discussed their views on January 19 in “Media Roundtable to discuss pressing California Environmental issues,” holding California oil industry polluters accountable and limiting pollution in communities of color and Senate Bill 1137. They were Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), author of the bill that is now law; nterim co-director of California Environmental Justice Alliance, Mabel Tsang; Amee Raval, policy and research director at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network; and Catherine Garoupa, executive director of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition.
Posted inEnvironment
UC Berkeley environmental program uplifts Latinx students
The University of California at Berkeley’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Initiative began in 2018 with aims to get more Latinx students into the University of California’s system. The program was founded in 2018 by Frederico Castillo, an Environmental/Agricultural economist professor at UC Berkeley.
Posted inCulture
Halloween year-round for these Latinx sellers of spookiness
Halloween is the holiday of ghosts, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin patches but it’s also the time for the spirit of the Latinx Halloween community to shine through with passion and culture. Even if the holiday has passed and will not see it come to life till next year, these Latinx vendors will keep the spooky spirit thriving for all 365 days a year.
Posted inHealth
ZULY GARCIA, from contractor at Google to working full-time at the iconic tech company
Traveling back and forth with their father from Oaxaca to Los Angeles, Zuly Garcia found it difficult to assimilate to American culture and their Mexican counterparts. In addition to always feeling split in two between the two countries, they also faced brutal racism and had difficulty finding a supportive community. When Zuly was 15 years old, they began to struggle with their identity and loving themselves. That is until they found a creative outlet through Photoshop and photography.
Posted inEntertainment
CALÓ PROFILE: RUDY RUIZ, Host of “Drinks and a Movie” podcast on how he became a Chicano film influencer
Check out “Drinks and a Movie,” a podcast created and hosted by Rudy Ruiz that critiques Hollywood films through the lens of Latinx history and culture. Ruiz shares good booze and hearty commentary with guests ranging from cinematographers, actors and directors.
Posted inCulture
RUDY RUIZ, Host of “Drinks and a Movie” podcast on how he became a Chicano film influencer
Check out “Drinks and a Movie,” a podcast created and hosted by Rudy Ruiz that critiques Hollywood films through the lens of Latinx history and culture. Ruiz shares good booze and hearty commentary with guests ranging from cinematographers, actors and directors.
Posted inCulture
Cinco de Mayo: Who celebrates?
But some of us, well, we had it in us to feel a moment of pride. We remember the old stories about how Mexico stood up to and eventually defeated the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The French sent ferocious combat forces. Some Mexican fought with machetes and pitch forks. The impossible was made possible.