journojames

Lowenthal’s Homeless Rights Bill Report

Post author:journojames
Post published:February 15, 2012
Post category:News

Originally published Apr. 6, 2011

LONG BEACH, CA – As California becomes the national trendsetter for violence against its homeless, one of the state’s legislative committees approved a bill on Tuesday, March 22 that gives homeless people hate-crime protection when suing an attacker in civil court.

lowenthalvanityfair — Assemblywoman (D) Bonnie Lowenthal, Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair

The California State Assembly Judiciary Committee approved Long Beach Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal’s homeless rights bill, AB 312. It must now go to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a hearing before it goes to the full Assembly for approval.

“California has the highest rate of violence against homeless people in the entire country,” said Lauren Robinson, Lowenthal’s legislative aide. “Assemblywoman Lowenthal is just responding to her concerned constituents in Long Beach who see this as a growing trend and problem.” (more…)

L.A. Derby Dolls VSV

Post author:journojames
Post published:February 14, 2012
Post category:Entertainment & Culture Feature News

Originally published Apr. 13, 2011 Reporting from Echo Park, CA on the re-emergence of the sport of roller derby.

“Summer Pasture” Filmmaker Lynn True

Post author:journojames
Post published:February 13, 2012
Post category:Entertainment & Culture Interview

Originally published Mar. 1, 2011

LOS ANGELES – In the documentary “Summer Pasture,” a hard-working young wife, Yama, points out to her husband with mild annoyance that “no one was watching over our yaks.” Locho, her husband, a herder who seems to spend more time in front of a mirror checking his own complexion than his grazing animals, blames their runaway “naughty horse” for taking him away from his herding duties.

SummerPastureLowResdoc.org — Scene of nomadic life from “Summer Pasture,” Photo courtesy of Documentary.org

“Little things like that are really telling of a typical couple,” said Lynn True with an amused smile, the producer and director of the movie. “That’s what I was looking for.”

There are a number of scenes like this one throughout the movie and it was revealing in many ways.

“Summer Pasture” offered an intimate glimpse of Tibet and traditional nomadic life in the 21st century, which is seldom seen by outsiders. But, it also showed that, despite the faraway setting, the every day struggles, worries, and hopes of the young Tibetan couple and their infant daughter were largely universal and easily recognizable. (more…)