Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Podcast

Talking Headways Podcast: The City Is a Painting You Walk Into

This week I'm joined by James Rojas of Place It! to talk about art in planning and Latino urbanism. James is an award-winning planner and a native Angeleno, and he tells us about how growing up in East LA and visiting his grandmother’s house shaped the way he thinks about urban spaces and design.

Tune in and hear James discuss the importance of plazas to Latino culture and the history behind them, how people understand place, and why the public planning process works better when you start by tapping into people's childhoods rather than treating it purely as a problem solving exercise. Enjoy!

//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4310755/height/90/width/580/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/backward/no-cache/true/render-playlist/no/custom-color/87A93A/

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

The Week in Short Videos

Damien's AMA, Joe's "how to lock your bike," and a salute to Oakland's speed cameras

January 23, 2026

Friday’s Headlines

Big stack of headlines, but the best news is that the effort to pass the Bay Area Transit measure is underway!

January 23, 2026

January 2026 Los Angeles Metro Board Round-Up: Sepulveda Rail Approved, Torrance Rail Kneecapped

Valley-Westside subway plan approved. South Bay light rail delayed significantly, perhaps indefinitely.

January 22, 2026

SamTrans Survey Abandons Dumbarton Rail

What happened to the possibility of using the corridor for its original purpose? Advocates need to get this project back on tracks.

January 22, 2026

UC Berkeley Report Says California Transportation Policy Is Still Built for Cars — and It’s Deepening Inequality

"An Abundance Agenda" calls for a rethink of how the state plans, funds, and measures transportation.

January 22, 2026

Talking Headways Podcast: A Week Without Driving

Anna Zivarts discusses the lessons of her national campaign and yearly event with several politicians who brought it to their communities.

January 22, 2026
See all posts