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

Legislative Update: It’s Over.

Did your favorite/least favorite bill make it to the finish line?

September 15, 2025

Today’s Headlines

Leg. Session Is Over. Wrap-up later today, but there's some highlights in headlines.

September 15, 2025

How Millions For Transit, Walking, and Biking Could Vanish On Sept. 30

The Trump administration may be deliberately slow-walking contracts for hard-earned transportation dollars.

September 14, 2025

The Week in Short Videos

This week: Transit Aid for the Bay, Cap-and-Trade, New Oil Licenses, and the Housing Near Transit Bill.

September 12, 2025

Friday’s Headlines

A big legislative update...

September 12, 2025

SB 79 Passes Assembly, Still Needs Senate “Concurrence” Before the Governor’s Desk

It was a bi-partisan vote on both sides, but in the end the legislation passed 41-17.

September 11, 2025
See all posts