https://youtu.be/LofU0m8OsJ4 Every second counts during an emergency response emergency vehicles rely on drivers to do their part and clear the… See the most recent messages from LASD - Industry Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff, powered by Nixle Sign up to receive messages by email & text message Please avoid the area of 7th Avenue and Gale Avenue in the city of Hacienda Heights Industry Sheriff’s Station deputies are responding to a call for service regarding a person with a gun The primary Mission of Parking Enforcement Detail (PED) is to ensure the residents of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County are provided with expeditious vehicle movement to help alleviate parking congestion improve the availability of parking choices and to assist the communities in addressing all parking related matters apportion scarce parking spaces for all legitimate vehicles by insuring those who violate parking regulations are properly addressed through the California Vehicle Codes (CVC) the Los Angeles County Vehicle Codes (LACoVC) and other various municipal codes Each Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station has a Parking Enforcement unit Please visit the Stations page to find your local Sheriff's Station Station Locations Please visit the LA county Sheriff's Department Pay by web site Pay by web For more street services in LA County please report your problem here: Public Works Los Angeles County To contact the proper Sheriff's station for your parking concerns and to send an email request for service; first determine who services your address by entering the area location address and click the "Find" button LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio an unincorporated community in the southeast San Gabriel Valley raised in the Inland Empire and moved to Avocado Heights with her husband and 10-year-old twins about four years ago More than 80% of the residents in Avocado Heights are Latino The median household income for a family of four is about $98,000 Community members also live near a lot of heavy industry There’s the Quemetco battery recycling plant in the neighboring City of Industry You can see the huge mountain of the old Puente Hills Landfill down Navarro’s street The neighborhood is bordered by freight rail lines and the 60 and 605 freeways Navarro’s son has asthma and she worries about the pollution’s impact on her whole family “I don't know what the air quality is…I don't know what the impact is going to be on us,” she said “So I'm trying just anything that can help it Anything that I can do to help my family.” You could be eligible for free solar and other home upgrades One way Navarro is improving air quality in her own home: Instead of a gas stove she now has what’s called an induction stove Induction stoves on average cost $600 to more than $9,000 (though you can get portable single induction cooktops often for less than $100) the air quality of the home was measured before gas stoves were replaced said gas stoves caused a shocking amount of pollution in the homes they measured “Our results varied from anywhere from 200 up to 800 parts per billion of nitrogen dioxide,” she said Sanchez added that the highest levels of pollution were around head height above the stove But induction stoves don’t emit that pollution Sanchez said they found that in the Avocado Heights homes retrofitted with induction stoves nitrogen dioxide levels were between 20 to 50 parts per billion Navarro was skeptical about switching to induction I'm not going from gas cooking to electric,” she said “That's the biggest misconception,” Navarro said Induction stoves look kind of like nice electric stoves particularly because she only has fans and a window air conditioning unit to cool the house you're having chicken salad because I am not cooking in the middle of the heat," Navarro said "But what's been different this past summer but it’s something she has to do with two kids and a husband who works full time The induction stove has made her enjoy making meals more “I love to cook carne con papa and Mexican rice And what's great is [the induction stove] doesn't.” induction stoves require pans with a bottom that a magnet can stick to “You don't have to get anything that is expensive,” Navarro said Just don’t drag pans over the glass top of the stove or you could ruin the magnet (and scratch up that beautiful smooth surface) the stove turns on with the touch of a button “This is where the learning curve comes in,” Navarro said “Because gas is more predictable because you can see the flame And because the heat goes directly into the pan the kitchen — and the burner itself — stays cool She touched the burner directly with her hand — it’s not hot The burner will eventually get hot if it’s left on long enough They’re also super efficient and get to a precise temperature quickly That means they can boil water in half the time of gas Navarro said they’re a lot easier to clean but he does not know how to clean the stove,” she said with a chuckle “And the nice thing about [the induction stove] is Sanchez with LACI said more access to environmentally cleaner appliances is an essential piece of the larger effort to unhook society from planet-heating fossil fuels like gas “We're trying to create healthier homes,” Sanchez said “It's not an isolated thing that we're providing you this induction stove needs to be at center of the transition to cleaner energy She's seen inequity firsthand — she grew up in Montebello which has some of the worst air quality in the LA area “We need to rectify what's been done in the past,” she said “Communities like the city that I grew up have been disproportionately affected by the air pollution from diesel trucks as well as polluting industries.” while one induction stove may not seem like much in the face of massive polluting industries she sees it as a brick in the foundation that’s needed to build a cleaner future for everyone Navarro joked now she’s just waiting for her washer dryer and gas furnace to give out so they can go electric there too “Even if you're just doing one little part in your corner of the world imagine if many people did their little part in their corner of the world,” Navarro said I try to remember choices that I make will affect my kids futures but how is the world going to look for them?” You can also consider purchasing a single or double burner standalone induction cooktop or “hob.” You can find those for around $100 Two people were killed following a violent vehicle collision in La Puente near the unincorporated area of Avocado Heights According to the California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash around 10:55 a.m at the intersection of Temple and North Azusa Avenues they discovered two victims who were pronounced dead at the scene Reports indicated that the vehicle the victims were traveling in was split in half due to the severity of the collision The cause of the crash remains under investigation If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident Consult with one of our personal injury attorneys Our skilled La Puente car accident lawyers will evaluate your case, discuss the next steps, and consider all factors that could impact your settlement amount they can help you obtain additional information or a police report if needed Our legal team has a well-established reputation for advocating for accident victims, with clients receiving over $750 Million in compensation victims often feel anxious about what may happen next Our car accident lawyers recommend staying calm to ensure your safety You can also protect your rights by following these steps if you’re still able: I HAD AN ACCIDENT Thousands of lives are lost in car accidents on California’s roads every year. The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported that in 2020, the state logged 3,847 traffic fatalities which increased by 3.4% from 3,719 in the previous year which also rose by 20% compared to 966 in 2019 The fatality rate from alcohol-impaired driving also climbed by 4% accounting for 30% of California’s overall fatality count the percentage of fatalities who tested positive for legal or illicit drugs spiked from 51% in 2019 to 55% in 2020 Six people were injured following a five-vehicle crash on the northbound 15 Freeway near Highway 138 in the Cajon Pass A bicyclist sustained serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Sacramento on Saturday evening According to the Sacramento Police Department and another woman and two children sustained injuries following a two-vehicle head-on crash in El Dorado Hills A motorcyclist was killed following a suspected DUI crash in Merced on Saturday afternoon Two young men were killed following a suspected DUI crash in Fresno on Friday night and two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a multi-vehicle collision in the Westlake community of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon California’s Powerhouse Accident Lawyers With a consecutively proven track record Disclaimer: Not every one of our firm’s attorneys has received the recognitions stated here Visit the attorneys’ specific profile page under the ‘Our Firm’ tab for specific attorney recognitions (888) 488-1391 Do I Have A Case? 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Hill Ave. #201Pasadena, CA 9110624hr Local Line: (626) 723-3933Available by appointment only This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site Using this site or communicating with the law offices of arash khorsandi through this site does not form an attorney/Client relationship Copyright © 2025 The Law Office of Arash Khorsandi Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Careers WE’VE RECOVERED OVER $750 MILLION FOR OUR CLIENTS Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks As the only region that can currently meet the ever-growing demand for avocados in the U.S. Mexico and its fresh imports are contributing to a positive economic impact in both countries The Avocado Institute of Mexico has released its 2023-2024 Economic Report which dives into the mutual economic benefits of the Mexico-U.S In the last fiscal year (July 2023 – June 2024 growing season) imports of Mexican Hass avocados contributed the following to the U.S There are approximately 35,000 avocado growers in Mexico the vast majority of which are cultivating on small family farms the collective 2.4 billion pounds of Hass avocados they exported to the U.S last year resulted in $6 billion in economic output in Mexico4 "The new data validates the positive economic impact spurred by Americans' embrace of the fruit the mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries and the importance of maintaining strong trade ties," said Ron Campbell Executive Director of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) "The avocado industry is a source of employment and economic value and we are committed to continue working with our partners in both countries to ensure the sustainable and responsible growth of this industry." and Mexico states"Imports of Mexican Hass avocados continue to be pro-growth for the U.S and historical growth patterns indicate this will likely only intensify over the years," added Dan Hanselka Extension Program Specialist at Texas A&M University and co-author of the study "Every dollar of Mexican Hass avocado imports in the fiscal year 2023/24 generated $2.13 in economic output in the U.S. with a more concentrated impact in California and Texas the country's largest avocado-consuming states." California and Texas accounted for roughly 20% of the total U.S economic output in the past year with $965.2 million and $468.7 million The trade relationship has also had a particularly significant influence in the region of Michoacán which in many ways is the heart of the country's agricultural sector The area has benefited from a higher GDP and the creation of steady jobs in both the growing fields and packing houses demand for Mexican avocados: A collaborative successAvocados From Mexico acts as a connecting bridge between countries bringing together organizations that promote the consumption of Mexican avocados in the U.S By working with the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) The collaborative efforts have fueled demand for the fruit leading to improved quality and record-breaking sales FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com Print Samuel Brown-Vazquez has never visited his mother’s rural hometown in Michoacán given the violence and persecution his family fled in the 1980s But his slice of the motherland is in the San Gabriel Valley in Avocado Heights It’s where he has ridden horses since 2010 after moving back to Southern California He’d drive from East Los Angeles about three times a week to ride and keep the family horses well exercised a way to relieve stress from his job as a paralegal Growing up biracial — his father is white and was a former organizer with the United Farm Workers — Brown-Vazquez explored his Mexican identity in Avocado Heights where residents greet each other as they pass by on horse he could visit a neighbor milling corn and making tamales from scratch which he came to see as a team sport between the charros and the horses they would intimately bond with Brown-Vazquez saw the residents and charros of Avocado Heights as local role models whom “I wanted to aspire to be like,” he said is among a group of millennial activists who are embracing the vaquero lifestyle as a source of identity and reclaiming it in a way that’s leading people to mobilize and fight the powers of expansion that threaten their agrarian way of life With warehouses and luxury housing developments expanding farther east and away from the city of Los Angeles, they’re activating residents and horse lovers in South El Monte, Pellissier Village and Avocado Heights — which converge around the intersection of the 60 and 605 freeways. Brown-Vazquez started Avocado Heights Vaquer@s in late 2020 and land,” the coalition — made up of horse riders educators and allies — is in favor of more green spaces and against development that can contribute to the displacement of working-class families living in the rural communities “We don’t want to reinforce the image of a lonesome cowboy out on the range because at the root of our culture is community,” Brown-Vazquez said Samuel Brown-Vazquez is one of the organizers speaking at a rally in South El Monte educators and allies supports more green spaces and is against development that can contribute to the displacement of working-class families Emilio Flores / For The Times) A main goal for Avocado Heights Vaquer@s is to stop Quemetco — a battery-recycling plant in the City of Industry — from expanding operations by 25% which they believe will increase contamination in neighboring communities Avocado Heights is surrounded by the City of Industry This spring, Brown-Vazquez and Nayellie Díaz, another member of Avocado Heights Vaquer@s, helped start Union de Ranchos upon hearing stories of residents and horse keepers in Pellissier Village, South El Monte and Avocado Heights venting about perceived abuse of code enforcement In one incident a resident was told that his lot was 400 square feet too small for his four horses in South El Monte an unincorporated area that is not an equestrian district and recommended he buy a small property from a neighbor to get to code Nuisance abatement teams were going into homes without permission and residents were unaware of their rights a collective representing the three unincorporated communities said there is no clear county code policy on horse stalls and are asking for a better system for compliance An exploration of marketing terms like ‘200%’ and how that’s shaped our identity With Avocado Heights Vaquer@s now reaching beyond its community members are considering changing its name to San Gabriel Valley Vaquerxs They’re continuing to use gender-neutral language to be inclusive of women in the cowboy culture that’s typically overrepresented by men and to provide a more inviting space for queer people who may feel the vaquero atmosphere isn’t for them While they’re a pro-environmentalist organization the collective also supports the right to rodeo; the group is also advocating against a rodeo ban that the Los Angeles City Council will consider How have you been affected by the housing crisis or gentrification “A lot of the mainstream environmental organizations are skeptical and don’t know what to make of us We never did anything for the approval of mainstream organizations As long as we had credibility in our community that’s what it’s all about,” Brown-Vazquez said embracing a vaquera identity means being authentic to her family and ancestors who hail from the Sierra of Durango It’s also a way to connect with the agricultural community they are mobilizing whose father worked as a bracero around the 1940s “I identify with the everyday immigrant who comes from that background who doesn’t necessarily speak English as their first language it’s not so much an identity that I take on but it’s an identity that I possess,” Díaz said Participants in the cabalgata gathered at Blackwill Park in Whittier before riding to South El Monte as part of a rally to call for the protection of their rural and horse-keeping areas Emilio Flores / For The Times) A longtime resident of La Puente Díaz saw the need to politically engage her neighbors in much of the unincorporated and rural areas where it’s easy to lose touch with “everything going on around us.” Living close to the lead battery recycling smelter Díaz said it’s crucial that residents learn of the side effects of the pollution and contamination associated with it we have to become aware and support these environmental causes They gathered in the horse enclave of Pellissier Village to gripe about code enforcement which they claim has escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down some 200 horseback riders paraded in a cabalgata through the San Gabriel Valley to call for the protection of their rural and horse-keeping areas a Mexican flag with an image of the Virgen de Guadalupe We work very hard to have what we have,” said Samuel Barragan as he geared up to lead the horse procession “This is ours and we won’t leave until we win,” said Barragan a community leader who also organizes with Union de Ranchos one of the organizers of Union de Ranchos who planned the rally Emilio Flores / For The Times) They rode under highways bridges and through residential neighborhoods with their horses galloping and dancing to the sounds of a tamborazo banda playing in the bed of a pickup truck A few rode bikes and scooters and stopped at intersections to help redirect traffic The cabalgata resembled the religious and festive horse parades in rural areas of Mexico but Brown-Vazquez said it also served a political role in helping the community recognize that “our tradition is something that we have to … preserve.” ethnic studies professor and director of the Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center at UC Riverside said rural residential communities “are becoming increasingly more important in terms of Latino social movements.” “Since the days of the Mexican Revolution and even after if you want to get rural Mexicans politically angry … you start trying to take land from them and you’ll see people who have traditionally been rather apolitical they will get involved,” he said And those mobilizing them are second-generation Mexican Americans who are embracing that heritage and identity “as a way to organize people and as a way to create political clout,” Gonzales said Many are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of settlers who came to the United States in the 1940s and 1960s The majority of Mexicans in Southern California hail from the Bajío region of Mexico and they come with a history of ranching culture “The Mexicanos who came out of the bracero program and I think what’s so significant is that 80 years later we still have this ranchero culture flourishing and thriving among us,” Gonzales said Salvador Gaitan felt like he embodied Mexican revolutionary leaders Francisco Villa and Emiliano Zapata has lived in Baldwin Park for more than 20 years He had never seen the equestrian communities come together this way we achieve everything just like the revolution.” Participants of the Gran Cabalgata gathered at Blackwill Park in Whittier Emilio Flores / For The Times) A native of Guadalajara in Jalisco state Gaitan worked for years to be able to afford the three horses he keeps boarded in Pellissier Village for about $700 a month He bought his first for $6,500 after selling his suburban truck Gaitan wasn’t particularly a politically involved person before but he credits the leaders of Avocado Heights Vaquer@s and Union de Ranchos for spearheading this movement Bathing and caressing his animals brings him immense joy and mindfulness Alejandra Molina is a former reporter with the Latino Initiatives team at the Los Angeles Times she was a national reporter for the independent and nonprofit Religion News Service as part of a global religion journalism initiative with the Associated Press and the Conversation She has worked for newsrooms under the Southern California News Group she mentors youth journalists at Boyle Heights Beat Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Sign Up for Newsletter Equa a new 81-unit affordable and supportive housing community has opened near La Puente in unincorporated Los Angeles County Thirty-four of the new homes are for people who have experienced homelessness while the remainder are for low-income households earning 30-70% of the area median income Supervisor Hilda Solis joined the nonprofit developer Linc Housing and other partners at the grand opening ceremony this new apartment community is providing a safe place for low-income and unhoused residents to call home,” she said “I am grateful for the compassion Avocado Heights residents have demonstrated with this development and hope that other communities can open their hearts to increasing our housing supply so we can end homelessness and ensure more people don’t fall into homelessness.” Equa is named as a tribute to both the area’s equestrian heritage and Linc’s commitment to helping build a more equitable society and open space for children of all ages to play The central community area on the ground floor includes a computer lab and flexible space for cooking classes Thirteen apartments are accessible for individuals with mobility or sensory impairments Solving homelessness requires more than just housing and the 34 households that have experienced homelessness will receive intensive case management Supportive services include mental health and physical health services assistance in obtaining and maintaining benefits and referrals to community-based services and resources Linc will provide all residents with its signature resident services programs “Equa brings together new neighbors from different walks of life who are all in need of an affordable home that doesn’t take their entire income,” said Suny Lay Chang “To see the new residents connecting and supporting each other is inspiring This new building is far more than housing; it’s the foundation for building healthy stands with dignitaries at the ribbon cutting at the Equa grand opening for the 81-unit affordable housing development in La Puente One of first motels acquired by Los Angeles County through the Homekey program is about to be transformed into 7th Avenue Village at Hacienda Heights a long-term apartment housing complex with intensive supportive services for formerly unhoused individuals Housing Works supportive service providers Nancy Delira and Celina Alvarez visit the future site of the 7th Avenue Village in Hacienda Heights on April 17 (Mayra Beltran Vasquez/ Los Angeles County) LA County has partnered with Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Services (WORKS) to manage the property and with Housing Works to ensure residents receive the supportive services they need to thrive 142 motel rooms will be converted into small studio apartments with kitchenettes The rest the units will be converted into residences for on-site managers and meeting spaces where supportive service case managers can work with residents There will also be an indoor community space and three outdoor gathering areas featuring landscaping Future residents are expected to begin occupancy in late 2024 They’ll be single individuals with no permanent home interim housing and/or unsheltered locations All will be referred through the County’s established network of homeless services agencies and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency’s Coordinated Entry System; outreach will also be conducted in Hacienda Heights and surrounding areas We take on many of the biggest environmental and health challenges of our time and stick with them. The law makes change. Community Partnerships Program A report details how Quemetco — the last remaining secondary lead smelter in California — has exploited a failed regulatory structure that does little to protect people and the environment The report documents the resulting and devastating impacts of hazardous operations at Quemetco that poison the air The Report Recommendations Community Voices The lead smelting industry is a remnant of a time when people ignored the impacts of lead on human health and the environment The process of secondary lead smelting results in the release of harmful compounds from crushing the batteries to smelting and refining There is no safe level of exposure to lead California’s legislators and regulators must stand with community members and fight to end the cycle of failure Quemetco is currently seeking approval from the South Coast Air Quality Management District to expand its operations Quemetco is also in the midst of the permit renewal process for its long-expired hazardous waste permit with the Department of Toxic Substances Control a process that has been delayed because of Quemetco’s ongoing failure to provide all of the information necessary to process the permit renewal application Community members are opposed to Quemetco’s proposal to increase its operations and instead demand a focus on advancing the transition that is already taking place away from the use of lead-acid batteries and secondary lead smelters and towards a cleaner future with alternative technologies We call on California’s legislative and regulatory bodies to fulfill their oversight duties and hold Quemetco accountable for its historic and ongoing harm to people and the environment Download Report Executive Summary Introduction Background Communities Near Quemetco Human Health and Environmental Harms of Secondary Lead Smelters Quemetco’s Cycle of Non-Compliance Harmful Legacy of Secondary Lead Smelters Alternatives Recommendations Conclusion Glossary Of Terms Appendix A: Timeline 0f Quemetco’s History Appendix B: Quemetco and the Violations Scoring Procedure Appendix C: Quemetco’s VSP Score with Earthjustice’s Community Partnerships Program This report was written in partnership with the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier & Avocado Heights Media Inquiries: cpp@earthjustice.org Community Partnerships Program Earthjustice’s Community Partnerships Program works hand-in-hand with frontline communities fighting for a safe “Earthjustice stands ready to defend the Antiquities Act and the national monuments protected under the law.” Stay informed on how we hold accountable those who break our environmental laws © 2025 Earthjustice. We respect your privacy. Earthjustice is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Your contribution is tax-deductible. EIN 94-1730465. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Live in Greater Los Angeles long enough and you’ll witness scenes that get seared into your memory as “so L.A.” One such moment: I was driving on the 210 one evening and looked up at an overpass to see a man on horseback trotting along above the car-clogged lanes For thousands of people and households in the county keeping and riding horses is a deeply rooted way of life County contains seven equestrian districts where residents are granted leeway by the county to keep a horse despite lot size requirements Some of those districts are near each other in the San Gabriel Valley Pellissier Village and Beverly Acres — all close to where the 605 and 60 freeways cross residential horse owners in Avocado Heights — many of them Latino — have been organizing against an alleged increase in code enforcement by the county which some view as an effort to drive them out of their slice of urban-agrarian heaven “Residents are concerned that, amid an extreme housing shortage and a mandate by Sacramento to fix that issue, county officials want to rezone the area to allow more development and destroy their equestrian way of life,” Times columnist Gustavo Arellano wrote in May A county official told him that the county was considering land-use changes in other parts of the unincorporated area to allow more housing Out of that community pushback sprang a cabalgata — a horse parade — over the weekend in which more than 100 riders on horseback took to local streets Julio Peralta, with his daughters Alexa and Liliana Peralta, at the Gran Cabalgata. (J. Emilio Flores / Los Angeles Times) Times reporting intern Mariana Duran covered the cabalgata The mainly Latino and Latina riders from across the San Gabriel Valley wore traditional Mexican boots and gear Some made their horses dance to banda music played by musicians sitting in the back of a pickup truck that slowly wove between the procession “This is to open everyone’s eyes to the fact that we want this to continue and flourish something positive for the community,” organizer Samuel Barragán told Mariana officials from the county’s 1st District and the Department of Regional Planning revised the local zoning policy to protect the equestrian communities and took other steps aimed at making the permitting process less arduous and more equitable “We are collectively trying to work with owners to legalize unpermitted stables while also addressing health concerns from neighbors,” County Supervisor Hilda Solis told The Times in a statement but we’ve made great strides in finding ways to streamline the permitting system and making it easier to bring certain areas up to standards.” But some local equestrians still worry California’s ambitious efforts to build more housing is on a collision course with their community’s way of life — and don’t want to see this piece of their culture pushed off into the sunset San Gabriel Valley horse riders turn onto Michael Hunt Drive in South El Monte en route to City Hall for a land use planning protest on June 24 here’s what’s happening across California: Note: Some of the sites we link to may limit the number of stories you can access without subscribing L.A. County’s efforts to provide interim housing and other services to unhoused residents in Skid Row received a $60-million boost this month. The state allotment is part of a $191-million grant that is being distributed to 22 communities across the state aimed at funding projects to help house 7,300 unhoused people. Los Angeles Times Have reports about San Francisco’s downward spiral been greatly exaggerated? Civic and business leaders, along with marketing experts, say the dystopian narrative fueling news coverage about the city is a misrepresentation that’s having a negative impact. San Francisco Chronicle Since California adopted a policy allowing gender-affirming healthcare in state prisons, the number of requests for that care has more than doubled, according to state budget estimates. Since 2017, the population of incarcerated people who identify as transgender, intersex and nonbinary has risen by 243%. CalMatters Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. California Rep. Judy Chu and Sen. Alex Padilla have asked President Biden to use his executive authority to bypass Congress and add 109,167 more acres to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The move is key to preserving the area’s history and protecting its natural resources, the lawmakers said. Los Angeles Times An eye-catching mid-century building off Highway 101 in Marin County was once a Birkenstock warehouse (actually, more than once). But the company left for good in 2020 and the Bay Area landmark has sat vacant since then, despite several fizzled ideas to give the campus a new life. SFGATE Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games in our new game center at latimes.com/games Today’s California landmark is from Michael Sedlar of Walnut and is a rare sight in SoCal: a grove of coastal redwoods in Carbon Canyon Regional Park A grove of coastal redwoods in Carbon Canyon Regional Park the park features a grove of 241 redwood trees that were donated by a local bank and planted in 1975 It is a short walk from one of the parking lots to these trees Because coastal redwoods need lots of moisture the park has an irrigation system and mulch to help them thrive in this inland climate What are California’s essential landmarks? Fill out this form to send us your photos of a special spot in California — natural or human-made Tell us why it’s interesting and what makes it a symbol of life in the Golden State Please be sure to include only photos taken directly by you Your submission could be featured in a future edition of the newsletter Correction: The June 23 edition of the newsletter erroneously combined crash data for advanced driver assistance systems with data for automated driving systems. Available NHTSA crash data show five crashes involving autonomous vehicles that caused moderate and serious injuries and no human fatalities while vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems were involved in 40 crashes with moderate and serious injuries and 22 fatal crashes Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. California Print In Pellissier Village equestrian crossing signs are as common as stop signs A placard on the sole bus stop warns people to not hitch their steeds to it is one of seven equestrian districts in L.A (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The unincorporated community is an unlikely sliver of horse heaven in suburban San Gabriel Valley It’s one of seven equestrian districts in L.A where any household can keep a horse without meeting a minimum lot size requirement Agustin Luna moved here 26 years ago, seeking the rural feel of his native Zacatecas. He joined other Mexican families who were beckoned by the proximity to other horsey neighborhoods and to the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, Southern California’s cathedral for the Mexican equestrian lifestyle it’s a short gallop to trails leading to the San Gabriel Mountains and all the way to the Pacific Ocean So many came, in fact, that the singing horseman playing on everyone’s stereos switched from Roy Rogers to Antonio Aguilar and celebrations for the Virgin of Guadalupe replaced Frontier Days gladly nailing horseshoes for anyone who needs them “It’s been beautiful here,” the 68-year-old told me in Spanish as we stood in front of Placita del Pueblo In his hand was a notice of violation sent in March by the county Department of Regional Planning Officials are threatening to fine him more than $4,000 for what they claim are illegally built horse stables and an additional $1,000 for every day he’s not in compliance He could also face criminal charges that could lead to six months in jail “They want me to buy stables that will cost me $15,000 apiece,” Luna scoffed Residents from equestrian communities across Southern California gather in Pellissier Village to discuss code enforcement which they say has ramped up as the COVID pandemic has scaled down (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Neighbors nodded in frustrated agreement They gathered Saturday morning along with other horse owners from across Southern California to gripe about code enforcement The neighborhood’s housing stock is modest and affordable, unlike other horse-loving communities such as Norco or La Habra Heights. Residents are concerned that, amid an extreme housing shortage and a mandate by Sacramento to fix that issue county officials want to rezone the area to allow more development and destroy their equestrian way of life listens to speakers at the Pellissier Village gathering (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Jose Acosta described how county workers entered his property when his teenage son was home alone Blakon clopped his front hooves on the pavement after every point Segura made so they [the planning department] had to go look for them They’ve been taking advantage of us one by one.” Code enforcement officers told Agustin Valdez that his lot in South El Monte is 400 square feet too small for his four horses “They suggested I buy the property that’s missing from a neighbor to get to code,” he said “Who’s going to sell me something that small?” He handed a binder of documents about his case to Baldwin Park resident Abby Lara whose horses stay in La Puente because her hometown doesn’t allow them at all but I don’t trust that the county will allow me to keep horses “Code enforcement creates fear upon the people California Reining in his horse beneath a gnarled oak in La Verne’s Marshall Canyon Pete Schabarum turned in his saddle and waved toward laurel trees and sagebrush “We’re being swallowed up by pavement and warehouses,” said De La Torre a paralegal who has lived there for 15 years He showed up with about a dozen of his friends to offer support to Pellissier Village “Politicians don’t care about our lifestyle The gathering was spearheaded by Avocado Heights Vaquer@s, an environmental justice group in the equestrian district of the same name that’s a 40-minute horse ride to the east Members have the last couple of years fighting the proposed expansion of a battery smelter in the City of Industry but are now also focusing on protecting Pellissier Village and other equestrian communities arguing that to target them is classist and racist ‘They’re going after [horse owners] and not the battery plant?’” said Samuel Vazquez “They’re going after working-class communities and ignoring the elephant in the room?” Avocado Heights Vaquer@s helped organize a town hall on April 19 attended by representatives from the L.A the district attorney’s office and Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office People listen at the Pellissier Village gathering county officials want to rezone their area to allow more development (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) For over an hour at San Angelo Park in Avocado Heights more than 100 angry residents from equestrian neighborhoods demanded answers about their future the planning department announced a 120-day moratorium on code enforcement inspections in Avocado Heights while it reviews “policies and procedures.” the department’s supervising planner for the eastern San Gabriel Valley admitted to me that the county is looking into land-use changes in other parts of Avocado Heights to “increase housing opportunities.” But he maintained that decisions are being made with community input All zoning enforcement is “complaint driven” and not part of a grand conspiracy to drive out horse owners He wouldn’t elaborate on the reasons for the moratorium in Avocado Heights but said none are planned in other unincorporated areas most of which are near the San Gabriel River Planning department documents already show staff recommendations that unincorporated pockets of Hacienda Heights San Dimas and Covina be rezoned from agricultural to residential Solis said she’s calling more meetings to serve as “a perfect opportunity to ensure necessary code enforcement activities are handled equitably and with an understanding of the communities they serve.” and there are no immediate plans to suburbanize Avocado Heights and Pellissier Village The atmosphere at Placita del Pueblo was like a rancho libertarian version of “Yellowstone.” There were charros and women riders who belong to mounted drill teams Elders chatted with teenagers practicing rope tricks Attendees wore straw cowboy hats or fancy baseball caps checkered button-down shirts or Carhartt polos and mustaches were as common as good manners The scorn for city slickers and inept bureaucrats was as heavy as the Chalino Sánchez corridos blasting from someone’s iPhone Before a rose-covered shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe Vazquez and his sister Elena began the gathering After a brief introduction and a suggestion that anyone who didn’t understand Spanish sit up front for the English translation Vazquez handed the mic to Jurupa Valley Councilmember Armando Carmona “How many of you know people who moved to Jurupa Valley because they couldn’t keep horses in L.A He then announced that the equestrian way is under attack there as well From Pellissier Village it’s a short ride to equestrian trails leading to the San Gabriel Mountains (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) “They want to get rid of our way of life,” Carmona said “They blame us for not wanting to sell our homes so they can build luxury condos Vazquez adjusted the volume on the PA system to make sure that people who had arrived late on their horses could hear He asked who had dealt with code enforcement recently Did they show up with an official complaint Did they alert you about your legal rights Elena Vazquez handed out business cards printed in English and Spanish with the 4th and 5th amendments which protect against unlawful searches and self-incriminating testimony ‘To hell with your damn codes,’ ” her brother continued We need to know the code better than the code enforcers and other residents from equestrian communities across Southern California listen at the gathering (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The meeting ended after about an hour with plans for the future A request that each community pick captains for better strategizing A cabalgata — a procession on horseback — at an undetermined location to draw attention to the issue Many people lined up at a table where Elena Vazquez and another volunteer scanned their citations The Joan Sebastian banda classic “Amor Limosnero” — “Beggar’s Love” — played Pellissier Village resident Samuel Barragán pulled a wagon that held his daughter Valentina and fact sheets about horse ownership codes in L.A A truck drove past with a flatbed full of hay bales a family walked a horse past all the parked trucks on the street Climate & Environment Print The end of the year is always a time for reflection It’s an opportunity to look back at the 12 months that transpired and take stock of what we’ve accomplished and because I’m still in the midst of the Guadalupe-Reyes holiday marathon (We’ll be back with our regularly scheduled programming next week I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite stories published in 2023 by De Los the Times’ vertical focusing on Latinx culture and identity that I help oversee Disney neglected it. Critics panned it. ‘Blood In Blood Out’ became an L.A. classic anyway Behind the scenes photos from the 1993 film “Blood In Blood Out.” (Merrick Morton / Hollywood Pictures) The crime drama “Blood In Blood Out” turned 30 earlier this year about three Mexican American cousins from East Los Angeles wasn’t given a chance by distributor Disney and was largely dismissed by film critics (including here at the Times) the Taylor Hackford-directed film became a cult classic among Latinxs De Los contributor Carlos Aguilar interviewed Hackford screenwriter and poet Jimmy Santiago Baca and the film’s lead actors to tell the definitive story on a movie that’s not only very quotable but has also become a staple of the Chicano film canon (A quick note: This story was published in April and it was intended to be a preview of the types of stories we were hoping to assign Many thanks to our entertainment colleagues for giving us the space to run it.) The Avocado Heights Vaquer@s and the preservation of a lifestyle one of the organizers speaking at a rally in South El Monte as part of a rally to defend their rights Emilio Flores / Los Angeles Times) One of our launch-day stories was this piece by Alejandra Molina about a group of equestrian enthusiasts in the San Gabriel Valley mobilized into political action and organization after their rancho way of life is threatened by the prospect of real estate development Of note in Alejandra’s report is the manner in which the subjects of the story weave their fight with the braceros and the Mexican revolution I’d also be remiss if I didn’t include this opening line which to me embodies the “de aquí y de allá” mindset we’re fond of at De Los: “Samuel Brown-Vazquez has never visited his mother’s rural hometown in Michoacán But his slice of the motherland is in the San Gabriel Valley in Avocado Heights.” Commentary: Do Latinos in the U.S. have a ‘toxic gratitude’ problem? JP Brammer is one of the most insightful voices in print media right now — and I’m not just saying that because he writes a weekly column for De Los Brammer’s gift is his uncanny ability to put into words a feeling or an idea that feels unexplainable I can’t think of a better example than his column from August where he critically examines Latinxs’ penchant for being hard workers Brammer makes the convincing case that this mindset of “al trabajo nunca se le dice no”— or as he brilliantly calls it “Si Dios Quiere Syndrome”— is more detrimental than beneficial What former first-gen students wish they knew about college One of De Los’ stated goals is to publish stories that don’t just entertain our audience but also provide helpful information for their lives we put out a call out on our Instagram account asking any of our readers who were/are the first in their families to go to college what they wish they had known before setting foot on campus The result was this helpful guide with great advice written by staff writer Andrea Flores ‘I’ve got to find out who I am:’ How the Garifuna Museum is reclaiming culture and identity Chrispina Bevans and Cynthia Lewis at the Garifuna Musuem of Los Angeles on (Nick Agro/For De Los) The De Los slogan is “Everything Latinidad.” This mantra is largely aspirational; there are more than 60 million Latinxs living in the United States each with their own unique definition of Latinidad that’s shaped by geography It’s an impossible mission to try to tell all of these stories but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t try That’s why I love this report by staff writer Chelsea Hylton about the Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles a cultural conservation project launched in 2011 that aims to preserve and uplift the Garifuna culture one that also shows just how rich the tapestry of Latinidad really is Consider subscribing to the Los Angeles Times Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Become a subscriber Oppenheimer’s test site wasn’t remote. It was populated by Hispanos and Native Americans When “Oppenheimer” was theatrically released this July Largely absent from the discourse and the film — truly a surprise given its unnecessarily long runtime— were stories about the downwinders who lived within the fallout zone of the Manhattan Project’s Trinity Test “We were the first people ever exposed to radiation as the result of an atomic bomb and most of us were Hispanos and Native Americans,” said Tina Cordova founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium an organization fighting in righting this historical wrong government] depended on us to be uneducated Valentina opens up about her fame, her gender fluidity and her love of L.A. It’s nearly impossible to pick one story by Suzy Exposito I’d have to go with this July profile of Valentina and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fan favorite who had a banner year in 2023— not only was she designated Grand Celebrity Marshal at this year’s Long Beach Pride Parade but she also co-hosted “Drag Race: Mexico.” from the photo shoot in Mariachi Plaza to the quotes is “I-CO-NI-CO!” Commentary: The food and people of Yakima, home of Yahritza y Su Esencia Owner Felipe Hernandez opened Los Hernandez Tamales in 1990; he is seen here in the restaurant in Union Gap Scott Brauer/Los Angeles Times) In early August popular Mexican regional act Yahritza y Su Esencia angered countless fans south of the border after their comments about Mexican food and in an exclusive interview with Suzy Exposito shed some context into what exactly happened their words were misconstrued and people confused their homesickness with disdain for the land from which their parents and culture hail De Los contributor Albert Perez spent a few days in Washington’s Yakima Valley to understand where the band was coming from Column: Decluttering your parents’ home and their traumas Since launching, contributing columnist Alex Zaragoza has been our go-to utility writer. There’s no story, high or low brow, that she won’t tackle. When I texted her to gauge her interest in writing about the tóxicos of “Love Island USA,” her response was “Say less.” Suffice it to say when deputy design director Martina Ibañez-Baldor came back from a trip home that was partially spent decluttering her parents’ house with a story pitch that looked into why older Latinxs have hoarder tendencies—trauma it turns out– we immediately went with Alex It’s a fun and informative read that sheds light on why we are the way we are Fidel Martinez is the editorial director of De Los the Los Angeles Times vertical that explores Latino culture and identity a weekly newsletter that focuses on the American Latinx experience He started at The Times in 2018 as an audience engagement editor Previously he worked as politics editor for Mitu as a social storytelling producer for Fusion Media Group and content curator and managing editor for Break Media Martinez graduated from Yale University with a degree in American studies He is a proud Tejano who will fight anyone who disparages flour tortillas KTLA A Whittier man pleaded guilty Tuesday to five felonies related to a rival gang member’s shooting death in an exchange of gunfire outside a restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley Leonardo Antolin, 25, of Whittier, admitted in his plea that he executed a Mexican Mafia member who allegedly wanted to expand his influence in the gang, with whom Antolin’s Canta Ranas gang was affiliated, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a news release The shootout occurred April 19, 2016, at El Jalisco Cafe on Valley Boulevard in Avocado Heights. A woman who was at the restaurant at the time was caught up in the gunfire and struck six times in the abdomen, back, buttocks and legs, authorities said. The Mexican Mafia member’s bodyguard was severely wounded. Antolin also admitted to helping sell methamphetamine for the Canta Ranas gang, according to prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in controlled substances and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 23, when official say he is expected to receive 33 to 40 years in federal prison in accordance with his plea agreement. The case is tied to a wide-ranging federal drug trafficking investigation that led to the indictment of 51 people, 20 of whom have been convicted, authorities said. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 1/5 Hacienda Heights is the dictionary definition of a suburb plentiful single-family homes and a low crime rate 2/5 As with the rest of the San Gabriel Valley in the 1970s and 1980s Hacienda Heights became a major destination for Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants to the United States This demographic shift led in 1988 to the construction of the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple in the hills above Hacienda Heights 4/5 The nearby Puente and Whittier Hills offer hiking trails wildlife preserves and scenic views of both the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles basin 5/5 Parks and nature areas sit to the south of the suburb hiking trails slither through the Hacienda Hills Print The scenic hills and fertile plains of the future suburb of Hacienda Heights were originally part of the 50,000-acre Rancho la Puente The territory was under Spanish and then Mexican control until it was officially given away by land grant in 1845 The recipients of the rancho were John Rowland and William Workman who arrived in the area at the head of an overland caravan of settlers in 1841 Rowland and Workman would both leave their marks on the history of the region The former became the namesake of nearby Rowland Heights and the latter founded the sprawling Workman-Temple family dynasty which produced the 18th mayor of Los Angeles and bequeathed its name to the city’s historic Temple Street passing into the hands of legendary land baron Lucky Baldwin dubbed it North Whittier Heights and subdivided the land into 5- to 50-acre tracts of what was marketed as “Lemon and Orange Land.” He also established the first packinghouse to collect the harvest of the area’s citrus groves and avocado orchards for shipping across the United States North Whittier Heights remained predominantly agricultural until the 1940s when a citrus blight devastated the industry Demand for housing after World War II saw the unincorporated community begin its transformation from farmland into a suburb of greater Los Angeles Portions of North Whittier Heights were cleaved away in 1957 when the industrial districts of the town incorporated as the city of Industry in a scheme to avoid paying county taxes on unincorporated land one year after the orange groves along Hacienda Boulevard were plowed under to make way for development and the local library took the name Hacienda Heights Branch the community officially adopted the new moniker As with the rest of the San Gabriel Valley in the 1970s and 1980s This demographic shift — along with opposition from other communities where it was originally proposed — led in 1988 to the construction of the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple in the hills above Hacienda Heights Safe suburban home: Hacienda Heights is the dictionary definition of a suburb Take a hike: The nearby Puente and Whittier hills offer hiking trails wildlife preserves and scenic views of both the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles Basin Drive to work: Because there are few large employers in Hacienda Heights most residents need to commute to nearby employment centers for work the safety and the diversity,” said Michelle Chen a real estate agent with eight years of experience in the area Parks and nature areas sit to the south of the suburb People enjoy the parks and local restaurants as well as the community center that opened four years ago,” Chen said She added that most residents are here to stay since an overwhelming majority own their homes instead of renting the median sales price for single-family homes in September was $678,000 Of the 15 public schools in the Hacienda Heights boundaries five scored above 900 on the 2013 Academic Performance Index Those include Los Molinos Elementary at 953 Mesa Robles at 918 and Los Altos Elementary at 914 Times staff writer Jack Flemming contributed to this report hotproperty@latimes.com Business Stream PBS SoCal and your favorite PBS programs to your TV and devices wherever, whenever. Celebrate AAPI Month on PBS SoCal all May with exclusive programs. Find full episodes and educational games from Curious George, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows. Support PBS SoCal and watch full seasons of your favorite shows. Gonzalez Jr.'s work preserves public spaces and fixtures of L.A. in his landscape art, embodying worn surfaces aged with years of embedded memories, cracks and fragments of paint chipped over decades. His pieces serve as commentaries on displacement — the profound shifts that seep into gentrifying areas, while celebrating the physical artifacts these communities hold close. Gonzalez Jr. grew up in Avocado Heights, an unincorporated equestrian town in San Gabriel Valley. It was the '90s. Hip hop and different types of graffiti reigned supreme. His dad Alfonso Gonzalez Sr. was raised in Tijuana, moving to East Los Angeles' City Terrace in the 1970s, while his mother, whose family had a ranch in Guanajuato, Mexico, later resided in Boyle Heights. The father, a commercial sign painter by trade, traveled in and out of different pockets of Southern California en route to job sites, from the San Fernando Valley to South Los Angeles and Northeast Los Angeles, taking young Gonzalez Jr. with him. It was during these experiences that Gonzalez Jr. became fascinated with the range of graffiti that claimed walls on highways. He recognized how invisible territories and boundaries were marked by gang graffiti. This division mapped stories and communication, crossing barriers and geographies that sparked a deeper look at the city's disparities and cultural aesthetics. "All of this informs what I am doing now," he said. "I started noticing gang graffiti and how it separates neighborhoods — and landmarks too." He began as an apprentice, then transitioned to an assistant, gaining confidence in portraiture. He also worked throughout the U.S., gleaning information from his travels. Gonzalez Jr. approached his practice as a study. He visited museums in every state, exploring the systems and ideas in contemporary art while also learning the business side of sign painting. "I was putting a lot of effort into different companies and people, and I did so much that I never thought I could do," he said. "I did everything on my own: mix paint, pick up the scaffold, find the wall, get the U-Haul and then paint. It was like a construction art school." While in the commercial space, he experimented with black and white palettes, testing different techniques for his own work. An early portrait of a paletero (ice cream vendor) incorporated texture, twigs and dirt from his backyard and foam spray. "Before, I wouldn't do anything that looked realistic; it was more cartoon, weird or abstract," he said. Most of Gonzalez Jr.'s subjects are from working-class communities — which emanates from his connection to the people and interactions within these areas. "There's so much rich culture within these neighborhoods," he said. "If you exclude that, you're doing a disservice to the city's history." His work seeks to archive the physicality prone to change, like an exterior that cultivates a specific style and flavor or walls, sometimes weathered from the sun, altered and naturally reworked. PBS SoCal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Tax ID: 95-2211661 Print A shallow magnitude 2.6 earthquake was reported Sunday morning near Hacienda Heights there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby This information comes from the USGS Earthquake Notification Service and this post was created by an algorithm written by the author Read more about Southern California earthquakes. Series of small earthquakes shake Bay Area near Hayward fault Feb. 13, 2025 California Quakebot Follow Us Quakebot is a software application developed by the Los Angeles Times to report the latest earthquakes as fast as possible. It is maintained by The Times’ Data and Graphics Department. Learn more by reading our list of frequently asked questions. Print On Saturday afternoon drivers passing through South El Monte experienced a slowdown in traffic unusual for suburban L.A when more than 100 horseback riders paraded through the streets to celebrate the equestrian lifestyle and urge protection for rural areas They brought their horses from their homes and nearby stables as these horse parades are called in Spanish was not unlike many religious and festive processions that occur in rural areas of Mexico But according to organizer Samuel Brown Vazquez it was the first time that the communities of South El Monte Pellissier Village and Avocado Heights — which meet up around the intersection of the 60 and 605 freeways — came together for such a procession albeit with a different take on the tradition “It could also be political,” said Brown Vazquez, a horse rider who is part of an environmental justice organization called Avocado Heights Vaquer@s “It could also be a way for us as a community to recognize that our culture our tradition is something that we have to engage in a political process to preserve (and) to advance to be able to pass it down to the next generation.” were posing a danger to their agrarian culture and ability to keep horses at their homes they came together in April to voice their concerns to county officials and to open a platform for other residents to express their grievances The district and the department of regional planning have since taken steps to address these concerns, revising zoning policy to ensure horse-keeping communities are not affected by the area’s plans to increase housing opportunities They’ve also organized meetings to work through the permitting system with residents and to ensure that it is balanced and handled equitably “We are collectively trying to work with owners to legalize unpermitted stables while also addressing health concerns from neighbors,” Solis said in her statement Still, Brown Vazquez said the community worries that California legislation to address the statewide housing crisis by streamlining the process to subdivide lots, along with growing interest from warehouse and luxury condo developers who want to build in the area, mean that these rural spaces are in long-term danger of disappearing. “We look forward to an ongoing collaboration with the county, but we [moved] forward with protests because there’s a larger issue here,” Brown Vazquez said. San Gabriel Valley horse owners walk on Peck Road in Whittier during the Cabalgata, enroute to South El Monte City Hall. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) In June, the planned cabalgata morphed from a protest to a demonstration of unity from horse owners in unincorporated San Gabriel Valley areas, said organizer Samuel Barragán. Social justice groups and neighboring residents who kept their horses in stables joined together in solidarity. “This is to open everyone’s eyes to the fact that we want this to continue and flourish, to become something bigger, something positive for the community,” said Barragán, who led the procession carrying a large American flag, alongside riders carrying a Mexican flag modified to incorporate the Virgen de Guadalupe in the middle, and a California state flag. Some riders gathered in Whittier’s Blackwill Equestrian Park on Saturday afternoon and made their way toward South El Monte City Hall, passing under highways, bridges and through residential neighborhoods. Their families followed closely behind in cars. A few rode bikes and scooters and stopped at intersections to help redirect traffic. “It was a beautiful experience. I was very happy to see so many people get together,” said Salvador Gaitan, who was wearing a traditional brown shirt with woven patterns. “Life here is indescribable. I have hens, I have goats, I have my horses, and if I feel sick I feed them and it’s my medicine,” he said. “It’s a small part of Mexico that we have in our hearts and we bring to the United States.” Juliana Peralta, 13, practices her roping on friend Julian Martinez, 10, during the rally at South El Monte City Hall. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) Avocado Heights resident Esly Flores, who rode wearing a red rose in her hair and bright red lipstick to match, said she came to support the right for community members to keep horses at their homes. “They’ve really helped me emotionally,” she said of living with horses, as she patted her own, whose mane she had elaborately braided. “It’s like a form of therapy.” When the procession got to South El Monte City Hall, riders moved to both sides of Santa Anita Avenue to let cars pass and listened to speakers who set up a microphone in the grassy area in front of the building. Organizers from Union de Ranchos, a priest and a representative from the Clean Air Coalition spoke about community resilience. After the rally, the procession made its way back to the equestrian park. Many stayed around to socialize and sing karaoke with their neighbors, sharing memories of the many years they had spent living with their horses. “We see how not just communities from Avocado Heights but equestrian communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley Area turned out in pretty large numbers,” said organizer Nayellie Diaz, who lives in nearby La Puente. “That just goes to show how united our people are in preserving our culture and essentially our way of life.” Mariana Duran is a former 2023 reporting intern for Los Angeles Times en Español. A media studies and cognitive science major at Pomona College, Duran is currently the managing editor of the Student Life, her school paper, and previously wrote for the San Luis Obispo Tribune. High School Sports A factory called Quemetco in the City of Industry has violated pollution laws for nearly eight years, but in spite of a recent settlement with state regulators nearby residents in Hacienda Heights believe the state is not doing enough to protect them “I don't think there's anything radical about us that live in these communities   asking for clean air, clean water, and clean soil for our kids to play in,” says Sam Vásquez, who leads community activism against Quemetco and uses his mother’s maiden name to maintain privacy Quemetco is a secondary lead smelter which means they recycle the lead in things like old car batteries so it can be reused The process releases lead into the atmosphere It’s a busy place – the factory does 10 million used car batteries every year when state officials first accused Quemetco of 27 pollution violations Those included “a nonfunctioning leak detection system they failed to construct an adequate groundwater monitoring system and they failed to minimize possible hazardous waste releases into the environment,” says Director of California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control Meredith Williams Quemetco’s own soil sampling in 2016 and 2017 revealed that a third of nearby homes had more lead in the soil than is allowable under California law Public health agencies say there is no safe level of exposure to lead I can't say it's from that place,” says Hacienda Heights resident Nick Buchheit I had three cats that came up with tumors on their body which I'm also suspecting is from Quemetco.” Buchheit is raising his family in his childhood home His neighbor just got diagnosed with cancer The smoke coming from the facility is visible from his backyard He says every year he gets a pamphlet in the mail reminding him of his increased cancer risk for living so close to the smelter Williams says California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) gave the company three years to fix their problems “Quemetco’s unresponsiveness was a significant contributing factor to the length of time it took to resolve these issues,” she says. “So DTSC was forced to file a civil complaint in 2018 resulted in the recent settlement agreement that was announced last December.” The settlement requires Quemetco to fix the 27 pollution violations and so far the state says they’ve taken care of 25 of them They’re allowed to operate while they fix the remaining two Quemetco also has to pay $2.3 million in penalties This agreement has not satisfied nearby residents which they made clear at a community meeting last week residents demanded explanations from the Department of Toxic Substances Control Residents are also angry they didn’t learn about the settlement until after the process ended because it is our lives that are being affected by this,” says Adriana Quinones who has lived in Hacienda Heights for 23 years and her nephew died of a rare cancer at 35 despite no family history Adriana Quinones complains about pollution during a community meeting about the Quemetco settlement. Photo by @worldvisionz_ the fine struck many of them as way too low “Two point three million is not sufficient for the number of people that have died the state also reduced the severity of some of the violations they’d accused Quemetco of committing That paves the way for Quemetco to move forward with its plan to expand its operations by 25% Sam Vásquez sees it as an environmental injustice His neighborhood of Avocado Heights and other surrounding communities are majority Latino “You don't see a battery smelter in Beverly Hills So what is it that's different about our community?” he asks And it says a lot about what they think of our community.” Sam Vásquez (left) and Chris Mercado (right) grew up near Quemetco They’re both afraid for their health but have not left because they love the tight-knit agricultural communities in Avocado Heights and Hacienda Heights Vasquez and other residents want the state to require Quemetco to stop the expansion who represents residents impacted by Quemetco as managing attorney at Earthjustice “If there was ever a time when it was appropriate to have a secondary lead smelter in Los Angeles County that time has long since passed,” she says there’s no path to meeting any of those demands Vasquez says he’s focused on raising awareness putting videos of the factory on social media and creating public pressure to meet their demands because the community is worth fighting for A factory east of Los Angeles that recycles lead in old car batteries has been breaking pollution rules for years Prospering Backyards is a group that studies lead and other metals in soil surrounding the former Members are cleaning up the area while pushing the government to do more LA’s Al Fresco program allowed restaurants to quickly put up outdoor dining spaces during the pandemic Now the city wants to revert to some of the old requirements FLASH SALE: Snag The OG Black Zip-Up designed by LA artist Chuy Hartman— inspired by the 24/7 service we provide to the LA community ends tonight Get the latest from KCRW in your inbox 3x a week All 5 Releases COVID-19 Resources. Read more! Independent, award-winning newspaper based in Downey, CA. DOWNEY - Downey’s Mayor Blanca Pacheco held a comfortable lead in the race for the 64th State Assembly District, potentially signaling her departure from City Council and ascension into higher representation. As of Wednesday morning, Pacheco sat above opponent Raul Ortiz Jr. with over 57% of votes cast in her favor. Should Pacheco maintain her lead, she will be the first Downey resident to serve in the State Assembly. She would represent Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Downey, La Habra, La Mirada, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and South Whittier. In the State Senate 30th District race, Senator Bob Archuleta also maintained a lead over opponent Mitch Clemmons throughout the evening, holding over 57% of the vote at the time of writing. With district lines now redrawn, he would represent Avocado Heights, Bell Flower, Brea, City of Industry, Diamond Bar, Downey, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, Los Nietos, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rowland Heights, Santa Fe Springs, South San Jose Hills, Valinda, Walnut, and Whittier. Archuleta was originally elected to represent the then 32nd Senate District in 2018. Copyright © 2023 The Downey Patriot Newspaper. Print Police pursuits are nothing new for Southern California But the chase across Los Angeles and Orange counties on Wednesday evening was one for the ages a suspect led police on a wild high-speed pursuit hitting multiple cars and ramming into at least two police cruisers “This was obviously an incredibly dangerous pursuit involving a suspect who had zero regard for public safety for the motorists on the street and the police officers involved,” said Capt a Fullerton Police Department spokesperson “I’m just grateful that nobody was seriously injured.” of Moreno Valley was arrested Wednesday and charged with violating his parole according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt who didn’t have information on other potential charges Anchondo is being held at the Norwalk sheriff’s station without bail and on a parole hold The chase began around 4:45 p.m. when officers saw the driver of a black Honda Civic commit traffic violations near Auto Center Drive and the 5 Freeway in Fullerton The man sped off and police followed him into Anaheim The suspect then entered an apartment complex, where he parked the Civic and jumped into a white Chevrolet van nearby, video from KABC-TV Channel 7 shows A police SUV tried to block the van from behind but the driver got it started and backed into the SUV ramming it repeatedly before making his way out of the apartment complex The suspect steals a Chevrolet truck in Whittier. (KTLA) The van apparently belongs to Anaheim resident John Reynolds, who told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that he was at Knott’s Berry Farm with his family when the car chase began. Reynolds, who works as a food distributor, didn’t know that his van had been stolen until he got a call from the homeowner association manager at his housing complex. He then watched the chase on TV. “What am I going to do about work tomorrow?” Reynolds said he thought about the van. “I need that for work. I’m hoping it’s still usable.” After an attempted traffic stop in Fullerton the driver led law enforcement on a pursuit into L.A with the suspect driving without a left rear wheel on the van and crashing into multiple vehicles with sparks flying from its rear wheels and smoke pouring from the engine the suspect jumped out and ran into a residence in Whittier through the back door The suspect got into a white Chevrolet pickup truck and smashed into a gate as he fled again narrowly missing a small dog that ran under the vehicle Andres Benitez, a resident of the home, told KNBC-TV Channel 4 that he had just returned from work when the man entered his kitchen. “I was just talking to my mom and we were having a normal conversation when I saw the back door open” and the suspect burst in, he said. When Benitez grabbed a kitchen knife to protect his mother the man snatched the keys to his work truck from the kitchen table and ran back outside a landscaper who has started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to replace the tools that were in the stolen truck driving on the wrong side of the road and crashing into other vehicles County Sheriff’s Department took over the pursuit Video showed a cloud of smoke and flames coming out of the back of the truck. Deputies opened fire on the suspect, but the Sheriff’s Department said no one was hit by the gunfire. A brief standoff ensued until deputies approached the suspect with ballistic shields, broke the driver’s side window and detained him while he had his hands up. Whittier police pursue a DUI suspect who they said refused to pull over while riding a horse in traffic Three people had been hospitalized with crash-related injuries, but none with gunshot wounds, KCBS reported Anchondo also had a slight injury to his wrist and was taken to a hospital but is now in custody Adrian Cruz, a bystander, told KCAL-TV Channel 9 that he was injured and detained by deputies during the incident. Cruz said he was stopped at a traffic signal in Hacienda Heights when the pursuit suspect bumped into his sedan. A law enforcement vehicle then crashed into the pickup truck, ramming it into Cruz’s car again, video shows. “Cruz exited his car and walked around before going back into the driver’s side door,” KCAL reported. “Deputies proceeded to swarm him, take him to the ground and detain him.” Cruz told the station that he was trying to get his family out of the car. He said the deputies “attacked” him in front of his family and handcuffed him. A Sheriff’s Department spokesperson told KCAL that deputies detained Cruz because he refused to get out of the line of fire. Cruz was released, Deputy Veronica Fantom, a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, told The Times on Thursday. She referred further questions to the department’s Norwalk station. The use of force against Cruz is under investigation, said Sgt. Chris Thoreson, a watch commander at the station. Thoreson said he could not answer additional questions because of the investigation. Gregory Yee was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Before joining the newsroom in 2021, he spent five years covering criminal justice and breaking news for the Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. He was a native Southern Californian and graduated from UC Irvine in 2012 with a degree in journalism and Spanish literature. Yee died Jan. 4, 2023. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page We owe this culinary gift to the tinkering of a mailman named Rudolph Hass Rudolph grew interested in the thick-skinned fruit after he saw a magazine ad with dollar bills growing on an avocado tree He began purchasing seeds with the hope of launching a side gig and grafted out the initial sprouts to multiply his crop A Ventura County Star profile of Rudolph’s ancestors recalls that “one stubborn baby tree grown from a Guatemalan seed of unknown parentage wouldn’t accept a graft,” so Rudolph set it aside as an experiment When that tree first bore fruit Rudolph was delighted with the results; his avocados were far more creamy and flavorful than the Fuerte variety that were prevalent at the time He filed a patent on this “Hass Avocado” (the first patent on a tree!) and arranged with a local grower named Harold Brokaw to bring his discovery to market In an article on the origins of the Hass avocado, Rudolph’s granddaughter Cindy Miller describes how the partnership with Brokaw let the cat out of the bag “Since it was the first patent ever issued on a tree Brokaw who had the exclusive right to produce the nursery trees  They would then re-graft their whole grove with the bud wood from that one tree.” Over the years Hass seeds spread across the world and the mother tree slowly grew to a towering height of 65 feet but he took pride in the fact that these delicious avocados bore his family name The mother tree stood beside the Hass homestead at 430 West Road La Habra Heights until 2002 when it succumbed to the dreaded root rot The mother's wood is being lovingly preserved in Ventura by the Brokaw Nursery A historical plaque marks the mother tree's location at 426 West Road in La Habra The oldest orange tree in California spawned a generation of citrus farmers One of the oldest and most majestic living trees in Britain The second largest palm grove in Europe was planted during Moorish times and has been largely unchanged since then What might be the oldest living tree in London has survived fires Legend says this sacred tree was a gift from goddess Athena This lovely tree was a thank you gift from the man known as "Public Enemy No.1." solitary sequoia still stands as a living tribute to the famous conservationist who planted it—but it's dying This massive oak tree has ties to the first native tribes of the region and the founders of Texas would also allow Quemetco to operate its lead smelting furnaces 24 hours a day meaning that these are some of the worst polluted areas in all of California As a smelting facility, Quemetco recycles lead batteries, which emits extremely toxic carcinogens and heavy metals like lead, arsenic and benzene among others that are known to be harmful to humans Even though Quemetco claims to run the “cleanest lead recycling facility in the world,” people in nearby low-income communities have been complaining of suffering from cancer respiratory problems and other health issues Quemetco knowingly produces toxic gases although there are 21 schools within a 2 mile radius of Quemetco’s production facilities and there wasn’t a history of cancer in my family…I developed a rare type of blood cancer I had two tumors… and it was a really weird situation like how does a healthy twenty-something year old suddenly get this So I really attribute it to my environment.” Quemetco continues to deny any responsibility for the impact the community has suffered due to its operations Quemetco has been operating with a permit that expired in 2015 it has amassed 29 violations from the state resulting in Quemetco having to pay a total fine of $600,000 (which is only 0.03% of the parent company’s revenue).  There has been scant action from regulation institutions like South Coast Air Quality Management District as well as glaring conflicts on interests that fail to hold Quemetco responsible SCAQMD unanimously appointed Wayne Nastri as an executive officer despite Nastri’s obvious ties to Quemetco as an environmental consultant at the time of widespread regulatory violations It is clear that the SCAQMD’s loyalties lie with corporations degrading the environment and not the communities suffering from toxicity-related health problems Frustrated by widespread regulatory failures and accountability against Quemetco the community is now taking much-needed action to protect their community and children with the ultimate goal of shutting down Quemetco operations community members are set to launch a campaign to collect soil samples from neighborhood homes to determine toxic metal levels in the area as well as surveys to track health problems.  Even though previous soil sampling was conducted in the area the results were either outdated or classified California law determines that the “safe” level of lead is 80 parts per million (ppm) When this soil sampling was done in the area in 1991-1992 there were houses that had anywhere between 600-800 ppm of lead One business nearby Quemetco had their soil tested and had 10,300 ppm of lead. Lead bioaccumulates in the soil meaning that if there is no cleanup (which neither Quemetco or the County have done) then the lead will remain in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years thus impacting future generations who live in these areas Quemetco’s blatant disregard for the environment and the health of surrounding communities is a clear example of capitalism’s disregard for humanity in search of profits and is a classic case of environmental racism primarily in unincorporated Los Angeles County were forced to take matters into their own hands because neither Quemetco or regulating institutions have taken any measures against egregious violations Quemetco was allowed to continue polluting the environment and walked away with a slap on the wrist.  It is clear that neither Quemetco or state agencies can be trusted to fix their violations The only way forward to force systemic change is through building collective people’s power. We stand in solidarity with the community in their fight to prevent the expansion of Quemetco production and to fully terminate Quemetco’s operations once and for all The Party for Socialism and Liberation is comprised of leaders and activists, workers and students, of all backgrounds. Organized in branches across the country, our mission is to link the everyday struggles of oppressed and exploited people to the fight for a new world. Interested in joining? Click here! California’s environmental regulatory system and its systemic failures has been increasingly questioned by residents of the East San Gabriel Valley community in Los Angeles The struggle for a safe environment is exacerbated by Quemetco’s chronic toxic contamination from the byproducts of lead-smelting and the failure of state agencies like the Department of Toxic Substance Control to protect communities from toxic exposure This is further evidenced in the fractured renewal process enabled by DTSC allowing Quemetco to continue its ongoing pollution.  200 community members attended a Settlement Agreement Workshop hosted by DTSC The community demanded answers to DTSC’s failure to regulate Quemetco’s egregious violations such as the containment leak in the building used to store hazardous waste and the failed implementation of a proper groundwater monitoring network for nearly two decades a source of drinking water for 1.2 million SGV residents faces a risk of further contamination due to DTSC failing to fulfill its job Various community organizations like the Clean Air Coalition of North Whittier and Avocado Heights composed of residents who live in the surrounding neighborhoods of Avocado Heights have led the struggle to demand changes from Quemetco for over a decade These residents overwhelmingly agree that Quemetco has not been adequately penalized in the latest settlement an environmental justice professor and the founder of the Clean Air Coalition “The Settlement Agreement Workshop was an attempt to make it look like the DTSC is on the side of the community It was really just a smokescreen for what really happened They let Quemetco get away with breaking California law.”  The agency is in the hotspot for what the community sees as a slap on the wrist While DTSC is legally allowed to fine facilities as much as $25,000 per day for unauthorized Quemetco could have been fined anywhere from $150 million to $2 billion for the 29 violations they have committed A fine within this margin would have been proper considering that the facility brings in an annual revenue of $34 million “If they really used the fining mechanism to deter a facility like Quemetco from committing violations on a regular basis then that fine would be at least in the hundreds of millions of dollars because of how long it’s been going on and how serious these high level violations are The DTSC had a chance finally to really put a [dent] on the company Quemetco’s violations will no longer impede the facility’s permit renewal It also places Quemetco closer to realizing a long-contested expansion that will surely further contaminate the SGV — a clear failure of DTSC’s fundamental responsibilities Fractured permitting division and weak enforcement The broken permit renewal process and DTSC’s inability to enforce regulations shows the agency’s blatant disregard for the public Residents around Quemetco have waited for the permit renewal decision since the facility’s permit expired in 2015 California also has a track record of allowing waste facilities to operate for an extended period with expired permits has been operating in Santa Fe Springs with an expired permit since 1996 the Clean Air Coalition has worked on preventing postponements and to pressure DTSC to deny Quemetco’s permit renewal the grassroots efforts are highly outmatched by Quemetco’s ability to hire expensive lawyers to draw out the process near indefinitely Overmyer-Velázquez commented: “We don’t get much but at least every 10 years we’re supposed to get a say in how these facilities operate That’s almost 20 years where DTSC has let Quemetco do whatever it wants without public oversight You can’t help but think that there’s intent here to just keep us waiting and finally have us give up.”  In the City of Industry environmental laws are just a formality.  The DTSC’s mission claims to protect California’s people communities and environment from toxic substances the agency has failed to carry out its most basic function An investigation conducted by Consumer Watchdog found that the agency serves as a revolving door for corporate lawyers along with other patterns that reveal the extent of the influence that industry holds over the agency These groups manipulate the system of regulation to empower their associates — polluters and other private entities — to make a profit When asked why DTSC fails to regulate Quemetco “A lot of the people that are lobbying for Quemetco are former employees of the agency Quemetco’s consultants are good at bobbing They’ve managed to influence the agency and [let] … Quemetco slide.” The controversy surrounding the DTSC’s new Board of Environmental Safety also reveals the ongoing influence that industry poses over the agency a statewide effort led by environmental justice organizations succeeded in pressuring the state of California to institute a new set of reforms The campaign for reform was born out of years of distrust of the DTSC by impacted communities The BES’s intended purpose is to promote transparency and thus better oversight of the DTSC’s staff But the Board has already fallen short of grassroots and community expectations It is understaffed and structured to prevent the public from actively playing a decisive role The BES enacted new set policies that defers decision-making to the DTSC staff regarding appeals This defeats the purpose of the Board at its core and allows DTSC to have the final word on appeals to its earlier decisions essentially keeping DTSC corruption intact Quemetco is among a number of facilities that pollute the environment protected from accountability through its extensive wealth in reality it is successfully upholding its real interests of serving the polluters either through feigning attempts at regulation or through undermining its democratic processes and refusing to enforce industry compliance DTSC and Quemetco have worked closely to maximize profits as they pollute the community for generations Holding both institutions accountable and reclaiming the right to a healthier environment from industry benefactors will take a grassroots-led movement regulatory agencies like the DTSC must be composed of community members — those who live adjacent to hazardous waste facilities who best understand the consequences of improper regulation and weak enforcement composed of residents in surrounding neighborhoods not because they have a private stake in the matter Similar community-led struggles offer hope to the CAC was shut down permanently in 2015 through a long people’s struggle CAC is building a campaign to stop the DTSC from renewing the facility’s permit The public comment period will begin on June 21 and a decision is expected by the end of the year Over the next couple of months the coalition will continue to draw more neighbors into the struggle pressure local representatives to take a stand conduct demonstrations to make their voices heard and pressure the DTSC to side with the people once and for all This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Read our WAMU Privacy Notice. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Built in 1930, the 4.15-acre property has been referred to as the Enchanting Estate or the Castle. The house and two guest houses contain six bedrooms, five bathroom and 4,544 square feet of living space. Features include high cathedral ceilings, hand-hewn beams, mahogany doors, balconies, two basements and a turret tower with 360-degree views of San Bernardino Mountains and the Los Angeles Basin. A car turntable sits at the front of the house for quick getaways. There’s also a swimming pool, an avocado grove and an outdoor kitchen and barbecue. Lukather is known as the video game voice as Vorador in the “Legacy of Kain” series. His television work includes such series as “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Get Smart,” “Mission: Impossible” and “Cheers.” He also starred or costarred in the 1960s films “Dinosaurus!,” “Hands of a Stranger” and “The Way West.” Deborah Kay Sanchez of Century 21 Discovery is the listing agent. Nicholas Perry, widely recognized in the online world as Nikocado Avocado who was once accused of abusive behavior by fellow YouTubers is a prominent figure in the YouTube community standing at a height of 5 feet 6 inches (approximately 167 cm or 1.67 m) and weighing 95 kg The YouTuber has garnered a substantial following of over 3.5 million YouTube subscribers for his unique content The YouTuber launched his primary channel on May 27 his content was centered exclusively on the vegan lifestyle Nikocado Avocado successfully established himself as a prominent figure within the mukbang community and he embarked on a journey that eventually led him to new heights in the YouTube community Nikocado Avocado's most recent appearance in headlines is attributed to his remarkable weight loss journey which saw him shed an astounding 90 pounds he has become a source of inspiration for his fans motivating them to embrace healthier lifestyles The YouTuber has been diligently chronicling his weight loss progress on his channel garnering praise and admiration from viewers for his proactive approach to managing his health and initiating positive transformations in his life Nikocado Avocado's ex-husband Orlin Home stands at a height of 5 feet 7 inches (approximately 170.18 cm) whereas Nikocado Avocado's height is 5 feet 6 inches Orlin Home is approximately 1 inch (or about 2.54 centimeters) taller than Nikocado Avocado has made a name for himself in the world of content creation His YouTube journey commenced in 2019 with the uploading of mukbang videos a genre that centers around consuming large quantities of food while interacting with the audience Orlin Home has become a notable figure in this niche and has forged collaborations with fellow celebrity mukbanger and now ex-husband Nikocado Avocado His content predominantly features fast food mukbang videos which include indulgent feasts from popular establishments such as Wendy's Nikocado Avocado shared an intriguing revelation about his relationship with Orlin Home The duo initially connected through a Facebook group designated for vegan men While their initial connection was founded on friendship their relationship gradually transformed and deepened over time The significant turning point came in 2017 when Nikocado Avocado and Orlin Home decided to take their relationship to the next level by tying the knot.  Nikocado Avocado posted a video in 2020 titled We broke up citing negative feedback and comments on their videos as the reason for the breakup Another video showed the 30-year-old YouTuber consuming Taco Bell while discussing quitting his vlogging career after a breakup Nikocado Avocado persisted in creating content and collaborating with his on-and-off boyfriend Avocado once again addressed their relationship status in a video titled 'We broke up' Orlin Home was visibly present in the video with a height of 5 feet 9 inches (175.26 centimeters or 1.75 meters) Zach Choi is approximately 3 inches (or approximately 7.62 centimeters) taller than Nikocado Avocado is a prominent YouTuber known for his ASMR Mukbang content He has gained recognition for his soothing and immersive ASMR videos which have garnered a significant following on his channel A post shared by Zach (@zachchoi) Nikocado posted a video titled "Why I'm No Longer Friends with Zach Choi ASMR." He accused Zach of being obsessive and claimed Zach's competitiveness made him uncomfortable Nikocado mentioned his desire to create his own Ramen noodle line but Zach revealed he was also working on a collaboration with Stephanie Soo Nikocado Avocado alleged that Zach Choi had threatened him in the past regarding expanding into other YouTube genres He claimed Zach conspired with Stephanie to bring him down without informing him evident from the video's numerous dislikes and critical comments defending Zach.