March 2009 Archives

Which segments of the population are hit hardest by unemployment? What survival strategies do people use when they lose their job? And how effective are employment fairs in actually finding a new job? As joblessness in California soars past 10%, Socal Connected story editor Saul Gonzalez talks to Chris Tilly, director of the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Unemployment.

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Are you looking for work? Tell us your stories... the good, the bad, and the ugly.

LA Times columnist, David Lazarus wonders if finding a job you love is even possible in this economy: "A paycheck and a health plan--that's what it comes down to. If you can add passion to the mix, more power to you."

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In this tight economy more homeowners are trying to get their homes in the movies--or in commercials, or on TV. Production companies will pay several thousand dollars a day to use houses for location shoots. Jennie & Ken Bulow have made nearly $10,000 this year renting their home out for commercials. We visited them on the day a Dairy Queen commercial was shooting inside their living room.

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As the economy continues to falter, double-digit unemployment means that more and more people have lost jobs and they’re often shocked and surprised when it happens.

What to do? Where to turn?

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Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown, Los Angeles, opened in 1931 during the Great Depression. The late Clifford Clinton decorated Clifton's Brookdale to look and feel like a redwood forest, complete with waterfalls and animatronic forest creatures. Clinton thought a redwood theme would soothe patrons stressed out about the economy. Today, Clifford's grandson, Robert Clinton runs the restaurant and says the theme still works, "when people come in they say they feel like they've been on vacation for at least an hour."

Clinton needs a little relaxation himself. During this economic downturn, he's had to cut employee hours and sales have dropped at the cafeteria by fifteen percent. When asked if he's worried, Clinton earnestly replies, "through the Lord's blessing we've been able to survive, we've been through several depressions over the years and I have no doubt we'll make it through another one."

Is there really a place where tax time makes people happy?  Yes there is. Take a look.

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If the President were listening to you, what would your story be?

The kids from Village Academy High in Pomona get the chance to meet President Obama.

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We talk to people waiting in line for President Obama’s Orange County town hall forum. Many had spent the night to score a coveted ticket to the event. All were hoping to ask their new president questions about the economy, health care and education.

In the latest episode of LA’s struggle to control its billboards, the city once again found itself a victim of its own actions. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins, in a tentative ruling, ruled against the city in a lawsuit filed by World Wide Rush LLC, an outdoor advertising company. The judge found the city in contempt for issuing citations against World Wide Rush while refusing to allow the company to apply for permits in the first place. Last year the same judge issued an injunction after ruling the city’s sign ordnance was unconstitutional.

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Novelist and Van Nuys resident Marcos Villatoro has this to say about the economy, “You know things are bad when, in a working class, deal-minded neighborhood like mine, a garage sale can’t make it.”

Socal Connected’s web-team kicks off their weekly series, “Postcards from Socal,” with a visit to Radio Manila’s studios in Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock has the largest Filipino-American community in the greater Los Angeles area and Radio Manila is a community service station that connects Filipinos living and working in the United States and abroad.

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This is the video that started it all... Mr. Steinman, AP Lit. teacher at Village Academy High School (Pomona Unified School District) worked with his students to share their stories of economic hardship with President Obama.

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Hello All -

L.A. has some strange sights. But this one is a winner. I took this photograph in Silverlake on March 10th. My caption is attached, but I invite you all to add your own. (No, I did NOT photoshop it.)

Are your fears about the economy rising? Or are you optimistic? Give us Your Take on the economic climate.

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How do you hope the Proposition 8 Supreme Court hearings will turn out? Are you for or against Prop 8 being overturned? What are the consequences either way?