As a writer for the Wave Newspaper, a publication that covers South L.A., East L.A. and Compton, I had the opportunity to report community events as well as national stories on a local level. I developed and maintained two reporting beats: one focusing on education and the other on the city of Compton.
Relations Have Improved Between Blacks and Koreans
This article appeared in a special edition of the Wave commemorating the 25th anniversary of the L.A. Uprising: six days of rioting, looting and arson. The civil unrest that began on April 9, 1992 was a result of the acquittal of the four LAPD officers involved in the beating of taxi driver Rodney King.
Although they were not involved in the Rodney King incident, the Korean-American community sustained heavy losses during the riots, as more than 2,000 Korean-owned businesses were destroyed. The anger and tension that reached a boiling point during the uprising was in part due to another ruling handed down a week before the King verdict. A state appeals court upheld the mild sentence for Soon Ja Du, a South Korean-born convenience store owner, in the shooting death of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old African American girl. Though black and Korean community leaders say relations have improved since 1992, Asian business owners in black communities still report facing misconceptions as “predators” and “outsiders.”
Photograph by Anne Artley
Air quality officials discuss Compton pollution issues
After a few months of testing, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued five notices of violation to businesses in Compton emitting hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing compound. An investigation into whether the substance is present in the air in Compton was prompted by its discovery in Paramount in the fall of 2016. The agency chose to turn its attention to Compton since the city is home to a concentration of metal-processing facilities, which are known to emit the substance. In May 2017, Nanette Barragán, the city’s representative in Congress, called on the Environmental Protection Agency to provide the necessary resources for a speedy investigation. Since then, they have provided about half of a million dollars for lab equipment.
Kree Filer is sworn-in as a member of the California State Bar by her father, L.A. Superior Court Judge Kelvin Filer. Kree is the first female lawyer in her family. (Photograph by Anne Artley)
Flier family produces female attorney
The name ‘Filer’ is well-known in Compton. Five of its members are attorneys, and the first to pursue a legal career, Maxcy Filer, is known for his persistence in accomplishing his goal. He sat for his first California State Bar exam in 1967 and finally passed 25 years and 48 attempts later. His granddaughter Kree plans to continue his legacy and work in her cousin’s law firm, Filer Palmer.
Dr. Dre to give $10 million to Compton schools
Music mogul and former member of N.W.A hip-hop group, Dr. Dre, wanted to give back to the city he once called home. The music mogul pledged $10 million to build a performing arts complex at the new Compton High School campus. Construction is slated to begin in 2020.
Economic Development Corp honors its founder
Marva Smith Battle-Bey, a longtime community organizer, died in April 2016, but the organization she founded is ensuring that her legacy is not forgotten. The Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation honored Battle-Bey by naming its headquarters after her in a ceremony that took place a year after her death. This nonprofit provides programs and services to revitalize the economic and social life of the South L.A. community.
Deadline nears for L.A. College Promise program 
Starting in the 2017-2018 school year, Los Angeles Unified School District high school seniors are now able to apply for a free year of community college, regardless of their grade point average or financial standing. This is an initiative of the Los Angeles College Promise program, a partnership with the city of L.A., the L.A. Unified School District and the nine colleges that make up the L.A. County Community College District (LACCD).
Proposed technological hub being discussed in Compton
With a new technological hub proposed for Compton, the city aims to launch the new Snapchat or Steve Jobs. The potential HubCity Live development includes a seven-story innovation and business center with labs, offices and flats. It will also feature a three-story cultural and education center.