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LA TIMES PLANT PPL
"Joey Caviedes has about 45 plants in his backyard in South Central. They range from plants he’s grown for 16 years to seeds that have recently started to sprout. His first and oldest plant is a pink lemon tree, a hybrid between a grapefruit and lemons. He also has herbs, fruits and vegetables like gooseberries, tomatoes, peppers, 15 different chiles, oregano and figs. When asked about how he’s handled plants so well for such a long time, Caviedes says it takes patience and knowledge. “It’s important to know how to take care of them so they can take care of you.” There is no secret formula to growing a garden as beautiful as his, except giving it water and taking your time to research. The importance of being your own food source teaches a level of independence and life skills; Caviedes doesn’t have to worry about what’s in his produce when it naturally comes from his backyard."
"Amy Inouye is notorious for her historical preservation in Highland park. Most significantly, the giant22-foot tall Chicken Boy statue on North Figueroa. It lies as a residence in HLP near the Highland ParkTheater, a grievance in the community after a century of operation. Amy has been a community activist for the past few decades and works as an active member in the LA Conservatory. Although Chicken Boy is beloved, it wasn't an easy process to establish his place. There was an extraneous, tedious process of paperwork and authorization by the city to find it a new home after its previous owner of Chicken Boy Fried Chicken Boy Restaurant passed away. Since 2007 it has been relocated. Amy said, “It’s as if he's always been here... people accepted him.”But there have been plenty of other changes in the community, including other businesses shutting down and new ones reinventing Highland Park. It’s notable that there have been “lots of changes” that's been implementing an economic divide between businesses that have remained family friendly community spaces and new, retro bars and/or vintage stores that pop up in flocks. Though, it's important to recognize the generation of older business owners dying out because of the money and maintenance needed to keep a business flourishing. It's been a grueling process of businesses shutting down and people seeing the opportunity to open up places that bring an abundance of revenue, along with a new crowd."