The Next Los Angeles: The Struggle for a Livable City

by Robert Gottlieb, Regina Freer, Mark Vallianatos

While most historians, journalists, and filmmakers have focused on Los Angeles as a bastion of corporate greed, business boosterism, political corruption, cheap labor, exploited immigrants, and unregulated sprawl, The Next Los Angeles tells a different that of the reformers and radicals who have struggled for alternative visions of social and economic justice. In a new preface, the authors reflect on the gathering momentum of L.A.'s progressive movement, including the 2005 landslide victory of Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2005

About the author

Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy, Emeritus, Occidental College.

Reviews

[Jacob Woocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent movement and economic history of LA in the 20th century. It's very much a pre- Bernie / BLM / Occupy book, and what the authors consider to be the "left" is a bit dated (Antonio Villaraigosa, for example, or a $100 million Housing Trust Fund). But that's more a product of the time in which it was written. Also imo it would've been better if they went deeper in analyzing the different movements, who they were made up of, how they function, how they differ, etc.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely informative, but also very very dense. read this book if you're planning on getting in-depth in LA politics.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short over view and analysis of progressive movements in LA since the beginning of the twentieth century.