Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Talking Headways Podcast

Talking Headways Podcast: The City Is a Painting You Walk Into

This week I'm joined by James Rojas of Place It! to talk about art in planning and Latino urbanism. James is an award-winning planner and a native Angeleno, and he tells us about how growing up in East LA and visiting his grandmother’s house shaped the way he thinks about urban spaces and design.

Tune in and hear James discuss the importance of plazas to Latino culture and the history behind them, how people understand place, and why the public planning process works better when you start by tapping into people's childhoods rather than treating it purely as a problem solving exercise. Enjoy!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Likely Council Speaker Julie Menin Claims She’ll Work With Mamdani On Livable Streets

Julie Menin has declared victory in the City Council Speaker race, but will she be a friend or foe to the livable streets movement?

December 10, 2025

A Car Driver Ripped Off a Woman’s Leg in Broad Daylight

A Brooklyn driver drove onto a busy sidewalk in central Williamsburg and maimed a 33-year-old pedestrian. Why can't our officials prevent this kind of predictable incident?

December 10, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Dueling Rallies Edition

Astoria was ground zero in the fight for safe streets yesterday, with dueling rallies over the 31st Street bike lane. Plus other news.

December 10, 2025

Speaker Adams to Sink Daylighting Bill: Advocates

The last-minute move shatters years of grass roots advocacy.

December 9, 2025

Ex-FDNY Boss: Queens Judge ‘Wrongly’ Pit FDNY vs. DOT in Bike Lane Ruling

The former head of the FDNY slammed a Queens judge for pitting the Fire Department against the safe streets movement in a ruling that erased a bike lane.

December 9, 2025

Here’s Everything Wrong With the Judge’s Order to Rip Up the 31st Street Protected Bike Lane

A Queens judge overstepped her jurisdiction when she ordered the city to rip up a protected bike lane in Astoria, experts said.

December 9, 2025
See all posts