Angela Osorio

There are few places where horses can roam freely in Los Angeles. But in a quiet neighborhood in West Long Beach, a community of horse owners are keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. Vaqueros clad with leather sombreros, belts and boots can be found riding their beloved steeds, including prized Andalusian and Friesian breeds from Spain, just around the corner of San Francisco Avenue in Wrigley Heights.

For many months, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Trust and local residents have urged the City of Seal Beach to order a full environmental review for a proposed 4.6-acre solar panel project near the Los Cerritos Wetlands, due to environmental concerns over its threats to nearby wildlife and endangered species.

This series, Broken Promises, will explore the loss of these spaces in Long Beach, the impact on the surrounding communities, broken promises from the City and what local residents are doing to preserve what little is left. Read the first chapter here. Read the second chapter here. Pacific Place project – the plan to turn 14 acres of open space near the Los Angeles River into an RV, self-storage facility – has sparked concerns for West Long Beach residents, environmental groups and public agencies.