Elson Trinidad
Born and raised in Los Angeles (watching KCET since toddler-age), Elson Trinidad has been a KCET contributor since 2012, covering Asian/Pacific Islander communities and local environmental issues, and in 2014 wrote and curated KCET's 50th Anniversary section. He is also an accomplished singer/musician, community activist, historian, and nonprofit professional.
On July 14, 1990, the Metro Blue Line light rail route opened, signifying the return of rail transit in Southern California for the first time in 27 years.
As part of the FCC's transition to digital television, KCET shut off its UHF analog television signal on June 12, 2009.
Continuing its tradition of insightful, award-winning news programs, "SoCal Connected," anchored by Val Zavala, first aired in September 2008.
On July 11, 2008, Pasadena's IndyMac Bank was placed in receivership of the FDIC, during a period also accompanied by high unemployment and housing foreclosures in the region.
"Departures," KCET's innovative web series on the cultural, social, political, and artistic profiles of Los Angeles' diverse fabric of neighborhoods, launched online in September 2006.
"A Place Of Our Own," the award-winning series directed toward educating childcare providers, and its Spanish language version, "Los Niños en Su Casa," first aired in September 2005.
Antonio Villaraigosa, the first L.A. mayor of Latino descent in 133 years, was elected to office on May 17, 2005.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown L.A.'s $274 million Frank Gehry-designed iconic concert venue opened on October 24, 2003.
In March 2002, the award-winning news magazine show, "California Connected," produced by KCET in conjunction with three other public TV stations in the state, first aired.
The Academy Awards returned Hollywood Boulevard at the newly-opened Kodak Theatre on March 24, 2002, spurring the area's long-awaited renaissance.
On January 23, 2002, the KCET-produced PBS series "American Family" premiered, the first prime time dramatic television series to feature an all-Latino cast.
In February of 2001, "PBS Hollywood Presents," a successful series of feature-length dramatic movies produced by KCET for the network, first aired.