Mariana Dale
explores and explains the forces that shape how and what kids learn from kindergarten to high school.
Published April 8, 2025 3:00 PM
The Gabrieleño and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples originally inhabited and continue to live on LAUSD-owned land. Pictured here is a non-district event for California Native youth hosted in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 3, 2024.
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Ashley Balderrama
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LAist
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Topline:
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted unanimously Tuesday to add a statement to its website acknowledging the role of the region’s Indigenous communities. The land acknowledgement recognizes the Gabrieleño and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples as the original and continuing stewards of the district's 710 square miles.
Why it matters: LAUSD graduate Junie Ponce, who is Chicane and Diné, said the acknowledgement was long overdue. “ I think with people having more knowledge, it brings curiosity,” Ponce said. “I think that goes along with being able to take care of the land and take care of native plants and such.”
The backstory: The land acknowledgement is the result of a November 2024 resolution that apologized for the historical mistreatment of Indigenous communities in public schools and directed district staff to explore ways to incorporate more lessons about the history and continuation of local tribes.
What's next: While there is a spoken version of the acknowledgement, the resolution does not require it to be read at LAUSD events. The district did create a list of resources to help educators discuss the land acknowledgement with their students and plans to offer related professional development workshops.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted unanimously to add a statement to its website acknowledging the role of the region’s Indigenous communities.
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LAUSD adopts land acknowledgment, recognizing connection to Indigenous peoples
The land acknowledgement recognizes the Gabrieleño and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples as the original and continuing stewards of the 710 square miles that make up LAUSD.
"This land acknowledgement will be an honor to our tribe because you are identifying our past, giving us a voice in the present and giving us visibility in the future," said Anthony Redblood Morales, the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Chief. “Wa-at Guata Ta yi Honuka — in the memory of our ancestors — thank you.”
LAUSD’s land acknowledgement
Written:
We acknowledge that the Los Angeles Unified School District operates on land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Gabrieleño and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples, who have stewarded this land for generations.
We recognize these Indigenous communities' ongoing presence and contributions and honor their connection to this region.
We recognize Gabrieleño people as the original stewards of the Los Angeles Basin, and the nearby coastal lands, and the Fernandeño Tataviam as protectors of the northern valleys. These lands have and continue to hold deep cultural and spiritual significance to their people and have shaped the community we live in today.
We pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders), and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging and commit to supporting Indigenous communities through education ensuring their voices are heard and their legacies are respected.
We commit to deepening our understanding of the histories and cultures of the Native peoples of this land. This acknowledgment demonstrates our ongoing efforts to build and sustain relationships with Indigenous communities and contribute to healing and reconciliation.
Spoken:
We acknowledge that the Los Angeles Unified School District is located on lands traditionally stewarded by the Gabrieleño and Fernandeño Tataviam peoples. We recognize the Gabrieleño as the original caretakers of the Los Angeles Basin and the Fernandeño Tataviam as guardians of the northern valleys. As we learn and grow, we commit to understanding Indigenous histories and cultures, fostering relationships with these communities, and contributing to healing and unity.
The land acknowledgement follows a November 2024 resolution that apologized for the historical mistreatment of Indigenous communities in public schools and directed district staff to explore ways to incorporate more lessons about the history and continuation of local tribes, such as:
Including stories, literature, and instruction that center Native voice and tribes in the curricula
Prioritizing native plants in greening efforts
Improving teacher understanding of Native history
The district invited several local tribes to help shape the land acknowledgment's language, including the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.
Tribal President Rudy Ortega Jr. recounted how nearly 3,000 people were enslaved at Mission San Fernando in the late 18th century. By 1880, only a few dozen Fernandeños remained. Today, there are about 900 tribal citizens.
Though the tribe and many others in Southern California are not federally recognized, Ortega said the district’s acknowledgement makes a difference.
”It brings that value of honor and privilege to understand that the school district recognizes the first people of Los Angeles before it was called Los Angeles,” Ortega said.
What else the resolution does
While there is a spoken version of the acknowledgement, the resolution does not require it to be read at LAUSD events. The district created a list of resources to help educators discuss the land acknowledgement with their students and plans to offer related professional development workshops.
Junie Ponce, a 2023 LAUSD graduate who is Chicane and Diné, remembered learning about California’s tribes in the past tense.
“ When I started to be more active within the native community in L.A. I was like, wait, these people still exist and they're still thriving,” Ponce said.
Ponce said the district’s land acknowledgment is long overdue and hopes the district offers deeper lessons about the region’s Indigenous communities and more resources for Native students.
“I think with people having more knowledge, it brings curiosity,” Ponce said. “I do think it's important to have an understanding of the culture of the people whose lands we're on.”
Learn more about LA’s Indigenous communities
Los Angeles has a vast and varied Indigenous population including descendants of the region’s original inhabitants; Native Americans from other parts of the United States; and Pacific Islanders and the Indigenous diaspora of Latin America.
Learn the geography: See a map of these communities created by UCLA.
Take a field trip: One idea is Kuruvungna Village Springs on the campus of University High School in West LA. The cultural center is open to visitors, and sometimes volunteers, on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. And here are other ideas.
Fire department honored with 'Award of Excellence'
Makenna Sievertson
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published December 12, 2025 4:30 PM
The "Award of Excellence Star" honoring the Los Angeles Fire Department on Friday.
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Matt Winkelmeyer
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has a new neighbor — a star dedicated to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Why it matters: The Fire Department has been honored with an “Award of Excellence Star” for its public service during the Palisades and Sunset fires, which burned in the Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods of L.A. in January.
Why now: The star was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard on Friday at a ceremony hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation.
Awards of Excellence celebrate organizations for their positive impacts on Hollywood and the entertainment industry, according to organizers. Fewer than 10 have been handed out so far, including to the LA Times, Dodgers and Disneyland.
The backstory: The idea of awarding a star to the Fire Department was prompted by an eighth-grade class essay from Eniola Taiwo, 14, from Connecticut. In an essay on personal heroes, Taiwo called for L.A. firefighters to be recognized. She sent the letter to the Chamber of Commerce.
“This star for first responders will reach the hearts of many first responders and let them know that what they do is recognized and appreciated,” Taiwo’s letter read. “It will also encourage young people like me to be a change in the world.”
LAFD Chief Jaime E. Moore, Eniola Taiwo and LAFD firefighters with the "Award of Excellence Star" Friday.
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Matt Winkelmeyer
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Getty Images North America
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The Award of Excellence Star is in front of the Ovation Entertainment Complex next to the Walk of Fame; however, it is separate from the official program.
What officials say: Steve Nissen, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement Taiwo’s letter was the inspiration for a monument that will “forever shine in Hollywood.”
“This recognition is not only about honoring the bravery of the Los Angeles Fire Department but also about celebrating the vision of a young student whose words reminded us all of the importance of gratitude and civic pride,” said Nissen, who’s also president and CEO of the Hollywood Community Foundation.
L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto was accused of an ethics breach in a case the city settled for $18 million.
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Carlin Stiehl
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
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Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment and digital equity reporter.
Published December 12, 2025 3:38 PM
Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his Santa Ana home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
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Destiny Torres
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LAist
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Topline:
Today marks el Día de La Virgen de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgen of Guadalupe, an important holiday for Catholics and those of Mexican descent. In Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana builds an elaborate altar in her honor that draws hundreds of visitors.
What is the holiday celebrating? In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman, wearing a green veil with her hands clasped in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak. Every year on Dec. 12, worshippers of the saint celebrate the Guadalupita with prayer and song.
Read on … for how worshippers in Santa Ana celebrate.
Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.
Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.
Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.
Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.
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Destiny Torres
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LAist
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Why do they celebrate?
In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.
To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.
Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.
The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).
“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”
The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.
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Destiny Torres
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LAist
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Gathering in a time of turmoil
Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.
“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”
Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.
“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.
Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the VirginMary represents strength.
“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”
See it for yourself
The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.
The offices of the Employment Development Department in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2022.
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Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
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CalMatters
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Topline:
California’s unemployment agency kept paying cellphone bills for 4 1/2 years without checking whether its workers actually were using the devices. That’s how it racked up $4.6 million in fees for mobile devices its workers were not using, according to a new state audit detailing wasteful spending at several government agencies.
The investigation: The Employment Development Department acquired 7,224 cellphones and wireless hotspots by December 2020. State auditors analyzed 54 months of invoices since then and found half the devices were unused for at least two years, 25% were unused for three years and 99 of them were never used at all. The investigation, which auditors opened after receiving a tip, identified 6,285 devices that were unused for at least four consecutive months and said the department spent $4.6 million on monthly service fees for them.
Department response: Officials told auditors they were unaware of the spending, but auditors pointed to regular invoices from Verizon that showed which phones were not being used. The unemployment department began acting on the auditors’ findings in April, when it canceled service plans for 2,825 devices. It has since implemented a policy to terminate service plans for devices that go unused for 90 days.
California’s unemployment agency kept paying cellphone bills for 4 1/2 years without checking whether its workers actually were using the devices.
That’s how it racked up $4.6 million in fees for mobile devices its workers were not using, according to a new state audit detailing wasteful spending at several government agencies.
It acquired 7,224 cellphones and wireless hotspots by December 2020. State auditors analyzed 54 months of invoices since then and found half the devices were unused for at least two years, 25% were unused for three years and 99 of them were never used at all.
The investigation, which auditors opened after receiving a tip, identified 6,285 devices that were unused for at least four consecutive months, and said the department spent $4.6 million on monthly service fees for them.
From the beginning, the department had about 2,000 more cellphones than call center employees, according to the audit. The gap widened over time after the pandemic ended and the department’s staffing returned to its normal headcount.
As of April, the audit said the department had 1,787 unemployment call center employees, but was paying monthly service fees for 5,097 mobile devices.
“Although obtaining the mobile devices during COVID-19 may have been a good idea to serve the public, continuing to pay the monthly service fees for so many unused devices, especially post-COVID-19, was wasteful,” the audit said.
Department officials told auditors they were unaware of the spending, but auditors pointed to regular invoices from Verizon that showed which phones were not being used.
“We would have expected EDD management to have reconsidered the need to pay the monthly service fees for so many devices that had no voice, message, or data usage,” the audit said.
The unemployment department began acting on the auditors’ findings in April, when it canceled service plans for 2,825 devices. It has since implemented a policy to terminate service plans for devices that go unused for 90 days.
The California state auditor highlighted the mobile devices in its regular report on “improper activities by state agencies and employees.” The audit also showed that the California Air Resources Board overpaid an employee who was on extended leave as he prepared to retire by $171,000.
