Aaron Schrank
has been on the ground, reporting on homelessness and other issues in L.A. for more than a decade.
Published September 12, 2025 3:57 PM
A food tent on Venice Beach offers a meal to unhoused people and others in need.
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Pam Fessler
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NPR
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Topline:
California lawmakers passed a bill protecting residents' rights to provide food, water, and other basic aid to homeless people without facing criminal penalties.
The context: Following the Supreme Court's Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling, dozens of California cities have enacted or strengthened anti-camping laws. In February, the city of Fremont voted to criminalize "aiding and abetting" homeless encampments. The city removed that language from its camping ban in March, after public backlash.
The reaction: Advocates for the unhoused celebrate the bill as protecting good Samaritans and service providers, while some cities and law enforcement agencies initially opposed the legislation.
Read on ... for details about the bill's provisions and concerns about potential federal enforcement changes under President Donald Trump.
The California Legislature approved a bill Wednesday that supporters say protects residents’ rights to give food or other support to unhoused people without fear of breaking the law.
Senate Bill 634, authored by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, prohibits cities from enacting or enforcing laws that stop people from assisting unhoused residents with basic survival.
That includes providing food, water, bedding, shelter, medical help and legal services. The bill was co-sponsored by the Inner City Law Center, a legal services nonprofit based in L.A.'s Skid Row.
Local advocates for the unhoused say the new law will protect service providers and good Samaritans.
“ You can’t say that it's a crime to give somebody a bottle of water or food or to provide them with legal services or medical services just because they don't have a home,” said Ishvaku Vashishtha, an Inner City Law legal fellow. “That is the fundamental premise of this bill.”
Why this bill?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year in Grants Pass v. Johnsonthat cities can enforce camping bans even when homeless shelter space is unavailable.
After that ruling,dozens of California cities passed new laws banning homeless encampments — or strengthened their existing anti-camping laws.
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California lawmakers pass bill protecting residents’ right to give food, water to unhoused people
In February, the city of Fremont in Northern California voted to criminalize "aiding and abetting" homeless encampments. The city removed that language from its camping ban in March, after public backlash.
But it was a warning sign to homeless-rights advocates.
“ I think this just highlighted the need for some degree of intervention and for drawing a line in the sand and saying enough is enough,” said Vashishtha, who worked on SB 634.
Dozens of cities around the country have bans on food sharing through new restrictions linked to public property or food safety, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. And some local leaders have been critical of programs that feed unhoused people in public places, arguing that they enable street homelessness.
In 2021, the city of Santa Ana in Orange County stopped nonprofit Micah’s Way from running a program to feed unhoused people by refusing to grant the necessary permits.
The organization filed a legal complaint against Santa Ana, arguing that feeding the hungry is protected religious activity under federal law. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement supporting Micah’s Way’s argument.
In 2018, the city of El Cajon in San Diego County cited a dozen people for feeding unhoused people in a public park during a hepatitis A outbreak.
What’s next?
The new law would not override any local ordinances, including public health laws.
With President Donald Trump’s recent executive order seeking to overhaul the way the U.S. manages homelessness, advocates worry more cities will try to make it illegal to help unhoused people.
“ We are concerned about this being the start of something dangerous and trying to nip that in the bud,” said Mahdi Manji, Inner City Law Center’s policy director.
Several California cities, counties, towns, and law enforcement agencies have voiced opposition to the legislation, though many dropped that opposition after amendments to SB 634.
The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Fiona Ng
is LAist's deputy managing editor and leads a team of reporters who explore food, culture, history, events and more.
Published August 7, 2026 9:19 PM
Ridge Fire evacuation zones.
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Screengrab from CalFire incident page.
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Topline:
Evacuation orders and warnings in both L.A. and Kern counties are in effect for the Ridge Fire, near the L.A.-Kern county line.
What we know so far: The fire started at 3:02 p.m. near Gorman School Road in Gorman, according to Cal Fire and grew to 1,000 acres in two hours. Both northbound and southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway were briefly shutdown.
Read on ... for more on evacuations and weather conditions.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The 5 Freeway has reopened after a brush fire in Gorman near the L.A.-Kern county line shut down both northbound and southbound lanes at around 5 p.m.
Evacuation orders and warnings in both L.A. and Kern counties are in effect for the Ridge Fire, which started at 3:02 p.m. near Gorman School Road in Gorman, according to Cal Fire.
The fire quickly grew to 1,000 acres in less than two hours.
It was 0% contained as of 9 p.m. Friday.
A Wildfire Smoke Advisory has been issued by South Coast AQMD through 2 p.m. on Saturday for areas around Gorman.
The basics
Acreage: 1,057 acres
Containment: 0
Structures destroyed/damaged: Unknown
Deaths: None reported.
Injuries: None reported.
Evacuation map and orders
Evacuation orders have been issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the following areas:
Federal court ruling could affect LA grant funding
Aaron Schrank
has been on the ground, reporting on homelessness and other issues in L.A. for more than a decade.
Published August 7, 2026 4:58 PM
A worker with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) helps a person experiencing homelessness move a cart with their possessions in Los Angeles.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
A federal court struck down the Trump administration's latest attempt to shift federal homelessness funding away from permanent housing. The decision could change the pace of a separate legal battle between the L.A. region's lead homelessness agency and the federal government.
The ruling: U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island found Friday that the Department of Housing and Urban Development violated federal law by issuing new requirements for federal homelessness grants without first seeking public comment.
Why it matters: As a result, the judge threw out the department’s 2026 funding notice for its main federal grant application as a result. That notice officially set the terms and conditions for how communities like L.A. can apply for federal grants.
The background: It's the second time McElroy has struck down HUD's grant regulations on the same grounds. Friday's decision means HUD will have to issue new guidelines for its annual homelessness grant funding competition.
A federal court struck down the Trump administration's latest attempt to shift federal homelessness funding away from permanent housing. The decision could change the pace of a separate legal battle between the L.A. region's lead homelessness agency and the federal government.
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island found Friday that the Department of Housing and Urban Development violated federal law by issuing new requirements for federal homelessness grants without first seeking public comment.
As a result, the judge threw out the department’s 2026 funding notice for its main federal grant application as a result. That notice officially set the terms and conditions for how communities like L.A. can apply for federal grants.
It's the second time McElroy has struck down HUD's grant regulations on the same grounds. Friday's decision means HUD will have to issue new guidelines for its annual homelessness grant funding competition.
"The court ruled that HUD violated the law when it attempted to shift Congress's priorities away from housing first and towards its own priorities of interim shelter and services," said Shayla Myers, an attorney with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
The L.A. region was already in the process of preparing its application for federal grants based on regulations that were thrown out Friday. The deadline to submit was just weeks away.
The regulations would have directed a significant portion of funding away from permanent housing and toward transitional housing and treatment programs, prompting California and nearly two dozen other states to sue.
The Rhode Island decision could also change the pace of a separate legal battle between LAHSA and the federal government. The federal government suspended LAHSA from federal grant activity in June, putting $240 million in funding for the region in limbo.
Judge David O. Carter presided over a federal hearing this week, where LAHSA is looking to overturn the suspension. Carter is expected to decide early next week whether to temporarily block the suspension while the case proceeds to trial next year.
Keep up with LAist.
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Manny Valladares
is always looking for the next tasty bite to feature on "AirTalk" Food Friday on LAist 89.3.
Published August 7, 2026 3:39 PM
Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang served with rotis.
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Johnny Lee
/
Courtesy Rasarumah
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Top line:
Malaysian food takes on a variety of different food cultures from across Southeast Asia, which why local chef Johnny Lee wanted to learn more about it, leading to the Malaysian-fusion restaurant Rasarumah.
About the chef: Lee grew up in Los Angeles and went into the service industry following the 2008 recession. Since then, he opened Pearl River Deli, where he became well known for his Hainan chicken recipe. When that closed, he helped open Rasarumah.
Read on... to learn about the food we tried and how to have the best experience at Rasarumah.
Chef Johnny Lee stepped away from the food business for a short time after feeling burned out. With additional support from Last World Hospitality, Lee regained the energy to help build Rasarumah, a fusion restaurant influenced by Malaysian cuisine.
Lee grew up watching Japan's version of Iron Chef, but didn't see it as an option.
That changed after he graduated from college during the 2008 as he found work at restaurants, falling in love with the fast pace and hands-on work.
He sat down with Austin Cross, who hosts AirTalk every Friday, to explain what makes his Southeast Asian fusion cuisine stand out.
What inspired his menu?
Lee grew up in a Cantonese-Chinese family, having grown his knowledge of Southeast Asian cuisine through his work at Pearl River Deli, his Cantonese restaurant that's now closed.
One of the reasons he was interested in veering into Malaysian food?
"It's an extremely diverse group," Lee said.
The ideal Rasarumah experience
Lee recommends starting with a tiki drink and their pu pu platter, which gives you a little bit of everything.
Next, try one of their cold salads to lighten things up. And for the finale, the Rendang.
Chef-owner Johnny Lee was born in China, but grew up in Lincoln Heights.
His collaborators at Last World Hospitality have helped build other L.A. restaurants like Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill and Hermon’s.
Rasarumah recently introduced a whole menu of tiki drinks.
Menu items we tried
Beef rendang (slow-braised wagyu, pickles, raita, lime and roti)
Rojak (salad with pineapple, cucumber, green apple, watermelon radish, herbs, tamarind and crispy shallots)
Pork Skewers (char siu pork jowl, sesame, chive and hot mustard)
How to visit
Address: 3107 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057
Hours: Sunday to Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Tuesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: An order of beef rendang costs $48, rojak costs $14 and pork skewers cost $6 each.
What should we try next?
Have a question or comment about a segment? Want to pitch us a story?
Fill out the form below, and please include an email address so we're able to follow up if necessary! We're not able to respond to every inquiry, but all submissions are read and reviewed by our production team.
Traditional Indigenous dancers perform at Mundo Maya Day in MacArthur Park in an undated photo.
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Courtesy Mundo Maya Foundation
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Topline:
Sunday will mark the 8th annual Mundo Maya Day at MacArthur Park. The celebration returns for the first time since the summer of 2024 after planners postponed the event for a year due to immigration enforcement concerns.
Celebrating Maya culture: The event will celebrate Maya culture and indigeneity through a Maya ceremony, a game of Maya ball, food, and marimba. The event will also feature dances from Chiapas, Yucatan, and Guatemala. The event will go from 5 – 8 p.m. and will include a backpack giveaway.
Why it matters: A census study conducted by the local indigenous woman-led nonprofit organization CIELO (Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo) showed roughly 24,000 residents of Mayan descent lived in Los Angeles. The regions of Pico Union, Koreatown, and Westlake consist of a highly diverse indigenous population ranging from Zapotec, K’iche’, Chinanteco, Mixe and many more groups according to CIELO. Last year's event was postponed due to immigration enforcement concerns.
Sara Mijares moved to Los Angeles from Yucatan, Mexico when she was 15 years old. She had left her home behind but not her culture.
Thousands of miles away from her hometown of Muna, she’s preserving the Maya culture she grew up with for the indigenous community in Los Angeles.
Sunday will mark the 8th annual Mundo Maya Day at MacArthur Park. The celebration returns for the first time since the summer of 2024 after planners postponed the event for a year due to immigration enforcement concerns. Mundo Maya Day is being held in partnership with MAC·LA, formerly Levitt Pavilion, who are currently curating the summer concert series at MacArthur Park.
The event will celebrate Maya culture and indigeneity through a Maya ceremony, a game of Maya ball, food, and marimba. The event will also feature dances from Chiapas, Yucatan, and Guatemala. The event will go from 5 – 8 p.m. and will include a backpack giveaway.
“MacArthur Park is the heart of the Maya immigrant community,” said Mijares. “When we come here, we don’t leave our culture behind. It comes with us.”
She remembers going to MacArthur Park as a child with her father and seeing groups of Maya Yucatecos from Yucatan. She remembers how beautiful and safe the park felt, the community environment that reminded her of home.
Mundo Maya Day organizers gather at the “Grieving Sun Mural” in MacArthur Park in an undated photo.
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Courtesy Mundo Maya Foundation
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It was this feeling she wanted to bring back to the community when she had the idea for the Mundo Maya Day. Around 900 guests attended the first official celebration at MacArthur Park in 2018.
A census study conducted by the local indigenous woman-led nonprofit organization CIELO (Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo) showed roughly 24,000 residents of Mayan descent lived in Los Angeles.
The CIELO Organization says, “The ‘Maya’ category aggregates all Mayan groups. However, this is an umbrella term that includes communities from Guatemala and Mexico that often have different and distinct languages, cultures, and traditions.”
The regions of Pico Union, Koreatown, and Westlake consist of a highly diverse indigenous population ranging from Zapotec, K’iche’, Chinanteco, Mixe and many more groups according to CIELO.
The celebration will also add a final-hour dedication to Yucatan and honor Armando Manzanero, a Mayan Grammy winner who died in 2020.
Mijares admits there is always a concern with the risks of immigration enforcement, but is confident families will feel safe at this year’s event. The celebration will have security guards present throughout the event.
During this time last summer, federal agents arrested over 4,000 people, according to a report by the Department of Economic Opportunity. By the end of 2025, that grew to over 14,000 people, who were mostly residents without a criminal record, according to researchers from UCLA and UC Berkeley.
In June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement recorded 43,138 arrests across the nation, the highest monthly total of the current administration. Immigration enforcement in Los Angeles has been much more subtle in its execution in comparison to last year but enforcement numbers continue to increase in the city.
Still, Mundo Maya organizers felt like they could not deprive their community of the event.
“At some point in life we need to decide if we let fear control us or not. So we have to take that step and say we’re here,” said Mijares.
She hopes that for at least the three hours they can bring life, music, and healing to the community. She welcomes anyone interested in learning about Maya and indigenous cultures to show up.
“We want people to feel proud of who you are and where you come from. Feel proud of who we are here, the backbone of the country.”
Organizers recommend several ways to get to the event:
Via the train: The Metro B Line to the MacArthur Park / Westlake Station
Via the bus: Metro bus lines 18, 20, 51, 351, 603, 720
Parking: Athena Parking at 611 S. Carondelet St.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics, blankets and lawn chairs.
