The Brief

In most cases, calling someone a “hopeless artist” or “hopeless employee” would be considered an insult, but it's a badge of honor at the Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys.

That’s where an exhibit celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the independent record label Hopeless Records just opened.

A 'Hopeless' label is born

The label, founded by Louis Posen when he was a film student at Cal State Northridge, started out representing punk, ska, metal bands — and later, alternative musicians more broadly. Some of its most well-known acts include Thrice, New Found Glory, Avenged Sevenfold and Yellowcard.

The name “Hopeless Records” comes from the Orange County punk band Guttermouth’s 1993 album. Posen met them after he made a music video for the punk band NOFX, the group Guttermouth was opening for at the time.

As Posen explains it: “Guttermouth asked me to put out a record for them. And I said, ‘Why would I put out a record? I know how to do music videos, not records.’ They said, ‘Well you seem organized, and we don't know anyone else that can do it.’ So I went and bought a book called How to Run an Independent Record Label. I put that first 7-inch [record] out, and the first song was called ‘Hopeless,’ and that was why it was the name of the label.”

Since then, the company has represented more than 200 artists and sold more than 15 million albums.

The exhibition

At a recent preview event at the Valley Relics Museum, located within a couple of airplane hangars at the Van Nuys Airport, Hopeless employees, musicians and their friends and families were in high spirits as they perused the memorabilia on display.

Memorabilia from the Hopeless Records exhibit at the Valley Relics Museum, including a handwritten note from Nina Bernstein, the daughter of composer Leonard Bernstein, commending Hopeless Records for the punk version of the "West Side Story" soundtrack.

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Monica Bushman

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LAist

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The Hopeless exhibit includes set lists for bands like Taking Back Sunday, drum sticks broken by drummer Paul Koehler from the Canadian rock band Silverstein, and even a letter from the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, praising the label for giving more than a million dollars to charity through its nonprofit arm. (They’ve since donated about 2 million dollars more.)

Loyola Marymount student Carissa Leong was one of the attendees not affiliated with the label. She got an invitation through an online publication she writes for, and is also a fan.

“This label has had so many bands that I just think have been really cool and I kind of like grew up on,” Leong says. “All Time Low I grew up liking, I used to listen to Waterparks a lot … They have a really solid lineup currently and they've had a really, really sick history.”

Singer/rapper DE’WAYNE, who describes his style of music as “just sexy rock and roll,” was also there. He was formerly signed to Hopeless and credits the label with giving him a chance when he needed it — right before the pandemic, when he was still new to L.A.

“They saved my life, [by] just giving me an opportunity to release music. [It] was all I needed, honestly,” he says. “And I think that's the best thing about Hopeless, because they see people when they're young and understand the talent that's there. And then they just give you an avenue to create and make beautiful things.”

A source for good 

As for how the label has weathered all the drastic changes the music industry has gone through over the last 30 years, Posen points to the company’s ability to adapt.

“Everything is an opportunity and a challenge — that's the way that I look at life. “I started losing my eyesight when I was 19 years old … so everything is about adapting," Posen says. “It's about problem solving and facing things …not crawling up in a hole, but trying to figure out what's the best way to deal with this.”

Hopeless Records founder Louis Posen addresses the crowd at a reception for an exhibit dedicated to the label's 30-year history at the Valley Relics Museum.

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Ariel Goldberg

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Another key to the company’s survival, Posen says, is a strong sense of community.

“People don’t get into this style of music to make money, they get into it because they’re passionate about it. It’s who their friends are, it’s what clubs they go to, it’s what things they read.”

Whether through the label’s philanthropic efforts — like donating to charity, advocating on Capitol Hill for better mental health resources, or starting a music academy for kids (set to launch in the new year) — or through the music itself, Posen sees the potential for the alternative music scene to be a source for good.

“In some ways we’re changing the world in our own little way,” Posen says. “Musically, we’re affecting people. You hear about it all the time where fans say ‘This artist changed my life, or saved my life.’”

A new generation of fans and alternative musicians 

Today, Hopeless Records defines itself less by a genre (though “alternative music” or “alternative rock” are labels they do use) and more by their audience.

“Young, alternative, inquisitive … passionate” is how Posen describes it. That’s also led to a more diverse roster of artists in more recent years — one that’s currently over 50% female or non-binary.

As longtime employee and vice president of marketing Erin Choi puts it: “[That’s] pretty awesome for the rock scene because when I was growing up it wasn't like that at all.”

“We're always trying to build the scene that we want to see and not just looking back at the past and what it was. And so that's been really important to us in our growth.”

The Hopeless Records exhibition is up at The Valley Relics Museum through Jan. 7.

Susan Egan is a trailblazer in the Disney world.

She’s best known as the voice of Megara in "Hercules" and the original Belle in the Broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast."

This weekend, Egan is being honored at the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim as a Disney Legend along with more than a dozen actors, composers and other contributors.

Egan’s relationship with the world of Disney started at a young age. She grew up in Seal Beach, less than an hour away from Disneyland, and says her mother would take her and her siblings to the park on a school day every year.

“It just never occurred to me that you could actually work for that company, that could be what you do for a living,” Egan told LAist “It just seemed like play all the time.”

She was the first actor to play a Disney princess on Broadway in 1994, and said at the time it was a risky decision.

“We really didn't know if it was going to work. In essence, taking a cartoon and bringing it to the live audience, having to change some of the mythology because, you know, we can't be a 10-inch tall teapot. You have to be a full human-sized teapot,” said Egan.

But she says the audience loved the Broadway production as much as they loved the movie.

She went on to voice the sharp-tongued Megara from "Hercules," who she calls a “Disney heroine ahead of her time.”

“Honestly her flaws are what make her so relatable. I hear from a lot of young women ‘Oh Meg, I could relate to Meg.’ I go, ‘Me too. Honestly yeah, string of bad boyfriends, same.'”

Egan has harnessed her love for Disney into her production company, 10th & Main, with producing partner Adam J. Levy. Together they’ve produced Disney Princess: The Concert, which has toured across five continents, the recurring production aboard Disney cruise ships called Broadway Star Series and other programs.

10th & Main is also putting together a show for the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this weekend called Disney Rewind Concerts. Egan says it’s celebrating the Disney movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“ We have the voice of Goofy, Bill Farmer, and Jodi Benson, the voice of Little Mermaid, is in the concert. We've got Disney icon Jim Cummings, who's the voice of 400 Disney characters,” said Egan. It’s happening on Friday and Saturday night and will be streamed on Disney+.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs this weekend Aug. 14 through Aug. 16 at the Anaheim Convention Center. There will be performances and panels from the cast and producers of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Simpsons, Camp Rock 3 and others.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles will cost billions to put on, but there are currently no guarantees that any of that business will go to companies or small businesses in the city of Los Angeles.

That's a problem for local officials, who point out that the city of L.A. is the host and financial backer of the Games and should therefore reap the benefits.

Olympic contracts for things like IT services, cleaning and construction for the Games are worth up to $4 billion, according to LA28. L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson filed a motion Wednesday asking the private Olympics organizing committee LA28 to commit to giving some of those contracts to businesses in the city specifically.

The move responds to critiques of LA28's procurement plan, which council members in April warned could end up leaving out the city of Los Angeles entirely.

LA28 says it's aiming to keep 75% of its spending in the Greater L.A. area, and put 25% towards small businesses. Its procurement plan pledges to prioritize "hyperlocal" businesses in the city of L.A., but makes no explicit promises. Instead, it identifies "local" as anywhere in L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Harris-Dawson's motion would direct city staff to request LA28 go further, developing an L.A.-specific spending commitment.

"There is no assurance that Olympic-related spending will meaningfully benefit Los Angeles businesses, workers, and communities in proportion to the City's role as host," the motion reads in part.

The motion still needs to get through council, but there are indications that it will meet an unwilling LA28.

LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover told the city council earlier this year that organizers would prioritize city businesses, but that he would not commit to a plan that would limit LA28's financial options.

"If I focus solely, first and foremost, on the city of L.A. for small business, then I am artificially reducing the pool of competition, placing greater risk on the city taxpayers and placing greater risk on the backstop of the city of L.A.," Hoover said.

The motion reflects the latest way city leaders are trying to limit risk and increase rewards for Los Angeles, which is on the hook for a potentially large amount of money if the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics are a financial failure.

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is leading Republican businessman Steve Hilton by a double-digit margin in the race for California governor, according to a new poll from UC Berkeley.

The Institute of Governmental Studies poll found about 55% of likely voters saying they’ll support Becerra, 37% backing Hilton and just 7% undecided.

Becerra’s 18-point lead marks a stark contrast to June’s messy and crowded primary contest, which included numerous serious Democratic candidates and remained unsettled until the very end.

Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, speaks during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on April 22, 2026.

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“It’s shaping up to be a pretty traditional Democrat versus Republican general election matchup with strong partisan preferences kind of dominating everything,” poll director Mark DiCamillo said.

California’s electorate is largely Democratic — Republicans are outnumbered by Democrats nearly 2 to 1, and independent voters make up more than one-fifth of the electorate.

Partisan leanings appear to be driving voter opinions in the governor’s race, DiCamillo said: 88% of Democrats are backing Becerra, while 91% of Republicans are behind Hilton.

The poll’s findings overall track with trends in recent statewide races, including the 2024 presidential contest, which former Vice President Kamala Harris won by 20 points over President Donald Trump in California.

“When you ask voters, ‘Why are you supporting Becerra?’ they want a Democrat who takes the positions that Democrats traditionally take — that’s what they’re voting for. Plus they want somebody who’s going to fight Trump,” DiCamillo said.

Those partisan, anti-Trump views appear to outweigh Becerra’s history-making potential: If he wins, he would be the first Latino elected governor of California.

Yet just 1% of poll respondents said his identity as the son of Mexican immigrants is the reason they’re supporting him, the poll shows.

It will be difficult for Hilton to close the gap with Becerra, DiCamillo said, because the survey shows that he’s also struggling among voters not affiliated with one of the two major political parties.

The poll shows Hilton’s favorability rating underwater among independents, with 31% viewing him favorably and 59% unfavorably.

The last two standing: Gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra, center, shakes hands with then-fellow candidate Chad Bianco at a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco on April 22, 2026. Now, it's just Becerra and Steve Hilton, at right.

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“In order for Hilton to win, he really has to go after the Democratic constituencies,” DiCamillo said. “If you look at, for example, no party preference voters, sometimes you try to peel those off if you’re a challenger on the Republican side.”

But with a strong majority of independents viewing the Republican businessman negatively, “it’s a tall order,” he said.

“Hilton represents the Republicans. He’s the standard bearer. And the reason people are voting for him is because that’s what they’re voting for,” DiCamillo said. “Unfortunately for Republicans and for Hilton, there’s not enough of them.”

The survey was conducted online in English and Spanish from Aug. 3 to Aug. 9 among 4,207 registered voters; a sample of 2,310 were considered likely voters in the November general election.

The gap is stark more than a year and a half after the Eaton and Palisades fires:

Homeowners are short, on average, $500,000 in what it will cost to rebuild their homes – that’s with what they’ve received from insurers.

The figure is from a July survey by the Department of Angels of more than 2,000 survivors across both fire areas.

Small Business Association Loans have been one way survivors have attempted to fill the gap. The window to apply officially ended in June. Programs like the state’s CalAssist Mortgage Fund provides up to one year of help. The federal government extended housing assistance for another year. And some banks have also offered to extend mortgage relief. (You can learn about all of these programs here and here.)

The majority of survivors are most interested in loans that are forgivable and low or no-interest, according to the Department of Angels survey.

“There are still people out there who need help,” said Ursula Hyman, co-founder of the Altadena Land Initiatives Corporation.

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Department of Angels

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Hyman knows firsthand — her home was seriously damaged and her daughter’s home was lost to the Eaton fire.

Her group’s fund is one of several that have cropped up as traditional safety nets prove to be far from enough. These funds attempt to bridge the financial gap, as well as the knowledge gap many face in rebuilding from scratch.

As the fire becomes “old news,” Hyman said — “It’s not old news to the people who are still living it” — it’s harder to find investors to support that work.

 ”It's much harder for all of the nonprofits to raise money right now,” she said. “ We'd like to do 100 homes this year, and I have about enough capital right now to do 25.”

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‘Rebuild gap’ funds

Here’s a quick roundup of “rebuild gap” funds. If we missed any, or you want to share your experience with these programs, reach out to reporter Erin Stone at estone@laist.com.

All of the funders LAist spoke with encouraged survivors to reach out to them regardless of whether they’re sure about participating in the program.

Altadena Land Initiatives Corporation

Supported by Cathay Bank, this fund provides zero-interest loans, on average about $260,000, as well as pre-approved construction plans with vetted builders. They have over 70 construction plans available (soon to be more) and no income requirements. Learn more at their website.

Greenline Housing Foundation

Provides temporary housing assistance as well as up to $250,000 grants to Eaton Fire survivors rebuilding a home. For the grants, there are no income limits and the money does not need to be repaid. Learn more on their website and fill out an intake form here.

Habitat for Humanity

Provides smoke remediation, home repair and rebuilding assistance for Eaton and Palisades fire survivors. You can learn more and fill out their intake form here. They, along with Greenline Housing, have worked with the Resilient Delta Fund to provide some of these programs.

Lendistry disaster recovery mortgage pilot

L.A.-based Lendistry has worked to assist fire survivors and, with the support of Bank of America and the California Community Foundation, recently launched a new pilot program for fire-affected homeowners. The program will provide comprehensive rebuild financial assistance and guidance, including construction loans and mortgage assistance. They say their interest rates will be “competitive and market-driven” and aim to close loans within 45 days. You can learn more and fill out an interest form here.

Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Program

Gov. Gavin Newsom approved $100 million in state funds to help fire survivors afford to rebuild. The program is not yet available as it just opened for lenders, but survivors can learn more and stay up to date on the program’s launch here.