Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published December 11, 2023 3:20 PM
A Los Angeles Police Department helicopter flies over the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood before the start of a red carpet ceremony.
(
Robyn Beck
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
The Los Angeles Police Department spends an average of $46.6 million each year to fly its helicopters over the city, according to an audit released Monday by the L.A. City Controller’s Office.
Why it matters: That’s more than the annual budget for over a dozen L.A. city departments, including the Ethics Commission, the Department of Aging, and the Department on Disability.
The backstory: “Some transportation and ceremonial flights were an inefficient, inappropriate use of city funds,” Controller Kenneth Mejia said at a news conference Monday. “Including passenger shuttle flights for a ‘Chili Fly-In,’ and a fly-by at a golf tournament.”
What's next: The controller’s office is also developing a new tool that will let the public “visualize the cost” of the LAPD helicopter program.
Go deeper: ... to learn more about the audit.
The Los Angeles Police Department spends an average of $46.6 million each year to fly its helicopters over the city, according to an audit released Monday by the L.A. City Controller’s Office.
That’s more than the annual budget for over a dozen L.A. city departments, including the Ethics Commission, the Department of Aging, and the Department on Disability.
With 17 helicopters in the LAPD Air Support Division’s fleet, each hour in the sky costs nearly $3,000, according to the audit. However, the audit notes that most of the helicopter flight time from fiscal years 2018 through 2022 weren’t connected to high priority crimes.
What were the helicopters being used for then?
The helicopters flew for a total of 80,687 hours in that five-year period, which is an average of more than 16,000 hours each year.
According to the audit, only 39% of the flight time was dedicated to high-priority incidents, such as burglaries and felony incidents involving personal injury or harm.
The rest of the time was dedicated to transportation flights — in which a helicopter is used instead of a car — general patrol time, and ceremonial flights.
“Some transportation and ceremonial flights were an inefficient, inappropriate use of city funds,” Controller Kenneth Mejia said at a news conference Monday. “Including passenger shuttle flights for a ‘Chili Fly-In,’ and a fly-by at a golf tournament.”
Are the helicopters flying over some areas more than others?
The audit found that LAPD helicopters spent a disproportionate amount of time in certain communities when compared to the levels of crime.
The LAPD areas that experienced more helicopter flights relative to the area’s crime rate were:
77th Street, which serves the Athens Park, Chesterfield Square, Gramercy Park, Hyde Park, South Park-51st and Menlo, Vermont Knolls, Vermont Park, View Heights, Morningside Park, West Park Terrace communities.
Hollenbeck, which serves the Aliso Village, Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Estrada Court, Hermon, Hillside Village, Lincoln Heights, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Pico Gardens, Ramona Gardens, Rose Hills Courts, University Hills communities.
Southwest, which serves the Adams-Normandie, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Baldwin Vista, Crenshaw, Exposition Park, Jefferson Park, Leimert Park, Union Square, University Park, Village Green, West Adams, Western Heights communities.
West Valley, which serves the Encino, Lake Balboa, Mandeville Canyon, Northridge, Reseda, Tarzana, Warner Center communities.
"The kind of auditory intrusions we all suffer through in living in a big city like this, and in LA in particular, they have an impact on our heart health, our stress levels, our ears, and our general demeanor,” Sergio Perez, the chief of accountability and oversight for the controller’s office, told LAist.
What are the environmental impacts of the helicopters?
LAPD helicopters use approximately 761,600 gallons of jet fuel per year, according to the audit.
That’s the equivalents of about 7,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, or an average gas-powered car driving a little more than 19 million miles.
“The emissions from [LAPD] helicopters highlight the need to reduce negative impacts on the community to the greatest extent possible,” the audit states.
Controller’s recommendations
The audit recommends ways the LAPD can increase transparency, reduce inefficiencies, and boost performance monitoring.
Specifically, the controller’s office recommends the LAPD establish a formal set of performance metrics and goals that are publicly accessible. They include assessing air support needs for patrol and incident response, and establishing policies for the planning and authorization of directed patrols, fly-bys, and administrative flights.
The controller’s office is also developing a new tool that will let the public “visualize the cost” of the LAPD helicopter program.
The L.A. City Controller's office gave a sneak peek of their new helicopter tool at a news conference Friday.
(
Makenna Sievertson for LAist
)
Once the tool is launched, you’ll be able to search for flight path details for each helicopter, the pollution released for each flight, and how much money it costs.
For example, the helicopter flights on Aug. 24, 2019, cost the city $26,292 and released more than 11,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution.
The controller’s office is still working out the details, but they hope it’ll be able to reflect each year and flight covered by the audit.
In a statement to LAist, Chief Michel Moore said “The Department received the final report today and will review it closely. I believe the Air Support Division’s activities play a critical role in our public safety mission here in Los Angeles.”
Where to watch the Dodgers playoffs, Live Talks with David Byrne, CatCon and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
The Dodgers are well into playoff land, and there are plenty of places to catch the action beyond Chavez Ravine. Bars all over town are hosting watch parties for those who’ve cut the cord or just want to cheer with other fans. At Skyduster in the Arts District, the games are on indoors and outside on the patio. Tom’s Watch Bar downtown boasts a 23-foot “Megascreen,” and The Shortstop is always a classic stop before or after Dodger Stadium. Drink and food specials abound at all!
It’s CatCon time again, but if you’re a cat lover, you probably already knew that. Cat fanciers head to Pasadena every year for this over-the-top ode to the furballs, from exotic breeds to Hello Kitty.
David Byrne's latest book, Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up, looks at “how breakthroughs across the arts and sciences get forgotten, and how they get rediscovered.” His talk at Culver City's Robert Frost Auditorium will also be available as video-on-demand for five days.
It’s officially October, and even if the weather doesn’t feel the least bit fall-like, spooky season is very much upon us. Every year, my neighbor turns the front yard of our building into something rivaling Universal Studios. And every year, the display gets more elaborate than the last, so I’m well in the spirit, already living amongst a Mars Attacks alien, a bunch of mummies and a skeleton deep-sea diver. No shortage of costume ideas! I hope your neighborhood is also getting into the Halloween vibe — let us know your favorite blocks for decorations as we get closer to my favorite holiday of the year.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can get the latest on the planned Olympic torch path through all 50 states, relive LA’s first Dolly Parton Day, and meet documentarian John Wilson, whose new film History of Concrete explores the building blocks of New York City.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m. The Orpheum 842 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. COST: $53; MORE INFO
Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers performs during the 2026 Railbird Music Festival.
(
Stephen J. Cohen
/
Getty Images
)
Stay with me here. Yes, I still have the Rolling Stone cover with Jakob Dylan’s mesmerizing blue eyes from 1996 in a box somewhere. But honestly, I saw the Wallflowers at Jazzfest last year, and they’ve still got it. Make your way downtown with one headlight.
CatCon
Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10-11 Pasadena Convention Center 300 E. Green St., Pasadena COST: FROM $11.53; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy CatCon
)
It’s CatCon time again, but if you’re a cat lover, you probably already knew that. Cat fanciers head to Pasadena every year for this over-the-top ode to the furballs, from exotic breeds to Hello Kitty.
The Outsiders
Through Sunday, Oct. 18 Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood COST: FROM $57; MORE INFO
Finally! It feels like we’ve been waiting AGES for last year’s Tony winner for best musical to get here on tour! The Pantages hosts the adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s book and later movie (which starred every soon-to-be-Hollywood heartthrob from Matt Dillon to Tom Cruise to Rob Lowe when it came out back in 1983). The stage version has plenty of star power too, directed by Dayna Taymor and produced by none other than Angelina Jolie.
Roopa Mahadevan
Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. Muckenthaler Cultural Center 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton COST: $40; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Roopa Mahadevan
)
Seeing Indian classical singer Roopa Magadevan is a great excuse to take a ride to Fullerton for a show at the magical outdoor theater at Muckenthaler Cultural Center. Magadevan is a unique crossover artist and has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, led a choir show on New York’s High Line and performed at legendary venues like the Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub.
Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed Tour
Friday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. Grove of Anaheim 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim COST: $59.40; MORE INFO
Jonathan Van Ness performs in Anaheim this week.
(
Etienne Laurent
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Part-time reality TV star, part-time gymnast, part-time comedian, full-time style icon Jonathan Van Ness is bringing their live show to Anaheim. The Queer Eye hair stylist makes the best air-dry cream (trust!) and is hilarious — a multihyphenate indeed.
Indigenous Pride LA
Sunday, Oct. 11 700 Exposition Park Drive, Expo Park COST: FREE; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Indigenous Pride LA
)
Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day and the intersecting LBGTQ+ community at a free family-friendly festival in Expo Park. Native Americans have a long history of recognizing two-spirit identities and the contributions of the Indigenous queer community. This party in the park includes native food vendors, health and wellness resources, and arts and crafts.
Dodgers Playoffs
Various locations COST: VARIES
Dodgers' outfielder Kyle Tucker celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The Dodgers went on to win the game and clinch their fifth straight NL West title.
(
Tanner Pearson
/
AP Photo
)
The Dodgers are well into playoff land, and there’s plenty of places to catch the action beyond Chavez Ravine. Bars all over town are hosting watch parties for those who’ve cut the cord or just want to cheer with other fans. At Skyduster in the Arts District, the games are on indoors and outside on the patio. Tom’s Watch Bar downtown boasts a 23-foot “Megascreen,” and The Shortstop is always a classic stop before or after Dodger Stadium. Drink and food specials abound at all! There’s also a free FOX One baseball throwback experience October 11-12 at the Original Farmers Market with old-school screens and memorabilia. Attendees are invited to share memories of watching the sport’s most memorable games.
Off the Record x Department of Consciousness: Higher Love
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reserve Venice 1041 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice COST: $38; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Bloomy
)
Psychedelics are having a moment. If you’re curious about the science behind the impact researchers say they could have on our inner lives, this talk and interactive evening with clinical psychologists and relationship researchers Dr. Chandra Khalifian and Dr. Kayla Knopp of Enamory might be for you. Higher Love will look at how psychedelic experiences may change the way we understand love, intimacy and connection.
Live Talks LA: An evening with David Byrne
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m. (In-person & virtual) Robert Frost Auditorium 4401 Elenda Street, Culver City COST: $40 for general admission (book available for purchase at checkout); MORE INFO
David Byrne speaks during SiriusXM's Front Row with Talking Heads hosted by Este Haim.
(
Cindy Ord
/
Getty Images for Sirius XM
)
Sometimes I’m not sure we deserve David Byrne. His Hollywood Bowl show in August blew me away, and his books have always sparked new ideas and ways of seeing, from observing cities by bike to reimagining how we value music. His latest, Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up, looks at “how breakthroughs across the arts and sciences get forgotten, and how they get rediscovered.” The talk will also be available as video-on-demand for five days.
Filipino American History Month Film Night
Saturday, Oct. 10 Million Dollar Theater 307 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Grand Central Market
)
The Million Dollar Theater is hosting a screening of two films, Nurse Unseen and Food Roots, to celebrate Filipino American History Month, followed by a panel featuring Filipino American women in film, including director Michele Josue.
Enjoy some late night margarita mayhem at Daisy's in Sherman Oaks.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
Topline:
Magic is in the air in "Practical Magic 2," which celebrates the original film's boisterous margarita scene. And as Halloween looms, why not meet up with friends for your own witch-inspired midnight margaritas in L.A.'s atmospheric bars?
Why it matters: We all need an excuse to let rip after 10 p.m., and margaritas just taste better after the stroke of midnight.
Where are we heading? From Sherman Oak's Daisy, offering a baja slaw margarita, to Footsies' rustic charm and spicy kumquat tamarindo version, there are excellent late-night haunts across the city.
At the center of the 1998 film Practical Magic is a story of sisterhood — and, well, a healthy round of margaritas. In the newly released sequel, Practical Magic 2, the cocktails make their celebrated return.
Margaritas all around in Practical Magic 2
(
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
)
For anyone who watched the original midnight margarita scene — with Aunt Franny, Aunt Jet and their nieces, Sally and Gillian Owens, gathering around their warm New England kitchen dancing to the tune of Harry Nilson's "Coconut" — the joyous boisterousness is likely seared well into memory.
As we turn toward Halloween, we figured the ghouls, witches and warlocks of Los Angeles may well be inspired to roam under the cloak of darkness seeking their own midnight margaritas.
Here are the best places to visit across the city that will be open to host your own shenanigans — at midnight and beyond. So go out past 10 p.m., live a little.
Bar Flores (Echo Park)
The hibiscus-infused Flores margarita at Bar Flores in Echo Park.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
The hibiscus-infused Flores margarita at Bar Flores delights with its pink hue and wonderfully balanced profile. Enjoy it with your choice of agave spirit, share a pitcher with friends, or have a Tommy or Cadillac margarita by request. Owner Karla Flores highlights their humpday special, Margarita Wednesday, where the margaritas are $9.
Location: 1542 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Daisy (Sherman Oaks)
Daisy's takes on the cocktail include mangoneada and baja slaw.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
Daisy, the bar in Sherman Oaks dedicated to margaritas, is fashioned as an Angeleno take on the norteño cantinas of Baja California that birthed the drink. Unique versions of the cocktail, like mangoneada margarita and baja slaw margarita, invigorate the experience, but salient standards like the Cadillac and Tommy margaritas make for a well-rounded menu.
Location: 14633 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks Hours: Monday 5-11 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Footsies (Cypress Park)
Footsies off-menu options include watermelon, classic lime, and spicy kumquat tamarindo.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
Footsies welcomes you with its black U-shaped tufted booths, wide dance floor, rustic charm and some quality midnight margaritas. Theirs are off-menu, but consist of watermelon, classic lime and spicy kumquat tamarindo. Beverage director Raul Morales says to look for the rotating chalkboard, which changes once a month, for his seasonally-inspired drinks.
Location: 2640 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Shim Sham (Filipinotown)
Shim Sham's offers a class margaritas, no strings attached.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
Count on this lively horseshoe bar, with their idiosyncratic whole dill pickle martini, to give you your midnight margarita fix. Shim Sham's is as classic as it can get, with just tequila, lime juice and sugar on ice. Pay them a visit during their nightly happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for an $8 margarita.
Location: 3123 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Mermaid (Little Tokyo)
Mermaid's version offers a sweet, tangy, tropical tide of guava and pineapple.
(
Andrea Aliseda
/
LAist
)
Divey and glowing in blue light with an underwater motif, Mermaid in Little Tokyo is the place to go for a seaside take on the margarita. Their cocktail, tropical margarita, offers a sweet and boozy drink that is carried by the tangy, tropical tide of guava and pineapple for a refreshing sip.
Location: 428 E. 2nd St, Los Angeles Hours: Monday through Sunday, 6 p.m. to 1:40 a.m.
Keep up with LAist.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
By Christopher Damien and Laura Anaya-Morga | Boyle Heights Beat
Published October 7, 2026 5:00 AM
Smoke from the Boyle Heights fire earlier this year.
(
Alejandra Molina
/
Boyle Heights Beat
)
Topline:
Describing an urgent need for the public to be informed about potential health risks, community and environmental advocacy groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Los Angeles in an effort to obtain data and other records about possible toxic emissions from the Lineage warehouse fire.
Why now: California Communities Against Toxics filed a suit Monday against the EPA seeking the United States District Court for the Central District of California to order the release of records they requested under the Freedom of Information Act. That advocacy group claims that large amounts of ammonia have been released from the Lineage facility since the fire destroyed its refrigeration system and argues that the EPA has failed its duty to release public records about it.
The backstory: The lawsuit comes after months of calls from residents and community advocacy groups for more transparency about the fire and the environmental testing that followed. Last week, Mayor Karen Bass claimed that she asked the City Attorney’s Office to investigate Lineage months ago but was met with inaction. The city attorney’s team responded that the mayor had misspoken, and that they had opened an investigation of the fire in early July. Both statements were the first public admissions that such an investigation was requested and is ongoing.
Describing an urgent need for the public to be informed about potential health risks, community and environmental advocacy groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Los Angeles in an effort to obtain data and other records about possible toxic emissions from the Lineage warehouse fire.
California Communities Against Toxics filed a suit Monday against the EPA seeking the United States District Court for the Central District of California to order the release of records they requested under the Freedom of Information Act. That advocacy group claims that large amounts of ammonia have been released from the Lineage facility since the fire destroyed its refrigeration system and argues that the EPA has failed its duty to release public records about it.
“The Facility’s ammonia and other emissions are presently contaminating the surrounding neighborhoods, creating severe health impacts including bloody noses, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, eye swelling, irritation, and running, upper respiratory irritation, persistent coughs pneumonia, skin rashes and irritation,” the group claims in a civil complaint.
The lawsuit comes after months of calls from residents and community advocacy groups for more transparency about the fire and the environmental testing that followed.
Jane Williams speaks to a group of residents at a teach-in with Protect LA Now at Resurrection Church on August 26, 2026
(
Laura Anaya-Morga
/
Boyle Heights Beat
)
California Communities Against Toxics said it asked in August for various records related to the monitoring of the fire, including data on air pollution, smoke plume movement, occupational health monitoring data and the federal agency’s communications with officials from the city and other local departments.
They claim the federal agency has not adequately addressed their request, failed to conduct a thorough search and, ultimately, withheld records that should be released to the public.
The same advocacy group, along with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and Protect LA Now, filed a similar suit on Tuesday against the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Fire Department. They say records related to the fire department’s response to the fire and its subsequent investigation have also been withheld. They are seeking data collected on possible ammonia release from the facility and communications about the fire to the offices of the mayor and city council members.
They claim the city closed the records request about 24 hours after it was filed, saying there were no responsive records.
“We have been routinely asking the agencies to divulge the results of the monitoring that was done by first responders…We need to see what happened,” said Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, during a press conference over Zoom Tuesday.
Williams, whose organization has been monitoring chemical and environmental disasters since 1991, called the Lineage fire “the largest chemical disaster in the state of California’s history.”
What was most alarming about the Lineage fire, Williams said, is that evacuations were not ordered for residents.
“That’s why now you see 40,000 people who sought medical care from the releases from Lineage,” Williams said, pointing to health data released by AltaMed that reported elevated levels of depression and anxiety as well as increases in eye and throat irritation, among other conditions, in residents who were exposed to the fire and its aftermath.
Last week, another community group, Eastside Padres Contra la Privatización, called on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to open a criminal investigation of the warehouse fire after the LAFD reported that the cause of the fire could not be determined.
In a surprise move, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Criminal Investigations Bureau served a search warrant at the Lineage facility Tuesday. Police officers from the LA County DA’s office were also on site assisting with the criminal investigation.
Agents with the Department of Toxic Substances Control Criminal Investigations Bureau serve a search warrant at Lineage in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Christopher Damien / The LA Local)
(
Christopher Damien
/
The LA Local
)
Lineage released a statement soon after, repeating its stance that no ammonia had been released from its facility and that the company maintained records that it was safely transported off site when the fire broke out. Still, testing by Lineage as well as community scientists and the South Coast Air Quality Management District found elevated levels of ammonia near the warehouse after the fire, though they did not meet the threshold requiring action to protect public health.
Tuesday’s raid is yet another rapid development among investigations that have so far remained hidden from the public.
Last week, Mayor Karen Bass claimed that she asked the City Attorney’s Office to investigate Lineage months ago but was met with inaction. The city attorney’s team responded that the mayor had misspoken, and that they had opened an investigation of the fire in early July. Both statements were the first public admissions that such an investigation was requested and is ongoing.
Community Space Food Bank founders Hang and Gaines Newborn pose outside the food bank in Los Angeles. The couple is working to raise money to keep the food bank operating and purchase the building where it is housed.
(
Hanna Kang
/
The LA Local
)
Topline:
People who have never relied on a food bank before are increasingly walking through the doors of Community Space Food Bank looking for something to eat. The food bank typically saw between two and 10 new people a day. Since the beginning of this year, Newborn said, that number has climbed to about 30 to 40.
Why it matters: Demand is coming as the food bank is dealing with financial challenges. Community Space Food Bank is trying to raise $17,000 to cover its expenses for the next two months while also working to buy the building where it operates. Keeping the food bank open has also come with a string of setbacks. Two vans were stolen, another broke down recently, and three freezers have stopped working. A unit damaged in last year’s fire remains unusable, but the organization is still paying rent on it.
The backstory: The pantry operates on a suggested-donation model, and people who cannot afford to pay can still receive food. It is stocked with donations from local supermarkets, restaurants and farmers markets. Newborn said donors include Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Lassens, Lazy Acres and Mother’s Market.
People who have never relied on a food bank before are increasingly walking through the doors of Community Space Food Bank looking for something to eat.
Some tell founder Gaines Newborn that their CalFresh benefits have been reduced or ended. Others say they recently lost their jobs and do not know where else to turn.
“I hear the same story — hey I’ve never done this before. I need food. I need to make it a couple days. I’ve never done this before. My food stamps just ended. I have no idea what to do,” Newborn said.
The food bank typically saw between 2 and 10 new people a day. Since the beginning of this year, Newborn said, that number has climbed to about 30 to 40.
A customer picks up groceries at Community Space Food Bank. The food bank operates a community-choice pantry where customers can select the food they need.
(
Hanna Kang
/
The LA Local
)
That demand is coming as the food bank is dealing with its own financial challenges. Community Space Food Bank is trying to raise $17,000 to cover its expenses for the next two months while also working to buy the building where it operates.
“Every food bank tries their best, but funding is not always there. I think the biggest issue with food banks is that they’re only open once a month, once a week,” Newborn said. “So us being here daily … people thank us everyday and that’s why I’m here everyday. And I can’t see this place go.”
The food bank has been open seven days a week for more than two years, including through a fire last year. It serves about 150 hot meals a day and about 100 families through its pantry, Newborn said.
The pantry operates on a suggested-donation model, and people who cannot afford to pay can still receive food. It is stocked with donations from local supermarkets, restaurants and farmers markets. Newborn said donors include Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Lassens, Lazy Acres and Mother’s Market.
A community fridge operated in partnership with LA Community Fridges sits outside the pantry and is available 24 hours a day.
“Our whole goal is to make sure no one goes hungry, no food goes to waste,” Newborn said. “There’s no ID, nothing required here, just show up for services.”
Keeping the food bank open has also come with a string of setbacks. Two vans were stolen, another broke down recently and three freezers have stopped working, Newborn said. A unit damaged in last year’s fire remains unusable, but the organization is still paying rent on it.
“That’s really kind of eaten into our ability to survive,” he said.
The building where the food bank operates is also for sale. Newborn wants to buy the property so the organization can stay there and have more stability.
Newborn and his wife, Hang, also want to expand the food bank’s freeze-drying operation. They started exploring the technology during the pandemic as a way to preserve surplus food that might otherwise be thrown away.
Hang Newborn said the idea grew out of two problems she saw while working in education: people going hungry and food being wasted.
“That was a way to help us solve two problems, which is there’s too many hungry people, and then there’s food going to landfills and polluting our ozone,” she said.
The food bank currently has eight freeze-drying machines and hopes to eventually have 30.
The idea also became personal for Gaines Newborn after his father died last year at 91. His father had difficulty chewing, so the family began freeze-drying foods that could be broken down and added to soups.
“We started freeze drying and realized you can crumble steak into a soup. You can crumble fruits, veggies, corn, carrots, things that are hard to eat, and he was able to maintain his nutrition,” Gaines Newborn said.
Hang Newborn said the long-term goal is to open a freeze-dry supermarket where people could buy food that can be prepared with hot water rather than relying on a stove or microwave.
“Freeze-drying would help us extend the window in which people could eat … people are given a finite time to eat, and most of the food is tethered to refrigeration,” she said.
Community Space Food Bank is located at 3615 Beverly Blvd. near Beverly Boulevard and Virgil Avenue. It’s open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Donations can be made through the food bank’s website.
