The Brief

Election Day is less than three months away and the stakes are big: Voters will pick our next president, decide state and local ballot measures and weigh in on key local races like who will be L.A. County’s next district attorney.

With local and national campaigns in full swing there are a lot of ways to get involved. Here in SoCal, one way to participate in democracy this election cycle is by becoming a paid poll worker. (Yes, paid! In L.A. County poll workers get at least a $100 per day stipend.)

If you’ve voted in person before, you’ve interacted with a poll worker: They’re your neighbors at your local polling place who check you in, give you a sticker, and make sure the voting machines are running smoothly.

“Our democracy thrives when our community steps up to ensure our elections run smoothly,” L.A. County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement marking National Poll Worker Recruitment Day earlier this month.

If this sounds like something you want to get involved in, we’ve compiled this guide with everything you need to know to become a poll worker in L.A. County or Orange County.

How to apply

There aren’t many requirements for the job. As long as you’re 18 or older and a registered California voter, or if you have legal permanent residency (e.g. a green card), you’re good to apply.

• L.A. County residents can apply to be a community election worker by filling out this online form.
• Orange County residents can apply to help at the polls on the county’s jobs site. If selected, you must commit to either seven or 14 days of work in total, including two days of training, four or 11 days of work in the vote center, half a day of setup, and half a day of cleanup, according to Orange County Registrar of Voters Bob Page.

Officials in Los Angeles and Orange counties are recruiting temporary workers to staff vote centers across SoCal.

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What if I’m under 18?

It can be frustrating to learn about the importance of voting in high school civics class but not be old enough to participate in an election yourself. The good news is, California has a special poll worker program for teens who want to participate in the election.

California high school students who are 16 or older by Election Day (Nov. 5), have at least a 2.5 GPA, and get permission from their guardian and school can apply. Students get one excused absence per year for civic or political activities like poll working, thanks to a California law that went into effect last year. Both L.A. County and Orange County pay students for working these jobs.

• L.A. County students typically apply through a teacher coordinator at their school, according to Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk’s office — so if you’re interested in working the polls, you can start by checking that your school participates in the program. More information about the student poll worker program in L.A. is available here. 
• Orange County students also have the opportunity to work the polls. Recruitment for these positions will start in September, and interested students can email student@ocvote.gov.

Samea Derrick worked the polls in L.A. as a 17-year old during the last presidential election in 2020. She was excited by the prospect of a low-commitment way to be civically engaged in her own community.

She told LAist that the experience helped her navigate the election, which she found stressful, and she hopes she’s able to do the job again in the future.

“I was just happy to be surrounded by people and feel like we were working together as a community to allow everyone to vote,” she said.

What will I actually do as a poll worker?

Poll workers are responsible for setting up and taking down voting equipment, as well as helping voters when they arrive at the polling place, Sanchez said. Throughout the day, you’ll help voters by greeting them, answering questions, or helping them check in.

With the exception of high school student poll workers, election workers usually serve for multiple days, since vote centers are open for several days in the lead up to Election Day.

Michel Lekika, who previously served as an elections worker in Orange County, told LAist that before work begins, you’ll be trained for all sorts of situations — not just regarding the basic job tasks, but also on how to present yourself and feel prepared to interact with voters. For example, poll workers can’t wear logos that would suggest a bias toward any candidate or party.

“I really encourage people to do it,” Lekika told LAist. Despite the job’s sometimes long hours, he emphasized that, ultimately, “you learn a lot, and you feel just great to serve the country” by helping people cast their votes.

Who’s most needed?

Sanchez told LAist that L.A. County usually needs about 12,000 poll workers. Ahead of the general election this year, Sanchez said they have already received about 7,000 applications as of Aug. 6.

He also noted that L.A. County especially needs bilingual poll workers who speak both English and one of the following languages: Armenian, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), Farsi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean or Thai.

In Orange County, election officials say they especially need bilingual workers who speak Chinese, Korean, Spanish or Vietnamese.

In a statement to LAist, Page wrote that Orange County typically requires about 1,300 poll workers, which includes about seven people to staff each vote center, plus supervisors who manage four to five vote centers at a time.

The county has already hired back 650 returning election workers as of Aug. 2 and is pursuing numerous recruitment strategies to get more people involved, Page said.

Poll workers hang up signs in Los Angeles ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

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How much money can I earn?

In L.A. County, you can make $100 per day, for up to 10 days of work. You also get $80 for completing training, and bilingual workers who speak any of 18 languages (see the full list here) get an extra $100. Student poll workers are also paid at this rate.

In Orange County, poll workers are paid hourly, starting at just over $20 per hour. Student poll workers in O.C. get $100 for a full day, plus $20 for training.

Beyond the compensation, you’ll have a front row seat to watch democracy in action. Sanchez said poll workers play a critical role.

“[They] ensure our elections are run safely, securely, and accessible to everyone.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided guidance this week to childcare providers on new legal requirements to protect children and their families from immigration enforcement activities.

Under a new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are not allowed to collect information about a child's or family member’s immigration status, unless necessary under state or federal law. Bonta’s office says there currently is no such requirement, though that could change with federal programs like Head Start.

“Childcare and preschool facilities should be safe and secure spaces so children can grow, learn and simply be children,” Bonta said in a statement.

His office says daycare centers also should not keep information about a formerly enrolled child longer than is required by state law.

The new law also requires facilities to inform the attorney general’s office and the state’s licensing agency if they get any requests for information from law enforcement related to immigration enforcement.

Facilities also must ask families to regularly update a child’s emergency contact information to make sure someone can be reached in case a parent is detained by federal immigration officials.

The Santa Ana winds are here to welcome us into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures.

The winds will reach Point Mugu to the Santa Clarita Valley, down to Orange County and parts of the Inland Empire valleys and foothills east of the 5 Freeway.

Peak gusts are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph. The western San Gabriel Mountains, Highway 14 corridor, Santa Susana Mountains and the western Santa Monica Mountains are under a high wind warning until 6 p.m., when gusts could reach 65 mph.

As for temperatures, highs for L.A. County beaches will reach the upper 70s and up to the low 80s for inland areas.

Parts of Orange County and Coachella Valley will see temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, with the warmest areas expected to reach 88 degrees.

Getting together with friends at a bar or pub tends to get a lot harder when children and needy pets enter the mix. One solution — Breweries! Beer gardens! Brewpubs!

Because parents (of kids and pets) want to go out, too — and not necessarily to a fast food restaurant with an indoor playground and no beer.

Thankfully, the Orange County suburbs where I live have gotten on board with my family- and pet-friendly craft brewery dreams. The key ingredients for me are spacious patios, a water bowl for the pooch, and food — either made onsite or, at the least, easy and quick to order and get delivered from somewhere else. Board and pub games are an added bonus.

Plus, of course, great beer from small, independent, local breweries. On the beer front, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of beer I encountered on my self-arranged tour of breweries in the Costa Mesa-Huntington Beach area.

Gone are the dark, dank days of nothing but IPA (IYKYK); now, you can find everything from pickle-tinged blondes, to mild sours, to rich and creamy stouts. If you’re not a big beer fan, every place I visited also had their own craft-made hard seltzers on the menu, as well as some non-alcoholic beverages.

Here are some of my favorites:

Riip (Huntington Beach)

Riip in Huntington Beach has two spots with full kitchens specializing in pizza and a wide variety of IPAs and other beer styles.

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Riip has been a family favorite since the company opened its first tasting room in Sunset Beach in 2015, with board games and tables the kids could write on. They have since expanded a lot, with a pizzeria next door and another location near Fountain Valley, which also serves excellent pizza, and has a small arcade to keep the kiddos busy.

One thing they do especially well: For serious IPA drinkers, Riip is your place. They usually have at least half a dozen different IPAs on tap, along with a decent variety of other beers, lighter and darker.

This place is great for … dinner after the kids’ [insert sport] game. Also for date night.

At Flashpoint Brewing Company in Huntington Beach, you can check out the brewing vats and other machinery up close while enjoying the results.

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Flashpoint Brewing Co. (Huntington Beach)

I only recently discovered Flashpoint, which opened in 2020 on an industrial street near Huntington Beach Central Park. I actually love this aspect of craft brewery taprooms: they’re often located outside of trendy food and retail areas because they need to be able to actually brew beer there as well as serve it.

Flashpoint has a big patio lit with fairy lights. The tall doors of their brewing area, and an adjacent room with the taps and more tables are rolled up during opening hours, giving it a spacious, indoor-outdoor feel.

One thing they do especially well: All the beers I tried were highly drinkable. In other words, not crazy hoppy or overly heavy on flavors. The nectarine sour was especially good, refreshing with just the right amount of tartness.

This place is great for … An early evening toast, watching the clouds turn pink.

Green Cheek Beer Co. in Costa Mesa serves great beer and food, including shareable, snackable items like pad thai cauliflower.

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Green Cheek Beer Co. (Costa Mesa)

Green Cheek Beer Co. now has three locations in Orange County and one in Oceanside. Their Costa Mesa spot is conveniently located not far from the city’s Bark Park. So, naturally, after my pooch has fun, I deserve a cold one.

Green Cheek has a huge covered patio filled with long picnic tables. My dog, Ace, was very happy to find a bowl of water set out for their canine visitors, and lots of pets from the humans.

One thing they do especially well: Green Cheek makes great beer. But what I love most about their Costa Mesa spot is that you can soak up the alcohol with food, including smash burgers, tots, and pad thai cauliflower, from their good and reliably fast kitchen.

This place is great for … reading a book, or making a new friend! Their long picnic tables make it easy to opt in or out of the surrounding social scene.

Bootlegger's Brewery outside the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa has a quiet patio for day drinking, and a lively trivia night scene.

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Bootlegger’s Brewery (Costa Mesa)

Within walking distance of Green Cheek is Bootlegger’s Brewery. Bootlegger’s started in Fullerton, and now also has tasting rooms in Costa Mesa and Redlands.

Their Costa Mesa spot is on the outskirts of the LAB Anti-Mall, a collection of small businesses and restaurants, at least one of which will deliver food to your table. A section of the parking lot has been turned into a nice outdoor patio with sun shades for daytime and heat lamps for chillier evening hours.

One thing they do especially well: Their Kosher Crusher pickle blonde ale. They debuted it last fall and it is seriously good — light, refreshing, and just a little bit zesty.

This place is great for … “working” on a Friday afternoon (I was not the only one there typing one-handed on my laptop with a beer in the other), and then inviting friends to join you for happy hour.

There's an ambiance for everyone at Salty Bear Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa.

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Salty Bear Brewing Company

Salty Bear is part of The Camp, an uber-cool retail and restaurant complex also within walking distance of Green Cheek and Bootlegger’s (you can do a tasting tour!).

Salty Bear is worth a visit for the aesthetics alone. It has a great bar with midcentury tiling and dimpled red leather. The sprawling, leafy outdoor patio provides plenty of room for the kids to wander.

One thing they do especially well: Their Coastline Strawberry Blonde made me nostalgic for the fruity beers that got me hooked on craft beer in my 20s — but so much better.

This place is great for … Kickin’ it on the patio with friends, either listening to live music, or letting your kids practice performing on the teepee-themed outdoor stage.

Other options in OC south of the 405:

Steady Kitchen and Taps, 18055 Magnolia St, Fountain Valley

Synth Beer Company, 2960 Randolph Av, Costa Mesa

Brewing Reserve of California, 2930 College Ave D, Costa Mesa

Some government funding streams for L.A. County’s public health system are drying up, and officials are turning to private philanthropy to fill the gap.

A new privately funded foundation launched Thursday to strengthen public health services after $50 million in federal, state and local funding cuts to the county’s Department of Public Health since early last year.

“It is really a hard day for our community when we have to ask for private donations to fund a public good, but unfortunately, we've lost too much money to not take this important step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

In February, the county’s Public Health Department closed seven clinics, with six remaining open. About half of the patients seen in those clinics are uninsured, according to county officials. The department also cut hundreds of staff positions.

Ferrer is on the board of the new foundation, The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, which held its first meeting Thursday.

She said the fund will help the county maintain its basic public health infrastructure, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency response efforts.

Other board members include several health insurance executives, as well as actors Sean Penn and Danny Trejo. Board member Saree Kayne of the R&S Kayne Foundation pledged $150,000 to the fund Thursday. Kayne said she hopes the donation encourages others to give.

The foundation aims to raise $2 million this year.

More cuts expected

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said it’s crucial to have an alternative funding stream to protect services for the county's most vulnerable residents.

“We are saving public health,” Mitchell said. “This fund represents a new approach, one that brings together government philanthropy in the private sector to invest in community-based solutions, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen our public health infrastructure.”

Officials say more public health cuts are coming, through the federal budget law known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which slashes funding for Medi-Cal.

The county Department of Public Health anticipates losing up to $300 million in revenue over the next three years because of the federal budget bill and other potential funding freezes. Federal funding accounts for almost 50% of the public health budget, according to county officials.

Mitchell also led an effort to put a half-percent county sales tax increase to fund public health on the June ballot.

If approved by voters, that proposal, known as Measure ER, is expected to raise about $1 billion a year for county safety net health services, including about $100 million for the public health department.

Board members

The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA announced its founding board of directors, which includes:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health director
• Debbie I. Chang, Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO
• Sean Penn, actor and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
• Martha Santana-Chin, LA Care Health Plan CEO
• Saree Kayne, R&S Kayne Foundation CEO
• Danny Trejo, actor and restaurateur
• Jarrett Barrios, an executive at the American Red Cross
• Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Dean
• Kristin McCowan, an executive at the Los Angeles Dodgers