Josie Huang
is a reporter and Weekend Edition host who spotlights the people and places at the heart of our region.
Published August 16, 2023 11:48 AM
People have come from as far as San Diego and the Central Coast to donate items for Maui residents at Aunty Maile's Hawaiian Restaurant in Torrance.
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Courtesy of Kai Tsukiyama
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Topline:
In the week since wildfires devastated Maui, the Hawaiian community in Southern California has organized donation drives and fundraising efforts. Some are urging to give to relief efforts rather than to visit the island.
What relief is being provided locally: The L.A. outpost of Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice is raising funds for its employees on Maui. In Torrance, Aunty Maile's Hawaiian Restaurant has collected so many donated camping materials, water and hygiene products that it has had to rent out five storage units.
Why it matters: Hawaiians note that living on the islands was already very expensive and that many of those who lost homes and livelihoods in the fire will have a difficult time recovering without help.
The need is only becoming more apparent: Officials have confirmed that more than 100 people have died as of Wednesday. The island is likely to struggle with the trauma and economic toll of the fires for years to come.
Since last week, Los Angeles college student Dominique Turner has gotten frequent dispatches from Maui, where she grew up.
Her dad works as a hotel cook in Lahaina, where wildfires have killed more than 100 people and leveled the historic town. These days, he’s spending more time outside the kitchen, delivering food to disaster volunteers as the hotel where he works prepares rooms for those in need of shelter.
All this has led Turner to make an appeal.
“It would help if tourists didn't go there at the moment just because Maui is grieving and needs time to heal,” Turner said.
Turner, who studies at Cal State LA, has joined a chorus of Hawaiians asking people to donate to relief efforts rather than visiting Maui.
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in Los Feliz, where Turner works, is raising funds to help employees at its shops in Lahaina, two of which have been destroyed by the fires. Patrons can give cash donations at the counter or contribute through a GoFundMe page.
Turner grew up in a Native Hawaiian family in the town of Wailuku. She used to commute about 45 minutes to work at different Ululani's locations in Lahaina. Some of her former co-workers have lost their homes and their belongings, she said. Turner worries that islanders are never going to recover from such a setback.
“The majority of these people that lost their homes, they don't have a lot of money,” Turner said. “A lot of them are working two jobs just to make ends meet. A lot of them don't have savings, with Hawaii already being a place where not even local people can afford to make rent or a mortgage.”
Ululani’s says 75% of the donations will go directly to its employees, while 25% will go to Lahaina organizations assisting families with the greatest needs. The chain said it would expand its operating hours at other locations on Maui to provide work for staff whose shops burned down.
The chain is also encouraging people to give to the larger Maui community through Maui Strong, an emergency fund created in response to the wildfires by the Hawai’i Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization that has offices in Maui.
Others with ties to Maui have been collecting donations to send, as groups and individuals. California has the nation's second-largest Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population after Hawaii, so it's no surprise to Okinawan-Hawaiian artist Lee Ann "Leebs" Goya that support for Maui has been so strong.
One population hub is in the South Bay, where Goya grew up in Gardena, going to school and church with other kids from Hawaii. Now in her 50s, Goya said they remain close to this day. She said all have been heartbroken by what’s happened in Lahaina, a second home to many of her friends and family.
Just last year Goya was in Lahaina, her late mother's hometown, to spread her ashes. The family home in Lahaina that was shared with her cousins burned down in last week’s fire, she said, along with the homes of many family friends.
Goya said her greatest fear now is that the burned properties will be swept up by predatory investors.
"I don't know how Lahaina is going to rebuild," Goya said. "I think my worry is the land going into other people's hands and not so much the locals. I know already some of my friends had been approached by investors to buy their business."
Goya said she has felt helpless watching Maui's destruction from the mainland. She has tried to support GoFundMe pages and volunteer for fundraising benefits. She'll also be donating proceeds from self-designed dishcloths she's selling on her website that read “Lahaina, we will lift her up!”
Artist Lee Ann "Leebs" is designing a dishcloth to benefit Lahaina residents.
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Josie Huang/LAist
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In Torrance, piles of camping gear, diapers, bottled water and hygiene products have flooded the patio of Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant. People have been converging on the restaurant with donations, coming from as far away as San Diego and the Central Coast. Some have ties to Hawaii, but many do not, said restaurant owner Kai Tsukiyama.
“There are literally strangers that are here literally helping sort all the donations,” Tsukiyama said in amazement.
Donated hygiene products and diapers line tables squeezed onto the patio of Aunty Maile's Hawaiian Restaurant in Torrance.
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Kai Tskuiyama
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Tsukiyama grew up splitting his time between Southern California and Hawaii. Most of his family lives in Oahu, but Tsukiyama said he feels strong ties to all the islands.
“The Hawaiian community is very close-knit,” Tsukiyama said. “Ohana (the Hawaiian term for ‘family’) and the feeling of aloha (‘fellowship" or "love") is a real thing. It's the community coming together to hold each other up and stand back up after things like this happened.”
Tsukiyama started collecting items for Maui after learning about a donation drive organized locally by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. As of Tuesday, the restaurant had sent over seven truckloads of donations to the union hall in Wilmington.
“Based on what we have here in front of us right now,” Tsukiyama said, “we’ll probably fill another 30 trucks.”
The longshoremen’s union has told the restaurant they don’t have any more container space for donations. Until he can find another way to expediently ship the items to Maui, Tsukiyama has rented five storage units nearby.
The restaurant has updated its Facebook pageto say they’re now at “max capacity.”
Cesar Becerra Jr. happily receives a gift from church members at Rock of Salvation.
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Jonathan Olivares
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Topline:
If you’re looking to donate, volunteer or find ways to give back, we’ve rounded up a list to help you get started.
Why now: With the holiday season underway, organizations across Boyle Heights and East LA are seeking volunteers to help distribute food, assemble bicycles, sort toys and sponsor families in need.
Local food distributions: The Weingart East LA YMCA hosts a food distribution every Monday and Wednesday to ensure families have access to nutritious meals. Volunteers are needed for each food distribution from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
Read on ... for other ways to give back on the Eastside.
This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on Nov. 25.
With the holiday season underway, organizations across Boyle Heights and East LA are seeking volunteers to help distribute food, assemble bicycles, sort toys and sponsor families in need.
If you’re looking to donate, volunteer or find ways to give back, we’ve rounded up a list to help you get started.
Build bicycles and organize donations at a toy giveaway
The Weingart East LA YMCA is hosting its 19th Annual Toy Giveaway on Dec. 18, and volunteers are needed to help prepare toys and provide support. Before the event, volunteers can help by assembling bicycles and sorting and organizing toys on Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are also needed to assist on event day from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Weingart East LA YMCA hosts a food distribution every Monday and Wednesday to ensure families have access to nutritious meals. Volunteers are needed for each food distribution from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
Mercado al Aire Libre, which started earlier this month, provides families with free, fresh and seasonal produce on the first and second Wednesdays of every month at its farmers-market-style food distribution. The mercado takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Wednesday of the month and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday. The next mercado will be on Dec. 3.
Address: Salesian Family Youth Center, 2228 E. Fourth St., Los Angeles
How to volunteer: Those interested in volunteering can reach out to Celene Rodriguez by phone at (323) 243-5758 or email at celene@visionycompromiso.org.
Drop off toys at First Street businesses
LAFC’s Expo Originals supporters group is collecting new, unwrapped toys and Venmo donations ahead of its annual community toy drive Dec. 14. Venmo contributions will go toward toy purchases, and the last day to donate is Dec. 6. Toys can be dropped off in person at the locations below until Dec. 13.
Proyecto Pastoral is collecting new jackets to keep its participants at the Guadalupe Homeless Shelter warm.
Where to donate: Jackets can be dropped off at the Proyecto Pastoral office located at 135 N. Mission Road from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsor a family, child or classroom ahead of the holidays
Proyecto Pastoral has many opportunities for the community to give back during its Holiday Drive this year. Those interested in fulfilling holiday wishes for a family, child or classroom have until Dec. 1 to register. Proyecto Pastoral will pair sponsors with community members in need to fulfill items from their wish list.
Individual toys also can be dropped off at Proyecto Pastoral’s office. The toys will be distributed to children who participate in Proyecto Pastoral’s youth programs at their end-of-year celebrations.
Makenna Sievertson
breaks down evolving policies and programs with a focus on the housing and homelessness challenges confronting some of SoCal's most vulnerable residents.
Published November 25, 2025 2:51 PM
California Attorney General Rob Bonta during a news conference Aug. 2.
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Myung J. Chun
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Greystar, which manages hundreds of properties in California, has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company and other landlords used a price scheme to raise rents artificially high.
Background: In January, Greystar was named as a defendant in an antitrust lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice and several other states against software company RealPage, which officials say uses algorithmic models to recommend price increases to subscribers.
Bonta alleges that Greystar used RealPage’s system to coordinate rental prices with other landlords by illegally sharing and gathering confidential information. According to his office, RealPage’s “price alignment scheme” affected rentals across the country, especially in multifamily buildings in Southern California, including in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino.
The settlement: Bonta announced last week that, as part of the settlement, Greystar has agreed to stop using software that uses competitively sensitive information to set rent prices, including from RealPage.
The company has also agreed to cooperate in the federal prosecution of RealPage and the other landlords named as defendants, such as Camden and Willow Bridge.
Greystar statement: Greystar told LAist that it’s “pleased this matter is resolved,” and the company “remain[s] focused on serving our residents and clients.”
Go deeper ... for more information on the case.
Greystar, which manages hundreds of properties in California, has agreed to pay $7 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company and other landlords used a price scheme to raise rents artificially high.
In January, Greystar was named as a defendant in an antitrust lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice and several other states against software company RealPage, which officials say uses algorithmic models to recommend price increases to subscribers.
Bonta alleges Greystar used RealPage’s system to coordinate rental prices with other landlords by illegally sharing and gathering confidential information. According to his office, RealPage’s “price alignment scheme” affected rentals across the country, especially in multifamily buildings in Southern California, including in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino.
"Whether it's through smoke-filled backroom deals or through an algorithm on your computer screen, colluding to drive up prices is illegal,” Bonta said in a statement. “Companies that intentionally fuel this unaffordability by raising prices to line their own pockets can be sure I will use the full force of my office to hold them accountable.”
Details on the settlement
Greystar is the largest landlord in the U.S., according to the Department of Justice, managing nearly 950,000 rental units across the country. In California, the company manages about 333 multifamily rental properties that use RealPage’s pricing software, according to Bonta’s office.
Bonta announced last week that as part of the settlement, Greystar has agreed to stop using software that uses competitively sensitive information to set rent prices, including from RealPage.
The company also has agreed to cooperate in the federal prosecution of RealPage and the other landlords named as defendants, such as Camden and Willow Bridge.
Greystar said in a statement to LAist that it’s “pleased this matter is resolved” and the company “remain[s] focused on serving our residents and clients.”
Settlement with RealPage
The U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement with RealPage on Monday to resolve its claims against the company.
If the settlement is approved by the court, RealPage would be required to stop using competitors’ private, sensitive information to set rental prices and remove or redesign features in its software that limited price drops or aligned prices between competitors, according to the Justice Department.
RealPage also would be required to cooperate in the lawsuit against property management companies that have used its software and agree to a court-appointed monitor to make sure it complies with the proposed settlement.
Dirk Wakeham, president and CEO of RealPage, said in a statement Monday that the proposed resolution marks an important milestone for the company and its customers.
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the DOJ, which brings the clarity and stability we have long sought and allows us to move forward with a continued focus on innovation and the shared goal of better outcomes for both housing providers and renters,” Wakeham said.
RealPage denies any wrongdoing, attorney Stephen Weissman said in a statement.
Kavish Harjai
writes about transportation policy in L.A.
Published November 25, 2025 2:29 PM
One of the appeals partially accepted stemmed from a road safety project the city completed on Hollywood Boulevard last year.
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Courtesy of Los Angeles Department of Transportation
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Topline:
On Monday, Los Angeles officials considered claims that it did not install Measure HLA-mandated mobility upgrades where it should have. But the Board of Public Works rejected most of the claims, meaning the city maintains its position that it has been doing road work largely in accordance with Measure HLA. It was the first hearing of its kind since the city began accepting appeals this summer.
Measure HLA: The ordinance requires the city to install mobility upgrades, like bike lanes and pedestrian signal improvements, when it resurfaces at least one-eighth of a mile of certain streets throughout the city. As of August, L.A. city residents can file appeals claims to the Board of Public Works explaining why they think the city was not complying with Measure HLA. For more instructions and an explanation on that process, you can read LAist’s story here.
First round of appeals: The Board of Public Works partially sided with the appellant in one appeal and rejected the other six. Joe Linton, in his capacity as a resident and not as editor of Streetsblog L.A., filed all the appeals heard on Monday. “It’s the very first time, so we’re kind of throwing a lot of spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks,” Linton told LAist. “Not a lot stuck.”
One appeal approved: Linton partially won his appeal claiming the city did not adequately install pedestrian improvements along a nearly half-mile portion of Hollywood Boulevard that it resurfaced last year. The city said it will publish an “appeals resolution plan” to fix sidewalks there within the next six months. “It was really obvious to me that the city’s justification … was not true, so I was glad that that was acknowledged,” Linton said.
Most rejected: In the other six appeals, the Board of Public Works agreed that the city’s work was properly exempted from Measure HLA because it only involved restriping the road. Linton had argued in those appeals that the city's work should have triggered Measure HLA because it involved reconfiguring lanes, modifying parking and adding new signage.
More appeals to be heard: The Board of Public Works on Monday will hear four additional appeals Linton filed.
Yusra Farzan
covers Orange County and its 34 cities, watching those long meetings — boards, councils and more — so you don’t have to.
Published November 25, 2025 2:19 PM
Newport Beach residents to decide on plan to build far fewer housing units in the city.
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Allen J. Schaben
/
Los Angeles Times
)
Topline:
Newport Beach voters will decide if they want to replace a state-approved housing plan with one that zones for far fewer new homes in 2026.
How we got here: Proponents of the plan called the Responsible Housing Initiative say the state-approved housing plan will negatively affect quality of life.
About the initiative: The initiative rejects the city’s current housing plan — which allows for more than 8,000 homes — and instead proposes just 2,900 homes exclusively for extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
The state-approved city plan: According to California law, Newport Beach needs to build 4,845 new units — 3,436 of which must be affordable for very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
Read on ... for more on next steps and tug-of-war over development plans.
Newport Beach voters will decide if they want to replace a state-approved housing plan with one that allows for far fewer new homes in 2026.
Proponents of the plan, called the Responsible Housing Initiative, say the current plan will make the city overcrowded and negatively affect quality of life.
“This isn’t downtown Los Angeles,” said Charles Klobe, president of Still Protecting Our Newport, which backs the Responsible Housing Initiative.
Last week, city leaders voted to put the initiative in front of voters after the Newport Beach Stewardship Association submitted the Responsible Housing Initiative petition with more than 8,000 signatures. The initiative rejects the city’s current housing plan and instead proposes an amendment to the general plan to facilitate the development of 2,900 homes exclusively for extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households.
The city’s current housing plan, which has the backing of the state, allows for more than 8,000 homes, including the required affordable housing units.
“ We're against the city building more market rate than the state required. We believe it's a giveaway to developers who will fund re-election campaigns of the council,” Klobe said.
What does California law require?
California’s Housing Element Law sets housing targets for local governments to meet, including for affordable units. It allows the state to intervene every eight years to let cities know how much housing they must plan for. The law also requires cities to put together a housing element showcasing how they will achieve the state’s plan. The state then approves of the element or sends it back to cities to reconfigure according to the requirements.
According to California law, Newport Beach needs to build 4,845 new units — 3,436 of which must be affordable for very low-, low- and moderate-income households. According to the city, Newport Beach can’t just plan for affordable housing units “because that would assume all future projects would be 100% affordable, which is not realistic based on previous development experiences.” And so, the city’s rezone plans include more than 8,000 units.
Councilmember Robyn Grant said during the council meeting that she’s not in favor of the state mandate. But, she added, “After extensive legal analysis and public outreach and workshops and hearings and meetings and more meetings, this council approved an updated general plan to bring Newport Beach into compliance and avoid serious penalties, including the loss of local land use control."
Newport Beach did appeal the state’s housing mandates on the grounds that it did not take into account how some of the city’s coastal lands are protected from urban development, but the appeal was rejected.
To learn more about how Newport Beach arrived at its state-approved housing plan, click here.
What is the Responsible Housing Initiative proposing?
The Responsible Housing Initiative counts the number of housing units already in development and proposes an additional 2,900 affordable housing units to meet the state mandate.
Klobe said they believe the initiative will receive state backing because “they claim to want affordable housing and our initiative requires it.”
Supporters of the measure contend the city’s current plan will increase the population, result in excessive traffic and disrupt the quality of life. They also sued Newport Beach for not first going to voters, but they failed in court.
To learn more about the Responsible Housing Initiative, click here.
What’s next
Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the Responsible Housing Initiative in November 2026.
