Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

LA City Council Meetings Canceled Over COVID-19 Safety Concerns

Nury Martinez represents the 6th District in the Los Angeles City Council. On Dec. 3rd, 2019 she was elected to succeed Herb Wesson as Los Angeles City Council President. (Libby Denkmann/LAist)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

The Los Angeles City Council has a lot on its plate: trying to contain the health risks of an aggressive and deadly virus while mitigating the economic effects of a widespread shutdown on L.A.’s people and businesses.

But for now, that work will have to wait: Council President Nury Martinez is canceling council meetings while staff and members work out the logistics of holding them safely.

Calling the coronavirus threat “uncharted waters,” Martinez said in a letter, “We have a collective responsibility and obligation to the people of Los Angeles government operating while protecting the safety and welfare of its employees, the public and the media.”

Martinez added she would convene an emergency meeting to address any emergency items requiring council action “once all safety and logistical concerns have been met.”

Support for LAist comes from

Agenda items that were expected to be addressed tomorrow will be rescheduled.

In an email, spokesman Rick Coca said Martinez wants the meeting “rescheduled as soon as humanly possible given the important items we need to address to assist the residents and stakeholders of Los Angeles during this crisis.”

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist