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Morning Briefing: Highland Park Fights For Green Space
(Photo illustration by Chava Sanchez, LAist/Photo Courtesy of Save Poppy Peak)
Good morning, L.A.
Los Angeles has one of the largest urban parks in the nation, but reliable access to green space is far from equal.
It’s not purely aesthetic -- trees provide shade in heatwaves and improve air quality (something we clearly need right now). Plus, in the pandemic, parks are one of the few places we can safely go outside of our homes.
That might explain why 6,000 Highland Park residents are fighting to stop the development of luxury homes on Poppy Peak.
LAist writer Erick Galindo spoke with Monica Alcaraz, whose family has lived in Highland Park for four generations. For her and others, Poppy Peak is to Highland Park what Runyon Canyon is to Hollywood -- one of the few places to get a breath of fresh air, above the sprawl.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
— LAist (@LAist) September 26, 2020
LA Protests: Thursday night in Hollywood, two vehicles drove through a crowd of protesters who were marching in honor of Breonna Taylor. LAPD is investigating both incidents.
Wildfires: The Bobcat Fire, now one of the largest wildfires in L.A. County history, has burned 113,986 acres of the Angeles National Forest. The good news? It’s now 55% contained and some evacuation orders are being lifted.
All Angelenos Count: The city of L.A., several non-profits and other local governments sued the Trump Administration last month over its decision to cut the 2020 Census short. Thursday night, the judge sided with the city, extending the count until October 31, which gives census enumerators and advocates extra time to reach non-responsive households. “Go ahead and appeal me,” Judge Koh said in the hearing. Trump’s lawyers took her up on the offer.
Coming To America: Contributor Eric Daza writes about moving to the U.S. from the Philippines as a kid, and navigating the conflicting identities of being both a “model minority” and a “Brown person” in America.
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Fight For Your Rights: More than 6,000 Highland Park residents have signed a petition to stop the development of luxury homes on the slopes of Poppy Peak.
Local Happenings: The owners of Esotouric Tours never expected to take their trips online, but the pandemic changed that. Their digital tour of the Bradbury Building launches today. If history isn’t your jam, here’s a curated list of (many) other things to do this weekend.
Photo Of The Day
Judy Barnett drops off flowers at a memorial to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the steps of the Skirball Cultural Center. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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