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.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A Tale of Two Mommies
()
Tonight, every media outlet in Los Angeles will lead with the news that Robert Blake was acquitted of charges that he murdered or conspired to murder his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakely, because he feared that she would be a terrible mother to their daughter.Coincidently, Scott Peterson was sentenced to death for killing his wife and their unborn son in Northern California.
Both cases played out in a blaze of publicity and circumstantial evidence. We wonder if the manner in which each victim was portrayed to their respective juries affected each outcome: Laci Peterson was always portrayed as a saint and few will be able to forget the image of her smiling face in photographs posted on television screens during the fruitless search operation during the Xmas season of 2002. Her murder trial constantly featured her picture, clothing and video tapes. Her spirit was around that courtroom on a consistent basis.
In contrast, Bonnie Lee Bakely's bad behavior, rather than her personality as in the Peterson trail, was always the focal point in the Blake trial; the prosecution included testimony about Blake's contempt for his wife due to her promiscuity and criminal background as motivation to prove his ambition to kill her and raise their child alone, thereby helping the defense to distract the jury from the real crime: a defenseless woman was killed while sitting in her own car. Bakely may not have been very sympathetic but she was the victim in this trial, not Blake.
Support for LAist comes from
We also wonder if Los Angeles juries are ever capable of convicting anyone who is a celebrity. Perhaps, Blake could afford slicker lawyers who were more effective in selling their client's innocence than Peterson. The Los Angeles Times quoted the actor outside the courtroom " "Thank God," he said, congratulating the roster of aides. "I'm broke, I need a job," he added, explaining how he went through $10 million in five years to fund his defense."
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
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist