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.
Belmont Tunnel
()
Los Angeles is once again busy trying to scrub away our colorful and interesting heritage. The Belmont Tunnel, formerly used to hustle rail traffic into and out of downtown, is in danger of being restricted from public use. The issue is rancorous because since its abandonment, the Tunnel has become a sort of wasteland, inhabited mostly by the unseemly characters that police pin all sorts of nastiness on: the homeless and taggers.
Belmont Tunnel has become, over the years, the mecca of West Coast graffiti. Its walls are consistently coated with excellent work—the sort most people only stumble upon if they're lucky, or riding the Red Line.
In an effort to save the Tunnel from being completely cut off, the City is proposing that it be turned into a park with "legal" graffiti walls for use by the taggers and graffiti artists who frequent it. While this would prevent the construction of a mega apartment complex, it would also scare away the artists who have made it what it is, removing the main reason the graffiti is there in the first place: it's not supposed to be.
Support for LAist comes from
The debate over graffiti has been a long and ugly one, resulting in incarceration and censure for the artists who do it, and irritation and hysterical sensitivity on the part of the public. Sure, it's illegal and some of it is ugly but pegging graffiti artists as "urban terrorists" isn't really doing anything to stop it—and neither is the jail time. What's so wrong with accepting graffiti as a part of urban life and learning to live with it, and perhaps accept it as a viable (and organic) form of art?
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