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.
L.A. Derby Dolls Season In Jeopardy Due To Safety Concerns After Oakland Fire
Tough Cookies duke it out with the Fight Crew at the Dollosseum. (Photo by Michael Zampelli via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
The future of Los Angeles' "premier all-female, banked track roller derby league" is in jeopardy. In the wake of the December blaze that killed 36 people in Oakland, the L.A. Derby Dolls say they are unable to obtain the necessary permits to continue operating out of their space in El Sereno."Over the last year and a half the Derby Dolls have been working with the City of Los Angeles in order to get a change of use/variance permit filed and approved for our facility, The Dollosseum," reads a GoFundMe campaign started by the roller derby league. "In the wake of the 'Ghost Ship' tragedy, the L.A. Derby Dolls are no longer able to obtain temporary special event permits from the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety."
The Dolls moved into the Dollosseum in El Sereno in May of last year, after their home in Historic Filipinotown was demolished to make way for development. The move was made possible by a successful Indiegogo campaign that raised over $100,000. This time, they have started a GoFundMe to raise over $119,000 to cover the cost of a zone variance permit, construction and improvements to bring the Dollosseum into compliance, and general operating costs.
Due to the burden of these costs, the Derby Dolls already canceled their first match of the year, originally scheduled for January 7. They add that "all of our public events scheduled for 2017 hang in the balance."
Founded in 2003, the Derby Dolls are a volunteer-run roller derby league with 150 members.
Support for LAist comes from
LAist has reached out to the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, and the Derby Dolls about the permits and will update when we hear back.
[h/t: Eastsider]
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
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist