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 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.
Happy Birthday Carrie Fisher!
Carrie Fisher is a year older today and LAist, for one, is grateful for that fact because she's still around for us to enjoy. Fisher should be the patron saint of Los Angeles. She's the consummate Angeleno: grew up in Beverly Hills as the offspring of glamourous Hollywood stars, became a global icon herself via the "Star Wars" triology, lived the LA "high" life as a drug addict, crashed, burned, crashed, burned, turned the detritus of her life into witty books and scripts and now raises a child with a man who "forgot" to tell her he was gay. She's managed to remain down-to-earth, funny, and wise despite living her life in the public glare. She's simultaneously idolized and pitied by millions. How can you resist a gal who once quipped "(On merchandising for "Star Wars") I signed my likeness away. Every time I look in the mirror, I have to send Lucas a couple of bucks."
And she used to throw an annual kick-ass birthday celebration with Penny Marshall. Does she still do that?
Los Angeles should imitate the French, who select the profiles of famous French women to represent their national symbol, Marianne. This LAist is such a "Star Wars" geek that if Fisher's likeness were indeed immortalized as a statue representing our fair city, we would insist that the statue mimic Han Solo's iconic pose in "The Empire Strikes Back" as he's carbonized for transport back to Jaba the Hutt.
When Western society finally devolves back to paganism, we could make little altars to our LA goddess using these miniature Fisher statues and Princess Leia figurines.
Wonder if Lucas would give LA the rights...
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.

-
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 Thursday 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.
-
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.