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.
Heading to the LA Convention Center? You Might Want To Bring A Reusable Water Bottle
Los Angeles Convention center on March 7, 2021
(
Frazer Harrison
/
Getty Images
)
If you get thirsty in the Los Angeles Convention Center any time soon, don't expect to be able to buy bottled water. The Convention Center is joining the growing movement to ban the use of single use plastic bottles.
General Manager Ellen Schwartz said they've been trying to make the change for a while.
“It wasn't something that happened overnight,” Schwartz said. “It was something that we worked on for quite a while in the past. We had started before the pandemic and then the pandemic hit, and then we were able to actualize this as we're coming out of it.”
Visitors can bring reusable bottles to fill up at the Convention Center’s 24 hydration stations. The L.A. Department of Water and Power is adding clearer “fill up here” signs to help guests locate the water dispensers. Its exclusive food vendor, Levy Restaurants, has already replaced single-use plastic bottles with aluminum, and vending machine bottles have also been changed over.
Support for LAist comes from
“We're constantly looking at projects that will help us be more sustainable and good stewards of our environment,” Schwartz said.
The move comes as L.A. County approved an ordinance phasing in its own ban on single-use plastic food containers, cups and cutlery next year. It will take effect for restaurants in May 2023, and will be expanded later to food trucks, catering companies and farmers' markets.
The L.A. city council has also been considering how to expand its existing single-use restrictions to phase out disposable foodware.
The council banned single-use dispensers in certain businesses in November, and made it mandatory for takeout orders to only have disposable cutlery and napkins on request.
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
-
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.
Best of LAist