With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
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.
'Hearse-In' Staged For Future Mortician Whose Uptight Landlords Banned Her Hearse
A hearse-in was held Sunday as a show of support for Samantha Kidner, the 18-year-old mortuary science student whose apartment complex told her she couldn't park her hearse on the property.
Kidner pays for two spots at the Lorenzo Apartments in University Park and has a handicapped decal on the back of her car, due to a spinal disorder that can cause her to stumble or fall. She told CBS that when she went to park on Thursday night, the security guard stood in front of her car and wouldn't let her.
The tenants who said they find her car "spooky" must have been really scared when a few friendly hearse enthusiasts showed up with their cars to show Kidner some love. One attendee, hearse driver Lydia Robinvale, said she thinks it's definitely discrimination, and that a hearse really is "just a car."
Kidner and her twin sister, who also drives a hearse, dream of one day opening a mortuary together.
Support for LAist comes from
The apartment complex has yet to respond with any sort of official statement on hearsegate.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist