Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
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.
How To Get Involved: 4 Ways As Told By Eric Garcetti
Last week after receiving the Hottest Politician award from Downtown News, 13th District Councilman Eric Garcetti headed up to the Valley where he grew up. "You can the kid out of the Valley, but you can't take the Valley out of the kid," he told a the San Fernando Valley Jaycees at their monthly membership meeting. Garcetti, a Jaycee alumnus himself, spoke eloquently about the history of Los Angeles and how we got to where we are today (it was such a good speech, we are kicking ourselves for not having our digital recorder on us).
One Jaycee member asked what people can do to start getting involved and Garcetti gave four tips:
- Be Positive: So often it is the bad-mouthing and the crass attitudes that are found during public comment in public meetings. People are against this, against that. But when something is good, public comment is a field of crickets. A good example was this past Wednesday at the medical marijuana hearings where every comment was positive.
- Replace Your Light Bulbs: If everyone in the City of Los Angeles replaced their regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents (which you should get free from your city council office), then the City could rid itself of one coal fire plant. Simple enough, right?
- Take Charge Of Your Block: Become a block captain, just for your block. If one person per block in Los Angeles took charge, we would be graffiti tag free. See www.UnTagLA.com for more info. (Author's note: from personal experience as block captain for my street, it works. It is a rarity to see tags anymore.)
- Public Transit: Commit to one trip a week using an alternative transportation method. Buses, trains, bikes, walk? Your choice. Then measure the carbon offset and car trip/miles saved.
Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
