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Electric scooter company Bird gets to stay in its hometown after all
People ride shared electric scooters in Santa Monica, California, on July 13, 2018.
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Electric scooter company Bird gets to stay in its hometown after all
Electric scooter company Bird got its start in Santa Monica last year before quickly spreading to cities across the country. But in recent weeks, it looked like Bird could have been banned from its hometown.
A city report that ranked Bird lower than other scooter companies on factors like safety and public education prompted a protest in which Bird deactivated its scooters in Santa Monica for a day. But on Thursday, the city's planning director decided to let Bird and competitor Lime continue operating in the city.
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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.
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