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.
'Lawn Dude' billboards encourage conservation across Southern California

An anthropomorphized lawn character, Lawn Dude, has been appearing on billboards in Southern California to encourage water conservation, and it's been announced he'll be sticking around through August.
The effort is sponsored by water nonprofit the Southern California Water Committee (SCWC).
"The Lawn Dude campaign has been a valuable way for the Southern California Water Committee to grab the public's attention when it comes to outdoor water conservation, going beyond the limitations typically placed on what public agencies and water districts can say," Charles Wilson, chair of the SCWC Board of Trustees, said in a press release.
The billboards' colorful slogans include "Manscape your landscape" and "The Gov put me on a diet." They're describing cutting back on watering your grass with the colorful hashtag #LayOffTheSauce. The character also appeared on billboards last year.
"I'm fresh off a water cleanse and have never looked better, thanks to that H2O diet Governor Brown put me on," SCWC attributed to Lawn Dude in a press release. "I know people thought I might be all dried up, but I'm back and ready to kick some grass." (KPCC reminds you that Lawn Dude is not an actual person.)
Wilson thanked the Clear Channel Outdoor billboard company for donating billboard space allowing Lawn Dude to stay on billboards.
"We are in the drought of the century – not your mother's or even your grandmother's drought. Lawn Dude is doing a great service in getting attention on the best place to save water now in case the drought lasts beyond this year or the next," Felicia Marcus, chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, said in the release.
"Lawn Dude does a wonderful job of using humor to captivate Californians about an otherwise 'dry' subject," Layne Lawson, director of public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor, said in the release. "It's important we remind the public that the drought is far from over and now is the time to conserve."
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.