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.
Volunteer pilots help essential workers get to their jobs while the 101 is closed
Listen
• 0:56
Dr. Levin said that he will fly back to Ventura for work on Saturday. Depending on when the 101 Freeway reopens, he will either drive or fly back home after that.
(
Carla Javier/KPCC
)
A volunteer pilot flew emergency room doctor Ross Levin from his work in Ventura to his home in Santa Barbara.
(
Ross Levin
)
Dr. Ross Levin said that the flight from Oxnard to Goleta took less than an hour.
(
Ross Levin
)
Levin said he had to fly, because driving around would take around five hours.
(
Ross Levin
)
Parts of the 101 connecting Santa Barbara and Ventura are still closed after last week's mudslides, which means commuters traveling between nearby towns like Oxnard, Santa Paula, Camarillo, and Santa Barbara are having to find creative ways to get to and from work.
Some are hopping on ferries, but the water can be choppy and rides can be long. Others are filing onto crowded Amtrak trains.
"You can take the I-5. It might take about five hours. You can take a boat or a train," explained emergency room doctor Ross Levin. "Those have limited hours which are hard for medical professionals."
Dr. Levin said that he will fly back to Ventura for work on Saturday. Depending on when the 101 Freeway reopens, he will either drive or fly back home after that.
(
Carla Javier/KPCC
)
Support for LAist comes from
So this week, to get to and from the hospital in Ventura where he works, he hopped into a private plane.
He didn’t have to pay for the flight, though.
The pilot who flew him is one of about 50 who have volunteered their time and their planes to help workers with critical jobs like his – in medicine, emergency response, or infrastructure – get in and out of town.
The community group Thomas Fire Help started pairing passengers with pilots last Friday.
"We didn't sit around and say 'We're going to start an airline,'" said Chris Collier, who's part of the group.
But that's kind of what happened.
Dr. Ross Levin said that the flight from Oxnard to Goleta took less than an hour.
(
Ross Levin
)
Support for LAist comes from
Normally, Collier works as a public affairs and political consultant, but ever since the Thomas Fire, he has been working with other volunteers to help connect people in need with resources.
"So we said, 'what if we flew people?' Just threw it out there, never having done this before," Collier said. They recruited 50 pilots in 24 hours.
He and another volunteer coordinated the transportation effort from his Ventura office.
"You can imagine, Emily and I sitting in my company's conference room with a giant white board, two laptops and a couple cell phones trying to figure out what the hell we were doing," Collier remembered.
Levin said he had to fly, because driving around would take around five hours.
(
Ross Levin
)
Collier said so far, they've organized over 70 flights. The passengers have included doctors like Levin, nurses, surgical technicians–and even patients.
The number of volunteer pilots, and passengers in need of a ride, got so big, they're now working with a Santa Monica based nonprofit that specializes in this work, Angel Flight West.
Support for LAist comes from
As for Dr. Levin, he’s going to need another flight. He has to be back at work in Ventura on Saturday.
Collier said Thomas Fire Help will continue to help Angel Flight West pair people in need of transport with pilots who are willing to take them until the 101 reopens.
"Matching help to need, that's kind of our slogan in our Thomas Fire help world," he said.
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
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
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 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.
Best of LAist