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.
Spending In LAUSD Races Shatters Record — And There Are Still Two Weeks Til Election Day
()
Outside political groups have spent more than $14.9 million trying to sway the outcomes of this year’s Los Angeles Unified school board races.
That total sets a new “independent expenditure” record for any LAUSD campaign — and there are still two weeks left until voters decide the two competitive races.
The old record was set just three years ago: in 2017, pro-charter school groups pulled out all the stops in hopes of unseating an incumbent and turning a wide-open race in their favor.
Support for LAist comes from
This year, the same storyline is repeating itself: The California Charter Schools Association and deep-pocketed pro-charter donors have combined to spend nearly $12 million this cycle.
Teachers unions are a traditional power in LAUSD politics, but their financial arsenal has been no match for that of the charter groups. United Teachers Los Angeles has spent $2.6 million trying to influence the outcomes of the two races.
As we explained in our field guide to the race, most of the spending in LAUSD races comes from independent expenditure groups. The candidates themselves have no say over this outside spending; their campaigns have their own fundraising efforts — but they can’t raise the sums these outside groups can.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S RACES:
- A Field Guide To 2020's Super-Expensive, Bitterly Fought LAUSD School Board Elections
- Meet the candidates in Board District 3 (the west San Fernando Valley):
Marilyn Koziatek | Scott Schmerelson - Meet the candidates in Board District 7 (South L.A. & the Harbor):
Patricia Castellanos | Tanya Ortiz Franklin
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
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
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist