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.
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.
Love Black Friday But Hate the DREAM Act? There's An Event For You

The campaign to overturn the DREAM Act is steadily gaining steam in California. Opponents of the state law, which allows undocumented high school graduates to apply for financial aid, have been gathering signatures throughout the state. If they get enough signatures, they will be able to put the issue up to popular vote.Opponents of the DREAM act kicked off their campaign in conservative strongholds in the Central Valley. And for the next week they are targeting opponents in the Inland Empire. All day today opponents of the law are targeting Black Friday shoppers at the Upland Colonies Shopping Center in the Inland Empire at a "Park N Sign," according to CBS Los Angeles. Next week outspoken DREAM act opponents and shock jocks John & Ken are holding a "Stop the Dream Act Petition Rally" in Ontario, according to The San Bernardino Sun.
Groups such as "We the People California's Crusader" and "Stop AB 131" are hoping to get signatures from at least 500,000 opponents of the DREAM act by January 6 in order to put the issue up to state voters next year. The groups oppose giving funding to undocumented immigrants and say that money should be going to legal state residents.
"Our state is very low on funds to the tune of being in debt billions of dollars and we feel, particularly at this time, to protect taxpayer-funded financial aid to students in our country unlawfully is an incredible waste of tax dollars," said Robin Hvidston, executive director of We the People and an Inland Empire representative for Stop AB 131. "We believe every tax dollar should be going to American college students that are struggling."
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 critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems.
-
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028.
-
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach.
-
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk.
-
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain.
-
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.