Morning Brief: Census Numbers, Infrastructure, And CicLAvia

Good morning, L.A. It’s August 13.

Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 Census. It includes information that could lead to California losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives due to redistricting.

The report also demonstrated that some areas of SoCal, including the Inland Empire, are growing fast, even as L.A. County’s growth slows. L.A. County grew about 1.9% in the past decade, down from 3.1% reported in the 2010 Census.

My colleague Libby Denkmann reports that the redistricting process, which happens once a decade, is already underway. Public meetings are being held for Californians to share input about their neighborhoods with redistricting commissions, which are in charge of crafting new boundaries.

The new borders will be set in place by the end of this year, or early January, for all of California’s assembly, state senate, congressional, county supervisor, and city council districts, as well as school district boards.

Meanwhile, Irvine made the top 10 list of the U.S.’ fastest-growing cities. My colleague Josie Huang reports that the Orange County municipality grew 45% over the past decade, from more than 212,000 to nearly 308,000 residents.

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A., and stay safe out there.

What Else You Need To Know Today

• L.A. County expanded the vaccine mandate to paramedics, EMTs, and home health care workers.
• Senate Democrats voted through a $3.5 trillion spending package, on the heels of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill. What's in it for California?
• Several public health experts, all parents, share their personal strategies for keeping kids who are under 12, and therefore not eligible for the vaccine, safe from the delta variant.
• Excited to go to a music festival? Great! Wait, are you unvaccinated? Then hold up.

Weekend Reads

There's a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone to stay current on the news. But if you have some time this weekend, here’s what you may have missed:

Women working in plumbing, carpentry and utilities are scarce. Some in those industries hope to incite change. (LAist)

School rules under COVID-19 are specific, intended to help keep students safe as they head back to campus. (LAist)

The Watts Rebellion, which marked its 56th anniversary this week, was a breaking point in civil rights in L.A. (L.A. Watts Times)

In Echo Park, affordable housing for seniors is underway. (Urbanize L.A.)

The future of Long Beach’s iconic Queen Mary is up in the air. (LAist)

Meet the couple who changed L.A. helicopter news — and popularized the televised car chase. (LAist)

A new series of murals celebrates Boyle Heights culture. (Boyle Heights Beat)

West Hollywood’s iconic Greenblatt’s Deli closed its doors for good. (Eater L.A.)

Plant-based Mexican food is one of the most innovative cuisines in L.A. Here’s where to find it. (LAist)

Before You Go ... This Week's Outdoor Pick: CicLAvia

CicLAvia, from a recent version in Wilmington

(Farah Sosa)

It’s back! CicLAvia, the free, open streets event, returns to Wilmington after a COVID hiatus. People are welcome to bike, jog or walk a 2.25-mile route connecting Banning Park and Wilmington Waterfront Park via Avalon, C and M streets. Support local eateries and businesses along the route, or stop at Wilmington Town Square to check out a local arts and crafts market, live music and a beer garden.

Or, you could: Dance under the stars. Celebrate the anniversary of Cypress Hill’s self-titled debut. Discover fresh LGBTQIA+ voices at Outfest. Listen to conversations with Emmy contenders. And more.