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.
Morning Briefing: Who’s Behind LA’s Progressive Wave?
A banner in Silver Lake for Nithya Raman, who won the Nov. 3 2020 election to represent CD4 on the Los Angeles City Council. (Eric Kelly)
()
Good morning, L.A.
In writing about the progressive wave that swept our local elections, my colleague Libby Denkmann identified Ground Game L.A. as the group behind Nithya Raman’s upset win in the race for the City Council’s District 4 seat. With no prior political experience, Raman unseated incumbent David Ryu — a rare occurrence in local city council races.
Her win shined a spotlight on the nonprofit, which is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in local politics.
Born during Jessica Salans’ 2017 campaign for a city council seat, Ground Game L.A. took shape when a group of volunteers joined forces to back the candidate. Salans lost, but core volunteers saw an opportunity to coalesce the city’s progressive energy and turn it into action. According to its website, the nonprofit now publishes its own news site, and works to support renters’ rights, end police violence and clean up the environment – in addition to backing candidates.
Support for LAist comes from
Co-founder Meghan Choi said that Ground Game L.A. has been taken under the wing of more experienced activists, who have shown the organization how to be effective.
"We had incredibly good mentorship,” she said, “from groups that had been doing this work for a long time.”
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, November 12
Now that Biden has won the presidential election, Josie Huang checks in with DACA recipients, who have experienced a roller coaster ride after Trump canceled the program that lets them live here legally.
Support for LAist comes from
Frank Stoltze analyzes a survey of LAPD cops by their union that finds overwhelming dissatisfaction with Chief Michel Moore.
Never miss an LAist story. Sign up for our daily newsletters.
The Past 24 Hours In LA
L.A. Kids: LAUSD officials rolled out a return-to-campus plan, should L.A. County move out of the purple coronavirus tier.
Policing Law Enforcement: The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department may have violated a student journalist’s constitutional rights by unlawfully seizing his camera and phone while he covered a protest in September.
Race In L.A.: On Veterans Day, we profiled Luther Hendricks, 95, one of the first members of the all-Black Montford Point Marines, the Marines’ equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Census Bureau is reporting that non-response rates were high this year for questions involving birth date, race, and Latina/o or Hispanic origin.
Support for LAist comes from
Election 2020: Nithya Raman's upset of incumbent L.A. City Councilman David Ryu is the cap on a series of wins by progressive candidates and measures in the city. What does the defeat of Prop 15 mean for future efforts to reform Prop 13?
Photo of the Day
Ninety-five-year-old World War II veteran Luther Hendricks poses with some of his military honors.
(HENDRICKS FAMILY / U.S. MARINE CORPS)
()
Help Us Cover Your Community
- Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
- Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Support for LAist comes from
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
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
-
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.
-
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.
Best of LAist