Civics & Democracy

LAist’s coverage of civic life and citizen issues in Southern California. We cover elections, examine who gets listened to and why, and provide a guide for anyone who wants to more fully participate in civic life.

A large digital billboard is displayed on an arch spanning across a street. The billboard reads "I work 24/7 - generating millions for Inglewood" inside a speech bubble next to a cartoon face. Signage about that in large letters reads "Inglewood."

Inglewood’s flashy digital billboards could hit the ballot this fall

The massive LED screens have divided locals and sparked a legal fight between the city and the owners of SoFi Stadium and other venues.

Who wants to be California’s insurance commissioner? Your guide to the candidates

Charred remains of a home overlooking a community with trees and buildings in the distance.

California courts will begin tracking ICE arrests at their facilities

A child holding a folder looks towards the camera as they stand in the distance next to two adults.

California election officials face false choice: Count votes quickly or count them right

A group of people with multiple USPS boxes filled with ballots inspect and pull from those boxes. They sit in a warehouse.

Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132M campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race

Tom Steyer, a man with light skin tone, gray hair, wearing a dark blue suit, speaks into a handheld microphone as something in the foreground partially covers the frame on the right side.

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LA City Council District 14

Kevin de León is running for his second term, despite previous calls for his resignation. He faces Ysabel J. Jurado on the November ballot.
2 OC Supervisors push for investigations into nonprofits that can’t account for taxpayer money

It’s the latest action to take place after an LAist investigation revealed public records showed millions of dollars were unaccounted for.
Young Black voters are becoming more conservative than their parents. Here's why

Black voters are the most reliable Democratic voting bloc. Young voters overwhelmingly support the party, too. But young Black voters are a wild card as they feel disconnected from politics.
Gavin Newsom, once Biden’s biggest cheerleader, inches into the Kamala Harris campaign

California’s governor stood by President Biden to the bitter end, but is taking a less visible role in the Harris campaign so far.
Meta shutters tool used to fight disinformation, despite outcry to keep CrowdTangle going

The social media company discontinues its CrowdTangle tool, which researchers have used to track misinformation. Amid fears of election interference, lawmakers have urged Meta to keep it running.
Richard Alatorre, a 'titan in the Chicano community,' has died at 81

His death was announced during Tuesday's L.A. City Council meeting. In 1985, he became the second Latino elected to the council in the 20th century.
Why Silicon Valley wants to kill this AI bill

The sprawling California legislation offers protection to whistleblowers and citizens. The coming weeks could decide its fate.
SoCal needs more election workers. Here’s how you can help

Officials in Los Angeles and Orange counties are recruiting temporary workers to staff vote centers across SoCal. We’ve compiled a guide with everything you need to know about becoming a poll worker.
Republicans target Kamala Harris’ ‘California-ness.’ Do swing state voters care?

The vice president must defend her California roots and record against attacks by the Trump campaign. Voters and politicians in the swing states of Michigan and Arizona say that may not be the deciding factor.
Cityhood or not, East LA residents want more transparency

How a quest for cityhood transformed into a fight for representation on the Eastside.
California rent control back on the ballot, twice

Sky-high rent is among Californians’ biggest concerns. Nearly 30% of tenants spend more than half their income on rent; and the median rent is $2,850 a month, 33% higher than the national average.
TikTok, Brat and Kamala Harris: Will newly fired-up young voters flip elections in California?

Young voters in California and across the country are excited about Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Civics & Democracy