One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
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.
Pro-Plastic Bag Group Donates $100K for a Cleaner L.A. River
A division of the L.A. Conservation Corps called the L.A. River Keepers combine classroom environmental education with outdoor work to help clean and green the waterway. In a year period, the young adult group has removed some 400,000 lbs trash and debris from the river, 26,000 square feet of invasive plants and 27,000 square feet of graffiti. Later this morning, Councilmember Ed Reyes and the American Chemistry Council will announce a $100,000 contribution to the program. The money is definitely a good thing, but it should be noted that the ACC created an arm called the Progressive Bag Affiliates, "created to fight municipal ordinances banning plastic grocery bags," according to SourceWatch. You can hear the ACC speak against Malibu banning bags on KCRW here.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
