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State of the State: Bad is Good?
There's no nice way to put it: Things are pretty lousy in our state's economy. From state-issued payments not going out to people leaving in record numbers, it seems our sunny skies had some pretty depressing clouds hanging in them. Turns out our clouds do have a silver lining after all. With all the focus on state budget woes, it can very well lead to a positive outcome. "Economists say the state has long needed to fix that revenue roller-coaster ride and are hopeful that this crisis will force leaders to face the music," according to Reuters. In fact, immigration and births keep our state's population growing, and with our leading role in green technology and other industries, we are still creating jobs despite announcing job losses. The major changes that this much-needed re-assessment will create will lead to more long-range pay-offs for California. See? Look outside--it may have hailed last night, but today it's sunny.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
