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.
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.
The Santa Monica Mountains Really Want The N.Y. Times To Know L.A. Is Not A Desert
Does this look like a desert to you? (Photo of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon by 98463039@N00/ via the Creative Commons on Flickr)
()
In yet another instance of The New York Times writing tone deaf articles about L.A., the venerable newspaper wrote that Dior unveiled its latest cruise collection in the “desert” of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Mountains weren’t having it.
The official Twitter account of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area issued several tweets yesterday calling out the wrong-headed article, which made a central point of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, where the show took place, being a desert. But the area is actually part of a Mediterranean ecosystem, according to the mighty mountain range.
Desert? You meant mediterranean ecosystem, right? ;) https://t.co/GSLLASAbcF
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
Further tweets highlighted how our ecosystem hosts a great amount of biodiversity, and agreeable weather makes Mediterranean regions like ours highly desirable places to live, in case you didn’t know.
Support for LAist comes from
We're in one of five such ecosystems. Together, they cover 2.25% of the world's landmass, yet host 16% of the world's plant biodiversity!
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
Mediterranean ecosystems have dry summers, mild wet winters, and are primarily found on the western or southwestern edges of continents.
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
These ecosystems are also found between about 30 and 45 degrees latitude (mediterranean comes from medius and terra, or middle land).
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
Great weather in mediterranean regions makes them highly desirable places to live, but w/population density comes habitat fragmentation.
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
No shade to deserts though, the Twitter account was quick to say:
We love our desert park friends (hey, @JoshuaTreeNPS!), but we also are deeply invested in killing the myth that L.A. is a desert.
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
So, just to recap, the Santa Monica Mountains would very much like everyone to know: L.A. is #notadesert.
Support for LAist comes from
#notadesert. pic.twitter.com/dsGhH1GHVf
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) May 13, 2017
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 critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist