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Makenna Sievertson
What I cover
I cover the daily drumbeat of Southern California — the events, processes and nuances that make it such a unique place to call home. I break down government meetings, evolving policies and community events with a focus on the housing and homelessness challenges confronting some of our most vulnerable residents.
My background
I’ve been helping audiences make sense of Southern California since I started at LAist in 2023. After growing up in Eagle Rock, I wrote and reported for L.A.-area radio stations, covering emergency services and entertainment and more. I defected to the East Coast for a few years to coordinate broadcast media coverage in the U.S. Capitol.
My goals
I want my reporting to help readers make sense of everything the region has to offer and feel more connected with their neighbors — whether they’re across the street or across the county.
Best way to contact me
I would love to hear your feedback, questions and ideas. You can reach me by email at msievertson@laist.com. Or if you have a tip you’d like to share more privately, you can reach me on Signal. My username is @makennas.78. You can follow this link to reach me there or type my username in the search bar after starting a new chat. For instructions on getting started with Signal, see the app's support page.
Stories by Makenna Sievertson
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The bacteria levels in the water once again exceed state health standards.
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The Cottonwood area has been temporarily closed for visitor’s safety.
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L.A. County courts have 117 court reporter vacancies as of this week, which is about 26% of the total positions.
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The city report described the recently discovered movement as “a ‘bowl’ within a bigger ‘bowl.’”
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Supervisor Katrina Foley announced Monday that the county has filed a lawsuit against Hand to Hand Relief Organization and its CEO to recover millions of taxpayer dollars.
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The lawsuit alleges that county money meant to feed vulnerable residents was illegally diverted by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s daughter and others to purchase five homes.
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The nonprofit Viet America Society has been at the center of a long-running LAist investigation.
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The city is upping enforcement of its anti-camping ordinances and will cite people for setting-up encampments or sleeping in public.
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2.1 miles of parking-protected bike lanes will be unveiled by city officials Thursday.
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Kevin de León is running for his second term, despite previous calls for his resignation. He faces Ysabel J. Jurado on the November ballot.
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You’ll be able to visit the NMH Commons, the 75,000-square-foot expansion in Exposition Park, by the holidays.
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The agency is accepting applications for its Public Safety Advisory Committee through early next month.
