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Listen Listen
Robert Garrova
What I cover
I’m always on the hunt for esoteric history and strange haunts since my first LAist/KPCC internship over a decade ago. And I break down complicated mental health stories in a place where the L.A. County jail is the de-facto mental health institution and the system of care can feel intractable.
My background
I started at LAist as an intern back in 2013. My public media journey includes time directing Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal and being very cold as a reporter in New Hampshire.
My goals
I want my coverage to fascinate and surprise SoCal residents, even the ones who have been here the longest. And I want my mental health stories to help people living with mental illness and their families understand complicated systems of care while feeling less alone in their journey.
Best way to reach me
I would love to hear from you if you have feedback or concerns about Explore LA or mental health stories. You can reach out by email, rgarrova@laist.com
Stories by Robert Garrova
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L.A. Police Chief Michael Moore said a miscalculation may have caused the explosion that injured 17 community members, displaced dozens of residents and caused severe damage to residential and business property.
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Research has found that when law enforcement is called to help someone during a psychiatric emergency, things are more likely to go wrong. Community Alternatives to 911 is working to create other options.
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The county’s Inspector General says the Sheriff’s Department has denied his requests to view body cam video and other records, so he wants county counsel to compel the department to provide access so he can properly investigate allegations that deputies have harassed families of people killed by law enforcement.
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Nicholas Burgos was experiencing a mental health crisis inside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center last fall when Deputy Dalia Gonzalez shot him multiple times. Burgos died almost a month later.
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The teams will independently investigate fatal law enforcement shootings of unarmed people, a task that has typically fallen exclusively to local police and district attorneys.
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Founded in the 1920s by psychiatric nurse Agnes Richards, a pioneer of compassionate mental health care, Rockhaven Sanitarium was run by women, for women.
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People with a mental illness or a substance use disorder or who are unhoused will be eligible for the pilot program if they’re arrested for certain misdemeanors or non-violent felonies.
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The Board of Supervisors directs staff to devise a plan to increase the number of teams of unarmed mental health clinicians available to deal with people going through a psychiatric crisis.
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After closing down during COVID-19, the “Post of the Stars” welcomed back more than 100 people for a Memorial Day ceremony.
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Closed during the pandemic, the Elysian Valley and Sepulveda Basin recreation zones are reopening this Memorial Day for hiking, fishing, kayaking and bird watching.
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David Ordaz Jr. was in the midst of a mental health crisis when a family member turned to law enforcement for help. Now, charges have been filed against one of the deputies involved in his killing.
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Last fall, the Board of Supes approved a proposal to dismantle juvenile halls and probation camps. Five months later, the money to fund the plan isn’t in the County CEO's initial budget proposal.
