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Yusra Farzan
What I cover
I am a geek for city council meetings — meaning I watch those long local government meetings so you don’t have to. And I keep you informed on how decisions in Orange County’s 34 cities affect your electricity bill, how your taxes are funding the next big project, the resources available at your child's school and if there is a corruption scandal brewing within your local government. Orange County’s food scene excites me too. If you ask me about the foods of my childhood, I will tell you about its Levantine shawarma, Korean bulgogi, Yemeni mandi, Sri Lankan kottu, Indian chicken 65, Pakistani biriyani and Malaysian nasi lemak. And guess what, I can find it all in O.C. I hope to help people connect with the different communities that call O.C. home.
My background
I grew up in the Middle East, but I am of Sri Lankan descent and I can count people from 27 different nationalities as friends. I got my start in entertainment reporting but soon realized local news has my heart. My work can be found in the Orange County Register, The Guardian US, L.A. Times, Teen Vogue, NPR and BuzzFeed.
My goals
I want to help people understand how if they want to see systemic change in housing, policing, education or healthcare — it all starts at the local level.
Best way to reach me
Covering 34 cities can be a lot, so I need your help in being my eyes and ears on the ground. If you have a tip, you can email me at yfarzan@laist.com or on Signal at username: @yusramf.25
Stories by Yusra Farzan
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The lawsuit centers on tweets about Butch Twining attending a vigil to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
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Monthly billing statements show purchases from Target, Walmart, Amazon and other vendors. LAist requested the records amid city oversight concerns.
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The LAPD was sued in June for its treatment of journalists during anti-ICE protests.
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Lisa Gladstone has qualified for a federal buyout but may have to wait years to see the money
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The city will get more acreage in the deal and have greater say over the type of housing that gets built around Irvine Spectrum.
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Manuel Cid has served as police chief in Glendale and Culver City.
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Officials say Irvine can use the land in the deal to build more affordable housing than would otherwise be built in the commercial market.
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Police chief says the weapons are needed for de-escalation, but the LAPD has come under scrutiny for its use of force during this summer’s protests.
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What started with 4 homes 22 years ago has now grown to over 160 homes.
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Critics say the current state-approved housing plan will make the city overcrowded.
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With more storms on the way, that could change.
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Critics accused the council of using a nationally polarizing topic for political gain.
