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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 information comes after the City Council settled a claim with a former city manager who alleged the police union runs city hall.
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Santa Ana could become the first city in California to allow non-U.S.citizens to vote in municipal elections.
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McDonnell worked at the department for decades before becoming L.A. County’s sheriff for one term.
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Residents affected by the landslide are also now eligible for a $10,000 financial grant to help address damage and lack of utilities.
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Residents have been forced to decide whether to move or stay as an unrelenting landside forces power and gas shutoffs.
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Fire officials say the truck was moved on Friday to a lot on Terminal Island where it can continue to burn.
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Pay raises for city councilmembers. Rent control. Noncitizen voting rights. These are just a few of the topics being tackled by the Santa Ana City Council.
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The moves comes months after LAist uncovered more than $13 million in public funds directed by Do to Viet America Society without him disclosing that his daughter worked as a leader there.
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The new votes come a week after the board removed Do from his committee assignments.
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The city was accused of failing to prevent bullying and harassment to surfers not affiliated with a local group often described as a surf gang.
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Who is Andrew Do? Why is his 23-year-old daughter involved? What does a county supervisor even do? We explain the saga playing out in O.C.
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Students involved in campus protest filed a lawsuit against university alleging harsher punishments.
