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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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One in eight children in Orange County are food insecure and depend on school lunches.
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The language could cast the measure in a favorable light, according to a lawsuit filed against the city.
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Contractors have a week to submit proposals
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Some cities like Orange are in the red, while others like Irvine are flush with cash.
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As Wayfarers Chapel Is Disassembled, A Costly Rebuild And Unending Land Movement Loom On The HorizonCrews are knee deep in carefully disassembling and storing pieces of the chapel as the land beneath the structure continues to move at an alarming rate.
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The booms might be heard as far south as Orange County.
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Federal funds are available for businesses, homeowners and renters who had damages.
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Natalie Rubalcava was named in the corruption report detailing corporate influence in Anaheim politics
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The city has not shut off water to customers since March 2020.
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Only 17% of those surveyed supported the move.
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The city of Los Angeles fell eight places and was ranked 88th this year.
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Wildlife officials are now trying to capture and tag the cougar to see if it's a regular visitor, in which case it'd be identified as P-122.
