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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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FEMA announced the cancellation of a grant that helps communities prepare for natural disasters. Rancho Palos Verdes planned to use its share of the funds to address the Portuguese Bend landslide.
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Crews are beginning emergency stabilization work. Travelers will be bused between Irvine and Oceanside for about six weeks.
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The city has not contracted with the Chamber of Commerce since 2022, when a corruption scandal made headlines.
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The proposed project is in its infancy and still has to clear concerns raised by City Council members.
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Community leaders said he was ahead of his time.
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The top vote-getter told LAist the second-place candidate called to concede the race.
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Critics say the $300-million effort to stabilize a stretch of the popular Pacific Surfliner route is haphazard, curtails public beach access and will only yield short-term benefits.
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The winner will take part in several key decisions facing one of Orange County's biggest cities.
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Irvine voters head to the poll as 2025 is poised to be a year of change for the city. Three candidates are vying for the District 5 council seat.
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Due to the sheer volume and different needs of fire victims, a lot of it ended up either in landfills or being shipped abroad.
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The county could be on the hook for far more money, with more than $400 million in claims filed overall.
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The task force will target federal dollars set aside for homelessness in seven SoCal counties.
