This week saw the launch of the L.A. Local News Initiative, , led by a coalition of media an philanthropic leaders, which has raised $15 million to support independent local press in the area. The organization will be led by a board that includes Monica Lozano, former publisher and chief executive officer of La Opinión; Kevin Merida, former L.A. Times executive editor; Spectrum News anchor Giselle Fernandez; Gerun Riley of The Broad Foundation; and Michael Ouimette, the chief investment officer of the American Journalism project. More information can be found at: http://localnewsforla.org.
“Without local journalism, we lose accountability, history, and a connection to our communities,” Lozano said in a statement. “The coalition of media organizations, philanthropies, and individuals who’ve come together to revitalize local news in Los Angeles are building toward a future where we have a resilient, sustainable, independent local press that holds decision makers to account, and equips all Angelenos to thrive and engage in their communities.”
Initial investments by the initiative include a local news organization to run the Boyle Heights Beat, as well as funding for LAist and CalMatters to expand their coverage.
Anchor funding for the initiative comes from the The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, the Spiegel Family Fund, and the American Journalism Project. Additional funding has been provided by the Annenberg Foundation, Weingart Foundation, California Community Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Jane and Ron Olson, Leslie Weisberg and Jim Hyman, and Monica C. Lozano.
Here's what we're reading this week:
LA oil drilling ban overturned "An LA County Superior Court judge ruled that the city of L.A.’s ordinance to ban new oil drilling and phase out existing drilling within the city over 20 years is illegal." (LAist)
Exterior view eastAtelier Peter Zumthor/The Boundary
LACMA opening pushed to 2026; staff memo reveals plans for sneak peek inside empty new building "May 28, 2025, is the target date for LACMA to receive a temporary certificate of occupancy — a TCO — which grants use of a building before completion of all construction work, as long as safety criteria are met. Following lengthy pandemic and other delays, the museum had said construction of the $750-million facility would be finished this December. But summer looks to be the best bet now, with a finished building filled with art premiering in 2026." (LA Times)
Why the San Fernando Valley suburbs could be ground zero for the next farming revolution "Elliott Kuhn, owner of Cottonwood Urban Farm in the San Fernando Valley, told LAist you might not make a living selling boutique microgreens from your front lawn, but it absolutely can work on a smaller scale to help feed your family and build a community with your neighbors." (LAist)
View of 96th Street Station from Aviation BoulevardGrimshaw Architects
LA Metro’s LAX/Metro Transit Center Station + LAX APM (@JMACdoesthings)
Move Culver City update "Construction for the Western segment for MOVE Culver City began on Thursday, September 12th, and is expected to be completed in 2 to 3 months. The Western segment includes portions of Culver Boulevard and Washington Boulevard between Duquesne Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard. The modified design will restore a second lane of vehicle traffic where it is feasible, and combine the separate bus and bike lanes into shared bus/bike lanes." (Move Culver City)
SoCalGas to move from its longtime headquarters in downtown Los Angeles "The utility signed a long-term lease for nearly 200,000 square feet on eight floors in the Grand Avenue building on Bunker Hill often known as Two California Plaza, its new landlord said, and is expected to move by spring 2026 after building out the new offices. The gas company will also have an office on the ground floor to serve customers." (LA Times)
California Plaza in Downtown Los AngelesWikimedia Commons
Understanding LA’s Sidewalks: Scale, Scope, and History "This neglect has had lasting consequences. One example of deferred maintenance has resulted in significant repair backlogs: a 10-year waiting period for access ramps, without which those in wheelchairs or those pushing strollers can’t even get around their own neighborhoods." (Investing in Place)
Eyes on the Street: Crosswalk Upgrades in Glendale’s Adams Square "'Where we meet' is a series of art crosswalks designed by local artist Keith Knueven as part of the city of Glendale's Creative Crosswalks program" (Streetsblog LA)
The under-the-radar proposal to end homelessness in Los Angeles for $20 billion "The money would produce 36,000 permanent housing units for homeless residents with chronic health needs and build or subsidize 25,000 additional apartments for very low-income residents. The proposal assumes the city maintains nearly 17,000 beds in shelters and other interim housing locations through 2029 before ramping down." (LA Times)
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