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Los Angeles Times
11-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
When did you start calling L.A. home? Transplants and natives share their stories
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: There's a moment when a Los Angeles resident becomes an L.A. local. Sure, you may have been born here or moved here or grew up here, but most people have a story about when they became a true Angeleno. Most people have a feeling when Los Angeles became more than a place to live in, but a home. My colleagues on the Lifestyles team, led by Kailyn Brown, asked dozens of readers to share the stories about the moment they felt like an Angeleno. Some L.A. transplants said they felt like a local after experiencing their first wildfire season or when they mastered the freeways. We also heard from people who were born and raised in L.A. but only began proudly claiming it as their hometown after learning about its rich history or returning after leaving for a while. All of the responses felt like a love letter to the City of Angels. Here's a snippet from the full article. Parking, driving and getting around Los Angeles The day I knew I was an Angeleno was when I drove through a yellow/red light and checked my rearview mirror for cops but instead saw the seven cars behind me also go through the light. It was like all the lights came on in my little Angeleno head that day. — Lisa Valdez, originally from Santa Barbara, has lived in L.A. for 20 years It was when I started to think of travel in the city in terms of time rather than distance. I spent several years exploring and this was a turning point for me. — Jose Cabanillas, a Navy brat so from 'pretty much everywhere,' has lived in L.A. for 44 years Living through L.A. milestone events I felt like a 'true local' for the first time during the [Pacific] Palisades and Eaton fires. Coming from the East Coast, you've obviously heard about fires on the West Coast. But this was my first actual experience living through one — actually packing a fire bag. I was glued to the news, learning all the weather patterns associated with the region, fielding calls from friends and family checking in. I was past my surreal honeymoon phase. I was here, a resident, living through all the uncertainty and fear. I'd earned my first L.A. stripe (maybe even two). — Patrick Jergel, originally from New England, has lived in L.A. for 1.5 years Seeing my hometown with new eyes I really didn't have an appreciation for the culture or what it meant to be an Angeleno until my senior year of high school. That year, I was given California literature as my English class, and over time my love grew not just for Los Angeles but for California. From history to art, to Steinbeck and Raymond Chandler, I quickly learned how much the city of Los Angeles contributes to the product of being an American. Toward the end of the course, and just a few weeks away from graduation, I had so many feelings for the city I was born in and the pride I felt being a natural-born Californian. Now, when people ask me where I'm from, I proudly say that I'm from L.A. — Izaiah Medina, originally from Huntington Park, has lived in L.A. for 18 years Flying back into the city When I would travel back from visiting my ancestral home in Tennessee and upon deplaning at LAX, I couldn't wait to smell the salt air. Or when deplaning at Burbank directly onto the tarmac and you feel like you're home as you step off the ramp and walk a few quick steps to the terminal entrance, subsequently awaiting your luggage at the open-air baggage-claim carousel. It's sooo L.A., to walk by the newsstand kiosk with the statuettes of Oscar for sale. (Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport is iconic!) It is that familiarity with all things Los Angeles that signals being a local, and in my case, a native Angeleno. The appreciation for the fruteria stands on the corners and the taco trucks that pop up and quickly become permanent fixtures. When you're looking up from Sunset in Los Feliz to see the Hollywood Sign so close, you can practically touch it, then turning your head ever so slightly to see the stunning masterpiece, the Griffith Observatory, looming on the hill. — Cindy Roche, originally from L.A. Those were only a few of several stories. For more, check out the full article. Trump administration policies and reactions Los Angeles fires rebuild and clean-up California living More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: Across the six players on the tennis court at noon on a Friday in Beverly Hills, I clock two Cartier watches and one Rolex. There are tennis skirts paired with chunky cable-knit sweaters and white sneakers and tote bags with collegiate embroidery. From behind sunglasses and baseball caps, members appear to be in their mid-20s to early 30s. But no matter how much the scene may resemble a legacy country club at first glance, this meetup exists almost in opposition to the city's handful of expensive clubs with years-long wait-lists and lengthy membership requirements. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She had written off the idea of falling in love in Los Angeles. Dating in this city felt like an exhausting game. Plus, she had been trying to finish law school and keep her head above water. That's when she met him at Amoeba Music. Tony had just returned to employment at the store, freshly sober and needing a job. He was older and outgoing, loved by those who knew him. She was younger and reserved. They connected over their mutual love of movies and music. Would this be the beginning of a love song or are tour dates still far down the road? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterHugo Martín, assistant news editor Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Los Angeles Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Mimosas to bacon, stuffed olives or shrimp. Check out our list of L.A.'s Best 32 Weekend Brunch Spots
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday, May 4. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: With Mother's Day a week away, it's a good time to preview suitable spots for celebrating mom. The Los Angeles Times' Food Team has, of course, aided the cause with its recommendations. They picked their 32 Best Weekend Brunch Spots in Los Angeles. They include old favorites such as tart and bubbly mimosas, tasty Bloody Marys and bountiful Benedicts. But there are other delights, from seafood towers to stacked sandwiches and caviar service. The locales range from breakfast nooks in Long Beach, to drinks in Pasadena and savory treats along the way on the Westside and in Inglewood. Of course, you don't need a special occasion to enjoy brunch, just an appetite, a little sense of adventure and an appreciation of quality. So, here's a sumptuous preview from that list. Of course, check out the entire article for all the details. Alder & Sage (Long Beach) Our Danielle Dorsey selected this Kerstin Kansteiner Retro Row cafe, which buzzes with locals picking up daily pistachio-rose cold brews. Others settle in for a few hours of remote work on the sandy wraparound patio. On weekends, the Streamline-style building is packed for brunch, with the restaurant serving as a popular stop before or after visiting nearby thrift stores or the beach. The brunch menu skews seasonal with soyrizo hash, French toast bedecked with apple compote and rosemary maple syrup, and quiche threaded with mushrooms and leeks. Cocktails encompass soju Bloody Marys, micheladas, a couple of low-ABV spritzes and mimosas that you can order with a flight of three juices, plus wine by the glass and bottle. A handful of nonalcoholic options are available, including a convincing mojito mocktail. Pez Coastal Kitchen (Pasadena) The brunch menu at Bret Thompson and Lucy Thompson-Ramirez's Pasadena restaurant is a celebration of seafood, with a grand chilled tower, ceviche, oysters and caviar that impressed my colleague Jenn Harris. There's a whole fried fish, and you can opt for smoked salmon on your eggs Benedict biscuit or avocado toast. The bar slings spritzes, build-your-own mimosas and a handful of brunch-appropriate cocktails. But Thompson has managed to create a menu that also will appeal to the diner looking for French toast or a breakfast sandwich. Harris believes in starting brunch with the bacon flight, a wooden plank of four slabs of bacon rubbed with various flavorings. Recently there was apple-cinnamon bacon, an apricot mustard variety and chipotle honey. The French toast fingers are more of a meal than the name might suggest, with tiles of perfect French toast that are crisp around all the edges and soft and tender in the middle. The dish is scattered with toasted walnuts and slices of sweet, jammy banana and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. There should be at least one order on every table. Saltie Girl (West Hollywood) Seafood lovers, climb aboard, says my colleague Stephanie Breijo. Ever since docking in West Hollywood, the Boston-founded, seafood-slinging Saltie Girl has served some of L.A.'s best and most indulgent shellfish towers, lobster rolls and sea-tinged pastas, sandwiches and toasts — in addition to a tinned-fish list that's roughly 150 options long. But brunch is an especially good time to set sail, with dishes such as Eggs & Eggs, where caviar and crème fraîche top silken scrambled eggs; meaty hunks of fried lobster complement a fluffy-interiored waffle with spicy maple syrup and sweet corn butter; and the Benedicts can involve caviar, smoked salmon or lobster. But one item worth launching a thousand ships isn't seafood-focused at all: Don't miss the cinnamon roll sweet buns — made by Ben Sidell's SweetBoy bakery — which receive a tableside pour of a thick sweet-salty toffee syrup that will have your whole brunch party licking the mini cake stand clean. Please check out the entire list here. Trump administration policies and reactions Crime, courts and policing Los Angeles fires and recovery Education and testing More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: Two men lay in a dark street in Pomona. The gunshot wounds made clear how they died. Their tattoos offered clues about how they lived: Swastikas. Lightning bolts. Iron crosses. The words 'Blood and Honor' and 'Death Squad.' The slain men were part of a white supremacist gang called Public Enemy Number 1, or PEN1. Prosecutors say they were killed in 2022 by members of their own crew, acting on orders from the Aryan Brotherhood, a syndicate with vast influence over white inmates in California prisons. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She was tired of working too many hours, of battling chronic illness and running ultramarathons. She couldn't find love in New York, so why would Los Angeles be any different? Then one day, she went paddleboarding for first the time in Laguna Beach and found an unexpected neighbor, a 40-ton gray whale. The visit was a religious experience. Coming back to the shore, she gained new perspective and happened to run into James, an uncomplicated big guy who ran a bike shop. Would she fall for this other gentle giant, or is the perfect man her white whale? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterCheck our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Los Angeles Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Students protests at UCLA, USC involving hundreds of arrests result in two charged
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: Hundreds of protesters and counterprotesters were arrested on the campuses of UCLA and USC during several days of demonstrations and unrest last spring stemming from the United States' involvement in the war in Gaza. At UCLA's Dickson Court, Times reporters documented how events 'exploded into savagery and chaos.' A large, mostly male crowd of masked counterdemonstrators tried to break into an encampment of protesters, ripping down wood and metal barriers, spraying bear mace, igniting stink bombs and tossing fireworks near the camp perimeter — and in at least one case inside the camp. At USC, students received two 10-minute warnings to disperse by Los Angeles police, followed by an LAPD helicopter loudspeaker blasting a message that said: 'Your time is up. Leave the area or you will be arrested for trespassing.' Eventually, close to 100 students were arrested. Then-UCLA Chancellor Gene Block called the incident 'a dark chapter in our campus's history' while USC President Carol Folt said the site of the protests 'became unsafe.' Nearly a year after the protests, the Los Angeles city attorney's office said it would not file criminal charges against the vast majority of students and protesters arrested because of a lack of evidence. Some groups were thankful for the limited action, others were happy that at least two were charged. My colleague Ruben Vives broke the news Friday of the decision by City Atty. Haydee Feldstein Soto. How many are being charged and why? Feldstein Soto said that although her office received more than 300 referrals from arrests made during last spring's demonstrations at both campuses, only two people would be charged. Three others will be referred to informal prosecutorial proceedings. 'Most of these cases were declined for evidentiary reasons or due to a university's failure or inability to assist in identification or other information needed for prosecution,' the statement from her office reads. Who was charged? Edan On and Matthew Katz have been identified as the two suspects facing criminal charges. On, a pro-Israel demonstrator, was charged with battery and assault with a deadly weapon. Katz was charged with battery, false imprisonment and resisting arrest, according to the city attorney's office. Most of those charges are misdemeanors. Both were arrested on suspicion of the alleged conduct at UCLA. Three others — identified as Ali Abuamouneh, Karla Maria Aguilar and David Fischel — were sent to city attorney hearings, which are informal proceedings conducted as an alternative to a misdemeanor criminal prosecution, according to the statement. Abuamouneh and Aguilar were arrested at USC; Fischel was arrested at UCLA. Some reaction to the news The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) welcomed the filing of criminal charges against On. 'For far too long, our communities have demanded accountability for the brutal assault on peaceful, largely student-led demonstrators — an assault that left several injured and traumatized while law enforcement stood by and failed to intervene,' said Dina Chehata, a CAIR-LA civil rights managing attorney. 'This filing is an important step, but it is only the first step.' Amelia Jones, a professor and vice dean of faculty and research at USC's Roski School of Art and Design, expressed support for Feldstein Soto's decision to not file charges against most protesters. '[Her] decision not to file criminal charges on the vast majority of students arrested by LAPD on USC's campus last spring ratifies the student and faculty right to protest as a fundamental and lawful 'exercise of speech,' in her words,' she wrote in a statement to The Times. 'As a supporter of the students and someone who attended the entirely peaceful protests almost every day, I am thrilled to see this issue resolved and freedom of speech ratified.' For more on the situation, check out the full story. Pope Francis funeral Trump administration policies and reactions Crimes, court and policing L.A. Times Festival of Books More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: Less than a half a mile from the city limits of this Northern California railroad town is a natural wonder so enchanting that locals compare it to geologic features in Yosemite or Yellowstone. 'The most beautiful waterfall I've ever seen,' said Stephen Decatur, who works in disaster preparedness for the city of Dunsmuir. City Manager Dustin Rief agreed, adding: 'And I've traveled all over the world.' Native tribes have long considered the waterfall sacred. There's just one hitch: Though Mossbrae Falls sits less than 2,000 feet from Dunsmuir city limits, there is no easy — or legal — way for the public to access its watery splendors. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She was a suburban lacrosse mom jeopardizing her 20-year marriage, two children, two hypoallergenic dogs, meticulously designed houses, swimming pools, gardeners and gutters for a Hollywood-style affair. She fell for Nick, knowing very little about him other than the feelings of lust and passion she sensed. They met at a Ventura motel and she melted for him. Would she stay with her husband and family, move on with Nick or continue to live a double life? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterPhil Willon, California Politics Editor Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Los Angeles Times
13-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Oh, Canada, wait! Tourists, dollars are fleeing Palm Springs due to Trump provocations
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: They had planned vacations, winter hideaways stays, music festival adventures and trips to meet friends. One by one, these Canadian travelers, snowbirds and short-time visitors, all canceled their travel to Palm Springs. While the reasons for visiting the desert oasis varied, the cause of the stoppage was clear: Canadians felt disrespected enough by the Trump administration that they voiced their disapproval with their dollars. But their salvo against the second-term president didn't hit him. Rather the Maple boycott has hammered the LGBTQ+ friendly Palm Springs community of workers, restaurants and business owners dependent on Canadian tourism. Now Palm Springs is scrambling, trying to survive this economic downturn while anticipating harsher and bleaker vacation seasons ahead. My colleague Hailey Branson-Potts wrote about the situation in depth, including where the parties stand and what the future may look like. What's driving Canadians away? Trump has belittled Canada by calling it America's '51st state.' He repeatedly mocked former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as 'governor.' He has also threatened to use 'economic force' to annex the 40-million-person country. Trump in February invoked emergency powers to justify stiff new tariffs on Canadian imports. He argued that the trafficking of illegal drugs — namely, fentanyl — across the northern border compromised American security. After Trump's separate 25% tariff on imported automobiles went into effect last week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called the levies a 'direct attack,' slapped a 25% retaliatory levy on vehicles imported from the United States. Canadians spending habits are changing The Canadian air carriers Flair Airlines and WestJet ended their seasonal service between Vancouver and Winnipeg to Palm Springs International Airport earlier than planned this spring, airport spokesman Jake Ingrassia said in a statement to The Times. 'The airlines have advised the airport that these adjustments are in response to the current operating environment and shifts in demand,' Ingrassia said. Kenny Cassady, director of business development for Acme House Co., which manages vacation rental properties in Palm Springs, said Canadians often book stays of one to three months a full year in advance. 'But when it comes to rebooking for next year? They're just declining,' said Cassady. 'It's going to be most noticeable come next season. It could have a ripple effect beyond guests not booking to come back and spending rental dollars. If they're not here, they're also not going to restaurants and buying other services.' Laura Mezzacapo, accounting manager for the Vancouver-based travel agency the Travel Group, said that at this time of year, travel agents with her company would be busy booking spring break and summer vacations to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palm Springs. But since mid-February, U.S. bookings have plummeted. Corporate bookings, she said, are down 70% to 80%. And instead of vacations in the American West, clients are opting for Mexico. 'We feel disrespected,' she said of Canadians. 'We've been your biggest ally. We've fought wars with you. We took your planes on 9/11. We love traveling to your country. We buy your products. And then you treat us like you don't need us for anything?' What the numbers say A 2021 study done for Visit Greater Palm Springs found that Canadians owned 7% of second homes in the Coachella Valley, far more than any other country outside the United States. Another study, in 2017, found that roughly 303,600 Canadians visited the Coachella Valley that year, spending more than $236 million. How has Palm Springs reacted? Last week, the city of Palm Springs hung red streetlight banners in its downtown business district proclaiming 'Palm Springs ♥ Canada.' And Mayor Ron deHarte said city officials are anxiously monitoring sales tax and hotel occupancy figures. Now that the peak snowbird season — roughly January through April — is wrapping up, he said, there is growing concern about the wave of cancellations for next winter. 'If this is something that lasts for a long time, we have to start working today to counter any negatives that may be coming from actions in Washington, D.C.,' DeHarte said. 'Is it concerning? Certainly. Canada is consistently our number one travel source.' For more on the situation, please check out the full story. Deportations and border control Trump administration policies and reactions Los Angeles fires and recovery Crime, courts and policing More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: Benito Flores has parked his battered, pale yellow Dodge Ram van on the narrow street in El Sereno outside his one-bedroom duplex. A retired welder, Flores lived and worked out of the van for 14 years before joining an audacious protest against homelessness in Los Angeles in spring 2020. Flores was among a dozen individuals and families who seized state-owned homes that had been left empty and rotting for decades in El Sereno after they'd been acquired for a freeway expansion that failed. Following a public outcry and months of negotiations, Flores and the others, a group who called themselves 'Reclaiming Our Homes,' were allowed to stay in the houses temporarily. But no more. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She was convinced by friends to try online dating after a few years of widowhood. At first, most of her suitors wanted a much younger woman. Frustrated, she canceled her profile, but not before one last email from a man named Carlo. They met up for a drink and he seemed so different than every other man who had reached out. Would Carlo prove to be the Hail Mary catch she had hoped for? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterMonte Morin, assistant managing editor Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Los Angeles Times
06-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
California landlords may have to provide refrigerators, stoves to renters under proposed bill
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: Southern California renters often have a few basic items to secure before moving into a unit. They generally need to provide first and last month's rent along with a security deposit. Two of the less-talked about items, however, are refrigerators and stoves, which are not considered necessities by the state. Many landlords do not offer the appliances to incoming renters, passing on the direct cost to their tenants. That arrangement may be changing in California, due to legislation being proposed in Sacramento. My colleague Karen Garcia broke down the proposed bill and what its passage would mean. Why don't landlords currently provide refrigerators? Simply put, there is no requirement. California law requires any building with a dwelling unit to maintain 'certain characteristics in order to be tenantable.' That means landlords are on the hook for adequate heating and hot water systems. Legally, fridges and stoves are classified as amenities and considered nonessential. That language has made California an outlier. A 2022 Times analysis shows that the number of residents who entered into new leases without fridges and stoves is much higher in California than in any other state. What does the added cost mean? The average monthly rent in the city of Los Angeles is $2,347, higher than the national average of $1,995, according to Zillow. First and last month's rent plus a security deposit can force a new renter to have ready several thousands of dollars just to move in. And much more in wealthier parts of the county, where average rents hover near $4,000 — places like Ladera Heights and Larchmont Village. If they don't come with a fridge, plan to fork out another $600 to $2,300 for a new one, product analysts say, or plunge into the underground fridge market for a used one. Assembly Bill 628 would put landlords in charge of buying and repairing the appliances Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Hawthorne), whose 61st District covers communities from Inglewood to Marina del Rey, introduced AB 628 to make refrigerators and stoves required appliances, not amenities. If passed, landlords would have to provide them starting Jan. 1, 2026. 'We know that people are really struggling out there with the high cost of food, gas, household goods, and on top of that, lots of people spend more than half their income on rent,' she said. Ultimately, McKinnor wants renters to have one less payment to think about when entering a new lease. She said the landlord will be in charge of fixing or replacing a refrigerator and stove, as are now with heaters. Would the new requirement hike up rental prices? In Los Angeles apartments subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, landlords can only increase the rent once every 12 months by a limited percentage. There are exceptions to the RSO, though, which include single-family homes, affordable housing, luxury housing units exempted by the Los Angeles Housing Department, rentals built after Oct. 1, 1978, and units in commercial buildings that converted to housing after Oct. 1, 1978. What's its future? The bill is currently being read and amended. It will need to pass both the Assembly and Senate before potentially being signed by the governor in the fall. For more on the bill, read the full story here. Los Angeles fires and recovery Trump administration policies and reactions Crimes, court and policing Entertainment news More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: There were no vacancies beneath the old neon Farm House Motel sign last Saturday — no guest rooms at all, in fact. But the 1950s Riverside property, now known as the Farm House Collective, was busier than it has been for decades. By 10 a.m., when a ribbon-cutting marked the Farm House's rebirth as a mini-mall, food hall and music venue, the parking lot was full. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She lost her home in the devastating fire that struck Pacific Palisades. She, her daughter and her husband bounced around from hotels to Airbnbs and air mattress. Finally, they found a short-term lease after five weeks, but the damage had been done. Her husband said he needed a break from the chaos, from the drama and from his wife, which sent her into a downward spiral. Would she recover and save her marriage, or will the blaze claim one more casualty? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterJoe Mozingo, deputy editor Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
