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Boyle Heights Beat
Nearly a third Of LAPD shootings since 2017 involved a person in a mental health crisis
Between 2017 and 2023, 31% of shootings by L.A. police involved a person perceived by officers to be living with mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis, according to annual use-of-force reports. The highest percentage in this category — 41% — happened in 2021, when 15 of 37 shootings...
Photos: High School students on the Eastside march to City Hall
Hundreds of students from three different Eastside high schools took to the streets of Los Angeles Friday on a mile-long march to City Hall to protest LAUSD’s lack of transparency in the removal of Mendez High School’s principal, as well as budget cuts at other local high schools.
Get out and about this Pride season
Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood to get you out and about at the beginning of this Pride season!. But first, we’ve got a big announcement to make!. Our mission at Boyle Heights Beat has always...
Jessica Perez returns to Boyle Heights Beat as senior editor
Jessica Perez is experiencing a full circle moment. Throughout her career, the journalist has looked to one goal: to center community voices and get more Latino representation in the field of journalism. Now Perez gets to do that by returning to her roots to serve as Senior Editor of Boyle Heights Beat, managing all editorial staff.
Mendez High School students and parents demand answers over principal’s sudden absence
Students at Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School on Wednesday demanded answers from L.A. Unified, a day after a walkout in protest over their principal’s sudden removal. At a closed meeting held inside the school’s multi-purpose room, roughly 20 students met with LAUSD Local District East Supt. José Huerta and Gilberto Martinez, the region’s administrator of operations.
Hit-and-run in Boyle Heights leaves one person dead
One person is dead after being struck by a vehicle on the 500 block of South Boyle Avenue Sunday night. A spokesperson of the Los Angeles Police Department said the victim was crossing the street at approximately 10:30 p.m. outside of a crosswalk and was hit by a car going southbound on Boyle Avenue.
Photos: Students walk out at Mendez High School
With chants of “transparency now,” “free jefe” and “bring back Bautista” filling the air and dozens of signs raised high, students walked out of Mendez High School on Tuesday to protest the lack of answers from LAUSD on the monthlong absence of Principal Mauro Bautista.
“Free Jefe!”: Mendez High School students walk out to protest principal’s monthlong absence
Students at Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School walked out Tuesday, calling for the return of Principal Mauro Bautista, who has been absent from campus for a month. About 200 students gathered for a sit-in before walking out of the campus around 11 a.m., chanting, “FREE JEFE!” and holding signs that read, “There is no Mendez High School without Bautista.”
In a new Boyle Heights park, a fountain flows with local stories
At first glance, the fountain at the new Mathews Street Park in Boyle Heights looks like any other fountain. It’s round and lined with shiny tiles in tones of aquamarine blue. But take a closer look and you’ll see that first, there’s no water. Walk around it, and you’ll...
New USC campus research facility in Boyle Heights gets planning commission approval
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously voted in favor of a conditional use permit to build a seven-story, 200,000 square-foot addition to USC’s Health Sciences Campus in Boyle Heights. Approval of the conditional use permit allows for the development of the USC Discovery and Translation Hub,...
Long after serving in Vietnam, a local veteran honors the fallen
For a decade now, Boyle Heights Beat’s youth journalists have reported on some of the neighborhood’s most outstanding businesses, institutions and individuals. In this recurring series, we’re revisiting our sources and updating some of those stories. On a cloudy morning at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial...
Social programs and city services face cuts in L.A. City Council-approved budget
With a 12-3 vote, the Los Angeles City Council voted Thursday to approve Mayor Karen Bass’ revised $12.8 billion budget for the coming fiscal year. The proposed spending plan is about $323 million less than that of the current fiscal year ($13.1 billion). Set to take effect on July 1, the plan brings cuts for various departments and services in hopes of addressing the city’s current deficit resulting from a revenue shortfall of $180 million and unexpected spending of about $289 million.
What’s it like to cover your own campus protest?
Tumultuous. Surreal. Demanding. These are just some of the words student journalists use to describe covering campus protests in Southern California this spring. On campuses across the region, protesters have called for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza and for their schools to divest from companies tied to Israel and weapons manufacturing.
Home cooks in L.A. County will soon have a permitting process to sell food legally
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that establishes an application and permitting process for home cooks and sidewalk vendors to sell food legally out of their kitchens. The motion to authorize the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) program was first introduced by Supervisor Holly...
As fast-food workers’ wages increase, diners in Boyle Heights feel strain of menu price hikes
When California approved a fast-food minimum wage increase last fall, workers marked the legislation as a win. The new law, which went into effect in April, bumped their minimum wages from $16 to $20 an hour. For some fast-food diners in Boyle Heights, that means having to shell out more...
Bill that explores East L.A. cityhood clears hurdle
A California State Assembly committee voted Thursday to advance a bill that would create a task force to study the feasibility of East Los Angeles becoming a city or special district. The Appropriations Committee unanimously voted 14-0 in favor of the legislation, Assembly Bill 2986, sponsored by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo....
LA proclaims May 19 as Father Greg Boyle Day
The LA City Council on Friday recognized the work and impact of Homeboy Industries founder Father Greg Boyle by proclaiming a day in his honor. The dedication at City Hall declared May 19 — his birthday — as Father Greg Boyle Day in LA. The recognition comes less than two weeks after Boyle was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.
Bus rider fatally shot in Commerce hours after Mayor Bass orders increased police on Metro
Hours after the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and city officials held a Thursday press conference to announce a surge in law enforcement, a rider was fatally shot on a Metro bus in the city of Commerce. The incident occurred on the 6100 block of Slauson Avenue just before...
Cal State LA president meets with student protesters days before commencement ceremonies
California State University, Los Angeles president Berenecea J. Eanes on Thursday heard demands from students and faculty, and expressed a commitment to transparency in the first in-person negotiation since protesters set up a Gaza solidarity encampment on campus. The meeting, which was also live-streamed, was held inside the encampment, just...
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