Boyle Heights residents navigate their daily lives, masked and carrying on amid the challenges posed by the L.A. fires. Credit: Andrew Lopez

Hola Boyle Heights!

Like so many of you, we’re heartbroken by the devastation these recent fires have caused. We’re also inspired by the resilience and strength we’re seeing across our community, and we’re here to help you stay informed and connected as we navigate this together.

Even though the fires may be miles away from Boyle Heights and East L.A., their impact is right here—in our air, our homes, and our sense of safety. That’s why we’ve been focused on bringing up-to-the-minute updates on what matters most to you: your family, your neighborhood, and your health.

You can rely on us for updates on school closures and information on places where kids and families can safely go during disruptions; practical tips for staying safe in areas with poor air quality; guidance on managing power outages and concerns like how long food stays safe in a fridge without power.

We remain committed to bringing you the stories that matter most—told through the voices of our community like this one on how Boyle Heights and the Eastside is coping in these challenging times. Our talented youth reporters also continue to document life and capture moments from the streets, all with the goal of providing you with a richer, more complete picture of what’s happening in your neighborhood.

Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s a story you’d like us to cover or a resource we can help share. As one Boyle Heights resident, Alma Ramirez, reminds us “we are very grateful that we have a really strong community.”

Take care,


Jessica Perez
Senior Editor 

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My background: I was born in Mexico and raised in Boyle Heights, where I got my start in journalism by launching a community blog. Most recently, I worked at the Los Angeles Times and have spent most of my career covering local news in LA, with a focus on community-centered stories, Latino communities and mentoring emerging writers.

What I do: I lead coverage of Boyle Heights and East LA across all platforms to inform, connect and uplift our community. I spend my days listening, planning, editing and coordinating to make sure our stories reflect the community fairly, while supporting and mentoring my team of reporters and freelancers so they can grow along the way.

Why LA?: It’s home. It’s the sounds of Spanglish and other languages, the smell of tacos and kimchi, the way street art tells stories and how, even though I hate traffic, I love how the freeways can take me to the beach or the mountains on a whim.

The best way to contact me: My email is jessica.perez@boyleheightsbeat.org.

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