¡Hola Boyle Heights! It’s Alex here with Vol. 2 of “Happenings in the Heights,” keeping you in the loop on the people, places and stories shaping our community.
I’ll pass it off to our community reporter, Andrew Lopez, to share his stand-out article!
What does a $1 billion budget shortfall mean for Boyle Heights?
At a packed budget forum this week at Legacy LA, Councilmember Jurado tried to answer just that—breaking down the city’s complex budget process alongside City Controller Kenneth Mejia. The big headline: L.A. is staring down a $1 billion gap in next year’s budget.
City leaders have already warned it could mean sweeping layoffs across departments, from sanitation to libraries. Locals at the event made clear what they don’t want to see on the chopping block: youth programs, parks, streetlights and sidewalks.
Jurado acknowledged that with shrinking resources, delivering on those neighborhood priorities will be a challenge. We’ll know more later this month when Jurado wraps up her “budget tour” with a third and final listening session. Read more here.
Thanks to the LA Documenters, we’ve got audio and notes from her second stop out in El Sereno—check them out on the program website.
— Andrew Lopez
Community Reporter, Boyle Heights Beat
More stories you should know
- Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Investigations unit were denied entry at two South L.A. elementary schools. There’s been no subsequent activity, LAUSD officials said.
- Students are urging LAUSD to create Dream Centers across all campuses. The goal? Spaces that offer mental health support, immigration resources, and a real sense of belonging. Here’s what the movement is all about.
- For more than 20 years, Eastside Café has been a heartbeat of the neighborhood—offering free music and dance classes, cultural education, and grassroots organizing rooted in community and autonomy. It’s a true Eastside gem.
Eastside Eats
There’s nothing like your favorite cup of coffee – especially when you find a local shop that pairs a great brew with the perfect ambience. One of my favorites is ÜLËW Coffee and Juice, a shop operating inside the Soto Street mini-mall and providing the neighborhood with traditional Guatemalan ingredients. My personal favorite order is the cardamom latte with an extra shot of espresso paired with a croissant! Check out the video of our visit below:
Photo Friday: Lucha Libre
The scene? High drama. Bold costumes. Flying elbows. Lucha libre nights at Don Quixote have become a local tradition—and they never disappoint.
One fan said it best: “Blood, sweat and tears were left on the mat last night. Champions were born, and feuds were reignited.” Check out this photo essay for a ringside view.
Neighborhood Guide: Affordable Housing
As the cost of living continues to rise across L.A. County, finding an affordable home has become increasingly challenging – a reality many experience first-hand here on the Eastside. That’s why we created a guide to help you navigate the search and application process for affordable housing, from who qualifies to what programs are available in and around the neighborhood, you can find all you need to know in our guide.
MyLA311 app gets a makeover. Here’s what to know
Since 2016, Boyle Heights consistently tops the list of LA neighborhoods making the most 311 requests, the city’s non-emergency platform. If you’re looking to access the service, the city just launched a revamped version of the MyLA311 system, which you can access through the city services directory, on the app via Google Play and Apple App Store or dialing 311.
Community Spotlight
Most call her “Ms. Kiki.” Some call her the lunch lady. For Kidara Lynn Torrent, the cafeteria director at Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School, her job is more than serving food; she’s been many students’ biggest cheerleader in and out and cafeteria doors for over a decade now.
“You don’t have to be blood to be family,” says Torrent.
“When you come to the kitchen, you feel like you entered a different dimension.”
More Happenings in the Heights
Check out yesterday’s newsletters for events, and even more we found down below!
- LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is hosting Mujeres de Maíz on Saturday, April 12 to share the transformative power of womanhood, with steps on cultivating a spirit of empowerment, culture and tradition. Enjoy drumming performances, music and poetry. The free event starts at 2 p.m.
- Weekend cabaret nights are a staple at Eastside Luv on 1st Street. Enjoy free admission on Saturday, April 12 from 8 to 10 p.m. Happy Hour, $15 entry after. The 21+ night runs through 2 a.m.
- As a resiliency hub, the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory offers a lot for the neighborhood. This Saturday, April 12, the organization is hosting a free air purifier giveaway from 12 to 2 p.m. House plants will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP to attend.
- Looking for a men’s support group? Head to Esquina Bicycle Shop from 6 to 8 p.m. for Homie Link to connect, build community and reimagine masculinity.
- Interested in turning your kitchen into a business? Head to the Weingart East L.A. YMCA on Monday, April 16 for an information session on how to legally sell food out of your home through L.A. County’s MEHKO program. RSVP to attend a 5 p.m. session in English or one in Spanish right at 6:30 p.m.
- On Wednesday, April 16, the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory is hosting a screening featuring Congolese films followed by a conversation with filmmaker activist Petna Ndaliko Katondolo. RSVP to attend the event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
What we’re up to
Something truly special and unique about Boyle Heights Beat is our youth program that’s been going strong for 15 years. A few of our alumni stopped by the office last weekend to chat with our current cohort of youth reporters!
Alumni shared their experiences in the program as youth and how it prepared them for college and later entering a wide range of professions. Por y para la comunidad, siempre.
Have thoughts, feedback, or ideas for what you’d like to see next? Drop a comment!
¡Hasta luego, Boyle Heights, nos vemos en la calle!
