¡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.
The Eastside mourns Father Richard Estrada
The Eastside is mourning the loss of Father Richard Estrada, who passed away on March 31 at age 83. A lifelong advocate for youth, immigrants, and the unhoused, Father Estrada founded Jovenes Inc. in 1989 to support homeless and at-risk youth in Boyle Heights and beyond.
For decades, he was a beacon of hope – fighting for social justice, farmworkers and the undocumented, opening doors for all in need of care.
Tributes from the neighborhood:
- Andrea Marchettie, executive director of Jovenes Inc., said Estrada’s “humanity” and “unconditional commitment and love for the vulnerable” were unmatched.
- County Supervisor Hilda Solis called his life “defined by deep compassion, selfless service, and unwavering commitment.”
- Raquel Roman of Proyecto Pastoral credited him with inspiring her own path in activism. “Not everybody opens the door like that for you. But he did.”
We’ll share details on memorial services and ways to honor Father Estrada’s legacy soon. If you have a personal story or memory, we’d love to hear from you.
More stories you should know
- The time between reporting a streetlight outage and getting it fixed keeps growing, with L.A. officials saying it’ll take a year for maintenance teams to address complaints by the end of 2025. Here’s why.
- New maps show an increase in high fire hazard areas across L.A. County, including some Eastside neighborhoods. Is your block on the map?
- Consumers in L.A. County will start paying an additional quarter-penny in sales tax as Measure A, approved by 58% of voters in November, kicks in. Funds will go towards homeless services and affordable housing development.
- KIPP is avoiding a closure at its East L.A. Sol Academy after the County Board of Education voted against the recommendation of the area’s Superintendent.
Eastside Eats
As she continues to highlight the people, stories and delicious dishes that make our community special, our Social Media Producer Jackie just did a feature on Un Solo Sol, a bright yellow restaurant on 1st Street serving a wide array of vegan food.
Items on the menu are inspired by traditional cuisine from a variety of cultures.
Los Angeles Documenters
We’ve hit the ground running with our mission to make public meetings more accessible and transparent for you.
If that sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, listen up! Join us at our upcoming virtual Documenters Orientation on Thursday, April 10 from 5:30-7:30 pm.
We’ll go over everything you need to know to become a Documenter including how to sign up, attend government meetings in your neighborhood, take quality notes and get paid for your work. You can RSVP for the orientation here.
Community Notice: Tax Season
It’s that time of the year again where taxes are top of mind, but things are different for some this year. For L.A. County residents, the deadline to file has been extended to October 15, 2025 because of wildfires that ravaged the area this year. Here’s what you need to know.
Community Spotlight
Over two decades ago, Giovanni Ong left his home in the Philippines and a career as a physician to chase the American dream.
Today, he’s found his purpose helping students as Mendez High School’s nurse since the school’s opening in 2009.
“He shows genuine concern for every one of his students” and always “goes the extra mile” according to one student at the local school.
For Ong, making a difference is what he strives for. “It takes a village to raise a child, and I think that’s what it is at Mendez High School,” he said.
More Happenings in the Heights
Check out yesterday’s newsletters for events, and even more we found down below!
- Volunteer Action: Join North East Trees at Ascot Hills this Saturday, April 5, to learn about native plants while tending to the park’s nursery. RSVP to volunteer. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Museum Tour: Enjoy a free guided tour of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and explore the history of Latinos in Los Angeles. RSVP to attend on Saturday, April 5, from 12 to 2 p.m.
- Eastside Burlesque: Enjoy a cabaret-themed night at Eastside Luv on Saturday, April 5, featuring The Blue Agave and Fire Girls. Free entry from 8 to 10 p.m. Happy Hour, $15 after till midnight.
- CD 14 Budget: Councilmember Ysabel Jurado is hosting a city budget listening tour to hear about what services, events and resources residents care about ahead of the city’s new fiscal year. Her first stop is at Legacy L.A. in Boyle Heights from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 7. Additional stops include:
- Barrio Youth & Family Center in El Sereno from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8
- Eagle Rock City Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 24
- CD 14 Check-Ins: Jurado also has office hours from 5 to 7:30 p.m. coming up this month:
- Boyle Heights City Hall on Thursday, April 10
- El Sereno Office on Monday, April 21
- Eagle Rock City Hall on Tuesday, April 29
Neighborhood guide: 7 spots to get books in Boyle Heights
There’s nothing like getting lost in a good book, and whether you want to learn a new recipe, catch up on your favorite characters or dive deep into history, visiting a library or bookstore in Boyle Heights is a special experience. Check out our guide on spots to get books in the neighborhood, brought to you by our youth reporter Destiny Ramirez!
What we’re up to
Jackie, our social editor, says hi from Guadalajara. She’s visiting her mom’s hometown for the first time! “We saw the house my mom grew up in, the parks she hung out at… it’s been beautiful,” she shared. Oh, and she ran 3 miles through the city—checking “run in another country” off her bucket list.
Photo Friday: Green Spaces
Green spaces matter. They’re where we breathe, gather, and recharge.
Youth reporters Alyson Martinez and Natalie Juarez put together a beautiful photo essay on Boyle Heights’ parks and green pockets—don’t miss it.
Have thoughts, feedback, or ideas for what you’d like to see next? Hit reply – I’m all ears.
