Good morning. It’s Saturday, and this is your one-minute, weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.
1. A slow-motion disaster led to the implosion of the L.A. Jazz Festival.
It was supposed to be a triumph: hundreds of free events across the city, with a massive concert on Dockweiler Beach, and even a camp for kids. But the inaugural L.A. Jazz Festival was canceled on the very day it was supposed to start. We have a jaw-dropping account of the cascading failures that brought it all down.
2. An L.A. healthcare giant is under scrutiny over claims of nepotism.
AltaMed prides itself on providing medical care to more than 700,000 people in L.A. and Orange counties, regardless of their ability to pay. But a new complaint with the IRS is raising questions about how the nonprofit spends its money, including the millions of dollars it pays to its CEO and members of his family.
3. The owners of Grand Central Market are expanding to El Sereno.
Beverly Hills-based Langdon Street Capital has quietly bought six parcels along Huntington Drive, an eastside commercial corridor currently filled with vacancies. Businesses like Highland Cafe and Canyon Coffee are moving in — sparking heated online debate about gentrification.
MORE MATERIAL
IN THIS WEEK’S edition of L.A. World, our flagship weekly podcast, we dug into the federal investigation into Dodgers owner Mark Walter and the insane saga of LAX’s people mover.
WE BROKE THE news that Nithya Raman’s mayoral campaign is working with Morris Katz’s Fight Agency, the political consulting firm that was criticized for its role in the campaign of disgraced Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
WHY DID Raman and Karen Bass — who are running to lead the nation’s second-largest city — debate this week in a rec room with almost laughably low online production quality? It’s because of the persistent power of this homeowners association.
LINKS YOU CLICKED MOST
THE GUARDIAN used internet wizardry to uncover the identity of the person who duped Karen Bass’ campaign — and the California Post — into sharing a fake poll.
IT’S RESTAURANT Week, and Infatuation put together a list of the best deals around town.
THE NEW YORK TIMES listed the 41 “greatest” Mexican restaurants in the U.S. Guess how many — and which — L.A. spots made the list. (And then guess how many in New York City made the cut.)
