Good morning, Materialists. I’m Jessica Garrison, L.A. Material’s editor for news and investigations, but a long time ago, when I was practically a child, I was a reluctant, somewhat surly City Hall reporter for the L.A. Times. I mention this because even a reformed City Hall stick-in-the-mud such as myself can’t help but be exhilarated by the story unfolding right now in that grand Art Deco tower that rises over downtown.
Los Angeles elected a new mayor this week. In a plot twist no one could have foreseen a year ago, Nithya Raman, an urban planner who entered politics just six years ago, managed to unseat her former ally, Karen Bass. Throughout the campaign, our small but mighty staff has published scoops, investigative reporting and expert analysis, from breaking down Raman’s surprise entry into the mayoral race to explaining how much power the position of L.A. mayor actually has.
And as the results came in Tuesday, our sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated reporters sprung into action to keep you at the forefront of this story. On Friday morning, Matt Hamilton and Tomo Chien published an incisive analysis on what to expect from Raman in the first weeks of her administration. It was a marathon week for Matt, who spent Tuesday evening hopping to election night parties, and then cleaned up enough to appear on a special live edition of our podcast, along with Editorial Director Julia Wick and Senior Reporter Antonia Cereijido, to discuss the election results. (Matt also found time to file a draft of an investigative story, which you’ll hear more about later.)
Take it from me, as someone whose bar for what makes an interesting City Hall story is high indeed: This is an exciting time. And at L.A. Material, we are committed to covering the monumental transition ahead with depth, intelligence and style.
Here’s your weekly roundup of L.A. Material’s best work.
1. It’s Nithya’s L.A. now.
Mayor-elect Raman has just over a month to assemble an administration and map out a plan. Who will wield power? Who has influence in Ramanworld? And what has the incoming mayor promised to do on day one? Matt and Tomo looked at what Angelenos can expect from the first days of Raman’s tenure.
2. We passed charter reform. What does that mean?
L.A. voters look to have passed a slew of charter amendments that will lead to about 30 significant changes — including taller skyscrapers and preservation of more historic properties, for example, although neither skyscrapers nor preservation were mentioned anywhere. L.A. Material contributor Robert Greene walked us through all the changes the charter amendments might bring to the city.
3. What’s really going on at Ye Rustic Inn?
Under threat of closure, Ye Rustic Inn, the iconic Los Feliz dive bar, has rallied its neighbors, won help from City Hall and spent years securing patio permits. While fans fear it is another case of a mom-and-pop being forced to give way to a large chain, the real story is more complicated, reported L.A. Material contributor Andrea Domanick.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR:
What Just Happened? A Look Back at the Midterms and What’s Ahead for Los Angeles
Moderated by Jim Newton, editor of Blueprint, a panel of experts will address the balance of
power in Congress, the LA mayoral election, the governor’s race, ballot measures and more.
This event is co-hosted by UCLA Government and Community Relations and Blueprint, in
partnership with LAist and L.A. Material.
When: Thursday, November 19, 2026 (9am-10:30am)
Where: The UCLA Nimoy Theater (1262 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024)
MORE MATERIAL
IN THE ‘90s, Woody Harrelson‘s West Hollywood oxygen bar, O2, anchored a prominent corner of the Sunset Strip, offering a menu of erotically named smoothies, a truly disgusting-sounding pizza, and, of course, oxygen treatments. Celebrities would flock there to lounge on cushions, shove plastic tubes up their noses, and inhale oxygen flavors like “joy” and “clarity.” L.A. Material contributor Greg Ruben delved into a unique entry in two proud L.A. histories: celebrity restaurant concepts and scientifically questionable health movements.
WE WENT LIVE for the first time ever from L.A. World headquarters on Wednesday! Antonia hosted a lively discussion of Election Night happenings, with dispatches from Matt about party-hopping, Julia Wick crashing a DSA celebration at 3 a.m., Paul Mitchell, political data expert, calling in from a moving vehicle to discuss Prop. 40, and more. Listen to the episode, which also dives into what may happen in L.A.’s next chapter.
LINKS YOU CLICKED MOST
MORE THAN A YEAR after his messy divorce battle exploded into public view, David Geffen is allegedly back together (!) or at least back on his mega-yacht with his 33-year-old ex, Page Six Hollywood reports.
AMY CHOZICK, the former New York Times reporter who profiled Elizabeth Holmes in 2023, waded into the You Can See Everything discourse.
A POEM in Wednesday’s newsletter: “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman.
