Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Sunday, June 23. I’m Joel Rubin, deputy business editor at The Times. Here’s what you need to know to start the week off right.
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Through the lens of influence and power, these are the people who shape Los Angeles.
Basketball legend turned billionaire. Museum director. Anti-gang activist. Elected official. Actor. Philanthropist. Bicycle advocate.
At first glance, there are no obvious connections between these people who live and work in different parts of Los Angeles. But when you start to think about this fascinating, imperfect, centerless city through the lens of influence and power, a common thread begins to emerge: Through their work, their creative ideas, and the generosity they distribute, they all play an enormous role in shaping Los Angeles.
I’ve been thinking about these types of people and the impact they have on Los Angeles for some time while helping put together “LA Influencers,” a project to identify and reveal more than 100 people you need to know to understand the city. Over the past year, reporters, photographers and others from across the Times newsroom have been working to decide who to feature and how to bring them to life through words, photos and video.
Every Sunday, we’ll reveal one of the six categories that make up LA Influential. Today’s theme is Civic Centers. These are the people whose roots are in every corner of this city. They know its streets and its people. They are the pillars of the city. They include our groundbreaking mayor, Cecily Myart-Cruz, head of the teachers union, Mia Lehrer, a landscape design guru whose work involves creating beauty out of blight, Michael Govan and Anne Philbin, who helped propel LA to the center of the art world; the list goes on.
Don’t miss The Creators, The Connectors, and The Money already in theaters, and be sure to check out the final two films in the coming weeks.
The people of LA Influential are writing the story of LA today, and of course the story never ends: others will come to leave their mark, and some will fade away.
As our intrepid columnist Gustavo Arellano wrote in his introduction to LA Influential magazine, “Los Angeles is at its best when those who shape us give way to the next generation, and when those who shape us seek to right the wrongs of the past and build a better future. Those who will read this know that this is the only way to live in a city of eternal future.”
This week’s biggest news
Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers have reached a deal to offset the state’s budget deficit.
(Rich Pedroncelli/The Associated Press)
Politics
Crime and Courts
Other big news
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Column 1
Column One is home to The Times’ long-form articles and stories. We’re showcasing this week’s best stories.
(Robert Gautier/Los Angeles Times)
Forget graffiti: Los Angeles’ most infamous skyscraper has a much bigger problem. Graffiti artists have made Oceanwide Plaza in downtown Los Angeles infamous, but the real estate disaster raises a much more complex question: can the building be fixed?
Other recommended articles
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On the weekend
In late May, Sushi Nakazawa opened “Hi. Dozo,” a delivery sushi restaurant offering set menus such as the “Deep Dive,” which includes nigiri, maki and sashimi.
(Stephanie Brajo/Los Angeles Times)
Go out
Stay at
LA Affairs
Immerse yourself in fascinating stories about dating, love and marriage.
(Casey Beifuss/The Times)
We moved from New York in a donut truck. Would LA offer a new adventure? I felt out of place in New York. The depression that plagued me as an adolescent returned as an adult. But could I convince my New Jersey son to move back to LA?
Have a great weekend! Yours, The Essential California Team
Kevinisha Walker, Multiplatform Editor
Check out top stories, topics and latest coverage at latimes.com.