No one ever said it would be easy.
Thanks to the dedicated work of our team, and the generous and heartfelt support of our readers, we are ecstatic to announce that we are able to continue publishing daily news, features, and information for the city of Los Angeles!
Our July membership drive was a success and has given us a small but adequate financial foundation on which we can continue to build. The enthusiasm we've seen from all corners of the city has given us both a renewed sense of mission, and a feeling of pride that we've been able to impact so many people with our stories, events, and programs. All around us, we see daily evidence of the decline of local news, coupled with the reduced expectations and growth of new media platforms. That said, we've never measured ourselves against anyone else, and despite all the challenges, it's an incredibly exciting time at L.A. TACO
While we know most people join L.A. TACO to support local journalism, we want to make sure our membership program of perks, gear, member benefits, exclusive tastings, and events are on point and give back more than you pay. We understand that $10 a month is a lot to ask for but we feel confident that our members get much more than they pay for if they take advantage of their membership each month. Our Director of Partnerships, Memo Torres, is out there doing the tough job of trying out every possible spot in Los Angeles to join our program, as well as arranging member tastings and special events. If you spot a tall, bearded guy in an L.A. TACO hat, make sure to say hi.
We were overwhelmed with new membership and merchandise orders, and are behind on shipping, but please be patient with us and you'll get your shiny black card and gear soon. Our team is working non-stop to get every order out the door.
Our shared vision of a city that is open to all, accessible to all, and where all of us are accountable to the truth is one we are glad you share with us.
Speaking of journalism, as you know we lost our amazing Editor, Daniel Hernandez to the New York Times this month. It was sad to see him go, but we're thrilled to have Javier Cabral step into his place. Javier's love for Los Angeles is boundless, and he channels that into stories that could only be reported here, and that you'll see only on L.A. TACO.
Our tireless Managing Editor, Erick Galindo, has been able to flex his video muscles and is responsible for the bulk of the video content you see on our Instagram, where he's been able to tell stories of the city and beyond. Erick has been the glue that has held us together through many ups and downs, always working behind the scenes to make sure our site and our social media is the best that it can be. Then, in his spare time, writing up a feature or two for the Taco.
L.A. TACO is a movement, it's a new way to see the city, it's a force of empowerment, and it's a path forward in difficult times.
More thanks are due to Mariah Castañada, Erick Huerta, Erwin Recinos, Cesar Hernandez, Melissa Mora Hidalgo, Lexis Olivier-Ray, Brian Feinzimer, and all of the amazing writers, photographers, and artists who make up our crew, past, present, and future.
What these people have in common is that they're all trying to build something much more than a publication. L.A. TACO is a movement, it's a new way to see the city, it's a force of empowerment, and it's a path forward in difficult times. We want to build the ultimate guide to this city, we want to inform you, to entertain you, and to host you at our events. It's incredibly ambitious and we're doing it all without major corporate support or financial backing.
Our shared vision of a city that is open to all, accessible to all, and where all of us are accountable to the truth is one we are glad you share with us. Without our readers and our members, we're nothing, so the ultimate thank you is to all of you.
