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L.A. TACO

Acton

Adams-Normandie

Agoura Hills

Agua Dulce

Alhambra

Alondra Park

Altadena

Angeles Crest

Arcadia

Arleta

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Artesia

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Avalon

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Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw

Baldwin Park

Bel-Air

Bell

Bell Gardens

Bellflower

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Beverly Grove

Beverly Hills

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Bradbury

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Broadway-Manchester

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Castaic Canyons

Central-Alameda

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Neighborhoods

Professional punk and Editor-In-Chief for James Beard Award-winning L.A. TACO. Associate Producer for JBA-winning Las Crónicas Del Taco. Former restaurant scout for Jonathan Gold. Co-author of &#8220;Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and &#8220;Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling&#8221; (2023, Abrams).

Javier Cabral

Culture

Backyard Punk-Inspired ‘BYO Gaming’ Lounge Offers East L.A. Youth Another Way to Fight

Melissa was born in Moreno Valley, raised in Arizona, and recently returned from living in México, the motherland. She lives by the words: “siempre en la calle.” USC and Fulbright alum, but don’t tell her to &#8220;Fight On.&#8221;

Melissa Montalvo

James Rojas (right) grew up attending and hosting disco parties in East L.A. Photo courtesy of James Rojas.

‘La Raza Likes to Dance:’ Remembering When Underground Disco Parties Exploded In L.A.’s Eastside In the 70s

L.A. TACO STAFF

News

Headlines: Sriracha Production Halted Over Failed Chile Harvest; The Secretary of State Hits Guisados In Boyle Heights

Headlines: Downtown Dispensary Robbed 2 Weeks After Opening; The DNA of the Corn Tortilla

Mariah Castañeda is a feisty multimedia journalist and social media editor.

Mariah Castañeda

Politics

California’s Youngest Congressional Candidate Nicole López Aims to Represent SELA in Crowded Race

Headlines: Coyote Attacks Child On O.C. Beach; FBI Warns L.A. Of Growing “Sextortion” Schemes

Laura is a desmadrosa, a product of East Los, an educator, and a hood establishment connoisseur.

Laura Tejeda

Investigative Report

Slaughterhouses and Burning Corpses? Examining Why East and Southeast L.A. Often Smells So Bad

Lexis-Olivier Ray is an award-winning staff investigative reporter for L.A. TACO known for holding powerful people in Los Angeles accountable and his reporting on Los Angeles culture. As well as an artist and filmmaker. In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists&#8217; Los Angeles chapter named Ray one of their &#8220;distinguished journalists.&#8221; In 2023, Ray won a second place Anthem Award in their Health Innovation category for a texting service geared towards the unhoused community and service providers that he launched in 2021 with L.A. TACO and Subtext. Ray was a 2020 USC Center For Health Journalism (CHJ) Data Fellow. As well as a 2022 CHJ Impact Fellow. As a freelancer, Ray has contributed to the L.A. Times, Men&#8217;s Health Magazine, KCET and SFGATE.

Lexis-Olivier Ray

Tacos

Brace Yourselves: Taco Trucks and Street Food Vendors Are Raising Prices, Citing Fuel Costs

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Janette Villafana

Education

Roosevelt High School’s Pioneering Ethnic Studies Class Is Helping Students in Boyle Heights Learn About Identity Earlier in Life

Photo Essay

East L.A.’s ‘Chola Fashion Show’ Reclaimed OG Barrio Fashion

East Los Angeles