Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.
—Dustin Bartz, the owner of Bartz Barbecue, is "pretty annoyed" about the prices at L.A.'s pop-up restaurants, writing,"$18 for a quesadilla or $11 for a single cheese burger is crazy. The truth is currently most meat items are cheaper now than they were in 2019. Chicken and pork right now is the cheapest I have seen in 3 years. Brisket is down from $6 a pound to $3.59/lb now. But for some reason everyone wants ridiculous prices... People are going to say "Yeah labor is so expensive" all that means is you have been underpaying them all along." [Bartz.Barbecue]
—Downtown: L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia remembers when City Hall opened its doors to unhoused people in L.A. during a cold winter storm in 1987 that killed four to hypothermia. The politician says he saw a frozen person lying on the street lifeless on Sunday morning, as paramedics tried to save them. [LA Controller]
—Lynwood: Balam taqueria was unfortunately broken into this weekend, reporting that a "few things were lost," while not affecting opening hours. Go support! [Balam]
—Koreatown: Using donations, volunteer-driven Ktown For All was able to buy out the supply of three tamal vendors and donate tamales to the unhoused this weekend. Simultaneously, the purchase allowed the tamal vendors to get out of the rain for the day. [Ktown For All]