Latest
Cheer squads
As we reach the midpoint of our World Cup journey, here's my survey of the best of LA's celebratory urbanism
Torched Talks with anti-trafficking advocates Stephanie Richard and Paloma Bustos
Join an important conversation about human rights and megaevents on June 29 at noon on Zoom
Neighborhood watch
One week in, where to go and what to do was becoming a more complicated public health assessment
As LA's parks host the World Cup, the city votes to defund them
We always knew these megaevents weren't going to fix our public spaces, but we didn't expect our councilmembers to abandon them as well
The Torched guide to LA's World Cup
A mission statement, a calendar of events, and an invitation to help shine a light on LA's public spaces, public transit, and public benefits
Strike authorization
SoFi workers could walk off the job at any moment, just one week from the first World Cup match
"A very tough, one-sided agreement"
Alan Rothenberg may have brought the World Cup to the U.S. in 1994, but he's also been outspoken about the risks that cities are taking on in 2026
Venue plans
The [your brand here] Olympics
The Palantir Deep Dive Center will really give the sport a whole new meaning
The transit-first (no, really) games
In the end, LA28 put the events where the public transportation will already be
Bump, set, spike
Santa Monica mounted a sustained, publicly transparent campaign to challenge what LA28 was offering. And, in the end, that's probably what sent the organizing committee packing for other shores
Significant headwinds
On Friday we saw the first serious challenge of LA28's venue plan, which had gone largely uncontested by LA city leaders. And we saw an LA city councilmember openly accuse LA28 of making backroom deals to create that venue plan
Shade
LA is not a bloomin' desert
The official look and feel for the games shows, once again, that LA28 doesn't really understand our city
It's a marathon, not a sprint
When you've committed to holding a Summer Olympics, a marathon route becomes a guaranteed death march
A force of nature
When institutions threw up constraints, Melanie Winter's tenacity surged — just like the river she championed
Trains
Trump derail train
It was always clear that Trump's democracy-dismantling project would be coming for the state's high-speed rail, something he openly denigrated throughout his last presidency
"If it hasn't broken ground by now, it's not happening"
It's time for paint, posts, and political will
Buses
The best seat in town
It's a public bathroom, yes, but it's really a piece of infrastructure that unlocks access to the city
Real-time arrivals
We've got to improve the way we deliver transit information before millions more people get here
Traci Park's Olympic parking lot
A notoriously anti-bike lane councilmember is using the "car-free" games to stop a fully approved 100 percent affordable housing development
Labor
Torched Talks with anti-trafficking advocates Stephanie Richard and Paloma Bustos
Join an important conversation about human rights and megaevents on June 29 at noon on Zoom
Why won't LA28 stand up for LA's immigrants?
"An Olympics and Paralympics security plan that gives control to a federal administration that is already attacking immigrants in our city and across the nation puts our entire community at risk"
"Without these workers the games will not happen"
A sternly worded letter sent on behalf of over 30,000 hospitality workers to the Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee, along with the heads of the IOC, LA28, and FIFA, urges them to endorse the Olympic wage — or there might not be any games at all
Parks
Cheer squads
As we reach the midpoint of our World Cup journey, here's my survey of the best of LA's celebratory urbanism
As LA's parks host the World Cup, the city votes to defund them
We always knew these megaevents weren't going to fix our public spaces, but we didn't expect our councilmembers to abandon them as well
Cool streets
Paris's school streets are effectively sculpting out instant parks in the locations where they'll provide immense public health benefits to the city's most vulnerable populations
Confronting LA's park crisis
LA's Park Needs Assessment provides a roadmap — or perhaps a well-shaded, native-planted pathmap? — for a department that's been asked to do more and more with less
Trump's games
LA28's big gamble
Casey Wasserman's own company forced him out — and now LA28 really expects the city to embrace him?
A city that can't win
LA has limited options to get out of hosting in 2028 — but LA does have options
Why won't LA28 stand up for LA's immigrants?
"An Olympics and Paralympics security plan that gives control to a federal administration that is already attacking immigrants in our city and across the nation puts our entire community at risk"
Supergraphics
LA is not a bloomin' desert
The official look and feel for the games shows, once again, that LA28 doesn't really understand our city
When you can't find the words
When the news renders you speechless, you can always find a response that Corita already ripped from the headlines
An invasion of butterflies
"Somehow I saw in my head the sky and the ground sprinkled like confetti — sprinkled with all magical stuff that shimmered and that expressed joy"
Hot links
Strike authorization
SoFi workers could walk off the job at any moment, just one week from the first World Cup match
Why you can't call it a World Cup party
"We made our flyers. We posted it, people liked it. And then it turns out you can't mention the word 'FIFA' or the word 'World Cup.'"
Swim test
Instead of South LA losing their lap pool just for the summer of 2028, it sounds like there will be no lap pool from now until then, and possibly long afterwards
Torched favorites
Heading into year two
LA got burned. By the fires, yes. But also by a self-induced fiscal catastrophe
Not the end, the beginning
After speaking with so many people this year who are working so hard to make this place actually work, I'm seeing another way to tell LA's megaevent story
Events
Torched at 2: Talks, toasts, and treats April 20-24
You can join for one event or meet up with me every single day for five days in a row
Tour ATSAC with Torched on November 19
Join 🔥🔥 subscribers for what's become a beloved annual tradition
Torched turns 1: A week of talks and toasts April 21-25
In a time of great uncertainty, Torched will always be about people coming together for LA
Torched Talks
Torched Talks with anti-trafficking advocates Stephanie Richard and Paloma Bustos
Join an important conversation about human rights and megaevents on June 29 at noon on Zoom
Torched Talks with Investing in Place's Jessica Meaney
How do we build the LA we want? Join us on Tuesday, April 21 at noon on Zoom
Torched Talks with feminist sports writer Jennifer Doyle
Join a self-described "sports crank" on March 16 at 3 p.m. on Zoom
Torched Talks with SAJE's Chris Tyler and Neil deMause
We're talking about the pitfalls and perils of hosting on February 19 at noon on Zoom
Answers to your burning questions
Why won't LA28 stand up for LA's immigrants?
"An Olympics and Paralympics security plan that gives control to a federal administration that is already attacking immigrants in our city and across the nation puts our entire community at risk"
What if the world doesn't come?
If millions of international visitors do, in fact, come to LA, it will be at their own peril
Heading into year two
LA got burned. By the fires, yes. But also by a self-induced fiscal catastrophe
Can LA still host the Olympics?
The IOC doesn't care if LA holds its games or not. And perhaps more troublingly, the city of LA will happily brush aside its own emergencies in order to stage a megaevent