Alissa Walker
@awalkerinla.bsky.social
I'm a writer and a walker in LA. Tracking the city's megaevent progress at Torched. Co-host LA Podcast, new episodes drop every Monday. LAUSD mom. @awalkerinla everywhere else. Sign up for my newsletter at torched.la 🔥
Pinned
Alissa Walker
@awalkerinla.bsky.social
· Jun 16
Thanks to John Oliver for quoting my highly scientific analysis proving we don’t need federal troops in LA
Reposted by Alissa Walker
As the Trump administration ramped up its violent deportation machine in Los Angeles, countless community groups spoke out, denouncing ICE. Read @awalkerinla.bsky.social on how one group was conspicuously (and pusillanimously) silent: LA28 Olympics organizers www.torched.la/why-wont-la2...
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"
www.torched.la
December 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
As the Trump administration ramped up its violent deportation machine in Los Angeles, countless community groups spoke out, denouncing ICE. Read @awalkerinla.bsky.social on how one group was conspicuously (and pusillanimously) silent: LA28 Olympics organizers www.torched.la/why-wont-la2...
Remember how Tim McOsker fought to have LA28 split sailing events across into two venues, Port of LA and Long Beach, so the city of LA could "benefit" from the games?
No one mentioned the part where local kids would lose their waterfront access for the next three years
No one mentioned the part where local kids would lose their waterfront access for the next three years
Port of LA to evict long-running Cabrillo Beach Scout camp for Olympic sailing facility
Scout troops and Cub Scout packs have regularly used the grounds for nearly 80 years. They’re being kicked out at the end of the month so it can become a waterfront training center.
lbpost.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Remember how Tim McOsker fought to have LA28 split sailing events across into two venues, Port of LA and Long Beach, so the city of LA could "benefit" from the games?
No one mentioned the part where local kids would lose their waterfront access for the next three years
No one mentioned the part where local kids would lose their waterfront access for the next three years
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Winning the right to host the world’s most popular sporting event took years of planning, Zoom calls and a bit of luck with a broken-down bus. Here’s how two government employees worked to bring the World Cup to New Jersey.
Inside the Yearslong Push to Bring the World Cup Final to New Jersey
Winning the right to host the world’s most popular sporting event took years of planning, countless Zoom calls and a bit of luck with a broken-down bus.
nyti.ms
December 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Winning the right to host the world’s most popular sporting event took years of planning, Zoom calls and a bit of luck with a broken-down bus. Here’s how two government employees worked to bring the World Cup to New Jersey.
The World Cup draw is about to begin, follow @talibvisram.bsky.social for updates. I’ll be tracking which countries are picked to play at SoFi because that will determine which LA neighborhoods will be activated this summer
Here's a great guide to the draw by @talibvisram.bsky.social who will be doing a live chat Friday where he'll explain how it all works. Includes a video of Robin Williams (!) doing the draw for the last time the U.S. hosted in 1994
Your comprehensive guide to Friday's World Cup draw
Plus: Join my live chat this Friday at 12pm EST / 5pm BST 💬
talibvisram.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The World Cup draw is about to begin, follow @talibvisram.bsky.social for updates. I’ll be tracking which countries are picked to play at SoFi because that will determine which LA neighborhoods will be activated this summer
Politics aside, LA28's silence is so perplexing from a strategic perspective. The refusal to guarantee the safety of LA's immigrant community could end up seriously impacting the organizing committee's ability to deliver the games.
Even the Dodgers eventually said something. What is going on?
Even the Dodgers eventually said something. What is going on?
During the past six months, virtually every civic organization in Southern California has put out a statement denouncing ICE activity. Yet LA28, the private nonprofit that serves as LA's Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, and aspires to be a civic organization, has said nothing
Why won't LA28 support 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"
www.torched.la
December 5, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Politics aside, LA28's silence is so perplexing from a strategic perspective. The refusal to guarantee the safety of LA's immigrant community could end up seriously impacting the organizing committee's ability to deliver the games.
Even the Dodgers eventually said something. What is going on?
Even the Dodgers eventually said something. What is going on?
Reposted by Alissa Walker
She had been in the weeds reporting on LA28.
If you live here, pay taxes, absolutely follow. ⬇️
If you live here, pay taxes, absolutely follow. ⬇️
During the past six months, virtually every civic organization in Southern California has put out a statement denouncing ICE activity. Yet LA28, the private nonprofit that serves as LA's Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, and aspires to be a civic organization, has said nothing
Why won't LA28 support 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"
www.torched.la
December 5, 2025 at 1:19 AM
She had been in the weeds reporting on LA28.
If you live here, pay taxes, absolutely follow. ⬇️
If you live here, pay taxes, absolutely follow. ⬇️
Reposted by Alissa Walker
"Many workers have also told me they are simply too scared to staff the venues for upcoming megaevents due to heightened federal security... The refusal to guarantee the safety of LA's immigrant community could end up seriously impacting the organizing committee's ability to deliver the games."
During the past six months, virtually every civic organization in Southern California has put out a statement denouncing ICE activity. Yet LA28, the private nonprofit that serves as LA's Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, and aspires to be a civic organization, has said nothing
Why won't LA28 support 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"
www.torched.la
December 4, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"Many workers have also told me they are simply too scared to staff the venues for upcoming megaevents due to heightened federal security... The refusal to guarantee the safety of LA's immigrant community could end up seriously impacting the organizing committee's ability to deliver the games."
During the past six months, virtually every civic organization in Southern California has put out a statement denouncing ICE activity. Yet LA28, the private nonprofit that serves as LA's Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, and aspires to be a civic organization, has said nothing
Why won't LA28 support 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"
www.torched.la
December 4, 2025 at 9:53 PM
During the past six months, virtually every civic organization in Southern California has put out a statement denouncing ICE activity. Yet LA28, the private nonprofit that serves as LA's Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee, and aspires to be a civic organization, has said nothing
Reposted by Alissa Walker
The Olympics are (mostly!) due to take place in a county of over 10 million people.
LA28 can & should find folks who don't back the government that has been destroying our families, our economy, and our justice system for nearly a year.
LA28 can & should find folks who don't back the government that has been destroying our families, our economy, and our justice system for nearly a year.
Over 100 members of the Fair Games Coalition are in the lobby of LA28’s HQ calling for chair Casey Wasserman to resign after the organizing committee appointed a half-dozen MAGA board members last month. They’re asking to be let upstairs to personally deliver a letter of demands
December 3, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The Olympics are (mostly!) due to take place in a county of over 10 million people.
LA28 can & should find folks who don't back the government that has been destroying our families, our economy, and our justice system for nearly a year.
LA28 can & should find folks who don't back the government that has been destroying our families, our economy, and our justice system for nearly a year.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
FIFA should call on US authorities not to target World Cup events for immigration enforcement, including through 287(g) arrangements.
Read more from HRW:
Read more from HRW:
US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights Dangers for World Cup
The arrest and return of an asylum seeker who took his children to the Club World Cup soccer tournament final on July 13, 2025, raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the 20...
www.hrw.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
FIFA should call on US authorities not to target World Cup events for immigration enforcement, including through 287(g) arrangements.
Read more from HRW:
Read more from HRW:
Reposted by Alissa Walker
New from HRW: The arrest of an asylum seeker at the Club World Cup final in July 2025 raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the #WorldCup2026 in the United States next year.
US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights Dangers for World Cup
The arrest and return of an asylum seeker who took his children to the Club World Cup soccer tournament final on July 13, 2025, raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the 20...
www.hrw.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
New from HRW: The arrest of an asylum seeker at the Club World Cup final in July 2025 raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the #WorldCup2026 in the United States next year.
Developed from more than 6,000 Australians, including almost 3,000 Queenslanders, the framework draws on feedback from 37 stakeholder groups and over 40 workshops.
LA has done nothing like this three years out.
In fact, LA28 claimed they couldn’t do community outreach until the venues were set 🤔
LA has done nothing like this three years out.
In fact, LA28 claimed they couldn’t do community outreach until the venues were set 🤔
Thousands had their say — here's the Brisbane 2032 vision
Believe, Belong, Become — Brisbane 2032 has been unveiled as the official vision for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, shaped by input from more than six thousand Australians who shared their vis...
www.abc.net.au
December 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Developed from more than 6,000 Australians, including almost 3,000 Queenslanders, the framework draws on feedback from 37 stakeholder groups and over 40 workshops.
LA has done nothing like this three years out.
In fact, LA28 claimed they couldn’t do community outreach until the venues were set 🤔
LA has done nothing like this three years out.
In fact, LA28 claimed they couldn’t do community outreach until the venues were set 🤔
Reposted by Alissa Walker
1. Cars are the biggest source of climate pollution in the country.
2. Transportation is the biggest household expense after rent/mortgage.
2. State and local gov't could cut these numbers by about 25% in five years without any federal policy.
Somebody solve this for me, what should we do? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
2. Transportation is the biggest household expense after rent/mortgage.
2. State and local gov't could cut these numbers by about 25% in five years without any federal policy.
Somebody solve this for me, what should we do? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Trump Returns to Gasoline as Fuel of Choice for Cars, Gutting Biden’s Climate Policy
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
1. Cars are the biggest source of climate pollution in the country.
2. Transportation is the biggest household expense after rent/mortgage.
2. State and local gov't could cut these numbers by about 25% in five years without any federal policy.
Somebody solve this for me, what should we do? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
2. Transportation is the biggest household expense after rent/mortgage.
2. State and local gov't could cut these numbers by about 25% in five years without any federal policy.
Somebody solve this for me, what should we do? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
How did the Stranger Things CicLAvia come together? I've got the inside story as well as the extremely bleak outlook for open streets in LA — if only our leaders could see car-free infrastructure as an investment in our future instead of a nostalgic novelty
The upside down
The spectacle that unfolded along four miles of Melrose on the Sunday before Thanksgiving was a portal into LA's age of activations
www.torched.la
December 4, 2025 at 12:15 AM
How did the Stranger Things CicLAvia come together? I've got the inside story as well as the extremely bleak outlook for open streets in LA — if only our leaders could see car-free infrastructure as an investment in our future instead of a nostalgic novelty
Reposted by Alissa Walker
The CEOs of both Ford and Stellantis, who are there to celebrate the rollback of vehicle emissions standards (which will drive climate change), are standing right behind Trump as he makes these racist comments.
Trump, continued: "What the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable. It’s not even believable. And a lot of it starts with the governor. A lot of it starts with Barack HUSSEIN Obama, because that’s when people started coming in... They want to kiss our country good night."
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The CEOs of both Ford and Stellantis, who are there to celebrate the rollback of vehicle emissions standards (which will drive climate change), are standing right behind Trump as he makes these racist comments.
Over 100 members of the Fair Games Coalition are in the lobby of LA28’s HQ calling for chair Casey Wasserman to resign after the organizing committee appointed a half-dozen MAGA board members last month. They’re asking to be let upstairs to personally deliver a letter of demands
December 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Over 100 members of the Fair Games Coalition are in the lobby of LA28’s HQ calling for chair Casey Wasserman to resign after the organizing committee appointed a half-dozen MAGA board members last month. They’re asking to be let upstairs to personally deliver a letter of demands
Reposted by Alissa Walker
California shut down its last coal plant last week and nobody even noticed, it made so little little difference.
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Ding dong, coal is dead
At least in California.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
California shut down its last coal plant last week and nobody even noticed, it made so little little difference.
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Reposted by Alissa Walker
LADWP finally turned off its last coal powerplant. The last one of any significance providing power to California.
Something to be thankful for!
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
December 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
LADWP finally turned off its last coal powerplant. The last one of any significance providing power to California.
Why does this sound like a threat 😮💨
'I don’t think L.A. knows what’s going to hit them.' World Cup planning hits overdrive
Past Cup organizers know 2026 World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium will have a massive influence on L.A. Planning for the games hits overdrive this week.
www.latimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Why does this sound like a threat 😮💨
Reposted by Alissa Walker
“No one needs to dream up imaginary monsters trying to murder our children, they're parked right there in our driveways” 🔥
I wrote about the Netflix CicLAvia buyout and how the Branding of Everything™ during LA's megaevent era has now become our reality — but it's less about the unavoidable commercialism that's already seeped into our major events, and more about who sets the standards that align with our values
The upside down
The spectacle that unfolded along four miles of Melrose on the Sunday before Thanksgiving was a portal into LA's age of activations
www.torched.la
December 3, 2025 at 3:28 AM
“No one needs to dream up imaginary monsters trying to murder our children, they're parked right there in our driveways” 🔥
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I'm with @awalkerinla.bsky.social: Netflix sponsoring CicLAvia to promote "Stranger Things" is awesome, but at the same time: "No one needs to dream up imaginary monsters trying to murder our children, they're parked right there in our driveways." www.torched.la/the-upside-d...
The upside down
The spectacle that unfolded along four miles of Melrose on the Sunday before Thanksgiving was a portal into LA's age of activations
www.torched.la
December 3, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I'm with @awalkerinla.bsky.social: Netflix sponsoring CicLAvia to promote "Stranger Things" is awesome, but at the same time: "No one needs to dream up imaginary monsters trying to murder our children, they're parked right there in our driveways." www.torched.la/the-upside-d...
Reposted by Alissa Walker
It's hard to believe a "Tesla Tunnel" type project would still be on the books in 2025, but at least SBCTA is likely to kill the project tomorrow.
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
SBCTA Could Finally End One of the Country’s Worst Zombie Projects: The ONT Connector - Streetsblog California
“The ONT Connector is an inappropriate investment. Ridership capacity and public transportation utility do not support spending billions of dollars for it. Scrapping the project is the right decision....
cal.streetsblog.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:12 PM
It's hard to believe a "Tesla Tunnel" type project would still be on the books in 2025, but at least SBCTA is likely to kill the project tomorrow.
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
Reposted by Alissa Walker
KIDS ARE PEOPLE
December 2, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Alissa Walker
THIS, from @awalkerinla.bsky.social:
"These city officials who come to the press conferences and tootle around on a bike for a few hours then climb into their SUVs to drive home need to be asked, repeatedly, what they're doing to make car-free streets an everyday amenity, not an anomaly."
"These city officials who come to the press conferences and tootle around on a bike for a few hours then climb into their SUVs to drive home need to be asked, repeatedly, what they're doing to make car-free streets an everyday amenity, not an anomaly."
I wrote about the Netflix CicLAvia buyout and how the Branding of Everything™ during LA's megaevent era has now become our reality — but it's less about the unavoidable commercialism that's already seeped into our major events, and more about who sets the standards that align with our values
The upside down
The spectacle that unfolded along four miles of Melrose on the Sunday before Thanksgiving was a portal into LA's age of activations
www.torched.la
December 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
THIS, from @awalkerinla.bsky.social:
"These city officials who come to the press conferences and tootle around on a bike for a few hours then climb into their SUVs to drive home need to be asked, repeatedly, what they're doing to make car-free streets an everyday amenity, not an anomaly."
"These city officials who come to the press conferences and tootle around on a bike for a few hours then climb into their SUVs to drive home need to be asked, repeatedly, what they're doing to make car-free streets an everyday amenity, not an anomaly."