Gustavo Arellano is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, covering Southern California everything and a bunch of the West and beyond. He previously worked at OC Weekly, where he was an investigative reporter for 15 years and editor for six, wrote a column called ¡Ask a Mexican! and is the author of “Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.” He’s the child of two Mexican immigrants, one of whom came to this country in the trunk of a Chevy.
Latest From This Author
The main issue that drove the secret discussion — where does Latino political power stand in L.A.? — remains as vital and vexing to the future of Los Angeles as ever.
Oct. 6, 2023
The final product is as squat and dense as a throw pillow and looks like a marriage between a Chipotle burrito and a Panera Bread sandwich.
Sept. 29, 2023
Column: For nearly a century, this camp has hosted city children. Tropical Storm Hilary destroyed it
Now, UniCamp Executive Director Jason Liou has to figure out whether the camp, which has hosted disadvantaged young people since the 1930s, will come back to this location next summer — or ever.
Sept. 27, 2023
The students are all on the autism spectrum. They were like line chefs in any restaurant kitchen — except they weren’t allowed to handle knives.
Sept. 19, 2023
El pesimismo y el derrotismo que muchos estadounidenses expresan en las redes sociales y en la política traicionan algo fundamental sobre este país. En estos días, son los inmigrantes quienes mantienen viva la esperanza.
Sept. 18, 2023
The national debate over immigration has raged for decades but often ignores the lives of actual immigrants.
Sept. 17, 2023
The doom and gloom that many Americans offer up on social media and in politics betrays something fundamental about this country. These days, it’s immigrants who keep hope alive.
Sept. 17, 2023
Squealing newborn piglets were passed around to hold for photo ops. Cornfields surrounded us for hundreds of acres. It all seemed so perfect. Too perfect.
Sept. 6, 2023
By winning a a seat on the San Fernando City Council, Montañez became one of the first members of the Prop. 187 generation to win elected office in L.A. County.
Aug. 31, 2023
Street food vendors have always been the working poor, scraping by in jobs that are the envy of no one. Aren’t those the hustlers that cities should want to protect and uplift?
Aug. 29, 2023