NewsMatch, the largest grassroots effort to fund non-profit journalism in the country, begins its fourth annual campaign today with nearly 200 newsrooms on board including your Alhambra Source.

This year’s campaign slogan: “This News Can’t Wait” reflects the importance of real time news reporting on many levels including hyperlocal, which is the focus of the Alhambra Source. The campaign runs from now until Dec. 31.

In its last three years of operation, NewsMatch has helped newsrooms across the country raise $14.8 million and attract nearly 100,000 new donors to non-profit news. Last year, your Alhambra Source joined for the first time and, through the support of readers like you, raised more than $25,000 during the two-month campaign. That figure was matched in full by the funders of NewsMatch—made up of some of the leading foundations in the country— so the Source came away with $50,000 in operating capital to keep  its staff doing what it does best: report the stories that bring value to your lives and explain events in the city you love. But that was last year and that kind of funding is not enough to fully sustain the Alhambra Source. So the Source is joining NewsMatch again and asking for your tangible support. 

Non-profit newsroom participation in NewsMatch continues to grow and this year, there are 49 new members. As a result the maximum match this year will be $20,000 per organization. Individual donations will be matched up to $1,000. When NewsMatch started in 2016 there were  just 54 news organizations participating. Now there are close to 200.

In Alhambra, the idea that “This News Can’t Wait” is reflected in our coverage of City Hall, the Alhambra Unified School District and the state legislature as it considers measures vital to the city, and the Congress, as well.

We cover everything from the city council to urban planning to immigrant narratives of all sorts. Recently, we reported on a fascinating issue in the Alhambra Planning Committee where  a Sikh temple is being targeted for demolition and a new mixed-used development scheduled to take its place. The issue is ongoing and touches on landlord/tenant notifications; city commission procedures and the future of a faith-based institution that has been practicing in the city for quite some time. On Monday, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to take another look at the issue.

This year we’ve also covered efforts to bring affordable housing to Alhambra and looked at how pedestrian safety on the city’s busy streets impacts a wide cross-section of residents. We’ve written about residents’ efforts to curb crime using video doorbells and a groundbreaking  new children’s center at the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA that will help provide safe haven for homeless and at risk youth.

We’ve kept you up to date on efforts to take the I-710 freeway stub that ends at Valley Blvd out of the state highway system and also told you the inspiring story of one Alhambra High School senior who is going against the grain and plans to go on to Cal State LA without taking out student loans. We also offered detailed coverage on the seemingly random shooting and subsequent death of L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Solano at a Jack in the Box restaurant on Valley Blvd. 

Our work in the community this year included our “How Not to Be Broke” financial literacy workshop for high school seniors as well as our partnership with AAAJ-LA and Grassroots Alhambra to present an affordable housing informational forum.

As we look ahead to 2020, we are preparing for the all-important Census count, which has a large impact on federal funds and congressional representation in your community and state. We will also be gearing up for the California primary in March and municipal elections in November.

We love Alhambra and know that you do too. So please help us continue to  provide independent, quality journalism for this diverse and fascinating community.  Non-profit newsrooms don’t run themselves for free.

The donate buttons are ready for your use.