A visit to Frank del Olmo Elementary on Career Day

Last February, I wrote about my visit to Frank del Olmo Elementary, located on the outskirts of Historic Filipinotown northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the death of its namesake, the legendary Times columnist and masthead editor whom this paper and city swore we would never forget when he tragically passed away of a heart attack at just 55 — and then we mostly did.

That columna ended with an invitation from Frank del Olmo Elementary’s assistant principal to return on their career day later that spring to speak to students about my predecessor and my own career. I gladly accepted. I love speaking before crowds, but especially to elementary school students, many who have the same story as me at their age: a child of working class immigrants with dreams as huge as Clifford the Big Red Dog.

My talks to two classes last year must’ve gone well, because I returned to the school’s career day last Wednesday.

The office staff remembered me when I signed in, and school principal Rania Nahle greeted me in a rec room while other guest speakers arrived. Some grabbed breakfast burritos and cookies that the school brought in as a gracias for spending our morning with their young scholars. “We celebrated Frank’s birthday last week!” Nahle excitedly told me, mentioning how students learned about who he was, and some classes even did projects to honor him.

She gave us guest speakers — accountants, police officers, nurses — some encouraging words, then off we went to our half-hour lectures. My first stop: the first-grade class of Ms. Slayton.

I started my chat by asking if anyone knew who Frank del Olmo was, and I’m happy to report that not only did they nod their heads yes, they also got the big points about him right. A writer. A dad. A hero. Looking on from behind Ms. Slayton’s desk were paper cutouts the students had made of Del Olmo, complete with his trademark thick-framed glasses, full mustache and proud smile.

The class passed around my copy of an anthology of Del Olmo’s best columns as I talked about who Frank was and how I try to follow in his footsteps by writing about more than just Latinos. Although covering the city’s biggest ethnic group — one that almost every student before me belonged to — is especially important, of course, a writer is more than just the group they belong to, I told them.

When I speak, I usually zip through my thoughts and leave the last 10 minutes or so to audience questions.

That wasn’t going to happen with this group.

Their hands were raised from start to finish, and they were unsparing in their queries. What did I want to be when I was their age? (Something that involved a lot of reading.) How much did I make? (A trillion-billion dollars.) Am I scared when I do my job? (Who isn’t?)

Hey, Times bosses: We need to hire these first-graders for our politics team.

The students at Ms. Blanc’s fifth-grade class were initially more muted, befitting that awkward year when boys and girls are too busy taking the first psychological and physiological steps toward adulthood to fully express themselves before a stranger. But they paid attention to every word I said, and the question-and-answer session was smart, gravitating more to how I do my job (on call 24/7, like a firefighter) and what do I hope to do with it (comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable).

Really, the biggest difference between the two classes was what animated them the most: the first-graders were especially excited when I mentioned I wanted to write about the new “Lilo and & Stitch” movie, while the fifth-graders were ecstatic that I have written about Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani.

I would have loved to speak to more classes, but I had my own columnas to chase. Like I told Principal Nahle and the staffer who escorted me back to the school’s entrance though, I’m available to speak to Frank del Olmo Elementary for career day every year they’ll have me.

I’m sure Frank would be proud of us all.

Today’s top stories

A crowd took over several streets in downtown Los Angeles, leaving behind a trail of destruction late Saturday, tagging businesses, a Metro train and even an LAPD patrol car.

(OnScene.TV)

Shocking vandalism rampage in downtown L.A. sparks outrage

• On Saturday night, police say, hundreds of people showed up for an illegal party in downtown Los Angeles, with a group of them later spilling out into the surrounding neighborhood where they wreaked havoc — vandalizing vehicles, storefronts and even a Metro train.
• Police responded to the area, where the crowd then vandalized their vehicles. One officer was injured when hit in the face with a bottle, police said. In the end, no arrests were made.

Trump threatens to strip federal funds to California over transgender youth athletes

• President Trump has threatened to cut federal funding to California if the state continues allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
• Trump blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom in an early morning post on Truth Social saying the state under his leadership “continues to ILLEGALLY allow MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.”
• The president’s post appeared to reference a California high school junior who won the girls’ long jump and triple jump during the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters Meet over the weekend.

Supreme Court clears way for a massive copper mine on Apache sacred land

• The Supreme Court declined to hear an Apache religious challenge to the construction of a massive copper mine on Oak Flat, a swath of untouched federal land in Arizona that tribe members consider sacred and irreplaceable.
• The decision, which leaves intact a lower court’s ruling against the tribe members, marked a major loss for Apache Stronghold, a group that has long argued that the mine’s construction would violate their religious rights by permanently wiping out a unique sacred site used for Apache religious ceremonies.

What else is going on

• May gray persists, but a heat wave could be headed for SoCal by Friday, forecasters say.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says COVID vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
• NPR and public radio stations sue Trump White House over funding cuts.
• The Supreme Court denies a student’s right to wear ‘only two genders’ T-shirt at school.
• U.S. gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton was arrested on a DUI charge in West Virginia.
• The California home of the Beanie Babies billionaire was the scene of a violent break-in that left a woman in a coma, officials say.
• Trump set to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley in bank fraud and tax evasion case.
• A father was killed in a Laguna Beach crash while teaching his 15-year-old daughter how to drive, police say.

Commentary and opinions

• Why Wayne Randazzo and Mark Gubicza might be the best Angels broadcast duo in 50 years, argues columnist Bill Shaikin.
• The Trump administration’s decision to rescind or terminate National Endowment for the Arts grants is a threat to the survival of arts organizations, argues guest columnist David L. Ulin.
• Our aging population and low birth rate are structural problems added to the political problems that make the Republican megabill not so beautiful, columnist Jonah Goldberg argues.

This morning’s must reads

California

A daughter finds her mother dead in an L.A. homeless encampment. Was it an overdose or homicide?

A U.S. Army veteran was among two bodies found inside a tent at a homeless encampment. Relatives say the LAPD mishandled the case of their mother’s death.

May 28, 2025

Other must reads

• Inside the L.A. locations where ‘Hacks,’ ‘Forever,’ ‘The Studio’ and more showcase the city we call home.
• In Vietnam, an unlikely outpost for Chicano culture.
• An Oscar party snub forged Kate Hudson and Mindy Kaling’s enduring friendship.
• Elisabeth Moss on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ finale moment that gave her chills.

For your downtime

(Angie Wang / For The Times)

Going out

• Vacations: You don’t have to lose intimacy when traveling with kids. You just need to get strategic. These tips from relationship experts can help.
• Festivals: The 10 movies we are most looking forward to watching at the L.A. Latino International Film Festival, which kicks off today at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
• Concerts: After a major dance routine to open the AMAs, Jennifer Lopez announces a Vegas residency.

Staying in

• Books: Looking for an escape? Here are 16 romance novels to read this summer.
• Recipes: Here’s a recipe for warm steak salad with sherried cherries.
• ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games.

A question for you: What is your favorite California city to visit?

Barbara says, “Mill Valley.”
Tami says, “San Diego.”

Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.

And finally ... your photo of the day

Srinika Boddu, 5, takes a look through a weapon’s scope during L.A. Fleet Week, which had equipment on display.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Today’s great photo is from Times photographer Carlin Stiehl at the Port of Los Angeles during a Fleet Week event that featured tours of active-duty military ships as well as aircraft flyovers and military displays and demonstrations of equipment.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Gustavo Arellano, metro columnist
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, Sunday writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.