The first and final issues of The District
10:30am | The fallout continues after Long Beach’s alternative weekly newspaper The District Weekly called it quits about a month ago, when it came out that many freelancers and even staffers were owed significant back pay.
Some supporters are coming together to offer their support tonight with a fundraiser to hopefully help the writers and designers recoup what they’re owed.
In true District fashion, The Art Theatre (2025 E. 4th Street) will host a special showing of the classic comedy “Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke” beginning at 9:00pm. Tickets are $10 and all of the proceeds will go to the freelancers; there will also be giveaways and surprises.
Proceeds from the afterparty at The Prospector (cover $5) will also go to District freelancers, as will 20% of all sales made at {open} bookstore down the street from Lola’s and the Art Theatre.
The District was a local weekly newspaper that focused on news, arts and culture with an emphasis on creative writing and impressive design work. It was also known for taking controversial stances with investigative reporting that sometimes came back to bite the magazine. Businesses in both Belmont Shore and downtown Long Beach organized separate advertising boycotts in direct response to reporting that was not taken well in certain circles.
“Certainly, ad revenue wasn’t where it needed to be,” editor-in-chief Ellen Griley told the lbpost.com in March. “But there’s really no person to blame or one thing to blame. Because part of me thinks, in a way, the City wasn’t ready for a paper like this.”
The event is sponsored by Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, the delicious restaurant with a warm atmosphere that is right across the street from the Art Theatre, along with media help from Mondo Celluloid and 562CityLife.com.