Nonprofit & Nonpartisan News
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
About Newsletters Search
  • Politics
  • Justice
  • Environment
  • Economy
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • Inequality
  • Digital Democracy
  • Technology
  • Commentary
  • Daily Newsletter
  • Explainers
  • Data & Trackers
  • Programs
    • California Divide
    • CalMatters for Learning
    • College Journalism Network
    • Mental Health Reporting Initiative
    • What’s Working
    • Youth Journalism
  • Events
  • Donate
    • Manage your donation
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
    • Impact
    • News and Awards
    • Funding
    • Policies
    • Sponsorship
    • Our Team
    • Jobs
  • Inside the Newsroom
  • CalMatters en Español
  • Videos
CalMatters is your nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to explaining how state government impacts our lives.
  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • X
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Politics
  • Immigration
  • Housing
  • Education
  • Economy
  • Environment
  • California Voices
  • Digital Democracy
  • Impact
  • Events
Avatar photo

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

California Divide / Environmental Justice Reporter

Contact Latest Stories

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde is an environmental equity reporter from Los Angeles. 

Previously, Reyes-Velarde was a California Divide reporter for CalMatters specializing in social mobility, labor issues, immigration and more. Reyes-Velarde has written accountability stories about state and local governments’ response to increases of asylum seekers in California and access challenges for internet and phone service for the poorest Californians, as well as residents’ difficulty staying housed as the cost of living rises. 

She began her career at the Los Angeles Times, where she produced award-winning work on major news events and marginalized communities.

She was part of an award-winning team covering Southern California fires and the Borderline bar shooting in 2018. She also was the CCNMA Ruben Salazar Award recipient for a series about the pandemic’s impact on Latino communities. Additionally she contributed to the LA Times’ education, business and entertainment coverage.  

Reyes-Velarde is a Los Angeles native born to Mexican immigrant parents. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s in legal studies from UCLA School of Law. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Contact

Email

Latest Stories

A small airplane flying over the skyline of Los Angeles during a warm-looking sunset, depicting oranges and yellows on a smoggy-looking day.
Environment
Reined in by cost and a hostile president, California ponders next move to clean its air pollution
With 7 of its most ambitious rules for cars, trucks and trains repealed, California officials now must find new ways to clean up the nation’s worst air pollution. But officials face growing pushback about affordability and costs.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • July 7, 2025
A row of boxed water heaters is displayed on a store shelf, labeled as A.O. Smith brand with models for natural gas and propane gas. The boxes prominently feature product images and specifications. Price tags and plumbing accessories hang nearby, with additional inventory partially visible in the background. The store environment is clean and well-lit.
Environment
Air board rejects smog rules phasing out gas-powered heaters in LA basin
The new rules would have set increasing targets for sales of zero-emission products in the 4-county L.A. region over the next decade. Opponents say they would have limited consumers’ choices and driven up costs, while supporters say they are critical for healthy air.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • June 6, 2025
A person walks through shelves filled with cardboard boxes containing water heaters at a hardware store.
Environment
These gas appliances — one of the largest sources of LA’s smog — could be phased out
Air quality board will vote Friday on targets and fees that aim to phase out water heaters and furnaces powered by natural gas. These appliances emit more smog-causing gases than the region's largest industrial polluters.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • June 4, 2025
A close-up of an electric vehicle plugged into an EVgo fast charging station in a parking lot. The charging cable connects to the front side of a dark green Rivian truck, with signage for Ultium and EVgo visible in the background.
Environment
US Senate blocks California’s electric car mandate in historic vote
Today's decision could upend California’s phaseout of gas-powered cars and diesel trucks and its decades-long battle against air pollution. California plans to file suit, claiming an unlawful use of an act allowing Congress to review some regulations enacted by the previous administration.
By Alejandro Lazo and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • May 22, 2025
Two young baseball players wearing blue and white jerseys stand in their positions as they watch a batter get ready for a pitch during a game. Blue cranes from a nearby port can be seen in the distant background.
Environment
These communities are unaware they’ve lived near toxic gas for decades. Why has no action been taken?
Five facilities near schools and houses in LA County fumigate produce shipped from overseas with methyl bromide. But the air agency doesn’t plan to monitor the air or take any immediate steps to protect people from the gas, which can damage lungs and cause neurological effects.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • April 23, 2025
An industrial facility with a metal-sided warehouse is shown, featuring large exhaust stacks supported by cables. Refrigerated truck trailers are parked near loading docks, while a yellow forklift sits nearby. In the foreground, black flatbed trailers are lined up. To the right, a tall, aging conveyor structure extends upward, supported by a network of metal beams and ladders. Power lines crisscross the sky, and palm trees are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
CalMatters en Español
Fumigantes tóxicos podrían estar filtrándose en partes de Long Beach, Compton y San Pedro
Los residentes de Long Beach que viven cerca de empresas que usan bromuro de metilo están indignados porque las autoridades de calidad del aire no les notificaron durante años ni evaluaron sus riesgos para la salud. Ahora, las autoridades informan que hay más instalaciones operando en San Pedro y Compton.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • March 21, 2025
An industrial facility with a metal-sided warehouse is shown, featuring large exhaust stacks supported by cables. Refrigerated truck trailers are parked near loading docks, while a yellow forklift sits nearby. In the foreground, black flatbed trailers are lined up. To the right, a tall, aging conveyor structure extends upward, supported by a network of metal beams and ladders. Power lines crisscross the sky, and palm trees are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
Environment
‘We should be in crisis mode’: Toxic fumigant could be seeping into these communities
Long Beach residents near companies that use methyl bromide are angry that air quality officials didn’t notify them for years and haven’t assessed their health risks. Now officials say more facilities are operating in San Pedro and Compton.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • March 21, 2025
A busy shipping port with large, blue gantry cranes labeled 'YTI' towering over stacks of colorful shipping containers. The cranes are equipped with yellow lifting mechanisms used for moving cargo. The sky is clear blue with a few wispy clouds. Rows of containers in shades of red, pink, blue, and brown are stacked neatly along the port, some marked with shipping company names such as 'ONE' and 'CAI.'
CalMatters en Español
Estas comunidades portuarias llevan décadas esperando tener aire limpio y un nuevo plan podría resultar insuficiente
Los puertos de Los Ángeles y Long Beach son las mayores fuentes de contaminación atmosférica en la cuenca del río Los Ángeles. Grupos comunitarios se quejan.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • March 20, 2025
A busy shipping port with large, blue gantry cranes labeled 'YTI' towering over stacks of colorful shipping containers. The cranes are equipped with yellow lifting mechanisms used for moving cargo. The sky is clear blue with a few wispy clouds. Rows of containers in shades of red, pink, blue, and brown are stacked neatly along the port, some marked with shipping company names such as 'ONE' and 'CAI.'
Environment
‘Herculean effort’: These port communities have waited decades for clean air. Why a new plan may fall short
The ports of LA and Long Beach are the biggest sources of air pollution in the LA basin. Air quality officials have drafted new rules to help electrify the ports. But community groups representing 400,000 residents say they don't go far enough or fast enough to clean up their dirty air.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • March 20, 2025
A person with black hair and wearing a black shirt with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles logo stands at the back of a vehicle with her cleaning supplies on the car's trunk.
CalMatters en Español
Miles de trabajadores inmigrantes y de bajos ingresos perdieron sus empleos en los incendios de Los Ángeles
Jardineros, amas de casa y trabajadores de lavado de autos que viven de sueldo en sueldo se quedaron sin trabajo en el condado de Los Ángeles debido a que los incendios dañaron hogares y negocios. Sus pérdidas de ingresos pueden ser permanentes.
By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Jeanne Kuang • January 18, 2025

Posts pagination

1 2 3 … 9 Older posts
CalMatters logo
  • Bluesky
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • X
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

About

  • Overview
  • Impact
  • Funding
  • News and Awards
  • Policies
  • Programs
  • Sponsorships
  • Our Team
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us

Topics

  • Politics
  • Justice
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Housing
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Inequality

More

  • Donate
  • Manage donation
  • Newsletters
  • CalMatters en Español
  • Inside the Newsroom
  • Digital Democracy

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Membership Inquiries

[email protected]

  1. Protect your nonprofit state news.
  1. Become a CalMatters member with a tax-deductible donation today to stay informed, bolster our journalism and expand how many people we reach across California.
Donate
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
© 2025 CalMatters Powered by Newspack Privacy Policy