After 18 years, the Los Angeles Times is back in local ownership.
Chicago-based Tronc Inc. announced it was selling the Times to Patrick Soon-Shiong, an LA billionaire and biotech entrepreneur, for more than $500 million. The deal also includes the Times's Spanish-language paper, Hoy, and the San Diego Union-Tribune. We asked nine prominent Southern Californians what they make of the deal, which comes after months of tumult at the newspaper.
Jessica Lall, President and CEO of the Central City Association
Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach
Andy Bales, CEO of the Union Rescue Mission
Andy Lipkis, Founder and President of TreePeople
Norberto Santana Jr., Publisher of the Voice of OC
Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Ann Burroughs, President and CEO of Japanese American National Museum
Steve Soberoff, President of the Los Angeles Police Commission
Ron Hartwig, Vice President of Communications for the J. Paul Getty Trust