Living in the foothills feels a bit different than the rest of Los Angeles. You’ve got the mountain air, the wild peacocks, and that specific "small town" vibe that’s getting harder to find in the 818. But being tucked away doesn't mean we're immune to the chaos of the city. If you’re looking for sunland tujunga news today, you probably noticed that the local chatter is a mix of high-stakes budget fights and the usual rhythm of community life at the library.
Honestly, it’s a weird time for the neighborhood. While most of the city is looking at the big headlines downtown, Sunland-Tujunga is quietly dealing with some pretty specific local issues—from the fate of a new car wash to how the LAFD is going to handle the next "particularly dangerous situation" in our canyons.
The Local Land Use Battle: Not Just Another Car Wash
If you've driven past Apperson and Foothill lately, you might have heard the rumblings. There’s a new application for an Express Car Wash at that site. This isn't the first time this has come up; it’s actually the third time an application like this has hit the community's radar.
The Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council (STNC) Land Use Committee had this on their agenda earlier this month. The big hang-up? Zoning changes. In a community where we value our specific aesthetic and local small businesses, adding another high-volume car wash is a touchy subject. The committee is basically acting as the gatekeeper here, reaching out to the applicant to make sure whatever happens there doesn't mess with the neighborhood's flow. It’s one of those things that seems small until it’s built and you’re stuck looking at it every day.
📖 Related: Why Fox Has a Problem: The Identity Crisis at the Top of Cable News
Fire Safety and the New Chief’s Warning
We all remember the Palisades fire. It was a wake-up call for everyone living in high-risk brush areas. Recently, the new LAFD Chief, Jaime Moore, has been pretty blunt about the department's limitations. He admitted that during extreme weather, the LAFD "never had a chance" in certain areas because of staffing decisions driven by budget cuts.
Why does this matter for us? Because Sunland-Tujunga was explicitly named as one of the areas where the department needs to "pre-deploy" resources to have a fighting chance. If the humidity drops and the winds pick up, the old way of doing things—waiting for the smoke to show up before calling in the cavalry—just isn't going to cut it anymore. It’s a bit of a grim reality check, but knowing that the department is actively updating its policies to prioritize foothill staffing during "red flag" days is a step in the right direction.
The City Budget Gap and Your Pocketbook
The news out of City Hall isn't great. Los Angeles is staring down a $300 million to $400 million budget gap for the 2026-27 fiscal year. While that sounds like "big city" problems, the ripples hit Sunland-Tujunga fast.
👉 See also: The CIA Stars on the Wall: What the Memorial Really Represents
- Homelessness Funding: There’s a serious risk of losing federal and state funding for local homelessness programs.
- Tax Measures: Keep an eye on the June primary ballot. The City Council is considering new taxes on hotel stays and parking to try and plug the hole.
- Infrastructure: When the city is broke, those potholes on Tujunga Canyon Blvd tend to stay unpatched a lot longer.
The Neighborhood Council is encouraging people to get involved in "Budget Advocacy." It sounds boring, I know. But basically, it’s about making sure the "Forgotten Foothills" get their fair share of the shrinking pie before everything gets funneled into downtown projects.
What’s Happening Around Town This Week
If you're just looking for something to do or want to keep it local, the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library is still the heart of the community.
Today, January 17, 2026, there are a few things going on. There’s a Used Book Sale over at the Central Library if you’re up for a short drive, but closer to home, the Sunland Senior Center is keeping things moving. They’ve got their regular country line dancing sessions on Mondays and Fridays (noon to 1:30 PM) and bingo on Tuesdays. It’s that kind of low-key local life that keeps the neighborhood feeling like home.
✨ Don't miss: Passive Resistance Explained: Why It Is Way More Than Just Standing Still
Also, if you're a parent, keep an eye on the local school news. We've had a rough patch with lockdowns and incidents at Verdugo Hills High in the recent past, but the focus lately has been on increased campus security and mental health resources. It’s a slow process, but the community pressure seems to be working.
Staying Safe: The Small Stuff Matters
While we worry about the big fires, don’t forget about the smaller stuff. West Nile Virus has been popping up in mosquito samples across Greater LA, including our area. It's easy to ignore until someone gets sick, so the local health advice is still the same: dump the standing water in your yard. Between the rain and the mountain runoff, we’ve got plenty of breeding grounds for those pests.
How to Get Involved Right Now
If you actually want to have a say in sunland tujunga news today, you can't just read about it. You’ve got to show up (even if it's just on Zoom).
- Check the STNC Calendar: The Land Use Committee usually meets on the second Monday of the month. If you care about that car wash or any other new buildings, that’s where the fight happens.
- Report the Potholes: Use the MyLA311 app. The more people report a specific issue in Sunland, the harder it is for the city to ignore us.
- Support Local: Grab a coffee at a local spot on Foothill. With the city budget in a tailspin, our local tax revenue and business success are what keeps the neighborhood alive.
The reality of living here is that we have to be our own biggest advocates. The city is big, the budget is tight, and the mountains are always a fire risk. But as long as we’re paying attention to the local headlines and showing up to the meetings, we can keep Sunland-Tujunga from becoming just another anonymous suburb.
Check the official Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council website for the next meeting link. It’s usually on Zoom, so you can even chime in while you’re making dinner.