Zev to Eddy: Stop before it's too late

County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky just sent a letter to Los Angeles Times publisher Eddy Hartenstein urging him to reconsider his decision to fold local news into the A section and kill California. Yaroslavsky cites his "deepest dismay and concern," and calls Hartenstein's strategy a trajectory to "save the newspaper by destroying it." He uses some other strong language and rejects some of Hartenstein's key arguments — I'd guess influenced by counting former Times projects editor Joel Sappell and Herald Examiner editorial writer Joel Bellman on his county staff. Yaroslavsky's letter is here as a PDF.

Meanwhile: That Facebook group started by Council President Eric Garcetti has hit 1,400+ members, including current and former Times staffers, City Hall staffers and people from all over.

Online only subscriptions?: Sounds like a lot of the Times' most loyal readers have dropped their subscriptions over Hartenstein's decision, the generally thinner content and stuff like the Sundance video — or want to quit their subs. But I'm also hearing from an increasing number who feel they should keep paying to support the journalists. Artist and longtime LA Observed reader Cindy Bernard suggests a discounted Internet only option, but found the Times circulation clerk baffled by the idea.

Hi Kevin,

Just thought I'd relay a little LAT frustration your way.

I'm on a promotional offer 7 Days/ $2.99 week. Super cheap. But the fact is, I rarely read the printed paper. I read it online. The papers pile up unwrapped and I feel guilty. Plus I'm broke.