I am concerned by rising cases, but I don't believe the mask mandate will help efforts to stress vaccine efficacy and compel unvaccinated residents to get vaccinated. LA County should remain aligned with the State instead of creating confusion and disagreement at the local level.
There is no data to support closing restaurants. This action was arbitrary and only further encourages private gatherings, which is where the virus is actually spreading. (1)
Just finished being briefed on
@CountyofLA
post-surge
#COVID19
plans during
@LACountyBOS
meeting. I continue to call on our Board to align with the state. Ending indoor masking mandates may be around the corner but isnโt happening fast enough.
Data shows the surge in cases isn't coming from dining out, but from large social gatherings. Businesses have already made incredible sacrifices to align with safety protocols to remain open in order to pay their bills and feed their families. Read more:
Here's a letter I just sent asking
@lapublichealth
to align
@CountyofLA
's outdoor masking mandates with the stateโs. We need to take this first step ASAP. ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐. Share if you agree!
In Los Angeles County and around the world, I am committed to standing up for our Armenian communities. It is my hope that the United States will hold
#Azerbaijan
and
#Turkey
accountable for their attack on
#Artsakh
, which killed innocent people.
This pandemic has had a profound emotional and educational impact on the lives of children and families. Iโve written a letter to Governor
@GavinNewsom
asking to immediately reopen schools for youth K-6, as public health experts agree itโs safe to do so.
Now that
@CAgovernor
and
@CDCgov
have stated indoor masking won't be mandatory in schools anymore,
@CountyofLA
needs to get aligned. Let local school districts make the masking choices that best reflect their local data along with parent and staff input.
#COVID
#EndMandates
We just declared the "Safer at Home" Public Health Order, which emphasizes the importance of social distancing. This doesnโt mean being aloneโyou are still an important part of your community.
#COVID19
@algalitsky
@CountyofLA
@HildaSolis
My signature was added without authorization from my office. A statement will soon be issued by
@CountyofLA
's Office of Protocol clarifying their error. I have and will always stand in solidarity with the
#Armenian
community
Not a lot of
#COVID19
mask wearing @ yesterday's
#NFCChampionshipGame
. Vaccines/negative test results were required & strong air circulation was in place. Some fans felt this was enough protection. I believe we need to trust the public to make personal masking decisions.Thoughts?
The L.A. City Council overwhelming voted today to keep restaurants open, and our own Board received more than 3,000 public comments in favor of allowing businesses to remain open. (4/4)
The County's orders are significantly more restrictive than the Stateโs. We asked businesses to invest substantial resources to ensure safety, only to force them to close. Small businesses cannot withstand these constant changes and deserve better. (3)
Because of overcrowding this weekend, weโve decided to close our
@lacountyparks
trails. Please remember, youโre safer at home. For exercise and fresh air, please stick to walks in your neighborhood, avoid going in large groups, and stay six feet apart.
I'm at the
@metrolosangeles
Board mtg. today. Glad our Board approved $1.6M to fund new mid-day & evening
#AntelopeValley
@Metrolink
trains during the week + more weekend service. The
#AV
line will be the FIRST
#Metrolink
line to offer nearly hourly service w/ a
To support businesses in the interim, Iโm asking the County to immediately repurpose $10 million in CARES Act funding for grants for restaurants, breweries, and wineries that will be devastated by the closure of outdoor dining and the new County Health Officer Orders. (2)
NOW OPEN: L.A. County is aligning with the State's public health order, reopening in-person shopping and places of worship immediately! We've asked for restaurants and hair salons to be next, and are applying for a variance from the State.
Read more:
I'm sharing a copy of my statement now that the
@LACountyBOS
voted to adopt an ordinance calling for a special election to give it the authority to remove the
@CountyofLA
's
#Sheriff
. I was the dissenting vote.
My first set of โNOโ votes were just registered during todayโs
@LACountyBOS
meeting. I donโt support centralizing power to fire
@CountyofLA
employees if they donโt meet
#COVID19
vax policies. This Board needs to get out of the way and let the Sheriff manage his
@LASDHQ
staff.
Iโm feeling a rush of emotions. Shock. Anger. Iโm tracking this closely. We need to know what happened, why it happened, and who is responsible.
@LASDHQ
@LACoSheriff
Voted โNOโ during todayโs
@LACountyBOS
vote to give
@CountyofLA
authority to fire
#LACounty
employees. We should hold dept. heads
#accountable
for enforcing staff compliance โ not take over their responsibilities. Iโm not OK w/ firing
@LASDHQ
deputies. Wrong move by our Board.
The
#BobcatFire
wasn't named after this group of furry friends, but it sure is a relief to see these adorable bobcats in Pearblossom are safe and sound and helping themselves to a residents' water!
Picture credit: Lorrie Denning
Iโm not on board w/
@LACountyBOS
extending emergency protections for rent nonpayment yet again. Businesses are open, work is available & weโre learning to live w/ COVID19. Continuing this eviction moratorium is bad policy & unfair to landlords. My โNOโ vote stands.
#BadPolicy
Today, I got sworn in for my second term as Supervisor. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to continue to represent the Fifth District and work alongside our community to make Los Angeles County stronger.
Iโm deeply grateful to the
@USAttorneys
Office for their involvement in this case. Current
@LADAOffice
policies donโt allow adding enhanced charges for gangs or use of firearms - unacceptable! These suspects must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
#JusticeMustBeServed
Glad to hear
@lapublichealth
will update
@CountyofLA
's indoor masking orders for some indoor spaces. I've been calling for this all along! This is another step towards living w/
#COVID19
in a balanced way. But piecemealed policies are frustrating & confusing.
#AlignWithTheState
Today was our first board meeting with our historic all-women Board of Supervisors. It was a privilege to pass the gavel to Supervisor
@HildaSolis
as she assumed her role as the new Chair and to welcome Supervisor
@HollyJMitchell
on board.
Tomorrow's vote on a
#CountyCharterAmendment
that would give the
@LACountyBOS
the ability to remove the Sheriff would take the power away from the people. I encourage community members to call in to
#oppose
it. Read the motion here:
The Super Scoopers are at work protecting our Antelope Valley communities from the
#BobcatFire
. Thank you to the
@PalmdaleH2O
for capturing this great shot of the Scoopers refilling at Lake Palmdale.
I support following the Governorโs recommendation for L.A. County to reopen outdoor dining, personal services & other industries. Data-driven & pragmatic policy is essential to protect public health while balancing social, emotional & economic impacts.
It really is about a holistic approach. Thank you to
@Elex_Michaelson
and
@drdrew
for inviting me to share more about keeping our communities safe while supporting businesses.
.
@kathrynbarger
is AGAINST Dr. Barbara Ferrer's suggestion to shut down in person dining at restaurants starting Wednesday.
"To close down one industry based off no science concerns me...I feel its arbitrary and its punitive."
MORE:
Advocating for our Armenian community continues to be a priority. At tomorrow's Board meeting, I'm introducing a motion to support federal legislation to release Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians.
With smash-and-grab crimes and robberies on the rise, we need more
#lawenforcement
presence to protect communities. I'm dedicating $1 million in discretionary dollars to
@LASDHQ
to fund overtime for deputies in the 5th District this holiday season.
#SafeCommunities
#FightCrime
Medical professionals are heroes, and now more than ever, it's a privilege to show them our thanks. If you'd like to donate new supplies to help them combat
#COVID19
, you can drop off items to Olive View, LAC+USC, or Harbor-UCLA.
#BobcatFire
update: Evacuation warnings now include Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Pasadena, Altadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre. Please be prepared in case of an evacuation and follow guidance from first responders.
The
#BobcatFire
is 10,344 acres with 0% containment. Continued warm & dry conditions along with Santa Ana winds will contribute to active burning with erratic fire behavior. For more information, call the
#AngelesNF
fire information line at 626-574-5208.
In response to the tragic ambush of the two
@LASDHQ
deputies last night, Iโm introducing a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the capture of the person who committed this heinous act.
I'm sad to share that 90 percent of Devil's Punchbowl has burned from the
#BobcatFire
. The nature center and significant plant life and fauna across its 1350 acres have been lost. My office is working with
@lacountyparks
to see how we can rebuild and restore this beloved land.
Our
@metrolosangeles
Board is addressing
#PublicSafety
on trains & buses today. I introduced a motion w/ several co-authors to urgently explore solutionsโincluding securing station gate entrances & exits, analyzing data on violent crime+ reoffenders & speeding up pilot solutions
For 21 years, Jonathan Flagler valiantly served as a firefighter before he tragically lost his life in the line of duty. Tonight, we were able to pay our respects and celebrate a life well lived. My heart is with
@LACOFD
and his loved ones as we grapple with an immeasurable loss.
Our
@LACountyBOS
is discussing the impact of
@LASuperiorCourt
's new bail policy effective Oct. 1. I'm voicing my constituents' concerns: the bottom line is they don't feel safe. Victims & the public at large need and want accountability so I'm going to closely track how this
I voted โNoโ on using
@LACountyBOS
โ
#EmergencyDeclaration
powers to extend tenant protections for another year. Countywide housing crisis should not be solved at the expense of private property owners. (1/2)
The women of the
@PasadenaFD
have made history! On Tuesday, the department deployed its first all-female engine crew. Congratulations to the team from Station 34 and thank you for your service!
Read more:
My "NOโ vote was just recorded for
@LACountyBOS
Item 19. Can't support
@CountyofLA
being exclusively a Housing First county. I believe itโs a valid option โ just not the ONLY one that works. Our faith-based & recovery focused approaches are just as effective.
#FlexibilityNeeded
Shocked and deeply saddened by news of 2 Sheriffโs deputies ambushed. Thoughts and prayers go out to their loved ones. We have seen the best in people - and the worst. This toxic and dangerous environment hurts those that serve and protect - and those they are protecting.
This case is an example of all thatโs wrong w/ our D.A.โs underwhelming approach to fending for victimsโ rights & prosecutorial decisions. The publicโs safety was greatly endangered due to our D.A.โs inaction. Not unacceptable.
Itโs a shame we canโt see the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in person, but we can still enjoy pretty content online!
@CAStateParks
is broadcasting the PORTS Home Learning Program where you can access natural resources and cultural heritage in your home.
.
@LACountyBOS
voted to approve my motion, co-authored by
@HollyJMitchell
, that establishes a $45M countywide relief fund for
#SmallPropertyOwners
in
@CountyofLA
. This will bring support to mom-and-pop property owners facing mounting bills b/c of unpaid back rent from tenants.
VACCINE UPDATE: L.A. County residents over 65 are now able to make vaccine appointments. Thank you to my colleagues for your parternship and advocacy for our vulnerable communities. Make an appointment for as soon as 1/21 at .
Thank you to the Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce Greater Los Angeles for your thoughtful donation of 400,000 masks to skilled nursing facilities in our Los Angeles County communities. The Chamber pledged to donate 1 million masks across our region to front line heroes!
I abstained today because I'm not convinced that
@CountyofLA
needs to have its Human Resources Department take on enforcing employees' compliance with
#COVID19
vaccination requirements. Here's a link to my statement on that matter:
I canโt support
@CountyofLA
getting into the business of regulating information. Tackling whatโs considered to be misinformation/disinformation isnโt in the
#LACountySupervisors
โ lane. I voted NO today on this motion:
Any
@LASDHQ
deputy would tell you their acts of bravery were just โthe right thing to do.โ As a community, celebrating their service at
@aladsonline
awards is always the right thing to do in return.
This is the time for peace, which the resilient Armenian community has fought for over the past century and continues to deserve today.
#Armenia
#DefundAzerbaijan
#ArtsakhStrong
(2/2)
Iโm calling for a full investigation into the assault of a
@CountyofLA
USC nurse at a
@metrolosangeles
bus stop. Itโs unacceptable for bus riders to be susceptible to this type of violence. Our essential workers and the public at large deserve better.
Iโve worked with LA County healthcare workers for more than 30 years and this is the most stretched I have ever seen our system, which is why Iโve asked Gov.
@GavinNewsom
for assistance to get additional nursing staff.
While we continue to prioritize vaccinating healthcare workers, we have to be flexible and immediately begin the process of vaccinating those 65 and older. Iโm calling for these changes in line with Governor
@GavinNewsom
โs recommendations.
Today I tested positive for
#COVID19
. Feels like a cold, but each personโs experience is different. Time to walk the talk - Iโm isolating, getting rest and keeping my loved ones at a distance.
#StayHome
#GetVaccinated
#FlattenTheCurve
Mandatory evacuations are underway for Kagel Canyon, Lopez Canyon and Little Tujunga in anticipation of heavy rains and mudslides tonight and tomorrow morning. Please heed the warnings of first responders. An emergency shelter will be announced.
#LARain
@LASDHQ
@CHP_HQ
@LACoFDPIO
We have a strong
#Armenian
community in L.A. County who cares deeply about their homeland & continues to speak up about injustices Armenians have faced for generations. The atrocities we see in
#Artsakh
&
#Armenia
at the hands of
#Azerbaijan
&
#Turkey
appear all too familiar.
In commemorating the 35th anniversary of the massacre of
#Armenians
in Sumgait by Azerbaijan, I believe we must ensure that โNever Againโ becomes a reality by preventing Azerbaijan from ethnically cleansing or annihilating the 120K Armenians of Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh.
@ANCA_WR
It was our pleasure to welcome actor and producer Dean Cain to the board today. His contributions to the Armenian community through his film "Architects of Denial" are immeasurable.
For 27 years, these impressive Super Scoopers have brought the extra muscle to combat fires when we need it most. With high temperatures, dry terrain, & gusty winds, we're glad to have them here to support our talented
@LACOFD
firefighters. Thanks
@QuebecLA
for your partnership.
Not happy w/ outcome of the Tubbs case in the
#AntelopeValley
.
@LADAOffice
failed to file a motion to transfer case to adult criminal court. Tubbs should've been prosecuted as an adult. Sexually assaulting a 10 y.o. girl = 2 yrs in a juvenile facility?
#NotJust
Today at our Board of Supervisors meeting, we're declaring April as Armenian History Month. As always, we look to the Armenian community as a testament to the importance of perseverance and unity.
Our first responders did an incredible job protecting students and faculty at Highland High School today. Instances like this remind us why we need our School Threat Assessment Response Teams to identify troubled youth before an issue arises.
Itโs an honor today to recognize Beatriz โBettyโ Porto of
@Portos
as
@CountyofLA
โs Fifth District Woman of Year. Sheโs a testament to the
#hardwork
ethic that defines our country.
Trauma weighs heavily on our firefighters, and the loss of a fellow firefighter compounds this already heart-wrenching and mentally taxing job. We depend on your bravery and strength every day, but know that today, we want to help you carry your burden and offer our support.
With the recent fires, we've directed county agencies to reassess
@LACoFDPIO
's Air Operations to ensure we have adequate year-round aerial firefighting resources.
@LANLASD
To honor the life of our fallen Station 81 firefighter, there will be a community vigil at 8 p.m. at Acton Park. Officials ask that participants bring glow sticks instead of candles. Thank you to everyone who is paying homage to this hero,
@LACOFD
, and their loved ones.
Our Board approved two motions I introduced in support of Armenian communities, one coauthored by
@HildaSolis
recognizing 4/24 as the Day of Remembrance in solemn recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and the second with
@SupJaniceHahn
to declare April as Armenian History Month.
Thank you to
@WHNSC
National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien &
@SenMikeLee
for meeting with me &
#Armenian
grassroots organizations & faith leaders for a roundtable discussion about the crisis in
#Artsakh
& the U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire between
#Armenia
& Azerbaijan.
Itโs that time of year: The super scoopers and the air-crane are in from Quebec! These incredible planes help our Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters combat intense fires during especially dry and windy conditions.
@LACoFDPIO
@QuebecLA
I will not allow the
#COVID
ใผ19 crisis to cause Los Angeles County residents to lose their homes or businesses. I just made an Executive Order to halt residential and commercial evictions in our unincorporated communities from March 4 to May 31.
Our
@metrolosangeles
Board took action today to tackle unacceptable violence on our trains & buses. More law enforcement patrols on them is a start. But let me be clear: the violence is a symptom of dysfunction & failure to tackle root causes. Mental illness+substance
Outdoor dining is here to stay in L.A. County. Restaurants got creative by setting up on sidewalks, alleys, right-of-ways, & parking lots to serve customers. Through my motions with
@SupJaniceHahn
, restaurants can keep outdoor operations & others can start new outdoor programs.
I wholeheartedly support
@MayorOfLA
's
#homelessness
emergency declaration & am happy this is Mayor Bass' 1st action. It compliments
@CountyofLA
's own declaration of a homeless fiscal emergency, passed unanimously by our
@LACountyBOS
in Dec. 2016 that paved the way to Measure H.
Do you want to expand outdoor dining for your customers? L.A. County has free permits available for dining on sidewalks and parking lots, plus curbside pick up and drop off zones.
.
@LACountyBOS
just approved the
@CountyofLA
emergency
#homelessness
proclamation motion introduced by Sup.
@LindseyPHorvath
& myself. It will help us cut through red tape, accelerate our hiring of mental health professionals & streamline contracting services.
This morning, I met with
@RepKatieHill
to talk about joint efforts to serve foster youth, increase transportation connectivity, and help get those experiencing homelessness the services and housing they need. We care deeply about these issues and both love serving the AV and SCV.
Our female public servants are strong, smart, caring, and empathetic. It was truly an honor to speak with these incredible and brave ladies at the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement luncheon today.
@LASDHQ
@PomonaPD
@covinapd
LA County is grateful for a constructive conversation with
@HUDgov
@SecretaryCarson
&
@mayorofLA
to discuss amplifying housing & services in our communities. To tackle the homelessness crisis, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach in collaboration with the federal government.