Things were already pretty close, but the latest election update from 3:15 p.m. today shows Hugo Soto-Martinez a hair above Councilman Mitch O'Farrell. He is the incumbent.
It's reopening day in California and I'm at Universal Studios. Where else would I be? 😉 Anyway, Gov. Gavin Newsom (and Opimus Prime?) just arrived to mark the lifting of restrictions, and I think more interestingly to some, to draw winners in the ballyhooed vacinne lottery.
Black Lives Matter LA's Melina Abdullah said she is "in shock, and beyond disappointed" with mayoral candidate Karen Bass's public safety strategy, released this AM, that calls for expanding the LAPD, including restoring sworn levels to its authorized capacity.
When I left the LA Daily News about a couple of weeks ago, I said I'll be back. 😎 Well, next week, I'm joining an amazing team at a newsroom founded by
@onthatbombshell
and
@papayathemariah
that will rethink who the news serves in L.A., and how we can do that most effectively.
Serineh Manokian says she just threw her 21st birthday party last week at her home, which was destroyed in the Saddleridge Fire. She and her family came to the U.S. as refugees from Iran, when she was around 2 years old. This was a dream house for them.
A mother and her four children are being evicted from her home in El Sereno this afternoon.
Beto Flores, of Eastside Cafe, says this is being done callously, w/no regard for the family. The home is owned by Caltrans, left vacant before it was reclaimed by community members.
This is the case having to do with LA city sanitation sweeps, Garcia v. LA.
Seven unhoused people (and the group
@KtownforAll
) filed this suit 5 years ago saying the city destroyed their belongings and violated their rights.
Now the judge says the city has doctored evidence.
Aaron Brice finally got to cast his vote in the local council race. He also says this is his first time ever voting. How does he feel? “I can’t explain it,” he said. “It feels good, because it makes a difference for us, for us homeless people.”
Things have wrapped up at Echo Park Lake, but I wanted to post up a video of a tour I got of the tent community amenities from David Busch-Lilly, one of the unhoused residents, as the sound of helicopters tumbled above.
Secretly recorded audio leaked last year revealed LA city leaders scheming to draw district lines to benefit their own chances in elections.
The LA City Council is set to vote today on a proposal to take the power to draw those lines out of the hands of those politicians.
Angelenos worried about their housing went to City Hall yesterday to share their stories.
But due to a new commenting rule, many weren't able to, including street vendor Julia Orozco, who was up until the early morning writing her statement after preparing a large tamale order.
L.A. Mayor Bass debuted her Inside Safe program in Venice, and Hollywood, with another effort to remove encampments planned in Del Rey. But Angelenos whisked to motels under the first two are asking: Is this different, or will it be more broken promises?
This wasn't just rare. The way the council held the vote was uniquely disrespectful to one of the hardest-working and tenacious people I've ever met. The lack of discussion and comment from council members shouldn't be seen as normal.
This morning community members including activists and more than a dozen medical students answered a call to defend Aetna's unhoused community.
They couldn't get an answer about who the CARE+ lead was who decides what happens today. The Sanitation worker ended up leaving.
This CARE+ sweep near the Van Nuys G (Orange) Line station affects an unhoused community of more than 30 people, including some who are elderly and disabled.
The posting says any property that is still on the street at 6 a.m. will be taken by the city.
At 7:30 a.m., activists blared sirens, car horns outside Councilman Bob Blumenfield's home, to protest a proposed law to ban people from sitting and lying on the street near freeweay underpasses. They say this law would lead to aggressive actions against the homeless.
Los Angeles City Council meetings are re-opening to the public today, but they've discontinued the call-in option that has proven popular over the pandemic. It's not clear what options are available for people who can't attend meetings in-person due to any health conditions!
Ysabel Jurado, a tenants attorney is now in the top spot as predicted in the CD14 City Council race, surpassing incumbent Kevin de Leon. She is 318 votes ahead.
She was one of several challengers to de Leon's re-election bid, including two who are sitting state lawmakers.
The
@MayorOfLA
hasn't said anything about the LAPD body cam video released this afternoon showing police shooting a 14-year-old girl at the North Hollywood Burlington. It's been more than three hours. This isn't anything any reporter should even have to ask for a statement on.
Hmm, the Twitter accounts for Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, who is trailing Hugo Soto-Martinez in the CD13 race based on the latest election results updates, won't load, and both show "Something went wrong, Try again". 👀
🧵 I've reported on local news in LA County for almost two decades. It's hard to even begin to describe how important it is to have reporting that's diligent, steady and sustained.
But it continues to become even rarer to have that kind of reporting. And it seems inexorable.
@Erika_D_Smith
I expected at least basic reporting from the
@latimes
, but I'm not seeing that in this column. Your colleague
@boreskes
was at Monday night's forum. He could have informed you of who the activists were, what they do, and the fact that a UCLA activist-in-residence was there.
Aetna Bridge Home residents live behind barbed wire, must submit to a search every time they enter the facility, and have very little privacy.
Now they've received this letter saying they cannot keep tents outside, and if they do, they will be kicked out and cited by LAPD.
A source this week described me as "devastatingly informed." Not handsome, beautiful. Not pedantically, irritatingly, exasperatingly. But devastatingly.
There is no better way to flatter a reporter than this. And I get to be the only reporter ever to be described this way.
This is Mayor Eric Garcetti's former comms director, Naomi Seligman, questioning Garcetti's lack of a public response over the past week on the Burlington shooting in which an officer killed a 14-year-old girl.
LA Mayor
@ericgarcetti
not so much, even though it was his officers who killed Valentina Orellana-Peralta in his city. The silence has been awkward and deafening.
Thanks to
@JonnyPeltz
's coverage, many of us learned of this very unusual sweep that occurred into late Wednesday, which also happened to be the night when memorials of unhoused people who have died were being held.
L.A. Councilman Gil Cedillo, who represents the 1st district, just released a lengthy statement accepting the results of the election showing he has lost his re-election bid. The
@LACountyRRCC
posted their final canvassing update nearly an hour ago. Here's a snippet, and results:
FRIDAY personal news dump: For those public officials who still owe me responses to my questions, you have until 5 p.m. today to get them to me. I'm wrapping up my last day here, at
@SoCalNewsGroup
and
@ladailynews
But don't think I'm letting you off the hook. I'll be back.
Crowd gathering and already chanting as the “Drain the NRA” rally at Pershing Square, calling for gun control, is getting started. Groups organizing event include Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety.
A tense stand-off happening this morning between police and activists protesting a major encampment sweep around a new Van Nuys "A Bridge Home" shelter on Aetna. One of the protesters was detained after tape was broken, and as an encampment got cleared away.
One year after the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, Angelenos gather in front of LAPD HQ and LA City Hall for an anniversary rally, which began with a recitation of the names of Angelenos who have died at the hands of law enforcement locally.
Oof, I can't believe this got posted -- an
@ladailynews
and
@ocregister
columnist has added to the deeply offensive rhetoric that's already been aired today. This is horrible.
As LA's ban on bike repair businesses in public areas goes into effect, the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign has sent a letter to city leaders saying it conflicts with state law. Here's the letter, and background on the council approving the ban in June:
The LA Council meeting just went into recess and this is the scene in the chamber as police in riot gear face protesters opposing 41.18, the anti-camping law, and an amendment expanding it, the council tentatively approved last week.
The LAPD statement should be in response to this email that
@FilmThePoliceLA
shared earlier today. A LAPD media relations officer confirmed the statement is in response to an email authored by Gutierrez, who appears to be assigned to the West Hills area
Nithya Raman is introducing a couple of motions today, including one to identify funding for a navigation center for people experiencing homelessness in the 4th council district. The motion references other sites that have been funded, including one in North Hollywood.
A "united front" calling on LA Mayor Karen Bass to fulfill promises chanted "serve the people!" in front of her home, The Getty House, where they've set up.
They're demanding an end to evictions/sweeps, and for permanent/community-led housing.
Two local oil refineries, Torrance Refinery and Valero's Wilmington Refinery continue to use Modified Hydrofluoric Acid, or MHF, which can turn into a flesh-eating traveling fog when exposed to air.
Supporters of The Dell housing project in Venice chanting "affordable housing in every neighborhood!" is outside City Hall and the City Attorney's offices to protest another delay to the project, even as Mayor Bass is pushing for speeding up construction of affordable housing.
I hear constantly, especially from advocates in Martinez's district about the need for such services, particular Narcan, an overdose reversal medication. Martinez says she isn't aware that any advocates opposing 41.18 who showed up today were asking for this.
Just got a message from n unhoused resident at the Travelodge in Chatsworth saying some of their rooms are leaking from the storm. The main office didn't have enough towels for everyone who needed them to dry their things.
Recent bg on the Travelodge:
A year after leaked audio exposed racist comments by LA City Council members, protesters returned early this morning to CM Kevin de León's home to call on him to resign and withdraw his recently announced re-election bid.
It's baby's first Substack. I wrote about what the fall of Nury Martinez means to unhoused victims of her street sweeps, who knew about how 'bad' she was.
Residents of a Valley encampment long battled with Martinez. They're still here, she's all gone.
Back at Echo Park Lake, and the area is surrounded by LAPD vehicles. I got stopped by two women who were on their weekly stroll, and wondering what was happening. They have never seen so many police cars all at once here.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, several families are planning to squat in several homes in El Sereno that was purchased for the 710 freeway project, but have been vacant for years. One family is couch surfing. There is a man living in a van. A moving van is now parked out front.
Sorry, I cannot help it. But
@PplsCityCouncil
also strikes me as also being Extremely In-Person. Just thinking about their protests, rallies, and of course, the heckling of Very Important People at press conferences.
Representatives from major groups such as Everyone In, the Downtown Women's Center and the Venice Catholic Workers have called into the LA City Council meeting today calling for the suspension of 41.18, which allows the city to ban encampments around the city.
CM Kevin de Leon has appeared in city councils and many other council members have walked out. Council President Paul Krekorian, just re-elected, is talking to him right now
Ruth Skater Ginsburg just showed up, cruising down the walkway on her way to the voting room. Her real name is Giovanna De-Giorgio, 48, and she is from Reseda. Skating is something she enjoys doing with her family.
This was the shared kitchen area, and a lounge area with couches. It was pretty calm here, interestingly enough, especially given all the hubbub. At one point someone sort of paused and said he thought he heard the park closure fence going up. A clinking sound in the distance.
Any elected official at a presser should expect off topic questions, especially those about newsworthy issues, such as people needing housing, but instead facing a CARE+ operation. Here's video of
@CD12LA
running away from talking about a newsworthy topic.
Mitch O'Farrell's opponent in the 13th district council race, Hugo Soto-Martinez, is now calling on him to step aside from his role as the acting council president, following reporting by
@KnockDotLA
on additional "LA Fed" leaked audio.
Mitch was already implicated in the tapes before today. Now, we can no longer ignore his entanglement in this racist, corrupt culture.
We call on Mitch O’Farrell to step down as Acting Council President, so Council can be assured a fair and unbiased election of a new President.
The discontent over Martinez, De Leon and Cedillo run deep, and for General Dogon of
@LACANetwork
, De Leon in particular has raised the ire of those who are seeking to prevent those at the LA Grand Roomkey from getting pushed back to the streets.
I'm at de Toledo School where the LAPD are hosting a community meeting about Senior Lead Officer Brittney Gutierrez's email referencing a "hush hush task force" involved in a plan that would lead to the arrest of people at a West Hills encampment.
In an email last month an LAPD officer wrote, "everyone" at a West Hills encampment would be arrested and their things taken.
Debra, an unhoused resident from the encampment, reacts to a new email in which an LAPD officer advocates for removing tree shade, to drive people away.
"LA politics sure has gotten weird": LA councilman John Lee is suing the Ethics Commission, after they accused him of improperly receiving gifts, including in a 2017 Vegas trip.
And a former City Attorney race candidate, Faisal Gill, is representing Lee.
BREAKING: Organizers, many with an LA chapter of a group that typically organizes Filipino women, say residents of Inside Safe motel (in Westlake/Historic Filipinotown) are being subjected to an abrupt change in which they’re being crowded into rooms.
Jane Fonda, activist and activists is at Grand Park today to announce the Jane Fonda Climate PAC's endorsement of several LA area candidates (most for city of LA seats like council, city attorney and controller, plus county and state seats).
This week, the
@MayorOfLA
led an Inside Safe operation on Aetna Street in Van Nuys. A day after, the city conducted a CARE+ sweep w/heavy police presence.
Here, one of the residents who didn't accept the shelter offers, pleaded to get back a keepsake she'd left behind.
At last night's event outside City Hall opposing the bike repair ban, there was a teach-in on how to use the Narcan nasal spray for bicyclists, which drew a good crowd of people who wanted to know how to respond if they see someone overdosing.
He showed me the community garden and pointed to a bin the community got to deal with their trash. "Out of desperation, the community raised the money ... to pay for that big bin, (so) we could go around the park and collect up trash and put it in that bin ourselves."
@awalkerinLA
If Councilman Koretz has such low regard, or doesn't think the public should have much regard for a position he was running for, THEN WHY DID HE RUN FOR IT?
@LAPublicPress
The story is developing, as public officials and the Salvation Army have not responded to questions sent to them at noon. Here is what we know so far:
😧 Wow. This apparently happened at tonight's Lincoln Heights holiday tree lighting event, according to Jason Reedy. Not sure what happened before and after.
RIGHT NOW:
Disgraced Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin De Leon JUST assaulted local organizer Jason Reedy.
@kdeleon
is out here assaulting people AGAIN. He was caught on those racist anti-Black leaked tapes and now he’s assaulting Black folks. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
That went at a much more accelerated rate than I'd anticipated. Tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado is now 26 votes behind Councilman Kevin de Leon, nearly a dead heat in terms of placement (which doesn't really have an effect in terms of the runoff).
@LAPublicPress
I haven't broken out the spreadsheets yet, but here's some arithmetic done (in my head) on the shrinking # of votes between Jurado and de Leon over the last several updates.
Admittedly a silly exercise, since the voters have already spoken. We just dunno how yet.
Councilwoman Nithya Raman (
@cd4losangeles
) introduced a motion today on this lobbying proposal submitted by the Ethics Commission back in May. The proposal had been held up in a committee chaired at Council President Nury Martinez at the time.
Here's moving portion:
A lobbyist spoke at an L.A. neighborhood council meeting in March. But he didn't reveal he was being paid to represent the concrete industry, until members challenged him.
While the lobbyist didn't break any rules, LA residents wanting more transparency say that should change.
Around the time
@MayorOfLA
Karen Bass was at this "Homeless Persons' Interreligious Memorial," at the Cathedral of Our Angeles, these were the waste-hauling vehicles being used on the street homes and shelters targeted by the sweep.
LA Mayor Karen Bass is in attendance at tonight’s Homeless Persons’ Interreligious Memorial at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. In addition to the Archbishop, also on hand is a Rabbi, a Buddhist Abbot, and a past president of the Islamic Center of So. California.
One of the residents I spoke to said she felt disrespected by what happened:
“Listen through the windows?” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe how I felt, being cordoned off in a room ... Like, like we’re pieces of crap.”
via
@LAPublicPress
So uh, not sure if I should mention this, and it's sort of a drive, but there are a number of pretty decent Chinese-style Chinese restaurants in the other Valley to the, uh, east, of this one.
Many a Jewish Angeleno will stuff their face with American-style Chinese food this Christmas. Valley Chinese restaurant owners say it's the busiest day of the year. SO BUSY that some have closed up shop
Also,
@MediaNewsGroup
, you owe
@SCNGguild
members a fair contract. This is unacceptable. My talented coworkers who help to fill the void of local news coverage don't deserve what they've been paid, and the conditions they've been working under. At this point you REALLY owe them.
Ballots asking me and my coworkers
@SoCalNewsGroup
whether we want to unionize are being mailed out today. I plan to vote in favor of the effort, and believe that it will be a vote to
#SaveSoCalNews
. But what today has shown is that it's a much bigger fight. (1/9)
One resident told me she got flagged down by an officer this morning. He warned her he had better not find out she has a tent outside the facility. This video appears to show a police officer stating rules similar to the ones in the letter, and saying he is enforcing 41.18.
Also, in the City Council District 1 race, Eunisses Hernandez, who had been closing the gap steadily, is now ahead of Councilman Gil Cedillo, who is the incumbent.
Just got word that season two of Los Angeles City Council Meetings: Coronavirus Edition is happening April 7, at 10 a.m. via teleconferencing. I'd been wondering if they were ever going to hold one again. Regular meetings were canceled, so these are surprise drops.
Ayman Ahmed told the council and Councilman O'Farell, "we threw away the trash, we cleaned up the park, come work with us, work with us to make District 13 what it could be."
The LA City Council is returning from summer recess in a week, but Councilman Herb Wesson, temporarily repping the 10th district, likely won't join them. A judge today once again granted a restraining order blocking Wesson from performing his duties until Aug. 16.
Activists singing "smiling faces, smiling faces, they lie" are outside Los Angeles City Hall speaking out against a proposed ordinance that would ban sitting and lying in public areas, potentially affecting the tens of thousands of L.A.'s unhoused.
I'm excited to even be part of an effort like this, but it also feels like a return to my roots, which was community journalism. That's what's inspired me to keep going with all this. Nothing since has truly compared. So I'm happy to have a home again that brings me back to that.
Following a letter writing campaign that resulted in 400+ emails to CM Mitch O'Farrell, unhoused residents of the Echo Park Lake encampments are now flooding the Los Angeles City Council meeting. Housed people who came to the rally are pitching in by calling in with their phones.