The Thorn West is a state and local news roundup compiled by members of DSA-LA. Our goal is to provide a weekly update on the latest developments in state and local politics, and to track the issues that are most important to our membership.
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Issue No. 162 - June 16, 2023
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- California legislators approved a draft of the state budget just ahead of a June 15 deadline. The budget is still subject to certain revisions. More details here.
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- Councilmember Curren Price was charged with ten counts of embezzlement, conflict of interest, and perjury by the Los Angeles district attorney’s office. The charges relate to consulting fees paid to Price’s wife by real estate developers who had business before the council. Steps have been taken to suspend Price from all council activities.
- A Los Angeles welcoming center took in 42 migrants who had been put on a bus from Texas by Governor Greg Abbott. It was the latest in a series of similarly demonic political stunts by right-wing governors. Statement from Mayor Karen Bass here, and from Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez here. All passengers seem to be doing well, despite what was reported to be a 23-hour bus ride without food or water.
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- The Barrington Plaza Tenants Association has filed a lawsuit to prevent a mass eviction from a complex of rent-controlled apartments in West Los Angeles. Their landlord is evicting them under the Ellis Act, which is limited to landlords who are taking their rental units off the market. However, the law is open to misuse, and this eviction shows so many signs of bad faith, many are worried about the scary precedent it could set for Los Angeles tenants.
- The receivership group recently appointed to manage the housing portfolio of the Skid Row Housing Trust had a track record of failure and harmful conduct. After the group sent out multiple illegal eviction notices, the city attorney’s office has acknowledged that it was improperly vetted for this role.
- L.A. Taco reports on a motel that was used as a temporary shelter as part of the Inside Safe Program, even though it was already known to be a “source of criminal and other nuisance activity.”
- The settlement of a lawsuit against the California Department of Housing and Community Development has revealed systemic issues with the implementation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. These include delays, seemingly incorrect application rejections, and failure to communicate with tenants in their correct language.
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- The Regional Connector opens this Friday! A complex of underground stations in Downtown LA, the Connector will greatly simplify light rail travel across the county. To celebrate the occasion, all Metro rides are free this weekend.
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