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.

Issue No. 164 - June 30, 2023

State Politics

• Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators have finally come to an agreement on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

• Robert Rivas has taken over for Anthony Rendon as the next speaker of the California Assembly. The transfer fulfills an agreement reached last fall after tense negotiations within the legislature, though CalMatters reports both as sharing “a similar ideological profile.”

• The California Reparations Task Force has released the milestone report that culminates its work. The report details California’s role in perpetuating systemic racism against Black people and proposes several methods of restitution. These recommendations will next be taken up by the state legislature. The full report can be read here.

City Politics

• Last Friday, the Los Angeles City Council Rules Committee voted to delay a vote on whether to suspend Councilmember Curren Price, who has been charged with public corruption. Committee Chair Paul Krekorian noted distinctions between the case against Price and those against former indicted councilmembers. LA Podcast has more (@34:10). Price has voluntarily stepped away from most council duties.

• Imelda Padilla has declared victory in her race to represent CD6 on the Los Angeles City Council. The seat has been vacant since Nury Martinez’s resignation last fall. The council is expected to vote on appointing Padilla next week. Los Angeles Public Press reported on which special interests supported which candidates here.

• Last week, LA City Council voted unanimously to call for a study on how to implement a Los Angeles public bank. Next City covers the progress and potential of the public banking movement as it gains momentum across the state.

Labor

• The Writers Guild of America enters its third month on strike against the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP). In concurrent negotiations, the Directors Guild has voted to approve a tentative agreement reached with the AMPTP, while SAG-AFTRA will extend its ongoing negotiations with AMPTP beyond the deadline. A letter addressed to SAG-AFTRA leadership, signed by over 300 members, reaffirmed that members are “prepared to strike” if their demands are not met.

• With numerous contracts about to expire, Unite Here Local 11 is poised to hold a historically large hotel worker strike, as soon as July 1.

• The battle over the constitutionality of California’s Prop 22 continues, with the state Supreme Court granting review of mixed lower and appellate court rulings on the issue of exempting gig workers from independent contractor law AB5.

Incarceration

• [Extreme content warning: disturbing violence] A thumb drive of video footage recorded inside Men’s Central Jail depicts numerous scenes of violence and chaos, with poor oversight from staff. The thumb drive was discovered by an inmate and leaked to reporters at the LA Times.

Housing Rights

• LAHSA released the findings of the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count this week, showing a 10% rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, and 9% countywide. The increase corresponds to a spike of evictions that began in 2022. KTown for All explains why the methodology of the count is likely to lead to underreporting.

• An email from an LAPD senior lead officer promised to conduct mass arrests of every resident of an encampment in West Hills. The email, which requested conspiratorial silence, was leaked via local activists and has since been widely condemned by city officials. The controller’s office has said it will investigate the substance of the email’s claims.

Environmental Justice

• On Tuesday, state and federal officials beneath fluttering flags formally broke ground on the TransWest Express transmission line, which will move electricity from the 3,000-megawatt Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm to Southern California. The wind farm will be the country’s biggest yet.

• The LA County Department of Public Works will receive $10.5 million from the state to help fortify Santa Anita Debris Dam. The money will go toward seismically strengthening the debris dam, as well as raising the spillway to improve flood protection.