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. 180 - October 27, 2023

State Politics

• Following a candidate forum on Sunday, the LA Times highlights the distinctions between Representative Barbara Lee’s foreign policy platform and those of the other leading candidates for the California Senate. Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force in the aftermath of September 11 in 2001 and today is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

• A protest outside the Los Angeles office of Representative Adam Schiff, who is running against Lee, demanded that he call for a ceasefire in Gaza. At the weekend candidate forum, Schiff has repeatedly expressed “unequivocal support” for Israel. Tomorrow, there will be a protest demanding an end to the siege in Gaza, beginning at 2 PM in Downtown Los Angeles.

Labor

• The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office will investigate reports that hotels have violated labor laws in their treatment of the migrant workers who have been used as strike-replacement at struck hotels. Meanwhile, Capital & Main looks at the ways that toothless federal labor laws have enabled employers to slow roll negotiations during the current California hotel worker strike. And Laguna Cliffs Marriott becomes the fourth hotel to come to an agreement with Unite Here Local 11.

Housing Rights

• A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Measure ULA, the 2022 Los Angeles ballot measure that imposes a tax on real estate sales over $5 million and uses that money to fund a portfolio of affordable housing and tenant protection programs. The lawsuit had partially delayed the funding of these programs.
  
  
• A measure introduced by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez aims to delay the impending allowance of rent hikes of 7%–9% on rental units subject to Los Angeles’ Rent Stabilization Ordinance. The allowable rent increase is limited by inflation, and so recent inflation triggers a significant spike in what landlords are allowed to charge existing tenants.

Transportation

• Metro’s piloted Transit Ambassadors program, designed as an alternative to having armed police on buses and trains, will now become permanent. More on the program’s success from StreetsBlog LA.
  
  
• Though Mayor Karen Bass had previously supported a federal grant application to study whether the little-used 90 freeway could be torn down and replaced with parks and housing, she has now completely reversed that position, citing community opposition as the reason. Opposition was rallied on a Change.org petition, where signers expressed anxiety that removing the freeway would increase traffic, with signers also citing their opposition to “low income housing.”