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. 184 - December 1, 2023
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- Among Democratic candidates for California’s open US Senate seat, Representative Barbara Lee received the largest share of delegate votes for the California Democratic Party’s endorsement, narrowly leading Representative Adam Schiff. But no candidate received the 60% of votes necessary to receive an official endorsement.
- Governor Gavin Newsom participated with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a televised debate. DeSantis is running for the Republican presidential nomination, while Newsom is assumed to be preparing for a run as a Democrat, post-Biden.
- A new issue of California Red, California DSA’s bi-monthly newsletter, has arrived. It includes an account of Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez’s defeat (with DSA support) of a recall effort spearheaded by local police and landlords.
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- [Content warning; violence against unhoused people, death] Three unhoused people were shot and killed on three consecutive mornings this week, and the LAPD has announced that a single suspect, identified only as “male,” is believed to be responsible. City officials are urging unhoused people to avoid sleeping alone in the coming nights and asking for people to help get the word out to them.
- Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform met this Wednesday, but postponed any discussion about expanding the size of City Council until the next meeting, in January. Additionally, the possibility was voiced that council expansion will not make the 2024 ballot and may be postponed until 2026.
- Councilmember Nithya Raman hosted a discussion on the movement to institute a democracy vouchers program in Los Angeles, which would allow every Angeleno to steer a pre-funded amount to a campaign of their choosing. A compendium of studies on the successes of voucher programs where they have been tried was released earlier this week. Raman authored a motion, which passed unanimously in June, calling for a feasibility study on vouchers.
- LA Public Press covers an open letter signed by 18 local politicians calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. In a letter to members, DSA-LA highlighted the calls for a ceasefire from Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, and Raman, while also adding some context to a recent motion seconded by Raman that many worried could be used or misused to to target leftist organizers.
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- In the city of Santa Clarita, bus drivers represented by Teamsters Union Local 572 are now in their eighth week of a strike against MV Transportation, an independent contractor employed by Santa Clarita Transit. Commuter bus service has been suspended in the city. Workers are striking for higher wages.
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- Today, the CARE Court program begins implementation in Los Angeles County. The system allows designated petitioners to initiate a program of mental health evaluation for people facing severe and ongoing mental health concerns. Critics warn that it is likely to lead to people being forced into involuntary treatment. The Los Angeles Times looks at the small amount of data we have from the counties that began implementing CARE Court in October.
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- This week, Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference to announce a funding package that will go toward the construction of 3,000 sorely needed bus shelters, as well as 450 shade structures, across the city.
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