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. 196 - March 22, 2024
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- After a ballot count that remained too close to call for over 2 weeks, state Proposition 1 has officially passed, though with only 50.2% of California voters in support.
- Protesters with IfNotNow (a Jewish-led anti-apartheid group) occupied the Burbank office of incoming Senator Adam Schiff to demand a meeting to discuss his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The action led to four arrests. The cities of Bell Gardens and Pasadena (where Schiff currently serves as congressional representative) followed Cudahy and Montebello in passing ceasefire resolutions.
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- The Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee heard a budget proposal from the Chief Administrative Officer about how to close a projected $400 million budget gap resulting from a combination of overspending and revenue shortfalls. In addition to other measures, the plan relies on the elimination of nearly 2,000 city positions that are currently unstaffed. A report from the Controller's Office points out that the majority of the budget overrun comes from the LAPD and LAFD, and that most city departments are under budget. The plan was approved by the committee and will soon be heard by the full city council.
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- Following direction from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter—who is presiding over a lawsuit against the city related to its homelessness policy—the mayor’s office will make more data available to the public about how money in the Inside Safe Program is being spent.
- Today, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) agendized discussion of its leaked report on the failures of the city’s 41.18 municipal code revisions. Though this allowed the public to comment on 41.18, no action was discussed or taken.
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- At the last minute, Governor Newsom’s office intervened to prevent the approval of new regulations that would protect workers from unsafe indoor heat Administration officials claim that the change would place an undue cost burden on state prisons. The late timing of the decision makes it difficult to implement safety protocols before this summer, which NASA predicts will surpass heat records set last summer.
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- Californians are increasingly unable to obtain homeowners insurance, and the problem worsened this week: State Farm, the largest insurance company in California, has announced that it will not renew an additional 72,000 homeowners policies in the state of California, citing increased risk of catastrophe.
- The Los Angeles Times looks at a non-governmental report that indicates that the state of California is not on track to meet its 2030 goals for reducing carbon emissions.
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