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. 209 - July 19, 2024

State Politics

• CalMatters analyzes how California’s regulatory system might cushion the state from the impact of the Supreme Court decision that drastically curtailed the authority of federal regulatory agencies.

• Democrats running on local ballots face potential downstream effects of concerns about President Biden’s age. Adam Schiff, running to become California’s next Senator, has called for Biden to drop out of the race.

City Politics

• A reform measure that will increase the size of the County Board of Supervisors will advance to the ballot, following a 3–0–2 vote.

Housing Justice

• During a mayoral debate in San Francisco, current mayor London Breed announced plans to pursue “very aggressive” sweeps against unhoused people in August, praising the recent Supreme Court decision that enables further criminalization of homelessness.

• A lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles alleges that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto and Councilmember Traci Park have deliberately stalled an affordable housing project in Venice.

Police Violence and Community Resistance

• Mayor Bass vetoed a ballot measure that would have shifted some authority to fire LAPD officers to the police chief. Bass’ veto letter argued that the proposed reforms are inadequate and would result in “ambiguities” in the disciplinary system. These concerns echo those raised by the council’s progressive bloc. This was the mayor’s first veto. The council can override the veto with 10 votes.

Transportation

• With the support of Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Nithya Raman, new bike lanes have been installed on Hollywood Boulevard, one of the most ambitious transformations of a major traffic artery in the city’s history.

• County Supervisor Janice Hahn became the newest Metro board chair following the expiration of Mayor Karen Bass’ term. Hahn has announced support for an expansion of Metro’s “tap to exit” pilot program, which requires riders to use their fare cards to exit as well as enter stations, as a method of increasing public safety on Metro trains.

Climate Justice

• Another heat wave is predicted for inland Southern California this week.

• LA Public Press covers the lack of cooling stations in LA’s Skid Row neighborhood.

• This afternoon in LA County, a rapidly-spreading brush fire erupted in the Angeles Mountains above Glendora.