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. 219 - November 8, 2024

State Politics

• With Republicans potentially assuming control of all three branches of the federal government as a result of the 2024 election, Governor Gavin Newsom has called for a special legislative session to “Trump-proof” California, largely by raising money for legal battles.

• California voters have rejected several statewide progressive ballot measures, including Proposition 33, which overturns the state law preventing cities from implementing rent control, and Proposition 6, which bans slavery in state prisons.

City Politics

• DSA-LA’s endorsed candidate Ysabel Jurado has declared victory in the CD 14 city council race! This improves the progressive council bloc to four members out of 15. Jurado defeated disgraced incumbent city councilmember Kevin de León, who has conceded.

• Karla Griego, DSA-LA’s endorsed candidate for school board, has also won! Incumbent councilmember Konstantine Anthony, one of our two endorsed candidates for Burbank City Council, is leading all candidates for two at large seats. Jillian Burgos, DSA-LA’s endorsed candidate in CD2, is currently trailing in her race against Adrin Nazarian, who has the advantage of overwhelming establishment support.

• In Oakland, a recall effort funded by billionaires is on track to recall Mayor Sheng Thao and District Attorney Pamela Price, both of whom have been in office for only two years.

• In San Francisco, incumbent Mayor London Breed has lost the city’s first mayoral election decided by ranked-choice voting… to Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss Jeans fortune, who self-financed his campaign.

Housing Rights

• Los Angeles County is on track to approve Measure A, which raises money for housing programs through a half cent sales tax.

• The LA Housing Department has released a long-awaited report on the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. The department’s recommendations make improvements to the current allowable rental increase formula that would benefit tenants. However, the improvements fall well short of the demands made by the housing activist coalition of DSA-LA and Keep LA Housed.

Police Violence and Community Resistance

• Proposition 36, a disastrous rollback of criminal justice reforms, passed with around 70% approval, following years of relentless media propaganda about a non-existent crime wave. Likewise, in the race for Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, one of the most extreme right candidates, resoundingly defeated incumbent reformer George Gascón.

• Today, LA City Council voted 13-2 in favor of appointing former LA County sheriff Jim McDonnell to serve as the next Chief of Police. DSA-LA has strongly opposed this choice, due to McDonnell’s collaboration with ICE when he served as sheriff. Public comment, much of it opposed to the appointment, was live-tweeted here. Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez were the two dissenting votes.

Environmental Justice

• In neighboring Ventura County, the Mountain Fire has forced evacuations and destroyed over 100 homes.

• California voters have approved Proposition 4, which approves the sale of a $10 billion bond to fund climate-related projects.