The Thorn West is a state and local news roundup compiled by volunteer 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. 233 - June 6, 2025

City Politics

• Los Angeles faces a significant budget shortfall for this upcoming fiscal year. The Mayor’s draft of the budget addresses this gap by calling for over 1,600 layoffs of city employees. However, the city council’s revised budget has lowered that number to 700, bridging the gap in part by diverting funding from LAPD and LAFD recruitment. The council’s budget also restores funding to the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office, and expands the city’s Unarmed Crisis Response program. The revised budget passed 12–3, with the three most conservative councilmembers voting in opposition. After a final approval, it now heads to the Mayor’s desk for approval. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who voted against the last two city budgets, spoke about her support for this year’s revised budget on Spectrum News.

• Councilmembers Ysabel Jurado, Hugo Soto-Martinez, and Hernandez have pooled $15,000 from their office’ discretionary funds to pay for a study on the development of a Los Angeles public bank.

Immigration

• Today, federal agents conducted a series of coordinated raids across Los Angeles, targeting immigrant workers and making numerous arrests. Immigration activists mobilized quickly in response. Several protesters were arrested and injured, including the California president of labor union SEIU. This is a developing story.

Labor

• Don’t sign the petition! In May, the city council passed a bill mandating a $30 an hour minimum wage for Los Angeles workers employed by large hotels or at LAX. Now, the airline and hotel industries are attempting to overturn this ordinance via a public ballot measure and an army of paid signature gatherers. DSA-LA is organizing to “defend the wage;” interested members can register to join the introductory zoom call here. Further toolkit from the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy here.

• Both Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass have issued directives aimed to incentivize film production in California and Los Angeles, which has been in decline for several years.

Transportation

• This weekend the long awaited LAX Metro Station will open for use, offering train service to LAX for the first time, while closing a gap in the K Line. A people mover connecting the station with the airport is slated to open in 2026. Until then, shuttle buses offer connection. In celebration, Metro trains and buses will be free to use all weekend.

• Metro was poised to award its bikeshare contract to Lyft, parting ways with the current contract-holder, Bicycle Transit Services, a unionized company. Now, allegations of conflict of interest that favored Lyft in the bidding process have indefinitely delayed the final approval.

Housing

• Since taking office, Mayor Bass’ homelessness program has been enabled by a declaration that homelessness in the city was in a state of emergency. The emergency declaration must be reauthorized by the city council every month. This month, Councilmember Tim McCosker became the first to vote against reauthorization, citing a lack of transparency in programs being run by the mayor’s office.

Environmental Justice

• The California Supreme Court heard arguments related to a suit brought by environmental advocacy groups against the California Public Utilities Commission. The suit challenges the legality of a 2022 decision that drastically cut the incentives that can be received by people who produce surplus electricity with privately installed solar panels. More from the LA Times.