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. 247 - January 23, 2026

City Politics

• Rick Caruso, the billionaire real estate developer who came in second to Karen Bass in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election, has announced he will not seek political office in 2026. Caruso, who spent $100 million of his own money on his 2022 campaign, had been widely predicted to either run for mayor again, or enter the race for governor.

• The Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission has begun winnowing down the reform measures it has discussed over the past six months. The commission’s final set of recommendations must be delivered to City Council by April in order to make the 2026 ballot. Fair Rep LA is live-tracking all reforms under consideration.

ICE in LA

• [Content warning:] The assault by federal immigration agents against Los Angeles communities has escalated in violence. The past weeks have seen a wave of abductions, horrific violence against protesters, and the murder of a Northridge father of two by an off-duty ICE officer.

• The Boyle Heights Beat spoke with several of the rapid responders that have organized to protect communities from ICE, with several reporting a need for more support.

• License plate reader cameras manufactured by Flock Safety have been installed in the neighborhood of Mar Vista, despite controversy over Flock sharing data with ICE. The contract was approved by Mar Vista’s Councilmember, Traci Park.

Police Violence and Community Resistance

• A motion introduced by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez would take the first step towards scaling back the presence of more heavily armed and armored police officers at protests, potentially keeping them in reserve, where they would be less likely to instigate violence. It was passed unanimously.

• A federal judge has banned LAPD officers from using “less-lethal” launchers at protests, a month after a motion to enforce a similar ban was voted down in city council 4–7.

• Despite the ongoing city budget crisis, the city council has again approved funding for the hiring of additional LAPD sworn officers, on a 9–4 vote. Councilmembers Soto-Martinez, Nithya Raman, Ysabel Jurado, and Eunisses Hernandez voted in opposition.

Labor

• Over 31,000 nurses and other health care practitioners employed by Kaiser Permanente are planning to go on strike beginning on January 26 if ongoing contract negotiations aren’t resolved. Workers are demanding better pay and working conditions.

Transportation

• LA Metro has approved a plan for developing the Sepulveda Transit Corridor, thereby connecting the West Side and the San Fernando Valley. After lengthy deliberation, Metro has selected—from several proposals—a heavy rail option, which includes a station at UCLA. Public transit advocates celebrated the decision, particularly because it means that the attempt to undermine the project by wealthy residents of Bel Air has failed.

Housing

• Metro also voted to oppose SB79, the recently passed state bill that automatically upzones areas near public transit for multi-family housing. Metro argued that the bill will intensify opposition to new transit projects, and proposed several amendments that would drastically weaken it. Elsewhere, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has signaled her intention to challenge SB79 on arcane legal grounds.

Local Media

• A California bill that is designed to fund local media by having Google match state funding dollar for dollar has so far delivered disappointing results, as the state has only put $10 million into the fund during its ongoing budget crisis.

• In Los Angeles, two new publications will be providing local coverage: LA Reported and The LA Local.

Climate Justice

• Following a season of extremely high rainfall, the state of California, for the first time in 25 years, is entirely drought-free across all regions.