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. 46 - February 12, 2021
|
- Councilmembers Mike Bonin and Nithya Raman introduced a motion on January 26 to expand Project Roomkey, a program to acquire hotel rooms for use as shelter for the unhoused. This was spurred by the executive order from the Biden administration that expands FEMA reimbursements for local government expenditures on “non-congregate” shelters to 100%. The motion passed through the Homelessness and Poverty Committee this week. The full committee meeting was live-tweeted by Ktown For All.
- The motion to direct City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn to allocate $46 million for the acquisition of Hillside Villa through eminent domain has passed, 14–0, through the city council. KNOCK.LA spoke with tenants of Hillside Villa about the ongoing harassment they face from their landlords, who have been seeking loopholes to circumvent the current eviction moratorium.
|
- Councilmember Joe Buscaiano’s grandstanding threat to sue the Los Angeles Unified School District — and force schools to resume in-person classes during the pandemic — was rejected by the city attorney. LAUSD Board President Kelly Gonez talked about the lawsuit, as well as the parameters for reopening, on LA Podcast.
- A group of app-based drivers, along with the SEIU, are suing the State of California to challenge the legality of Prop 22. Last week, California's Supreme Court declined to hear the case. This week they have continued the legal challenge in a lower court.
|
- A pipeline leak at Chevron’s Richmond refinery emptied 750 gallons of diluted diesel fuel into the San Francisco Bay before being contained.
|
- On Thursday Los Angeles vaccination sites were forced to close a day early when the city’s vaccine supply doses ran short. The city had previously announced that the sites would be temporarily closed starting Friday, with the closure to last throughout the weekend. The news comes amid criticism regarding racial inequity in LA’s vaccine distribution system.
|
- The reform agenda of District Attorney George Gascón hit a setback in the courts this week, as the LA Association of Deputy District Attorneys won a temporary injunction allowing them to continue seeking sentencing enhancements in some cases. For a thorough rundown of the ruling, see WitnessLA.
- Today Gascón has asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor to reexamine police shootings dating back to 2012, to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The County Board of Supervisors will need to approve the hiring.
|
|
