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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.
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Issue No. 65 - June 25, 2021
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- Today, Governor Newsom, along with leaders in both chambers of the state legislature, announced a deal extending the eviction moratorium (due to expire June 30) until September 30. AB 832, the legislation that will extend the moratorium, steers roughly $5 billion in federal aid to a program that will allow both tenants and landlords to apply for 100% of missed rent payments. Evictions over missed rent will be blocked if the tenant applies for, and qualifies for, relief. The bill precludes smaller municipalities from enacting stricter rules against evictions, though LA County’s eviction ban earlier this week might have gotten in under the wire. CalMatters has a more thorough breakdown.
- Governor Newsom will officially face a recall after the mandatory 30-day cure period resulted in only 43 signatures withdrawn from the recall petition. California voters will be asked to vote “yes” or “no” in recalling Newsom and, if yes, which candidate they would want to replace Newsom.
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- It’s been a year and a half since Governor Newsom directed oil regulators to consider new health and safety measures to protect people living near oil and gas drilling sites. The wait could be extended to next spring: those regulators missed another deadline Monday for releasing the rules, frustrating environmental advocates who say communities can’t wait any longer for change.
- UCLA research teams, alongside the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will study the health impacts of Inglewood Oil Field on nearby communities. Currently the area, which includes Black communities like Baldwin Hills and Ladera Heights, suffers from comparatively lax environmental regulations to similar white communities. Closing this data gap is a potential first step to rectifying that.
- An investigation conducted by CapRadio and NPR found that Governor Newsom grossly exaggerated California’s progress on wildfire prevention work. Newsom claimed the state treated 90,000 acres with fuel breaks and prescribed burns as part of 35 “priority projects,” but the actual number was 11,399 acres — and efforts have been slowing.
- California also made national news this week after numerous complaints that drought conditions had lent an “earthy” flavor to California’s drinking water were met with advice to “add lemon” from Sacramento’s City Water Quality superintendent.
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- The Biden administration has continued to participate in a lawsuit initiated under Trump attempting to overturn AB 32, California’s landmark ban on private prisons. The lawsuit was initiated by the GEO Group to protect the for-profit immigration detention centers it operates within the state. Much more in the toolkit here, tweeted by Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
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