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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. 66 - July 2, 2021
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- The California State Legislature approved a $262.6 billion budget bill for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The unprecedentedly large budget reflects the state’s unexpected $76 billion budget surplus as well as $27 billion in federal aid. CalMatters breaks down how this money is being spent on education, healthcare, affordable housing, and other programs here.
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- On Thursday, the Los Angeles City Council voted 13-2 to request that the city attorney draw up one of the most draconian anti-unhoused measures in any large municipality nationwide. The process was initiated by Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, ostensibly as a humane alternative to legislation proposed by Councilmember Joe Buscaino. While many councilmembers gestured in the direction of compassion while supporting the measure, the motion itself contains little but malevolent ideation about banning the unhoused from occupying public space. Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Mike Bonin were the only two opposing votes, with Bonin’s personal remarks in opposition drawing praise. Councilmember Buscaino, who is also running for mayor, followed up by requesting an even more restrictive amendment. Much like the police-led clearing of Echo Park and the Sheriff’s Department’s recent incursion into Venice Beach, this latest action against the unhoused dramatically subverted democratic norms—the ordinance bypassed committee discussion for a rushed vote—strongly implying that they are catering to the desires of a small niche of voters. Eight council seats come up for reelection in 2022.
- LA Podcast (@45:35) begins to disentangle what AB 832, the latest extension of the statewide eviction moratorium, does and what it leaves out. Analysis in CalMatters looks at the “gaping holes” that have allowed thousands of tenants in California to be evicted despite legal protections.
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Thousands are under evacuation from the Lava and Tennant fires in Northern California… The town of Teviston is without running water, after its only functioning well broke in early June, leaving more than 700 residents without running water as temperatures soared… California regulators approved a large slate of clean energy and battery storage projects to replace natural gas plants.
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- Several TV writers have now spoken up in favor of the #IALivingWage initiative to include long-neglected pay increases for writer’s assistants and script coordinators in the upcoming IATSE contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. However, the negotiations between IATSE and AMPTP were just delayed to allow more time to consider which safety protocols the current COVID conditions have disincentivized.
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- Bus rides are still free on Los Angeles Metro buses. However, following a return to front-door boarding, some riders reported that drivers had resumed requesting fares. The clarification from Metro was the result of pressure from public transit activists.
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Police Violence and Community Resistance
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- LAPD officers attempted to safely detonate several pounds of fireworks inside of a “containment vehicle” that was parked in a residential South LA neighborhood, outside the home in which the fireworks were seized. The containment failed and the vehicle exploded, destroying homes and injuring 17 people. LAPD is still unable to explain how they made such a dangerous mistake.
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