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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. 79 - October 1, 2021
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- Among the bills signed by Governor Newsom this week were SB 2, the police decertification bill, and SB 76, which initiates the return of Bruce Beach to the descendants of the Bruce family, generations after the city of Manhattan Beach used eminent domain to seize what had been a popular beach resort in the Black community. “This bill sets the tone for the future of reparations in California,” said State Senator Steven Bradford, who authored both bills.
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- The city’s redistricting commission has proposed a draft map that dismembers Councilmember Nithya Raman’s current district, potentially redrawing her into an entirely new constituency in the Valley. The process now heads into public hearings. “This is a backdoor recall effort & We shouldn’t pretend otherwise,” wrote Rob Quan, whose coverage of the entire procedure on Twitter has been unparalleled.
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- Another potentially historic strike authorization vote is being held by the Alliance of Health Care Unions, who are renegotiating their contract with Kaiser Permanente. The union is fighting back against a two-tiered wage system that suppresses income for new workers, as well as the chronic understaffing that this will exacerbate.
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Housing and Gentrification
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- California’s eviction moratorium expired yesterday. A CalMatters FAQ explains how to access the tenant benefits and protections that remain in place in the state. An eviction moratorium is still in place in the city of Los Angeles, and will be for at least another year.
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- Governor Newsom signed 24 bills, funding what is described as the largest climate package in California’s history. The package totals $15 billion and addresses drought, wildfire, and other climate-change-related initiatives.
- SoCalGas and its parent company, Sempra, reached a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit relating to a 2015 methane leak at its Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility. The payout may reach $1.8 billion, pending a plaintiff vote. The settlement does not directly impact the ongoing fight to shut the facility down but has redrawn attention to that lingering issue.
- A soothing article profiles the activists pushing to restore Los Angeles County’s burbling creeks.
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