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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. 90 - December 17, 2021
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- Los Angeles County has finalized its new district map, which was drafted for the first time by an independent commission. The new map achieves the goal of creating a second majority-Latine district. However, the new districts appear to blunt the advantages of progressives (and Republican supervisor Katherine Barger) in favor of moderates. Many argue for the county to be split into more districts. Five supervisors currently see to the needs of ten million residents.
- The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission met and will form an ad hoc committee to discuss amendments to the city charter, which could give the commission greater independence from the mayor and city council (@56:40). The commission’s last reform push was thwarted by the council, whom the commission regulates.
- Politically behested donations are back in the news thanks to a records request for emails related to the Mayor’s Fund. Mayor Garcetti faced only brief questions about his record in Los Angeles as his confirmation hearings to become ambassador to India began last week.
- The budget requests from each city department have been posted for the public this year.
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- The Hollywood Reporter recaps an empowering year for workers in the entertainment industry.
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- Reporting in the New Republic draws national attention to the health crisis faced by Los Angeles’ unhoused population every time it rains.
- Caltrans is finally going to put a number of vacant homes up for auction. The city of Los Angeles plans to purchase several lots to develop more affordable housing.
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Police Violence and Community Resistance
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- The Los Angeles Times debunks the purportedly drastic rise in shoplifting.
- More research from the Brennan Center has been published, this time revealing data on LAPD surveillance of activists’ social media accounts.
- Cerise Castle interviews Cecil Rhambo, candidate for Los Angeles County Sheriff, in Knock LA. Rhambo is branding himself as a reformer alternative to incumbent Alex Villanueva, but has his own disappointing record on disciplining deputy misconduct.
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- Cargo ship gridlock at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have resulted in unhealthy air for the communities in and around the region. Curbed talks to residents of communities where pollution from the ports is estimated to cause 1,300 premature deaths each year.
- On Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission proposed an overhaul of the state’s net-metering program for rooftop solar. Canary Media explains how the new plan largely embraces the arguments made by the state’s three big investor-owned utilities by disincentivizing self-installed solar panels.
- Much-needed rain fell on Tuesday, providing a little relief to drought-ridden California. In addition to the rain, several inches of snow fell in the Sierras, increasing the snowpack from 19% of the average to 83%.
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- Thorn West will return in 2022 with its own web platform. Thank you to all readers and contributors for a great year. Knock LA is fundraising this week; we’ve relied on their reporting all year. LA Podcast, LA Taco, and LAist also provide indispensable reader-supported independent journalism.
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