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. 120 - August 5, 2022
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- L.A. Taco breaks down a report on how the city spent its $1.28 billion in federal COVID relief, finding that the money largely was used to pay salaries for government employees, with the biggest chunk taken by the LAPD.
- It’s official: the LA County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to put a measure on the November ballot that would give a 4/5 majority of the Board the power to remove the sheriff. Ordinance here.
- Knock LA continues their reporting on the decision to reinstate cash bail in Los Angeles County, having just heard back on a records request into the secretive Bail Committee that makes these decisions behind closed doors.
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- The Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency to combat the spread of monkeypox. Though the order will allow the accelerated distribution of vaccines, dosages remain in short supply. The portal to schedule a vaccine appointment has been closed since Tuesday; you can sign up here to be notified as that changes.
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- Pete White of Los Angeles Community Action Network (LACAN) talks about the numerous shortcomings of Project Roomkey, the COVID-related emergency program to use hotel rooms as temporary shelter for unhoused people. It ends in September, despite the fact that very few project participants have been able to take the next step into permanent housing, and many are unsure if they’ll have a place to go.
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Los Angeles City Council held another vote on the proposed escalation of 41.18 anti-sit/lie/sleep enforcement. After Councilmembers Mike Bonin and Nithya Raman spoke against the motion, the public in attendance, essentially unanimous in opposition, chanted over Councilmember Joe Buscaino, one of the motion’s authors. In response, the council called recess. With chambers to themselves, those remaining, including many unhoused people and advocates, held an extended “public comment” session for people who had not had a chance to speak during the original public comment lottery. After an hour the space was ceded back to the council, who voted on their motion before a largely empty house. It passed 11–3 with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson joining the opposition. “I don’t think it’s constitutional,” he said of the blanket ban. This was expected to be the last of several votes on this measure, but a last-minute amendment means it will need another vote, scheduled for Tuesday. Entire session live-tweeted here.
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- In July the city passed an ordinance guaranteeing a $25 minimum wage for healthcare workers in private hospitals. The healthcare industry is attempting to overturn this via a public ballot measure being framed as pro-worker. SEIU is urging people to be extra careful not to sign the petition for this anti-worker ballot measure; if the measure even gets on the ballot, it will delay the implementation of the pay increase until November.
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- Governor Gavin Newsom pressured lawmakers to approve an energy plan that aimed to expedite and streamline construction of new clean energy facilities. Included is a controversial clause that lets developers bypass local permitting, and leaves rural populations out of the conversation for projects planned in their counties.
- The Klamath River wildfire has claimed two more lives, raising the death toll to four in the state’s largest blaze of the year.
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