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.

Issue No. 135 - November 18, 2022

State Politics

• The Democrats won every race for statewide office, and will hold their legislative supermajority. Following lengthy negotiations, Anthony Rendon, the current speaker of the assembly, will hand over power to Robert Rivas in June 2023.

City Politics

• Votes in California’s 2022 election remain to be counted, but many races across the city and county have been conceded. In CD13, Mitch O’Farrell acknowledged he will lose to DSA-LA–endorsed Hugo Soto-Martinez. (Soto-Martinez’s statement here.) Bob Hertzberg has conceded to Lindsey Horvath in the race for L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Sheriff Alex Villanueva tearfully conceded in the sheriff race. And Rick Caruso conceded his loss to Karen Bass, who will now become Los Angeles’ first female mayor. 

• From DSA-LA: “A statement on our victories and on growing Democratic Socialist electoral power in Los Angeles.”

• There were some bad outcomes, as well. In CD11, Erin Darling, whose volunteers included many Westside DSA-LA members, conceded his loss to Traci Park, whom outgoing Councilmember Mike Bonin warned could be “the most conservative member the LA City Council has seen in decades.” For city attorney, Faisal Gill, who pledged to use the office to steer the city away from carceral policies, appears to have lost to Hydee Feldstein Soto.

Health Care

• DSA-LA Healthcare Justice Committee has launched a campaign to rally working-class support for CalCare, a bill that would create a statewide, single-payer system of health care coverage for all California residents. Democrats held onto a supermajority in the state legislature and can pass this bill on their own. Sign up to participate, or stay in the loop, on this potentially transformative campaign here.

• The Los Angeles County Health Department is strongly recommending that residents begin wearing masks indoors, as COVID infection rates have already started to rise this winter.

Labor

• An estimated 48,000 academic workers at the University of California launched a strike this week, demanding, among other things, fair compensation that matches the cost of living, especially paying rent, in California. Strike FAQs and more here. The Westside Branch is also organizing strike support: Sign up here.

• Starbucks workers at two stores in Los Angeles participated in a nationwide day of strikes, demanding better pay, more staffing, and an end to unfair labor practices. Coverage from the LA Times and from Starbucks Workers United.

Transportation

• Curbed reports positively on LA Metro’s rollout of its transit ambassador program, initially conceived as a way to reduce the presence of law enforcement on public transit.

• At last week’s Metro meeting, 70 people delivered public comment, nearly unanimous in their opposition to proposed fare hikes. At this meeting no action was taken by the board, who will next discuss the new fare structure on December 1.

• The LA City Pedestrian Advisory Committee, with the help of Councilmember Nithya Raman, successfully lobbied the city to roll back its use of new “river rock” curb designs that were a tripping hazard for pedestrians and an obstacle to many people with disabilities.

Environmental Justice

• The California Air Resources Board today unveiled a new version of its highly anticipated strategy for battling climate change. The five-year climate change strategy, called a scoping plan, outlines how California could end its reliance on oil and also clean up the nation’s worst air pollution.