Good morning, and welcome to the Important California publication. It’s Tuesday, Oct. 25. I’m Jon Healey, senior editor of the Utility Journalism Staff, the group that solutions burning questions and presents information you need to use.
The lingering scandal at Los Angeles Metropolis Corridor — the newest in a collection — has prompted Zócalo Public Sq. to schedule a panel dialogue subsequent week on this query: “Will we even want a metropolis council?” It’s not simply an expression of dismay in regards to the authorized, moral and ethical lapses of town’s management; it additionally displays the general public’s uncertainty about what the council does for town.
To assist on that entrance, I wrote a bit that unpacks the a number of layers of native authorities in California, together with mayors, metropolis councils, particular district boards and county boards of supervisors.
The strains between metropolis and county duties are particularly blurry, provided that the county delivers many essential social companies inside metropolis boundaries. In the meantime, within the unincorporated areas inside their districts, every of the 5 L.A. County supervisors serves as a cross between a mayor (the manager overseeing authorities operations) and a council member (a lawmaker who votes on guidelines and insurance policies).
Right here’s one other level of confusion. Virtually each division head within the metropolis of Los Angeles studies to the mayor, who has the ability to rent and fireplace them. But council members additionally set priorities for the departments inside their districts, steering avenue repairs, homeless encampment clean-ups and land-use actions, amongst different companies.
For a lot of Angelenos, their council member’s workplace is the one they name after they have an issue with trash pickup, graffiti elimination or constructing permits. You don’t must name a council member to get assist with metropolis companies — town has the 311 hotline and the MyLA311 app for that. But there’s one thing to be mentioned for having an elected official promise to lean on a metropolis division to get stuff finished.
My article doesn’t attempt to measure how exhausting it will be for Los Angeles to dispense with its council, or whether or not the council provides extra worth than its members detract with their misdeeds. That’s as much as you to determine. It merely tries that can assist you perceive why we've overlapping layers of presidency and what every of them does. (That mentioned, in case you are taken with getting extra concerned in native authorities — on that query or different points — check out The Occasions’ new Form Your L.A. device for civic engagement.)
And now, right here’s what’s taking place throughout California.
Observe: Among the websites we hyperlink to might restrict the variety of tales you'll be able to entry with out subscribing.
L.A. STORIES
New council president raises the temperature below Kevin de León. Metropolis Council President Paul Krekorian informed De León that his refusal to resign is “inflicting precise ongoing hurt” to the physique but in addition refuses his request to skip council conferences in the interim. As an alternative, Krekorian urged his scandal-enmeshed colleague to step down and let his constituents “begin contemporary.” Los Angeles Occasions
Building of L.A. Metro’s Westside Purple Line is halted over questions of safety. Transit officers halted work on an extension of the subway line for 2 weeks amid “critical security issues.” Dozens of staff on the challenge have been injured since July. Los Angeles Occasions
They seized vacant El Sereno houses firstly of the pandemic. Now, they face eviction. The state agreed to lease eight vacant houses that had been within the path of the never-to-be-built 710 freeway. However these leases are expiring, and the households aren’t allowed to resume them. Los Angeles Occasions
Try "The Occasions" podcast for important information and extra
Today, waking as much as present occasions might be, properly, daunting. In the event you’re looking for a extra balanced information eating regimen, “The Occasions” podcast is for you. Gustavo Arellano, together with a various set of reporters from the award-winning L.A. Occasions newsroom, delivers essentially the most fascinating tales from the Los Angeles Occasions each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Pay attention and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Extra proof that the pandemic set again California college students. Two out of three California college students didn't meet state math requirements, and greater than half didn't meet English requirements, on state assessments taken within the spring. These are sizable drops in efficiency from the 12 months earlier than the pandemic, when there have been already massive numbers struggling to satisfy grade-level expectations. Los Angeles Occasions
California is poised to overhaul Germany as world’s No. 4 financial system. Matthew A. Winkler, Bloomberg’s former editor in chief, makes the case that “the California financial system is punching above its weight on the world stage.” Bloomberg
California begins sending pay as you go debit card model of “Center Class Tax Refund” to eligible households Monday. The playing cards will go to households whose 2020 tax returns qualify them for this system however who shouldn't have direct deposit arrange with the Franchise Tax Board. Greater than 4 million Californians with direct deposit have already acquired funds, which vary from $200 to greater than $1,000. Los Angeles Occasions
Cease me should you’ve heard this one already. Gov. Gavin Newsom pledges to serve the total four-year time period if reelected in November. Related Press
CRIME, COURTS AND POLICING
Veterinarian contradicts L.A. County Sheriff’s Division account of Ok-9 demise. A memo by the division says vet Yolanda Cassidy informed an investigator that the canine, which had been left in a automobile for a number of hours, may have died from quite a few issues, together with “warmth, aspiration and underlying medical situations.” However Cassidy mentioned the assertion was “fabricated” and that she wasn’t on obligation when the canine was delivered to the animal hospital. Los Angeles Occasions
Harvey Weinstein’s second sex-crimes trial started in L.A. Monday. The erstwhile producer faces 11 counts of rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills — together with the alleged sexual assault within the early 2000s of actress Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who's now the governor’s spouse. Los Angeles Occasions
In the meantime, one among actor Danny Masterson’s three accusers wrapped up 4 days of testifying in his rape trial. She informed jurors of how she feared the Church of Scientology and was pressured by its officers to not go to legislation enforcement along with her allegations of rape towards Masterson, a high-profile church member. Los Angeles Occasions
Earlier than Border Angels founder retired, two ladies alleged sexual harassment. The complaints led to an inside investigation, which discovered that Enrique Morones, a nationally recognized immigration rights activist, engaged in habits that “made volunteers and interns uncomfortable.” Los Angeles Occasions (subscription required)
Few California D.A.s carry wage-theft expenses towards employers. Most instances are dealt with administratively by the state labor commissioner, slightly than prosecuted by county district attorneys. However that’s beginning to change, officers say. CalMatters
Comic and actor Leslie Jordan, a ‘queer icon,’ died in a automobile crash Monday in Hollywood. An Emmy winner for his work on “Will & Grace,” the 67-year-old Jordan was additionally recognized for posting uplifting Instagram movies in the course of the pandemic. Los Angeles Occasions
Help our journalism
HOUSING
1000's of flats might come to Santa Monica and different rich cities by way of “builder’s treatment.” Builders are making the most of state legal guidelines that give them extra freedom to construct in communities that fail to develop sufficient plans for housing. Los Angeles Occasions
In the meantime, within the Bay Space, NIMBY governments suggest doubtful websites for housing to keep away from extra improvement. Some rich cities which can be against constructing the housing wanted to satisfy their projected wants — or which can be merely resigned to failing — have supplied up outlandish or logistically unattainable websites of their blueprints to accommodate future houses. San Francisco Chronicle
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
RSV instances are rising in Southern California and nationwide. Youngsters’s Hospital Los Angeles studies an unusually early surge in instances of respiratory syncytial virus, an usually delicate ailment that may be problematic for teenagers lower than six months previous. Assessments for the illness are coming again optimistic in nearly one-third of instances, versus final 12 months’s peak of 24%. LAist
Sure, that could be a nice white shark coming out of the ocean. You need to see it to consider it: Surf photographer Jordan Anast by some means managed to seize a fantastic white having a “Sharknado” second throughout a San Onofre Surf Membership competitors. Orange County Register
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Why Lydia Millet writes about what frightens her most. The novelist, an essential Western voice on the setting, is a author and editor on the Middle for Organic Variety, which suggests she “can’t get away from studying and writing and enhancing supplies about extinction and local weather change.” She’ll talk about her new ebook, “Dinosaurs,” Wednesday with Jeff Fleishman on the L.A. Occasions Ebook Membership. Los Angeles Occasions
Hollywood expertise company CAA cuts ties with Kanye West after antisemitic tirade. The rapper now often called Ye has aired antisemitic views in a string of interviews, making it practically unattainable for firms to defend working with him. Los Angeles Occasions
New Yorker artwork critic Peter Schjeldahl was the final of a breed. Occasions artwork critic Christopher Knight writes about his roughly 25 years of dialogue with Schjeldahl, his buddy on the alternative coast. Los Angeles Occasions
Free on-line video games
Get our free day by day crossword puzzle, sudoku, phrase search and arcade video games in our new sport heart at latimes.com/video games.
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles: 76, sunny. San Diego: 73, sunny. San Francisco: 66, principally sunny. San Jose: 68, partly sunny. Fresno: 74, sunny. Sacramento: 72, principally sunny.
AND FINALLY
At this time’s California reminiscence is fromWendy Hughes:
My mom was born in 1921 in Minneapolis. Her father died when she was 6, and my grieving grandmother moved along with her three youngsters to California. They lived for a 12 months on Gramercy Place in Los Angeles. My grandmother’s grief wasn’t mending, although, so that they moved again to Minnesota. My dad and mom met and married in Washington, D.C., throughout WWII. Once I was born, my mom informed my father, “I don’t learn about you, however I’m taking the child and shifting to California.” She had by no means forgotten what it felt wish to reside with out snow.
If in case you have a reminiscence or story in regards to the Golden State, share it with us. (Please hold your story to 100 phrases.)
Please tell us what we will do to make this article extra helpful to you. Ship feedback to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
Post a Comment