During what was intended to be a routine safe detonation of confiscated fireworks by the LAPD Bomb Squad on June 30, led to an explosion in South LA, which sent 17 people to the hospital, including neighbors and first responders, blowing out the glass on homes and destroying several vehicles.
In an effort to balance homeless engagement with public health, safety and street access, Councilmember Ridley-Thomas joined Council President Martinez and Councilmembers Krekorian, O’Farrell, Blumenfeld, de Leon and Price to advance a holistic effort to address street homelessness.
Councilmember Curren Price is excited about the opportunities that have been created in the City’s latest budget, which re-allocates over $165 million to those in Los Angeles who are and have historically been underserved and under-resourced.
The Los Angeles City Council today finalized an emergency ordinance to require large grocery and pharmacy retailers to offer employees an additional $5 per hour in hazard pay amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Briggs’ nomination is subject to City Council confirmation, and if confirmed he will succeed Shane Goldsmith, who is stepping down after more than four years on the commission, Garcetti said.
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the reality of life. However, the true pandemic is seeing the widening gap in the quality of life, throughout underserved communities. Many Angeleno households and communities across the globe have been left vulnerable during the largest health crisis the world has seen in present day.
In the Council District 10 race, county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
took a big early lead over Grace Yoo, an attorney and community advocate. Early
returns showed Ridley-Thomas with 61.61% of the vote.
Low-income Los Angeles City residents who have been financially impacted through the loss of their job or who have otherwise experienced income loss in their household due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply for a one-time $500 grant to help pay their utility bills, under a program championed by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, Chair of the Ad-Hoc COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment Committee and approved by the City Council last week.
City Planning released a draft of its Local Emergency Code Amendment for public comment. The ordinance would take steps to eliminate financial and regulatory burdens on small businesses affected by the novel coronavirus. If adopted, it would expand the city’s ability to activate regulatory relief during a declared local emergency.
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted today to create a pilot program to divert nonviolent emergency calls involving mental health issues from armed police officers to unarmed professionals.
The times, no doubt are challenging, and the challenges facing District 10 and greater Los Angeles are mounting: COVID-19 is damaging the health and the livelihoods of thousands; the crisis of homelessness and affordable housing continues; wildfires are requiring an extraordinary resources from the entire state, and even the ability to vote by mail is under attack.
The age-old adage “A good Job can save a life” rings especially true during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people across Los Angeles have lost their jobs while thousands of people have lost their lives. COVID-19 continues to threaten the health and economic vitality of South Los Angeles neighborhoods. The need for secure permanent employment is heightened even more as California grapples with mountains of requests for unemployment benefits.
Obama continues to use his platform to seek a solution to the imbalance in the police force structure on a national scale, but also within local government. President Barack along with his administration is orchestrating a commit to action for all mayors, city councils, and police oversight bodies to address police use of force.
In a shift from its normal routine of hearing public comments, the Los Angeles City Council today allowed people to speak their peace remotely from the Spring Street Forecourt at City Hall, in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
When it comes to public service, Mark Ridley-Thomas has done it all. He’s served on the nonprofit, city, county and state levels. The only thing left is national office.