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Los Angeles Times •

Disputed campaign mailer causes stir in City Council District 10 race

A political mailer that arrived on residents’ doorsteps last month near Baldwin Hills is stirring controversy in the Los Angeles City Council District 10 race and prompted action by the council this week.

The City Council Wednesday to crack down on fraudulent campaign materials and “deep fakes” after the Baldwin Hills mailer, which appeared to have been sent from council candidate and current Councilmember Heather Hutt, attracted attention. Hutt introduced the motion in early February, days aft
Los Angeles Times •

City Council OKs $3.8 million to clean up and secure graffitied downtown skyscrapers

The City Council voted Friday to approve $3.8 million to clean up and secure the unfinished Oceanwide Plaza skyscraper project in downtown L.A. The city has said it will bill the building owner for the costs.

The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to allot nearly $4 million to remove graffiti and secure unfinished downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers that have been heavily tagged in recent weeks.

Councilmember Kevin de León introduced a motion this week to allocate the funds to secure the prope
Los Angeles Times •

Council lifts ban on vending near Hollywood Bowl, other popular L.A. locations

Jorge Cruz and his son Luis, 5, gather with street vendors and supporters on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2022 to demonstrate against L.A.’s ban on vending in popular locations.

With nearly 100 street vendors sitting in the audience, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to lift bans on vending in seven high-traffic areas across the city, including the Hollywood Bowl and Dodger Stadium.

The no-vending zones were established by a 2018 ordinance that decriminalized street vending elsewhere i
Los Angeles Times •

L.A. tenants awaiting emergency rental assistance receive eviction protection

The Los Angeles City Council moved to protect tenants who are waiting for emergency rental assistance from being evicted. Above, City Hall.

The Los Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance Friday that prevents the eviction of tenants who are waiting to receive from the city.

The vote came one day after the deadline to pay rent debt accumulated during the .

More than 3,200 residents have been approved for the United to House L.A. Emergency Renters Assistance Program, which provides up to six
Dallas News •

Casar leads thirst strike to protest Texas law banning mandatory water breaks

WASHINGTON — Roendy Granillo was installing floorboards in a Melissa home that had no air conditioning when he began to feel sick. It was 97 degrees that day, but his boss refused to let him take a break and hydrate, his family says.

He kept working until he collapsed. Hours later, he died of heat stroke. He was 25.

“His organs were cooked from the inside,” his sister Jasmine Granillo, said Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol, as Rep. Greg Casar, an Austin Democrat, began a one-day “thirst strike” to
Dallas News •

Could Trump win the presidency from prison?

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump meets the constitutional requirements to become president — he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen over age 35 who’s been living in the country for at least 14 years.

Legally, his multiple indictments, including federal charges related to classified documents that could lead to prison time, wouldn’t stop him.

Trump could run for president from behind bars, and it’s been done before.

Eugene V. Debs made his fifth run for president as the Socialist Party nominee in 1920 whil
POLITICO •

New Jersey representatives vow fight against New York’s ‘cash-grabbing’ congestion pricing plan

“New York City wants this because they want cash in their pockets,” Menendez said. “We’re going to keep fighting the cash-grabbing MTA.”

The congestion pricing plan shifts money from the Port Authority to the MTA, Menendez said, which could threaten the Port Authority’s ability to improve the PATH service and add more riders.

New York’s plan also includes no expansion of New York City subway’s seven line to Secaucus Junction, a proposed solution that would provide a commuting alternative and g
POLITICO •

Phil Murphy finds unlikely allies over corporate taxes. But they say he needs to do more now

Murphy confirmed in his budget proposal his plan to let a 2.5% CBT surcharge on net profits above $1 million expire at the end of 2023. The surcharge’s expiration will bring the state’s tax rate down to 9%, making it the fourth highest in the country behind Alaska, Illinois and Minnesota.

“We hear from the business community that allowing this surcharge to lapse will mean more money for them to create jobs, to invest in new and more efficient equipment, to lower costs to consumers, and to be ab
POLITICO •

Judicial vacancies trigger suspension of trials in some parts of New Jersey

It’s impossible to predict how many trials these suspensions will affect, said Pete McAleer, a spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the Courts. While many trials will face indefinite delays, the courts will still address applications for child support, custody and visitation, McAleer said.

There are currently 69 vacancies throughout the trial courts, Rabner said, more than one out of every six positions statewide. The court system has operated with an average of more than 50 vacancies