Elizabeth Chou
@reporterliz.bsky.social
"What's up with what's going down?" Read my LA politics newsletter @thelareporter.bsky.social Keep The LA Reporter in the field here: https://ko-fi.com/thelareporter
Rae Huang just rolled out a pretty slick campaign video advert, centered around our car traffic, that has kind of a restless, LA film noir-ish style to it. Sunshine, but something's off. youtu.be/wmzGTof_PnA?...
November 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Rae Huang just rolled out a pretty slick campaign video advert, centered around our car traffic, that has kind of a restless, LA film noir-ish style to it. Sunshine, but something's off. youtu.be/wmzGTof_PnA?...
Here's a response from Mike Sanchez, spokesperson for the LA County Registrar-Recorder's Office, on questions I had around how many polling sites there used to be in the area.
Basically, there are much fewer sites than in the last cycle, but more than the minimum required.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Basically, there are much fewer sites than in the last cycle, but more than the minimum required.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Here's a response from Mike Sanchez, spokesperson for the LA County Registrar-Recorder's Office, on questions I had around how many polling sites there used to be in the area.
Basically, there are much fewer sites than in the last cycle, but more than the minimum required.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Basically, there are much fewer sites than in the last cycle, but more than the minimum required.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Fields estimated that tonight there were around 200 people when she was in line, and then when she left, it seemed like it was around 250.
Here's a video she sent me that gives you a sense of the line:
Here's a video she sent me that gives you a sense of the line:
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Fields estimated that tonight there were around 200 people when she was in line, and then when she left, it seemed like it was around 250.
Here's a video she sent me that gives you a sense of the line:
Here's a video she sent me that gives you a sense of the line:
I just spoke to Gina Fields, who told me when she threw on some sweats to go vote at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall in the Proposition 50 special election tonight, she thought she'd be done in 15 minutes.
But she ended up waiting an hour and a half to get to the polling booth!
But she ended up waiting an hour and a half to get to the polling booth!
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I just spoke to Gina Fields, who told me when she threw on some sweats to go vote at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall in the Proposition 50 special election tonight, she thought she'd be done in 15 minutes.
But she ended up waiting an hour and a half to get to the polling booth!
But she ended up waiting an hour and a half to get to the polling booth!
LA Mayor Karen Bass has declared that there is no longer a shelter crisis, in a letter to LA City Council today saying things are pointed in a new direction.
Meanwhile, the county actually just extended theirs.
Meanwhile, the county actually just extended theirs.
November 5, 2025 at 12:52 AM
LA Mayor Karen Bass has declared that there is no longer a shelter crisis, in a letter to LA City Council today saying things are pointed in a new direction.
Meanwhile, the county actually just extended theirs.
Meanwhile, the county actually just extended theirs.
The Nossaman contract already includes the LA Forward Institute v. LA case, related to the stalling of the Venice Dell affordable housing project.
Venice Community Housing, involved in the case they want to add, is a developers of the Venice Dell.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Venice Community Housing, involved in the case they want to add, is a developers of the Venice Dell.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
October 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The Nossaman contract already includes the LA Forward Institute v. LA case, related to the stalling of the Venice Dell affordable housing project.
Venice Community Housing, involved in the case they want to add, is a developers of the Venice Dell.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Venice Community Housing, involved in the case they want to add, is a developers of the Venice Dell.
bsky.app/profile/repo...
Among the requests appears to be an added $850,000 for the attorney, Nossaman, and also to add the Venice Community Housing v. LA city case to that contract's scope.
October 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Among the requests appears to be an added $850,000 for the attorney, Nossaman, and also to add the Venice Community Housing v. LA city case to that contract's scope.
The authorization of a $250,000 BBK contract is just part of the request.
On first blush, this request appears to be asking for a total of $12.407M to pay for outside private attorney firms. They identified about $1.358M for transfer, and asks the CAO to find another $11M.
On first blush, this request appears to be asking for a total of $12.407M to pay for outside private attorney firms. They identified about $1.358M for transfer, and asks the CAO to find another $11M.
October 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The authorization of a $250,000 BBK contract is just part of the request.
On first blush, this request appears to be asking for a total of $12.407M to pay for outside private attorney firms. They identified about $1.358M for transfer, and asks the CAO to find another $11M.
On first blush, this request appears to be asking for a total of $12.407M to pay for outside private attorney firms. They identified about $1.358M for transfer, and asks the CAO to find another $11M.
So here is the City Attorney's funding request that includes paying Best Best & Krieger as outside counsel in the LA Press Club/Status Coup case against the city.
It asks for a three-year contract, and an initial $250,000 amount to help handle that case. cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2...
It asks for a three-year contract, and an initial $250,000 amount to help handle that case. cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2...
October 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
So here is the City Attorney's funding request that includes paying Best Best & Krieger as outside counsel in the LA Press Club/Status Coup case against the city.
It asks for a three-year contract, and an initial $250,000 amount to help handle that case. cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2...
It asks for a three-year contract, and an initial $250,000 amount to help handle that case. cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2...
Essentially the judge is balking in the same way the council is.
The judge says the prior orders "remain in full force," but that he'll look at the city's arguments, despite the "procedural deficiencies" on the city's part.
The judge says the prior orders "remain in full force," but that he'll look at the city's arguments, despite the "procedural deficiencies" on the city's part.
October 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Essentially the judge is balking in the same way the council is.
The judge says the prior orders "remain in full force," but that he'll look at the city's arguments, despite the "procedural deficiencies" on the city's part.
The judge says the prior orders "remain in full force," but that he'll look at the city's arguments, despite the "procedural deficiencies" on the city's part.
The judge said, "No, not right now."
bsky.app/profile/repo...
bsky.app/profile/repo...
October 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The judge said, "No, not right now."
bsky.app/profile/repo...
bsky.app/profile/repo...
The council motion says the city attorney's actions were done "without consultation of the City Council."
Here's CM Rodriguez saying this wasn't "isolated" just to the city attorney, "but it's been exemplified by other executive branch activities as well."
Here's CM Rodriguez saying this wasn't "isolated" just to the city attorney, "but it's been exemplified by other executive branch activities as well."
October 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The council motion says the city attorney's actions were done "without consultation of the City Council."
Here's CM Rodriguez saying this wasn't "isolated" just to the city attorney, "but it's been exemplified by other executive branch activities as well."
Here's CM Rodriguez saying this wasn't "isolated" just to the city attorney, "but it's been exemplified by other executive branch activities as well."
The City Council voted today to direct the City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto withdraw the motion to stay the injunction.
Read the motion here (it was signed by CM Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez.)
x.com/reporterliz/...
Read the motion here (it was signed by CM Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez.)
x.com/reporterliz/...
October 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The City Council voted today to direct the City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto withdraw the motion to stay the injunction.
Read the motion here (it was signed by CM Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez.)
x.com/reporterliz/...
Read the motion here (it was signed by CM Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez.)
x.com/reporterliz/...
The instructions include a chart that shows what the reduction target would amount to.
It would be $44 million in the fire department, and nearly $10 million from transportation, for example.
It would be $44 million in the fire department, and nearly $10 million from transportation, for example.
October 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The instructions include a chart that shows what the reduction target would amount to.
It would be $44 million in the fire department, and nearly $10 million from transportation, for example.
It would be $44 million in the fire department, and nearly $10 million from transportation, for example.
LA Mayor Karen Bass and the CAO are asking the city's general managers to propose cuts from each department amounting to 5%, for the next fiscal year, 2026-2027.
The instructions were delivered as part of a 66-page budget instruction memo dated Oct. 6.
The instructions were delivered as part of a 66-page budget instruction memo dated Oct. 6.
October 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
LA Mayor Karen Bass and the CAO are asking the city's general managers to propose cuts from each department amounting to 5%, for the next fiscal year, 2026-2027.
The instructions were delivered as part of a 66-page budget instruction memo dated Oct. 6.
The instructions were delivered as part of a 66-page budget instruction memo dated Oct. 6.
Also, here's a statement from Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez, who authored a couple of motions, one to limit LAPD projectile use: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
And another to use what's known as a "graded response" model of handling protests: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
And another to use what's known as a "graded response" model of handling protests: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
October 17, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Also, here's a statement from Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez, who authored a couple of motions, one to limit LAPD projectile use: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
And another to use what's known as a "graded response" model of handling protests: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
And another to use what's known as a "graded response" model of handling protests: cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkc...
An objection the city raises is that the LAPD's policy is to require that journalists carry press passes.
The LA Press Club's lawyers argue Chief Choi issued a memo in 2020 saying officers needs to recognize people who self-identify as media, and they don't need press passes.
The LA Press Club's lawyers argue Chief Choi issued a memo in 2020 saying officers needs to recognize people who self-identify as media, and they don't need press passes.
October 17, 2025 at 5:57 AM
An objection the city raises is that the LAPD's policy is to require that journalists carry press passes.
The LA Press Club's lawyers argue Chief Choi issued a memo in 2020 saying officers needs to recognize people who self-identify as media, and they don't need press passes.
The LA Press Club's lawyers argue Chief Choi issued a memo in 2020 saying officers needs to recognize people who self-identify as media, and they don't need press passes.
The city of LA is trying to remove an injunction aimed at preventing the LAPD from attacking journalists, just before the No Kings protest this weekend, in a motion filed yesterday.
October 17, 2025 at 5:57 AM
The city of LA is trying to remove an injunction aimed at preventing the LAPD from attacking journalists, just before the No Kings protest this weekend, in a motion filed yesterday.
Mountain View encampment residents confronted a progressive council member's staffer on why he ordered a sweep that drew heavy police presence, why there wasn't shelter.
Another told @thelareporter.bsky.social the sweep felt like a burglary. She said it was "heartbreaking, for no reason."
Another told @thelareporter.bsky.social the sweep felt like a burglary. She said it was "heartbreaking, for no reason."
October 16, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Mountain View encampment residents confronted a progressive council member's staffer on why he ordered a sweep that drew heavy police presence, why there wasn't shelter.
Another told @thelareporter.bsky.social the sweep felt like a burglary. She said it was "heartbreaking, for no reason."
Another told @thelareporter.bsky.social the sweep felt like a burglary. She said it was "heartbreaking, for no reason."
They're demanding permanent housing, the 41.18 tickets to be expunged, and for the port-a-potty to be moved to where they had to be relocated, writing that "some of us are old" and it's hard for them to walk the distance to use the bathroom.
October 15, 2025 at 9:47 PM
They're demanding permanent housing, the 41.18 tickets to be expunged, and for the port-a-potty to be moved to where they had to be relocated, writing that "some of us are old" and it's hard for them to walk the distance to use the bathroom.
Residents of the encampment, the Mountain View community, who were swept by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez have signed a letter to the office demanding she end sweeps and "push back against 41.18," the anti-camping law that many were cited with.
October 15, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Residents of the encampment, the Mountain View community, who were swept by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez have signed a letter to the office demanding she end sweeps and "push back against 41.18," the anti-camping law that many were cited with.
Wrote about it in the first issue of @thelareporter.bsky.social newsletter. thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
October 14, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Wrote about it in the first issue of @thelareporter.bsky.social newsletter. thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 6: Introducing interviews at your local doughnut shop
This week, The Doughnut Shop Interviews debuts, Austin Beutner's social media lets cat out of bag, progressive council office orders CARE+ that draws big LAPD presence
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
This week, The Doughnut Shop Interviews debuts, Austin Beutner's social media lets cat out of bag, progressive council office orders CARE+ that draws big LAPD presence
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
October 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🐦 The LA Reporter, Issue 6: Introducing interviews at your local doughnut shop
This week, The Doughnut Shop Interviews debuts, Austin Beutner's social media lets cat out of bag, progressive council office orders CARE+ that draws big LAPD presence
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
This week, The Doughnut Shop Interviews debuts, Austin Beutner's social media lets cat out of bag, progressive council office orders CARE+ that draws big LAPD presence
thelareporter.la/p/the-la-rep...
LAT has a little bit on Beutner's views on SB 79, in which he says he'd like to have tinkered around with the language more. This has a pretty good rundown of Beutner's career and political history, as well as the political landscape as he enters the race.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
October 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
LAT has a little bit on Beutner's views on SB 79, in which he says he'd like to have tinkered around with the language more. This has a pretty good rundown of Beutner's career and political history, as well as the political landscape as he enters the race.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
This LAist piece has a bunch more insights from what appears to have been an interview with Beutner earlier this week. His remarks put a spotlight on many of the criticisms that have come up over Mayor Bass's leadership and decisions.
bsky.app/profile/pett...
bsky.app/profile/pett...
October 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
This LAist piece has a bunch more insights from what appears to have been an interview with Beutner earlier this week. His remarks put a spotlight on many of the criticisms that have come up over Mayor Bass's leadership and decisions.
bsky.app/profile/pett...
bsky.app/profile/pett...