INVITATION SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY/ WITH LEON HENDRIX/ VISUAL ARTISTS GUILD/ COMMEMORATION of TIANANMEN SQUARE DEMOCRACY PROTEST/ CHINA May 30, 2026 at 2:00pm Leon Hendrix follows the footsteps of his brother Jimi Hendrix with a sneak preview performance of his relevant song to raise awareness called “Save Democracy “. A Rare Red Carpet with Leon and his band will be from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Performance at 2:00pm. Almansor Court Event Center. 700 S. Almansor St. Alhambra, CA. Photos of the Tiananmen Square Democracy Protest in Beijing by Catherine Bauknight will be on exhibit in memory of the human rights protest on June 3-4, 1989. Award given to Olympic Gold Medal champion Alysa Liu will be received by her Father, Arthur Liu who will also be awarded. Both support democracy. Arthur Liu fled China as a refugee after participating in the 1989 protest near Tiananmen Square. To register to cover the Leon Hendrix Red Carpet and performance, contact Catherine Bauknight at cbauknight@othilamedia.com -- Catherine Bauknight Director / Producer / Photographer Email: cbauknight@othilamedia.com O T H I L A M E D I A P R O D U C T I O N S

The US and Yemen: Putting a disreputable policy right by Mel Gurtov In Yemen, Saudi and Iranian interests collide, a civil war involving multiple parties has devastated the country, a humanitarian crisis has been going on for several years, and important issues of international law need to be resolved. Common to all these elements is the US-backed Saudi intervention over the last six years, which has rained destruction on Yemen’s civilian population and reduced cities to rubble. In a word, Yemen is a humanitarian catastrophe in which the US has long had dirty hands. For a number of years, going back to the Obama administration, the US has been Saudi Arabia’s silent partner in war-making in Yemen. The proclaimed national interests that guided US support included confronting Iran’s presumed proxy force in Yemen, the Houthi, and being a faithful ally to the Saudis. US military assistance has been central to the Saudi intervention. At the start of the Biden administration, military aid to Saudi Arabia comprised $27 billion in the Foreign Military Sales program (not counting about $100 billion in pending FMS cases), more than $8 billion in commercial sales, and a variety of military training programs . Bombing Yemen has been the order of the day: By one account , between 2015 and 2020, the US-allied Saudi air force and drones dropped more than 65,000 bombs on Yemen—roughly half the total number dropped over all other Middle East countries. As the authors of that study point out, the actual total is likely to be much higher, since the US military: published those figures in regular, monthly Airpower Summaries , which were readily available to journalists and the public. But in March 2020, the Trump administration abruptly stopped publishing U.S. Airpower Summaries, and the Biden administration has so far not published any either. To some critics , US military support of Saudi Arabia raises the question of war crimes . The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis The humanitarian crisis—the world’s most severe according to the United Nations—shows no sign of alleviating. UNICEF estimates about 80 percent of Yemen’s population is in need of assistance. Healthcare resources—sanitation, clinics, equipment, workers—are in very short supply. Contagious diseases such as dengue fever and diphtheria are widespread and are particularly acute among children. Malnutrition has devastated Yemen’s next generation. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen said late last year: "Yemen is on the brink of a catastrophic food security crisis. If the war doesn’t end now, we are nearing an irreversible situation and risk losing an entire generation of Yemen’s young children.” Last year an estimated 12 million Yemeni children were considered in danger if aid were cut off, their futures probably permanently damaged by lack of healthcare and education . Tragically, international aid to Yemen is actually declining as the UN membership has failed for two years running to provide the amount (currently, $3.8 billion) called for by the secretary-general. The US has only pledged $19 million. Some additional specifics : 13 million people face starvation. Only about one percent of the population (about 300,000 people) has received one vaccination for COVID-19. Four million people are internally displaced and in dire need of basic provisions. Some, But Not Enough, Policy Changes The Trump administration viewed the Yemen crisis in predictably narrow terms: "maximum pressure” on Iran and friendly, money-oriented ties to the Saudi kleptocracy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to designate the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control most of the populated areas, as a terrorist organization and terminated about $700 million in US aid to Yemen. The UN World Food Program pleaded with Pompeo not to do that since ending aid, including aid from US-based NGOs, would accelerate the humanitarian crisis by denying Yemenis vital food and medicine. That appeal went nowhere. Under Biden, significant policy changes have been made. But they don’t go far enough. He has ordered a pause and review of military sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—these included a whopping $23 billion sale of jets, drones, and other equipment to the UAE and a $290 million sale of bombs to the Saudis—arguing that the Saudis’ offensive has "created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe.” He has appointed a career diplomat as special envoy to help bring an end to the fighting in coordination with the UN. Biden has also removed the designation of terrorist group from the Houthis, and restored humanitarian assistance to Houthi-held territory, where most of the population lives. The administration is clearly distancing itself from Saudi Arabia—criticizing its human rights policies, indicating its preference for dealing with the ailing king rather than Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), releasing a previously classified report on the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi that nailed MBS to the wall for his responsibility, and most recently agreeing to declassify documents on the 9/11 attack that may answer some questions about Saudi government support of the terrorists. But the distancing is well short of where it should be. The administration may be sitting on a good deal of additional information concerning the Khashoggi murder —information about who in the US government knew about it ahead of time, what role Egypt played in the killing, and why the state department approved training of four Saudis who became part of the murder hit squad. Late last month MBS’s brother, though implicated in the Khashoggi killing, met in Washington with senior Biden officials. It seems that the Saudi regime has somehow become less of a "pariah,” as Biden once called it. Not all military sales to the Saudis have been cut off, moreover. Meantime, their bombing campaign reportedly has targeted points of distribution for food and medicine. Whether that information is current, all US military aid should cease. Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Ro Khanna have announced that they are "introducing again a War Powers Resolution to stop any… military support for the Saudis in their campaign in Yemen.” Passage is unlikely, but even if the resolution does pass, humanitarian assistance to the Houthis may not be able to get through given the Houthis’ anger at the US for its support of Saudi bombing. The depth of the crisis may be gauged by the following assessment from a researcher for Human Rights Watch earlier this year: Even if the weapons are put down, there are deeply rooted disputes, grievances, tensions and divisions in Yemen today and more than 30 fronts of armed fighting between different factions. It was the responsibility of the U.S. to have a strong stance on its role, but we need a comprehensive approach to ending the conflict. So far, such an approach is nowhere in sight, and the children will continue to suffer most. —————————- end —————————- Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice , is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University and blogs at In the Human Interest .

Holly J. Mitchell for LA County Supervisor Recently, Holly Mitchell came to the Century City Chamber of Commerce and spoke to us about some of the issues facing Los Angeles. Homelessness Solving the homelessness challenge requires a collective response. Los Angeles County residents understand this because we overwhelming agreed to increase our taxes with the passage of Measure H to help solve this issue that touches every community across our county. As Chair of the State Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, I worked to allocate $500 million in funding to 11 big cities across the state, resulting in $166 million in funding for Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Funding is one key component but not the only solution. Our unhoused residents face a diverse range of challenges and failed systems that have gotten them to this point. Data and personal testimonies show us that if we want to make a long term impact it is no longer effective to save housing as a carrot for proving yourself but instead housing must be the solution for helping people get back on their feet. This is why I support diversifying solutions to efficiently apply Measure H funding to prevent and help end homelessness with outreach, rapid housing, bridge housing, seamless resident onboarding to services, and permanent housing. Jobs I have always stood with and fought for working families. This has meant creating and supporting policies that protect the rights of organized labor, increasing access to resources that strengthen the employability of residents and helping to keep industries with good paying jobs in our community. Most recently I authored Senate Bill 951 to renew the Film and TV Tax Credit. SB 951 helps keep behind-the-scenes production jobs that impact thousands of residents right here in Los Angeles county - the entertainment capital of the world. Los Angeles County has a growing number of industries from tech to manufacturing that make our economy a hub for ingenuity and opportunity. I will continue to work to ensure communities are not sidelined from accessing all that our economy has to offer. Every person has the right to earn a living that allows them to do more than just survive, but to thrive. Achieving this requires collaborating with multiple community partners and systems to create policies that help keep good paying jobs in our community and strengthening the resources -- community colleges, job resource centers, CalFresh and many more -- that residents need to enter and advance in the workforce. Protecting Our Children The 2008 statewide budget cuts to early care and education inspired me to take my experience as a single parent and the CEO of Crystal Stairs -- the largest child and family development non-profit in the state -- and run for office. In the legislature, I am most proud of having led the repeal of the Maximum Family Grant Rule that prohibited families from receiving vital financial support through CalWORKS. This win was about saying no to making our children suffer at the expense of unjust policies that expand rather than end poverty. From fighting to end child sex trafficking, removing bureaucracies that make it hard for foster youth to be adopted by their relatives, to increasing funding for early child development services; my work remains focused on protecting our children and future generations. LA County is home to 1/3rd of state’s children -- we have a responsibility to safeguard their future. I will continue to put forward common sense policies and protect effective safety nets that meet the realities and challenges of families in Los Angeles County. Criminal Justice Reform Our justice system can be tough and smart on crime. We must reach this balance in order to have a system that truly protects and serves the needs of our communities. To help achieve this, I have put forth an unprecedented package of criminal justice reforms bills that were signed into law. The #EquityandJustice package consists of 10 laws that reduce sentence enhancements for low level drugs, remove court fees for the innocent, seal arrest records for people not convicted, stop the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole and much more. #EquityandJustice is about prevention, rehabilitation, protecting our children and maintaining family cohesion. I am committed to advancing the wins we have made in criminal justice reform here in Los Angeles County -- home to the largest jail system in the world. We have a responsibility to lead by example as we create a California that incarcerates fewer people, confronts racial disparities in our criminal justice system, and ends the school-to-prison pipeline. Mental Health We have to prioritize solutions that remove barriers and expand access to mental health care. A good start in this direction is to stop the underfunding of mental health services across Los Angeles County. These services are desperately needed by our most vulnerable residents, including those who are homeless. My work to improve and expand mental health services is centered on putting people first and ensuring quality and compassionate care. I authored a bill (Senate Bill 323), that was passed and signed into law to make it easier for health centers and the county to work together in quickly and effectively providing drug use and disorder treatments. I will continue to craft solutions informed by the realities of those most impacted and will work to ensure state funding for services to the county are effectively serving its clients and the residents of District 2. Healthcare Health and medical care can be the most expensive services for residents in Los Angeles County, especially those living in the 2nd District. A large percentage of working families are being priced out of the health insurance market at a time when insurance companies are raising healthcare premiums – this impacts both workers and small businesses. We need to make healthcare affordable for all residents. This why as State Senator I voted for the Healthy California Act – a bill that would provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage and help control the high costs of quality care for all Californians. Los Angeles County residents should not have to choose between vital health coverage or a financial crisis. As County Supervisor I will continue to advocate for affordable, quality, and preventative healthcare care solutions that address the unique healthcare needs of district residents.

Joe Collins Will Make A Great Congressman U.S. Navy Veteran and South-Central Los Angeles Native challenges Maxine Waters for her seat in Congress. The 13-year U.S. Navy Veteran and South-Central Los Angeles native Joe Collins announced his candidacy for Congress on July 4th at Trump International Hotel Washington D.C. The Republican Congressional hopeful is now turning his focus on his plan to rebuild the 43rd District. "This Congressional race is personal to me,” He says, "My mother moved my sisters and me, out of California due to gang violence when I got into high school.” After 13 year’s successful years in the Military, Joe has returned to South LA and found the area has gotten worse under Maxine Waters Leadership.” When Maxine Waters encouraged violence against Trump administration cabinet members, it wasn’t the first time the California congresswoman, serving her 14th term, displayed behavior unbecoming of a federal lawmaker. The Democrat from Los Angeles has been embroiled in numerous controversies throughout her storied political career, including abusing her power to enrich family members, getting a communist dictator to harbor a cop-murdering Black Panther fugitive still wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and accusing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of selling crack cocaine in black neighborhoods. "Not to take away from the very few accomplishments that, "Aunty Maxine” has had throughout her 30 years in office, but our people deserve better, our communities are still poverty-stricken, the homeless population is higher than ever and we need quality jobs. The people of my district deserve better, the so-called leaders of California has lost sight of what’s important, and that’s the Americans people living in our communities.” Joe Collins has a five-step plan to rebuild California’s 43rd district. Step 1. Rebuild the infrastructure to support the expansion of housing and businesses. Step 2. Work with major companies to bring quality jobs back to our district. Step 3 Overhaul our education system to ensure the students of the district are receiving a quality education. Step 4 Rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and the community and Step 5. Create training platforms to teach the people in the district how to invest and benefit from our strong economy. "There is so much work to be done, and with the support of the South L.A. we can rebuild our communities, reduce gang violence and bring quality jobs back to this district. We have to be the change for our future.” Since launching his campaign on the 4th of July 2019, the Republican Congressional candidate has raised unofficially nearly $300,000.00 and is on track for an exciting and record-breaking race. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., was added to a liberal watchdog’s running list of the most corrupt members of Congress. Waters was added again in 2006 to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s annual report on D.C. corruption. They added her again in 2009 and one more time in 2011. Waters, who represents some of Los Angeles’ poorest inner-city neighborhoods, has also helped family members make more than $1 million through business ventures with companies and causes that she has helped, according to her hometown newspaper. While she and her relatives get richer (she lives in a $4.5 million Los Angeles mansion), her constituents get poorer. The Congresswoman was also embroiled in a fundraising scandal for skirting federal election rules with a shady gimmick that allows unlimited donations from certain contributors. Instead of raising most of her campaign funds from individuals or political action committees, Waters sells her endorsement to other politicians and political causes for as much as $45,000 a pop. https://youtu.be/Xd3qujTXLgY IG: collinsforcongress43 FB: collinsforcongress43 Twitter: joecollins43rd Joe Collins Congressional Candidate California’s 43rd District joe@joecollinsforcongress.com ID#C00705236 Editors Note: Joe loves his community and he will make a great voice for their needs. He needs your support right now. If you would like to see someone deserving get into office please reach out to him and say hello. If you feel that he can and will do a great job in Congress spend a few dollars and support his campaign. Please also read the next article on Reparations.

By Michael Douglas Carlin I rarely weigh in on political campaigns, I try to let the candidates speak for themselves. You are going to read Joe Collins’ message here, in another Century City News article, but I have spent some time with him discussing issues that I feel need to be addressed. Many of you know that I have spent time in the inner city listening to many stories of the actual people that have lived through various struggles, some of their own making, but many that were thrust upon them by outside forces. I am still working on the six inmate cases that sit, innocent of the crimes they were convicted of, in prison. I believe in their innocence and have learned from their stories. The inner-cities need our help! Local politicians can only do so much. Federal help must come if the inner-cities are to be addressed and rebuilt. Joe Collins has access to Washington D.C. in a bipartisan way that will serve his community much better than Maxine Waters. I look at what she was able to achieve early in her career and I must commend her for all of those accomplishments. There comes a time in every person’s life when it is time to move on and let younger people take the reins. We are at that cross-roads. Joe is the better candidate today. Joe and I don’t agree on everything. You won’t agree with him on everything either, but he has looked at the fabric we call America from a much different place than all of us. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and served America for 13 years in the U.S Navy. That gives him a unique perspective but it also gives him access. He has backing from D.C. and he has contacts that can help the people of Los Angeles. The House of Representatives recently passed a 67 million dollar reparations bill to give same sex couples tax refunds for their marriages that were not previously recognized. This opens the door for the conversation about slavery reparations. That conversation is coming, like it or not. There is no possible way that this does not become a campaign issue in 2020. I know the standard response is that no person alive today is responsible for any of the slavery of the past. The issue is much deeper than that. Joe Collins may be a significant voice in the coming conversation as he is on the pulse of the sentiment in the inner cities. Six years ago I would have weighed in with many that say this is not something we should address. My time in South Central and Compton has given me a much different perspective. Also, having interviewed Sheriff Lee Baca, Las Vegas Detective Gordon Martines, Special FBI Agent in Charge Mat Perez, LAPD Detective Russell Poole, and Former Mexican Federal Agent Roberto Urquidi has given me a much different perspective on the war on drugs. Gary Webb and Michael Ruppert provided significant evidence that the CIA was involved in the drug trade to raise money for covert activities. This activity targeted black families and decimated them with crack cocaine. There are other events in history that we don’t learn in school where blacks were targeted by our government. You can look up many of these events if you are interested including: Black Wall Street, Rosewood Massacre, Memphis Massacre, Elaine Arkansas, Jim Crow Laws, Lynchings, Clinton/Biden Crime Bill targeting Blacks, Black Panther infiltration, and war on drugs. During one of my visits to Compton I brought up the Constitution. I was shocked by the response. "How can I believe in a document that doesn’t apply to me.” I defended our Constitution. "According to that document I am only 3/5ths of a human (3/5ths Compromise).” He is not alone in the belief that the Constitution does not apply to him. There are many in the inner cities that hold this belief. They also don’t feel that the phrase, "Liberty and Justice for all,” applies to them because they have seen (many times first hand) that the justice system is heavily weighted against them. I have case files of six inmates that didn’t get fair trials. There was a finger on the scales of justice in their cases. In some of those cases, two police officers that have recently been convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering had a hand in putting them behind bars, there were indications that this drug trafficking goes back to the ’80’s which would have tainted these cases… and yet nobody (except me) is looking into these cases. So the anger that I have experienced in the inner cities could easily be justified. Add to this the trap door in the 13th Amendment that ended slavery that reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place to their jurisdiction.” Why couldn’t this Amendment simply eliminate slavery? Instead, there had to be a catch, there had to be a racist provision built in to target blacks. John Ehrlichman, Nixon Domestic policy chief told writer Dan Baum, "The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I am saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin. And then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities.” He continued, "We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” In the ’80’s this policy was expanded with the advent of crack cocaine and the ’94 Biden backed crime law, blacks were again targeted. Powder cocaine (a wealthy person’s drug) had one set of penalties while crack (a poor person’s drug) had severe penalties. So it may be true that no person alive today had anything to do with slavery but that 13th Amendment Trap Door was used to target blacks that were called 3/5th of a human in our Constitution. Many families were destroyed by this crack epidemic. Prison populations swelled. Add to that the knowledge that Gary Webb & Michael Ruppert exposed, namely that a faction of our government was behind this destruction of minority families to raise money for covert activities. There are many people alive today that were part of this genocide. Even though nobody alive today was part of slavery, assets that were created by slavery exist today. Many of these have been passed down to today’s generations. Hands that created those assets would have liked to hand down assets to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. There are many people alive today that were victims of these policies or descendants of the men and women that created the assets that America benefits from so the conversation about Reparations is overdue and the time to discuss this is now. Here are my thoughts: Laws must be changed to eliminate any and all systemic racism. It can simply be "no person shall be discriminated against for any reason” that becomes the law of the land. It should also be made clear that no person is 3/5ths of a human - all are equal under the law. Judicial reform must include every person accused of a crime having access to a proper defense. Then every person that sits in prison that even had any contact with a corrupt police officer, prosecutor, attorney, or judge must have their case reviewed including my six inmates that sit innocent in prison. When it comes to investing in creating opportunities we know that social programs have created aid-dependency and that has not been positive for the inner cities. Steady checks that take away dignity of hard work have created urban blight. We can’t simply hand out money without accountability or responsibility. Any investment in education must meet the recipients half way. They need to take their studies seriously or get kicked out of programs. They must do their part and study hard to learn skills that America needs in the workforce. Can we do more? In 2011, I visited the Southern Philippines. I met a man engaged in micro finance. A water-buffalo would completely transform the life of a farmer. He loaned on basic banking principles. Good character, they got the loan. What began with 10 water-buffalos years previous had grown into a herd of over 2000. Additionally, he had branched out to chickens, ducks, crops and other items needed in the community. His model worked. I was in the Southern Philippines that was considered extremely dangerous at the time and I never felt like my life was in danger because what he created was a network of safety. As we visited farmers, they would roll out the red carpet for us. He had a log book and during the visit many would pay what they owed on their debts. That gave him added capital to loan to other farmers. We all know that drug trafficking and money laundering profits gave us some of the best music ever recorded. Many have speculated that if drug trafficking was stopped the banking system would collapse. Why not create micro-financing through existing or new charities that could submit to government their requests for grants every year by demonstrating what they had accomplished in previous years. If they were responsible with a million dollars, give them ten. If they were not responsible, cut them off or put them on probation. A grant of a million dollars could allow for say $100,000 of overhead but the rest must hit the mark. What if they in turn accepted proposals for small businesses, educational grants, art projects including music, film and television programming. If the grant makes sense it should be funded. If the project succeeds the money should be repaid and the fund inside the charity expands giving the charity better standing for future grants. Think of the businesses that could be launched, the innovation, the art, the music, the programming… we could truly begin the most prosperous era in human history. 41 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners. They signed on that "All men are created equal.” All the signers risked their lives knowing that it wasn’t true then but it ought to be. They provided the vision of where we needed to take this country and now with the conversation about Reparations we have the ability to make these words true for the first time in history. 12.5 million people were uprooted from their lives in Africa. 10 million made it to the African shores. Less than 7.5 million made it to the American shores. 5 million people were murdered or perished from the conditions of the voyage; their bodies were discarded in the sea along the way. Life expectancy for a slave was 6 years once they arrived. There were no pensions. So now we have a great opportunity to right some of the wrongs. We can reach out to the inner-cities and embrace a new era by reforming laws to make all humans equal under the law. We can eliminate the 13th Amendment’s trap door into slavery. We can affirm that...No human in America is 3/5ths of a person. We can truly level the playing field for all people under the law. Police and civilians that commit crimes should receive the same treatment, same attorneys, same presumption of innocence. Laws should apply equally to all humans. As Reparations we should host a discussion about how to help without taking away dignity. I think micro financing might be an excellent way to acknowledge the past, honor the present, and build a better future. Reparations will not be fading from the American conversation.The House just passed a reparations bill. The door has been opened. The conversation is going to happen. Let’s all embrace the future and each other with open arms.

FIVE LAPD OFFICERS VINDICATED BY JURY IN LAWSUIT WHERE PLAINTIFFS SOUGHT $12.5 MILLION FOR ARRESTEE WHO CHOKED TO DEATH ON BINDLE OF HEROIN LOS ANGELES - City Attorney Mike Feuer today announced that his office has obtained a defense verdict in a federal lawsuit brought by the children of an arrestee who died after resisting two L.A.P.D. Officers' efforts to stop him from swallowing a bindle of over 26 grams of heroin. Two additional officers, who performed CPR on the arrestee, and their supervising Sergeant, were also sued. The Plaintiffs requested $12.5 million dollars from the jury, who returned a verdict in favor of the Officers. Alex Aguilar, 42, was arrested on June 9, 2016, for violating the terms of a gang injunction in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles. Mr. Aguilar smuggled a large bindle of heroin, as well as a small quantity of methamphetamine, into Harbor Division station. While undergoing a strip search, Mr. Aguilar placed the heroin in his mouth in an attempt to swallow the narcotics. Two officers, who were conducting the search, immediately commanded Mr. Aguilar to spit out the drugs. However, Mr. Aguilar refused, and violently resisted the officers' efforts to physically stop him. After eventually being subdued, Mr. Aguilar lost consciousness, and three L.A.P.D. officers engaged in CPR to attempt to save his life, as did paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department who arrived minutes later. According to the Coroner's report, Mr. Aguilar died from asphyxiation from the bindle of heroin--which had to be surgically removed from his body postmortem--being lodged in his throat, along with the combined toxicity of heroin, methamphetamine, and alcohol being contributing factors to his death. The jury rejected claims of wrongful death, excessive force and improper medical treatment as to all five police officers.

L.A. Poised to Dramatically Increase Funds for Street Repairs The L.A. City Council today approved much needed updates to a policy that is projected to deliver more than $100 million a year for street repairs and resurfacing, following leadership from Controller Ron Galperin and Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. The City Council voted to modernize what is known as the Street Damage Restoration Fee, a formula where the City can recover the cost of damages from cuts and excavations utility companies make to City streets. In 2014, Controller Galperin released an audit that found the City had not updated its calculations of the Street Damage Restoration Fee since 2006. As a result, the City was not recovering enough revenue to fix L.A.’s streets after undergoing cuts from utility companies. The Controller’s audit and ongoing leadership led to a report from the Department of Public Works that found the City could recoup more of the City’s actual costs so it can fix and maintain more streets in a timely manner and with less burden on taxpayers. The updated fees are projected to increase funds for street repairs to $114.8 million next fiscal year, a dramatic increase compared to the $8.3 million as included in the 2017-18 adopted budget. Councilmember Blumenfield’s committee leadership led to policy changes crafted after numerous discussions with the Controller’s office, City departments, Shahin and Associates (the City’s consultant), and several public hearings, resulting in today’s Council approval. "From potholes to pavement failure, Angelenos and their auto mechanics know too well the high cost of driving on L.A.’s streets," L.A. Controller Ron Galperin said . "I am pleased the Council supported this common sense approach so we can reinvest in our infrastructure. The changes made to the Street Damage Restoration Fee - a direct result of my audit - are a great deal for taxpayers and ensures the City will be adequately compensated and use that money to repair and upgrade our streets. This is not just about more money for street maintenance and repairs, but also encourages utility improvements under our streets before instead of after a street has been resurfaced.” "I am proud that the City Council, for the first time in over a decade, has adjusted and increased the SDRF fees to make sure that Angelenos aren’t footing the bill for utility companies,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield , Chair of the Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee (PWGR). "I commend Controller Galperin on his leadership and uncovering just how unfair this fee structure has previously been to taxpayers. As the Chair of PWGR, I know that utility services are vital to the health of our City, but we need a fairer system to ensure that our streets aren’t causing more damage to our cars and compromising the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists due to utility cuts - removing this tax break does just that.” Follow L.A. Controller Ron Galperin at @LAController on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram . ###

Controller Details Services, Calls for More Strategic Approach to Provide Services for Older Adults Controller Ron Galperin today released the first comprehensive catalog of services and programs throughout Los Angeles for older adults. The compilation, part of his report on a more strategic approach to providing services for older adults in Los Angeles,includes 242 programs for meals, housing, transportation, caregiving, classes and more among 14 City Departments. That list and the report can be seen at lacontroller.org . About 746,000 residents in L.A. are considered older adults (age 60 and beyond). By 2030, that number is expected to climb to more than 1 million. L.A. has worked to address this issue, including in 2016 when the City initiated Purposeful Aging L.A., created in conjunction with the L.A. Department of Aging (LADOA) and more than a dozen City departments to work toward making Los Angeles more "age-friendly.” Their ensuing report was issued to help guide L.A.’s effort over the next three years to enhance the region’s age-friendliness. What the City currently lacks, however, is a comprehensive list of services and programs in a centralized location to ensure Angelenos are aware of services that are available. Without such a database, disparate pieces of important information can be difficult to find unless one knows where to look. City residents whose lives may be enriched by these programs should have easy access to a single, coordinated source of information about the full array of available resources. That list and the report can be seen at lacontroller.org . "It’s vital that we do everything we can to serve as many people as we can,” L.A. Controller Ron Galperin said. "Every Angeleno deserves a City that works for them - now and tomorrow. With this database and common sense recommendations, we can get closer to ensuring L.A. is the age friendliest City in America.” "The Controller's inventory of services to older adults supports the City's Purposeful Aging L.A. initiative by beginning the process of identifying the various services and programs the City provides its residents,” said Laura Trejo , General Manager of the Department of Aging. "We appreciate the strides this reports makes and the support it represents on behalf of the City's older adults.” The Controller’s report also calls for a more strategic, organized approach and calls on LADOA to detail more opportunities for collaboration with departments and where gaps in service or program redundancies can be overcome.

Mayor Garcetti Nominates Eileen Decker to Police Commission, Recognizes Matt Johnson’s Extraordinary Service Mayor Eric Garcetti today nominated Eileen M. Decker to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. She would succeed Police Commission Vice President Matt Johnson, who is stepping down from the board. Decker — who served previously as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California under President Obama, and L.A. Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety — is currently a lecturer in law at the USC Gould School of Law. "Eileen is an exceptional leader and thinker — and her unyielding determination for justice will be a remarkable asset on the Police Commission,” said Mayor Garcetti. "She is one of America’s finest public safety professionals, and her forward-thinking approach will help us shape a future for the LAPD that is defined by stronger relationships with all of L.A.’s communities, better technology for officers in the field, and more resources for the men and women who put themselves on the line for us every day.” As Deputy Mayor from 2009-2015, Decker oversaw matters relating to the LAPD, LAFD, and Emergency Management Department. As both a city official and high-level presidential appointee, Decker is nationally-recognized as a strong advocate for constitutional policing and the goals of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. "This nomination is a tremendous honor, and I want to thank Mayor Garcetti for the opportunity to again serve the City of Los Angeles. I also want to recognize Matt Johnson for his distinguished tenure on the Police Commission,” said Decker. "As Deputy Mayor and U.S. Attorney, I have been continually inspired by the bravery and dedication of our police officers. I have also seen firsthand the tremendous strides the LAPD has made to become a national model of constitutional policing. If confirmed, I look forward to working with Mayor Garcetti, the men and women of the LAPD, and our city’s many communities to build on this legacy of progress.” If confirmed by the City Council, Decker would replace Johnson — who has served as president and vice president of the Commission, and is leaving after three years of service. "Matt has been an extraordinary leader at a time when America is engaged in an urgent conversation about the future of law enforcement,” said Mayor Garcetti. "He was the driving force behind transformative work at the LAPD to protect the rights and dignity of all people, strengthen transparency, give officers the tools they need to do their jobs safely and more effectively, and recruit a force that reflects the communities it serves. I will miss his leadership on the Commission, and wish him the best as he turns his focus to what’s most important in all of our lives: family.” During Johnson’s tenure, the Commission adopted several historic reforms at the LAPD — including outfitting every field officer with a body-worn camera, strengthening the use-of-force policy to include de-escalation, and updating longstanding department policies that protect immigrants. "I will always be grateful to the Mayor for the opportunity to serve, to my fellow commissioners for their work to strengthen the Department’s relationship with our community through transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, and to the brave men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department for their tireless dedication to keeping Angelenos safe,” said Johnson. "It was a privilege to play a part in driving progress at America’s finest law enforcement agency — and it is an experience that I will always cherish.”

City Attorney Feuer and Partner Agencies Secure $1.6m Settlement with Whole Foods Over Improper Hazardous Waste Disposal Agreement Reached To Bolster Greater Compliance with Safety Standards City Attorney Mike Feuer today announced that his office, in coordination with statewide regulatory agencies and 21 other California District and City Attorneys, has reached a $1,643,500 settlement with Whole Foods Market California Inc. and two related entities resolving allegations of unlawful handling and disposal of hazardous wastes and materials across the state. "This judgment will ensure strong steps are taken to protect our environment and public health," said Feuer. "And it demonstrates the deep commitment of prosecutors and environmental agencies throughout California to enforce our hazardous waste laws." Over a five year period, Whole Foods Market, Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Market Inc., and WFM-WO Inc., allegedly mishandled hazardous wastes and materials including batteries, electronic devices, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents and other flammable reactive toxic and corrosive materials. Irregularities were discovered by investigators after a review of the companies’ documentation of employee hazardous waste training to be incomplete. A statewide audit confirmed hazardous waste disposal deficiencies were systemic. Under the settlement, the Whole Foods entities must pay $1,202,800 in civil penalties, $202,800 to reimburse the costs of the investigation, and $237,900 to fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection and environmental enforcement in California. The Whole Foods entities must also hire an employee to strengthen the companies’ hazardous-waste programs. The judgment also requires Whole Foods, Mrs. Gooch’s, and WFM-WO to properly label, package, and store hazardous waste to minimize the risk of exposure to employees and customers, and to ensure that incompatible wastes do not combine to cause dangerous chemical reactions. The judgment requires the companies to properly document their hazardous waste and dispose it at authorized facilities. Deputy City Attorney Jaclyn Romano from the City Attorney’s Environmental Protection Unitrepresented the City of Los Angeles in this statewide prosecution and served on the lead team of prosecutors negotiating this resolution.