Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Proposed LGBTQ Commission for California Backed by LA County Board

By ANUSHA SHANKAR, CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday officially threw its support behind proposed legislation that would establish a California LGBTQ+ Commission.

Assembly Bill 3031 would create a commission “that represents California’s diverse LGBTQ+ community and shines a light on the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face,” according to a motion by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis.

The proposed commission would advise the state Legislature and governor on policy matters, collect data, review and assess programs, and provide recommendations that respond to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the motion.

The motion calls California a “national leader” in the fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights, having passed laws that protect gender-affirming care, expanded inclusive education and anti-discrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity.

In June last year, the board adopted a motion by Supervisors Solis and Janice Hahn to create an LGBTQ+ Commission in Los Angeles County,

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Altadena Library Foundation Enlists Expert to Boost Fundraising Efforts

[Photo credit: Altadena Library Foundation]

The Altadena Library Foundation will enhance its fundraising capabilities by collaborating with John O’Malley, a renowned fund development expert, according to Jericho Road Pasadena.

 O’Malley, principal of Pasadena-based O’Malley International Associates, was introduced to the Foundation through Jericho Road.

Jericho Road Pasadena is a nonprofit that matches the professional talents and expertise of volunteers with the needs of community-based nonprofit organizations in the Pasadena area.

Mark Mariscal, Altadena Library Foundation Board President, sought assistance in identifying potential private and corporate foundations to support the library’s work. O’Malley responded by creating a detail-rich Excel chart of local area foundations, rated by their potential to support the library, according to Jericho Road.

“John’s list and letter templates gave us a first-round direction on making contact with businesses and organizations that might be interested in offering financial assistance to the ALF,” Mariscal told Jericho Road. He added that their goal is to make at least $40,000 in asks and realize $10,000 in support.

Monday, June 24, 2024

LA County Supervisors Adopt Changes to 2024-25 Budget

By ANUSHA SHANKAR, CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted final changes to the county’s recommended 2024-25 budget Monday, increasing the total spending plan to $45.6 billion, ahead of the start of the new fiscal year July 1.

County CEO Fesia Davenport presented her recommended budget updates to the board Tuesday, adding $251 million to the previous $45.4 billion spending proposal, and updated the total number of new positions to 1,247. But no changes were proposed to the property tax revenue forecast.

Davenport said the priority remains on expanding the county’s “Care First, Jails Last” initiative, as well as housing and homelessness, mental health services, public safety, among others.

Additional commitments included funding to protect against growing cybersecurity threats, additional security at juvenile halls, federal funding for refugee assistance and $19.8 million to support voting solutions.

Davenport said $9 million was assigned to substance abuse prevention and treatment at interim housing sites,

Friday, June 21, 2024

LA County Unemployment Rate Holds Steady in May

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.3% in May, the same rate as April, according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

The 5.3% rate was above the rate of 4.8% rate from May 2023.

The May 2024 unemployment rate in Orange County, where seasonally adjusted rates were not immediately available, was 3.2%, down from 3.7% in April.

Statewide, California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% in May, down slightly from 5.3% in April, but above the 4.5% rate in May 2023, the EDD reported. The comparable estimates for the nation were 4% in May, 3.9% in April and 3.7% a year ago.

Total non-farm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 11,100 jobs between April and May to reach nearly 4.6 million.

The leisure and hospitality sector posted the largest gains, adding 8,200 jobs.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

LA County Board to Consider Putting Homelessness Measure on November

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors next week will consider placing on the November ballot an initiative that would repeal the county’s quarter-cent sales tax for homelessness-prevention measures and replace it with an indefinite half-cent sales tax to be used for the same purpose.

On Tuesday, the county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office announced that backers of the Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions and Prevention Now measure had collected enough valid signatures to get the initiative on the ballot.

Supporters of the measure said last month they submitted more than 410,000 petition signatures, well above the required 238,922.

With signatures verified, the issue will move to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The board will have the choice of immediately placing the initiative on the November ballot or requesting a full report on the measure, which would be brought back within 30 days to the board, which will then place the measure on the ballot.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Average LA County Gas Prices Drop

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped eight-tenths of a cent to $4.806.

The average price has dropped 51 cents over the past 43 days, but was unchanged Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 6.6 cents less than one week ago, 37.7 cents less than one month ago, 12.6 cents less than one year ago, and has dropped $1.688 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price dropped seven-tenths of a cent to $3.44, a day after it was unchanged.

It is one-tenths of a cent less than one week ago, 15.3 cents less than one month ago, 13.6 cents less than one year ago, and has dropped $1.576 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

“Since the national average price of gasoline fell to its lowest June level since 2021 last week,

Friday, June 14, 2024

Metro Ridership in Los Angeles Continues 18-Month Climb, Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

Los Angeles County’s Metro recorded more than 27 million boardings in May, marking the 18th consecutive month of year-over-year growth, officials reported in a statement on Friday.

The transit agency carried an average of 980,865 passengers each weekday, an 8.2 percent increase from May 2023, the statement said. Weekend ridership saw particularly strong gains, with Saturday boardings reaching 90.6 percent and Sunday boardings exceeding 101.5 percent of their levels from May 2019.

Officials attributed the weekend surge to numerous special events, including the Cruel World Music Festival and Just Like Heaven Music Festival in Pasadena, Pride celebrations, and professional soccer and baseball games.

“Metro is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility,” the agency said.

Rail ridership totaled 5,887,366 in May, with the A Line recording the highest number of boardings at 1,946,782, a 4.6 percent increase over April. The recently reconfigured A and E lines now exceed their pre-pandemic weekend ridership levels.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

New Public Health Report Shows LA County Homeless Mortality Rate Plateaued in 2022

STAFF REPORT

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released its fifth annual report on mortality among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. From 2021 to 2022, the most recent years of data available for the report, the overall mortality rate increased by just 2% from 3,215 per 100,000 people to 3,282 per 100,000 people.

This is a welcomed plateauing of the mortality rate among people experiencing homelessness, which previously saw a devastating increase of 56% from 2019 to 2021, the County said in a statement.

The recent plateau in the overall mortality rate can be attributed largely to a leveling off of the rate of drug overdose deaths, the leading cause of death among PEH for the past six years, and a sharp decline in COVID-19 mortality. From 2021 to 2022, the distribution of doses of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, saw a two-and-a-half-fold increase in communities most affected by fentanyl overdoses, and the number of reported naloxone-induced overdose reversals nearly doubled.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

LA County Library Observes Mental Health Awareness Month with Programs Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing

STAFF REPORT

LA County Library is deeply committed to all its neighbors’ mental health and well-being. The Library recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month and proudly highlights the Mental Health Promoters Program, which is a transformative initiative created by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health aimed at reducing mental health stigma in the underserved.

“LA County Library has 86 locations that serve as trusted safe spaces for families throughout the County. The Library is a valued partner with the Department of Mental Health in supporting the well-being of Los Angeles County residents,” said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “Throughout the year, and especially during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, we look forward to sharing resources and information through our Mental Health Promoters Program stationed in various libraries across the County.”

“No matter the challenge, LA County Library is here to support our customers,” said Skye Patrick,

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Altadena Man Arrested for Alleged 10-Day Kidnapping and Assault of Pasadena Woman

A 38-year-old man from Altadena was arrested early Tuesday morning on charges of kidnapping and domestic violence following a distressing 10-day ordeal involving a 40-year-old Pasadena woman, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Edgar Sanchez.

The incident began on April 28 when the suspect, Edgar Garcia, and the victim, who have had an intermittent relationship over the past two years, met to exchange personal property, Sanchez said.

During the encounter, Garcia allegedly punched the woman and threatened further assault if she refused to get into his vehicle.

The victim was then forcibly detained by Garcia for the next ten days.

On the evening of May 6, Garcia allegedly compelled the victim to perform a sexual act against her will.

He later contacted the victim’s mother, informing her of the location where she could pick up her daughter. The reunion led the victim’s mother to drive her directly to the police to report the crimes, according to Sanchez.