LA Podcast - To Live and DEI in LA

Alissa, Mike, and guest co-host Liz Chou discuss a secretive $2 million payout to LA County’s CEO, who claims she suffered “reputational harm” from Measure G. An LA City charter reform proposal would bring dramatic changes to the Board of Public Works. Yet another fire investigation, this time from Republican senators who are trying to blame the flames on DEI. And remembering river advocate Melanie Winter.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, via Spotify, or below.

SHOW NOTES

LA County CEO Fesia Davenport was “quietly paid a $2 million settlement,” as LAist reported first, “over claims she was harmed” by the passage of Measure G one year ago, the ballot measure that expanded the Board of Supervisors from five members to nine members, and changed her position from an appointed role to an elected role

As Julia Wick reported in her final story for the Los Angeles Times, many think that Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who pushed for Measure G, would run for the County CEO role. “There are people who are never going to be convinced that I created this measure without seeing a seat for myself in it,” she says. “I’m not interested in convincing people of that. I’m interested in doing the work”

“With six months remaining before the commission’s recommendations are due, several commissioners, city officials and good government advocates told LAist they have concerns about transparency and independence,” LAist reports. “Some say they doubt the commission is in a position to accomplish a fraction of what it first set out to do”

More on LA City’s Charter Reform Commission, including upcoming meetings. Sign up for the charter reform newsletter

Read more proposals on planning and infrastructure charter reform platforms from Investing in Place and Streets for All, including dissolving the Board of Public Works. Here are some of the reforms being proposed by the commission, and a set of recommendations from Mayor Karen Bass

LA Forward has both Governance Reform and Capital Infrastructure Program working groups

Liz reports on Councilmember Monica Rodriguez’s appearance at last week’s charter reform meeting and why she accused the commission of having an “agenda”

Subscribe to Liz’s newsletter, The LA Reporter

U.S. Senate investigations subcommittee requested Palisades Fire records from LA Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson including "records referring or relating to the creation or oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion ('DEI') hiring policies for the LAFD and the LADWP"

As the LA Times notes, the letter mentions the Eaton Fire but no similar request was sent to LA County representatives

LA County passes an emergency declaration against ICE

Remembering river advocate Melanie Winter, who died last week, through this beautiful obituary as well as a 2024 profile, both by Ian James at the LA Times

This week’s show is produced by Olive Greenspan

The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

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