LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to contribute $1 million to a legal aid fund for people at risk of deportation and confirmed that anyone convicted of a violent felony will not be eligible to benefit from the fund.The eligibility requirements for the county's share of the L.A. Justice Fund -- specifically the prohibition of convicted ... Read more →
LASD security guard alleges pregnancy discrimination
LOS ANGELES - A former security guard for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who alleges her return from vacation about three weeks late in 2015 after being stranded in Istanbul was used as a pretext to fire her, can take her pregnancy discrimination case to trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.Viola Faruku alleges the real reason behind her termination was that she was ... Read more →
LA County votes to appeal $3.1 million judgment in DCFS case
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to appeal a $3.1 million judgment awarded to a woman who said her 15-month-old baby was seized by county social workers against her rights.In November, a jury found that the county's actions amounted to unwarranted seizure of the child with malice, but denied punitive damages to Rafaelina ... Read more →
L.A. County lays out plan to fight homelessness
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a wide-ranging set of recommendations Tuesday to combat homelessness, committing to spend nearly $259 million over the next 12 months. [View the plan approved by the Board here.]Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai said the county's plan will move 45,000 families and individuals into permanent housing over ... Read more →
L.A. County gets $20 million to rehabilitate criminal offenders
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Office of Diversion and Re- entry announced Tuesday that it has received a $20 million state grant to fund rehabilitative programs for criminal offenders with a history of mental health or substance abuse issues.The funding was generated through state savings under Proposition 47, a measure approved by voters in 2014 that reduced ... Read more →
L.A. County appoints new coroner
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday formally approved the appointment of a chief medical examiner-coroner, filling a post that opened up more than a year ago.The supervisors approved a $350,000 annual salary for Dr. Jonathan Lucas, formerly the chief deputy medical examiner for San Diego County. He has 16 years of experience in forensic ... Read more →
County board reacts to homeless numbers
LOS ANGELES - The Board of Supervisors reacted Tuesday to the reported 23 percent increase in homeless individuals countywide since 2016, with some calling the numbers "abysmal" and "staggering" and others seeking to reassure residents that solutions are ready to be rolled out.The 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count -- released Wednesday by the Los Angeles Homeless ... Read more →
LA County eliminates $50 registration fee for indigent defendants
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to eliminate a $50 upfront fee charged to defendants who need a public defender to represent them in court.Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas recommended doing away with the charge, saying it can be a burden for some indigent defendants and keeps some individuals from trying to retain an ... Read more →
L.A. County extends ban on marijuana, sets limits on personal cultivation
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to ban all commercial cannabis activities -- medical and non-medical -- in unincorporated areas, including Quartz Hill, Littlerock and Lake Los Angeles.The move extends a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas that has been in place since 2010 and broadens the ... Read more →
June is “Refugee Awareness Month” in LA County
LOS ANGELES - The Board of Supervisors Tuesday proclaimed June "Refugee Awareness Month" in Los Angeles County.The designation is meant to highlight county services provided to refugees forced to flee their home countries because of religious and political persecution, war and civil unrest, and to showcase the contributions made by those new residents."The decision to ... Read more →
Supervisors confirm Hofbauer’s appointment to Liability Board
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on May 23 confirmed the appointment of Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem Steve Hofbauer, Councilmember 2nd District, as a North Patrol Division Representative alternate to the Contract Cities Liability Trust Fund Claims Board.The Board reviews and approves the settlement of claims and lawsuits for money damages which are paid ... Read more →
L.A. County seeks to increase use of food stamps as White House moves to dramatically scale back benefits
LOS ANGELES - The Board of Supervisors signaled its support Tuesday for increasing county enrollment in the state's CalFresh food benefits program by 20 percent over two years.Supervisor Sheila Kuehl recommended the goal, saying that more than a half million county households experienced "food insecurity" in 2015."Homelessness is rightfully getting a lot of attention, ... Read more →
State attorney general challenges elimination of key element of Affordable Care Act
LOS ANGELES - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced in Los Angeles Thursday a legal challenge to the proposed elimination of a key element of the Affordable Care Act, which is under threat of repeal by the administration of President Donald Trump.Becerra and more than a dozen fellow Democratic attorneys general filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed ... Read more →
County to explore alternatives to Children’s Trust Fund Unit
LOS ANGELES - County supervisors voted Tuesday to explore alternatives to the Children's Trust Fund Unit, a group within the Department of Children and Family Services charged with raising money to fund toys, summer camp and other extras for foster kids.A recent audit found that thousands of toys sat unused in a warehouse, funds were mismanaged and other gifts went ... Read more →
L.A. County launches study of tenant rights
LOS ANGELES - The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to explore policies aimed at expanding affordable housing options and protecting renters, calling it part and parcel of the fight against homelessness.Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended the study."Countless residents in the unincorporated areas of my district have experienced skyrocketing rental rates in their ... Read more →
Attorney announces candidacy for Congress
PALMDALE - Attorney Bryan Caforio on Saturday announced his candidacy for Congress in the 25th District, seeking a rematch against Rep. Steve Knight in November 2018."I am running for Congress to give the people in this district a voice, to harness the unprecedented level of energy we have been witnessing, and to move this community in a direction that aligns with our ... Read more →
Palmdale mayor addresses District Attorney investigation
PALMDALE - No criminal charges have been filed against Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, the mayor is cooperating with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the mayor is confident that he will be cleared of all accusations when the inquiry is concluded. This according to a statement released Thursday by Ledford's attorney, Anthony J. Falangetti.Read the full ... Read more →
Spending recommendations for Measure H sales tax
LOS ANGELES - The citizen planning group for the Measure H sales tax has drawn up final recommendations for how Los Angeles County should spend $355 million annually over the next three years to fight homelessness.The 50-member panel -- consisting of homeless advocates, service providers, local government and county officials, and business and nonprofit leader -- largely ... Read more →
Council member calls on Palmdale mayor to take leave of absence
PALMDALE - A Palmdale City Council member called on Mayor Jim Ledford Friday to take a voluntary leave of absence pending the completion of an investigation being conducted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.The nature of the investigation remains a mystery, but the District Attorney's Office served a series of search warrants on Wednesday, including ... Read more →
Investigators search home, office of Palmdale mayor
PALMDALE - Investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office raided the home and office of Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford on Wednesday, CBS2 reported.The report did not say what investigators were looking for, but did say that the DA's office served search warrants at six locations.City Councilman Austin Bishop confirmed to the station that DA's ... Read more →