LANCASTER – Local voters took to the polls Tuesday, April 10, for the General Municipal Election for the city of Lancaster.Two incumbents overwhelmingly defeated six challengers in the race for two Council seats, open for the full term of three years and eleven months.Raj Malhi finished first with a combined total of 3,374 votes, followed by Marvin Crist with 3,264 ... Read more →
Public hearings on county budget set for May 16
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday praised a $30.8 billion budget recommended by the county's chief financial officer for the 2018-19 fiscal year as reflective of its priorities and values."This budget reflects our determination to confront homelessness, the dearth of affordable housing and the need for criminal justice reform," Supervisor ... Read more →
LAHSA speeds payments to providers, still seeking CFO
LOS ANGELES - The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to have the county's auditors review changes made by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to resolve past-due payments to service providers and better position the agency to manage a big jump in Measure H revenues.A county audit released last week concluded that LAHSA was understaffed and had routinely failed to ... Read more →
Sheriff’s department struggling to manage $3.2 billion budget, deputy overtime
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is running a projected $40 million budget deficit and using dollars allocated for services, supplies and equipment to pay out an estimated $142 million in unbudgeted overtime, according to a report presented Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai told the board that the numbers ... Read more →
Los Angeles County sues its former chief lawyer
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County is suing its former lead attorney, whose wrongful termination lawsuit against the entity was dismissed earlier this year, for allegedly putting his interests ahead of those of his former employer.The county's suit against Mark Saladino alleges he publicly disclosed advice he gave the Board of Supervisors and violated his ethical obligations ... Read more →
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
LOS ANGELES - As part of a campaign to encourage residents to step forward and report children at risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.Statewide, about one in seven children under the age of 5 is reported as a victim of suspected abuse or neglect, according to a ... Read more →
LASHA is under-staffed to manage Measure H funds
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is under-staffed to handle Measure H funding and historically routinely failed to pay service providers on a timely basis, according to a review by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller released Tuesday.The fiscal operations review was requested by Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai because ... Read more →
County supervisor seeks emergency care reform
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles County supervisor is headed to Sacramento Wednesday to advocate for legislation that would allow paramedics to bring patients to mental health urgent care clinics and sobering centers.Supervisor Janice Hahn said Assembly Bill 1795 is increasingly important given the homeless crisis. About one-third of those living on the streets countywide suffer ... Read more →
LA County to join lawsuits against census citizenship question
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to file or join an amicus brief opposing the federal government's addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. Census.Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended the move, saying that hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding are at stake for the county."Los Angeles County stands to lose a ... Read more →
Authorities urge residents to report suspected child abuse
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County officials Monday urged residents to come forward and report youngsters at risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect, highlighting the issue as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month.District Attorney Jackie Lacey joined Sheriff Jim McDonnell and the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect to announce a social media ... Read more →
Arraignment postponed for Palmdale mayor charged with corruption
LOS ANGELES - Arraignment has been postponed until April 26 for Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, who is accused of illegally receiving more than $60,000 a year from local consultants, failing to publicly disclose the income on economic disclosure statements, and using an official position for personal gain.Ledford, 64, is charged with one count each of conspiracy and conflict of ... Read more →
LASD anticipates hiring 160 new positions to improve jail healthcare
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell plans to seek funding for more than 160 new deputies and support personnel to improve medical and mental healthcare for jail inmates, according to a letter posted on the county's website Tuesday.McDonnell said his department will need to ramp up hiring to deal with the increased demand for medical appointments as the ... Read more →
LA County Board looks to shut down pipeline from foster care to juvenile hall
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to reevaluate the treatment of youngsters in the county's care, aiming to keep foster children out of juvenile halls and camps.Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas championed the effort, calling for more intervention and less punishment for children who often have a history of trauma."If we all roll up ... Read more →
Investigators using ‘cyber patrols’ and texting to discourage sexual predators
LOS ANGELES - Investigators committed to cracking down on sexual predators are using cyber-based "patrols" to catch suspects, according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.Working in partnership with Demand Abolition, a nonprofit organization focused on eradicating the demand for commercial ... Read more →
County funds security guards at public hygiene sites
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved funding for security guards to be posted around the clock at county toilets to be installed near high-need homeless encampments at four sites, including the community of East Pearblossom.Supervisor Hilda Solis has championed portable toilets with handwashing stations."Unfortunately, those ... Read more →
County official seeks to expand support for foster youth
LOS ANGELES - Children in the county foster system often have a history of trauma and more intervention is needed to break a cycle that leads to the juvenile justice system, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley- Thomas said Tuesday."Many of these youth have been victims of serious trauma, and getting caught up in the justice system only traumatizes them further," ... Read more →
LA County settles wrongful death lawsuit for $2.7 million
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a $2.7 million payout to the parents and three children of a 39-year-old man shot by a sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in Santa Clarita.About 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2016, Deputy Nathan Gillespie was on patrol without a partner when he spotted a white-and-gray Lexus that matched the ... Read more →
LA County looks to beef up gun regulations
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to explore options for regulating firearms, including restricting sales to anyone under 21, banning .50-caliber handguns, strengthening safe storage laws and prohibiting gun sales near schools.Supervisor Sheila Kuehl recommended the review."This is a very important motion to me and, I ... Read more →
LA County declares “Everyone In” to solve homelessness
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday proclaimed Friday "Everyone In Day," to recognize the start of a United Way-led program aimed at shifting residents' attitudes about allowing housing for the homeless in their neighborhoods.With the number of homeless people growing dramatically and with sprawling street encampments cropping up under ... Read more →
LA County OKs $5.9 million settlement
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $5.9 million payment Tuesday to settle a lawsuit brought by a man who alleged that county jail guards and medical staffers failed to properly monitor and treat him, leading to brain damage that left him permanently disabled.Juan Isaac Garza was in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in May ... Read more →