Kraut says Calabasas will begin soil testing on County landfill
Calabasas Mayor Peter Kraut wrote in his August Letter to the Community that the City will start conducting soil sampling and tests this month at the L.A. County Landfill on the city’s northwestern border.
The County and Calabasas have been in court over the battle for samplings and testing ever since the city began accepting Phase 2 fire debris, even though the City filed suit to prevent that from happening.
“Almost six months later, it’s still coming, and we have been legally blocked from testing the material at the Landfill. Finding very little support from the courts, we have been in discussions with L.A. County and the Sanitation District to find an amicable path forward. This created a “stay” or a pause in the court case,” wrote Kraut.
“As of this week, we have not been able to reach an agreement. At a status conference on July 30, Judge Lawrence Riff let the stay of the case expire. This allows the City to move forward with sampling and testing of fire debris deposited at the Calabasas Landfill. In fact, the Court has ordered the Sanitation District to allow this testing. Our attorneys and the Sanitation District will meet and confer on a safety and sampling protocol at the Landfill next week,” Kraut continued..
Kraut wrote that on Friday, Aug. 8, the court is expected to confirm the agreed-upon protocol or propose its own. Hopefully, these protocols will be similar to those that City experts provided to the Court and the District back in April.
“We expect to begin testing in August, long before then. If the sampling and testing reveal significant levels of hazardous waste or materials, the City could potentially file a motion for preliminary injunction (to stop further fire debris from coming, or to require inspections of loads for hazardous wastes, etc.),” wrote Kraut.
Lancaster mayor lauds court for terminating recall petition
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris last week lauded the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s decision to terminate the recall petition effort, which officially targeted him for removal.
Parris said the court’s decision affirms that the attempted recall did not meet the legal requirements necessary to proceed and concludes the matter.
The City acknowledged the outcome and remained focused on community priorities and public service for its residents throughout the process.
“As Mayor, I understand these efforts, however motivated, are part of the Democratic process,” said Parris. “But let me be clear, I have always remained focused on my commitment to our residents to prioritize the needs of our community by increasing public safety, expanding economic development, and working to advance the well-being of our community alongside my fellow Councilmembers, and will continue to do so!”
Richardson’s Security Training Bill signed into law
State Sen. Laura Richardson (D–Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, South Los Angeles, San Pedro, Torrance), last week saw Gov. Gavin Newsom signed her Senate Bill 652 into law, marking a significant step forward in strengthening public safety standards across California.
The legislation mandates that all security guards complete a certified training course within six months prior to registration, ensuring they are fully equipped to serve as responsible and informed private safety officers.
The training, which must be administered and certified by a single course provider, is designed to enhance guards’ understanding of legal boundaries, situational awareness, and appropriate responses in public safety scenarios.
“Highly trained private security guards are better prepared to navigate complex situations, understand their legal limitations, and protect the public effectively,” said Richardson. “This bill ensures that those entrusted with safety responsibilities are held to a consistent and professional standard.”
SB 652 will officially take effect January 1, 2026, and requires that completion documents be submitted to the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).
