Bass joins LAUSD Carvalho ahead of new school year start
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass yesterday joined LAUSD leadership including Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and other local leaders in reaffirming their commitment to keeping schools safe and supportive for all students and families as the new school year begins amid heightened immigration enforcement activity.
“The first day of school is this Thursday in Los Angeles — but because of action by this White House, many families throughout our city are terrified,” said Bass. “That’s why I’m joining Los Angeles Unified School District officials to reaffirm our commitment to student safety, with transportation, trained staff and long-standing policies that shield our communities from discriminatory enforcement. L.A. will always stand together.”
Through the We Are One campaign, Los Angeles Unified is providing families with information on Know Your Rights resources, legal referrals, mental health supports and emergency preparedness tools. Some of the additional measures Los Angeles Unified is implementing to support students and families include:
- Expanded transportation options for families upon request.
- Crisis Response Teams to provide mental health and counseling support, including through the delivery of in-home services.
- Virtual learning options for students in TK-Adult programs.
Rubio, South El Monte Help Students Gear Up for School
State Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South El Monte, West Covina) joined with the City of South El Monte last Friday to distribute 500 backpacks and essential school supplies to local students at the city’s National Night Out event.
The partnership supports families across the San Gabriel Valley and helps ensure local kids start the new school year ready to succeed.
“Back‑to‑school season can be stressful for families, especially when budgets are tight,” said Rubio. “As a classroom teacher, I saw firsthand the difference it makes when students start the year prepared. By helping students with essentials, we’re making sure no one has to choose between putting food on the table and making sure their child has everything they need to learn.”
According to a Deloitte forecast, families are expected to spend more than $550 on back-to-school shopping this year, a cost that creates real challenges for many households.
The South El Monte school supply distribution is part of Rubio’s broader focus on supporting students both inside and outside the classroom. That includes important legislation like SB 488, which took effect this year and improves how teachers are trained to teach reading. Rubio also authored SB 531, which would bring age-appropriate mental health education to all grade levels in California.
Hochman warns perps of illegal street takeovers
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman joined law enforcement officials yesterday to address illegal street takeovers that have become dangerous and sometimes deadly spectacles, warning that those participating can be arrested and face criminal charges.
Street takeovers occur when an intersection is illegally blocked by people who are mere feet away from drivers who perform donut drifting or other maneuvers at high speeds. These unsanctioned events are promoted on social media and happen without proper safety precautions. As a result, spectators have been injured and killed, streets have been damaged and local businesses robbed.
“Street takeovers often lure young people looking for a thrill or to be entertained,” said Hochman. “But these reckless stunts are terrorizing our local communities, sometimes leading to death and often leading to looting, vandalism and other crimes. It doesn’t matter whether you are an organizer, a driver or a spectator – you all share a responsibility in this illegal activity and we are committed to stopping street takeovers to restore public safety.”
Street takeovers occur when an intersection is illegally blocked by people who are mere feet away from drivers who perform donut drifting or other maneuvers at high speeds. These unsanctioned events are promoted on social media and happen without proper safety precautions. As a result, spectators have been injured and killed, streets have been damaged and local businesses robbed.
Individuals who participate in street takeovers and are arrested may face misdemeanor charges, including reckless driving (up to 90 days in county jail and/or $1,000 fine), speed exhibition (up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine) or being a spectator at illegal takeovers (up to 180 days in jail and/or $500 fine). Participants who injure or kill someone may face felony charges.
“If you treat our streets like your own personal playground, you will find yourself in a courtroom,” said Hochman. “We want to prevent any further tragedies from happening and we will continue to work together to curb illegal street takeovers.”
Brownley concerned over ICE impersonators harassing and assaulting women
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas (portions)CA-26) yesterday joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expressing deep concerns over ICE impersonators harassing and assaulting women.
The members called for ICE to require agents to wear visible, clear identification during enforcement activities and to ensure impersonators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
In the letter, members raised grave concerns about women being assaulted by individuals impersonating ICE agents — taking advantage of the agency’s increased use of masks, plain-clothes, and unmarked vehicles.
“All our lives, we are taught to fear masked men in unmarked vehicles. We learn we should run from such men to avoid being kidnapped, sexually assaulted, or killed. Yet, ICE is increasingly conducting raids and arrests in masks, plain-clothes, without visible identification or badges, using unmarked vehicles – tactics that cause confusion, terror, and mistrust among the public. These tactics invited perpetrators of violence against women to take advantage of the chaos by impersonating masked ICE agents in order to target and sexually assault women,” the members wrote.
Reports of ICE impersonators attacking women began surfacing shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, coinciding with the direction for ICE agents to increase immigration enforcement activities and operate in masks, plain clothes, using unmarked vehicles.
The letter was sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Associate Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility Jennifer Fenton, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Thomas Homan.
