Kamlager-Dove reintroduces bill to boost arts education
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) yesterday reintroduced the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, legislation that expands access to arts education by providing dedicated funding to Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
“When we invest in arts education, we invest in opportunity, culture, and the future,” said Kamlager-Dove. “Despite strong public support for arts education, this funding is often among the first to be cut—unequally burdening Black and brown students. The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act aims to reverse this trend by providing targeted resources to Minority Serving Institutions, ensuring that all students have the chance to explore their creativity and experience the transformative power of the arts.”
Specifically, the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act would:
- Direct the Department of Education to administer a competitive grant program that MSIs can use to:
- Provide financial and other assistance to students in the arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
- Establish outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
- Provide comprehensive wraparound services for arts, arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance counseling, and career advising;
- Exhibit, maintain, monitor, and protect Minority art collections in exhibition and in storage; and
- Provide well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts, arts education, and cultural institutes.
- Increase federal funding to MSIs to improve arts education and access for minority students; and
- Provide an expansive definition of the arts to ensure all forms of art can benefit, including performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.
Barger renames Castaic Sports Complex to honor slain Deputy Clinkunbroomer
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger yesterday saw her motion pass unanimously to rename the Castaic Sports Complex in honor of slain Deputy Ryan M. Clikunbroomer.
The motion came on the two-year anniversary of his shooting death in an ambush-style attack that took place on Sierra Highway, just outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s station, on Saturday, September 16, 2023. The newly named Ryan M. Clinkunbroomer Castaic Sports Complex will be a lasting tribute to his service, sacrifice, and dedication to the community.
“Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer will never be forgotten,” said Barger. “Renaming the Castaic Sports Complex in his honor is a way to keep his memory alive and ensure future generations know the depth of his commitment to his community. This dedication is more than a name on a building. It’s a tribute to his life, his legacy, and the family who proudly carried the badge before him.”
A fourth-generation deputy whose family’s legacy of service stretches back decades, Clinkunbroomer is remembered for his courage, kindness, and dedication to mentoring new deputies.
Feldstein-Soto secures demolition of illegal homes in Laurel Canyon
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto announced this week that her office secured a plea agreement in the City’s decades-long legal quagmire over the building and safety violations of five partially built hilltop homes on Woodstock Road in Laurel Canyon.
As a result of this litigation, the owner is required to demolish all five homes by August 7, 2026.
On June 29, 2023, the City Attorney’s Office filed 25 counts against Shahram and Ester Ghalili over their five unfinished, three-story, single-family homes near Mulholland Drive. Purchased in late 2020, the Ghalilis were the most recent in a long line of private developers and owners over the past two decades who tried to resurrect what had initially been a large development project until the City of Los Angeles shut it down in 2002 and ordered it demolished in 2003.
The homes were never demolished and remained in the ownership of multiple developers who unsuccessfully attempted to further develop the project.
After the Ghalilis took ownership, neighbors reported a resurgence of alleged construction at the homes. City officials ordered the new owners to comply with the order to demolish the five structures and clean up the properties.
“For far too many years, the Laurel Canyon community has dealt with these dangerous, dilapidated homes that were ordered to be taken down more than two decades ago,” said Feldstein-Soto. “We took action to end this problem once and for all.”
If Ghalli does not demolish all five vacant structures by August 2026, obey all building regulations, cooperate with city inspectors, and pay $5,000 in fines, he will face a conviction on his record, being placed on 12 months of summary probation, serving 100 hours of community service, $25,000 in fines and penalties, and being booked and released from county jail.
Rubio bill ends loophole for men who abuse young girls
State Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South El Monte, West Covina) this week saw her legislation to close a dangerous loophole in California’s sex offender registration law pass both chambers of the state legislature and is now heading to the Governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 680 (SB 680) ensures that adults who commit serious sexual offenses against minors can no longer avoid registration due to outdated legal technicalities.
“This bill is about one thing – protecting our girls,” said Rubio. “A predator like Jeffrey Epstein could have been sentenced to decades in prison. But when he got out, current California law might not have required him to register as a sex offender for some of his crimes. That’s appalling. If a grown man sexually abuses a young girl, we’re going to make sure he’s treated like every other sex offender. No loopholes. No excuses. SB 680 makes sure of that.”
Under current law, most sexual offenses involving minors carry mandatory sex offender registration as part of the sentence. But a loophole allows some predators to slip through the cracks. Currently, the charge of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” does not automatically trigger registration. That means when a grown man is more than 10 years older than a girl under 16, he could avoid registration entirely.
SB 680 closes that loophole by requiring registration in those cases, bringing the law in line with how California treats other serious sex offenses against minors.
Rubio introduced the bill in partnership with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which identified real-world cases where adult men avoided sex offender registration even after abusing girls, simply because of how California law was written.
Whitesides introduces bill to increase transparency during post office closures
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley and Rep. Rick W. Allen (R-GA) yesterday introduced the Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act, legislation designed to require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide reports on how the closure of contract postal units (CPUs) will impact residents and allow for public hearings before any closure takes place.
CPUs are privately-owned, local post offices that provide products and services to the public at USPS prices, often operating as full-service locations.
“In my district, the Quartz Hill post office’s contract was abruptly terminated with no transparency or rationale provided,” said Whitesides. “This full-service CPU has served our community since 1952, and my constituents deserve to know how they will be impacted by the sudden closure. My bill will increase transparency and involve the community in this process.”
The Contract Postal Unit Transparency Act would require:
- The Postal Service to publish a report on the Postal Service’s public website on expected impacts the closure will have on residents and what steps the Postal Service will take to ensure continued access to postal services in affected areas.
- The Postal Service to submit a report to Congress detailing their reasons for closing or consolidating the affected Contract Postal Unit.
- The Postal Service to carry out a public hearing on the closure or consolidation, which may be attended in-person or virtually by any members of the public affected by the closure or consolidation.
o Not later than 7 days after such hearing, the Postal Service shall publish a summary of the hearing on the Postal Service’s public website and include in such summary a description of any comments made or otherwise submitted at such hearing and the percentage of such comments that were in support or against the closure or consolidation.
o The applicable Contract Postal Unit may not be closed or consolidated until 180 days after the date the summary is published.
