Horvath introduces motion to strengthen safety at Whiteman Airport following crash
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D, Western Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley, including Pacoima, Panorama City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Sylmar) introduced a motion yesterday calling for immediate safety improvements at Whiteman Airport and urging federal partners to conduct a full review of aviation operations following a recent crash near the Pacoima facility.
The motion, scheduled to be heard at the May 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, directs the LA County Department of Public Works to identify immediate safety actions, report back within seven days with timelines and costs, and provide a clear outline of responsibilities across jurisdictions, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the City of Los Angeles, and the LA Department of Water and Power.
“Residents deserve clear answers and confidence that every available safety measure is being considered,” Horvath said. “The Federal Aviation Administration plays a central role in those operations, and we need a full review, clear answers, and action to prevent this from happening again.”
Horvath has formally written to both the FAA and NTSB, urging expedited review and coordination. Her letter to the FAA calls for a thorough investigation into the incident and for immediate coordination with the NTSB to identify corrective actions. Her letter to the NTSB requests that the investigation be expedited to provide timely guidance on safety improvements.
The motion builds on steps already taken at Horvath’s direction, including the introduction of unleaded fuel and implementation of a voluntary nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in 2024. The crash — a Cessna that clipped power lines on Van Nuys Boulevard and flipped upside down in a parking lot — has reignited a long-running debate over the airport’s future. LACP has covered the Whiteman Airport story extensively.
Feldstein Soto rejects Charter Commission plan to split City Attorney’s office
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto called on the Los Angeles City Council yesterday to reject the Charter Reform Commission’s recommendation to divide the City Attorney’s office and make its municipal functions appointed rather than elected.
The Charter Reform Commission’s 301-page report, transmitted to the City Council on April 2 and now before the Council’s Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Committee, recommends splitting the office into two entities — an appointed municipal city attorney answerable to the mayor and council, and an elected prosecutor handling misdemeanor cases.
“The Commission’s proposal would erode the fundamental right of Los Angeles residents to select an independent arbiter of law to represent the City and the people of the State of California,” Feldstein Soto said. “Maintaining the current structure of this office is critical to ensure that Angelenos have an elected City Attorney who is accountable only to the voters and benefits from the independence essential to serving the best interests of the City.”
Feldstein Soto argued that splitting the office would create costly redundancies in administrative support, HR, payroll, technology, and union bargaining at a time the city is navigating serious fiscal stress — and called for those costs to be quantified before any serious consideration moves forward. Los Angeles has had an elected city attorney since its incorporation in 1850, except for a failed experiment from 1911 to 1933.
Feldstein Soto’s objection comes as the Charter Commission’s sweeping governance overhaul package heads toward a potential November 2026 ballot. Among its other major proposals: expanding the City Council from 15 to 25 seats, giving the Council new policy authority over the LAPD, including a 60-day veto window for police-related ordinances, and implementing ranked-choice voting beginning in 2032.
Hahn praises deal ending Little Lake City School District teacher strike
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D, San Pedro, Wilmington, Compton, Carson, Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Cerritos) praised the resolution of a 14-day teacher strike in the Little Lake City School District yesterday, calling it a victory for educators who stood firm through the longest walkout in the district’s 150-year history.
The district serves students in portions of Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, and Downey. The strike — the third-longest in California since 1996 — began April 16 after 94 percent of union members voted to authorize a walkout following eight months of failed contract negotiations. “I appreciate both sides staying at the table to reach this agreement,” Hahn said. “Congratulations to the teachers who had the courage to stand up for themselves and for their students and were able to stay strong and united during this historic strike.”
According to the Los Cerritos Community News, the tentative agreement includes a 90/10 healthcare cost-sharing structure with a flexible cap, no increases to classroom sizes, a one-time $1,000 off-schedule payment, and additional support for special education programs.
The agreement must still be formally ratified by both the union and the district board.
Torres passes amendment blocking sanctions relief for child traffickers
U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D, Pomona, communities of eastern San Gabriel Valley) secured passage of an amendment this week during a House Appropriations Committee markup that would bar the use of federal funds to lift or waive sanctions against individuals credibly accused of child trafficking.
Torres’ amendment, adopted during the National Security Full Committee markup of a State and Foreign Operations funding bill, requires the Secretary of State to certify at least 60 days in advance — and provide written justification to Congress — before any sanctions relief can be granted to individuals flagged by the Office of Foreign Asset Control for credible child trafficking accusations.
“If you traffic children, you should never get a pass from the United States government and I’m proud that my amendment passed and puts us on record standing up for victims and holding traffickers accountable,” Torres said.
A second Torres amendment — the No Blank Check Diplomacy measure, which would have required full financial disclosure from special envoys and diplomatic appointees before federal funds could be used to support their work — was blocked by Republicans in committee.
Torres said she will continue pushing for accountability and transparency in how taxpayer dollars are used to support diplomatic operations.
