Rivas, Horvath meet FAA, extract safety commitments at Whiteman
U.S. Rep. Luz Rivas (D – San Fernando, Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Sylmar, Van Nuys, Sun Valley, North Hollywood) and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D – Pacoima, Panorama City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Sylmar) met with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials last week to press for stronger safety measures and oversight at Whiteman Airport following two aircraft crashes in Pacoima this year.
The meeting follows months of escalating advocacy from both officials after crashes on April 20 and June 16. Horvath had previously sent letters directly to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford calling for a temporary suspension of flight operations pending comprehensive investigations, enhanced oversight of pilot training and aircraft maintenance, and the issuance of immediate safety recommendations.
“The meeting on Thursday with myself, Supervisor Horvath, and FAA was productive in ensuring safety and accountability at Whiteman Airport,” said Rivas. “I look forward to seeing the FAA fulfill its commitments to increase inspections, community outreach, and education at Whiteman Airport. I have the highest standards and expectations for the FAA to ensure safety for those who use the airport as well as the continued safety for the surrounding community of Pacoima.”
“The safety of Pacoima residents will always be my top priority,” said Horvath. “On Thursday, Congresswoman Rivas and I made one thing clear to the FAA: protecting this community cannot wait. We expect the FAA to fulfill its responsibility to improve safety at Whiteman Airport, and we will continue pushing until every resident feels safe.”
In response to continued advocacy from both officials, the FAA committed to increased oversight of pilots, flight schools, and aircraft repair stations, including expanded weekend inspections and regular pilot education seminars through the FAA Safety Team in partnership with Los Angeles County Public Works.
Additionally, the FAA committed to continued modernization of air traffic control communications infrastructure; additional runway safety initiatives, including annual Runway Safety Action Team meetings and a new Arrival Alert Notice program for pilots; and ongoing investigations into both the April and June crashes.
Hochman wins $320K from hotel that gouged wildfire victims
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced yesterday that Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation will pay $320,000 to settle a consumer protection civil lawsuit alleging the company price-gouged wildfire victims and other guests at its Pasadena hotel during the January 2025 wildfires.
The Langham Huntington Pasadena offers 379 hotel rooms, 26 suites and eight cottages, and is alleged to have charged guests more than 10 percent above its pre-emergency rates during the state of emergency that the wildfires triggered. The settlement includes a refund of at least $216,795 directly to overcharged guests.
“It is reprehensible to overcharge and take advantage of wildfire victims who were in desperate need of housing as they fled their homes from raging fires last year,” said Hochman. “During a time when our community was meant to come together to help those in need, Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation profited from other people’s tragedies. Since the devastating fires, my office has been working closely with our law enforcement and consumer agency partners to combat price gouging, looting, unlicensed contracting and other crimes of opportunity in disaster zones.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Langham must also modify any automated or algorithmic pricing systems to ensure prices cannot be unlawfully increased during future declared emergencies. Langham cooperated with the investigation and did not admit liability.
Kamlager-Dove introduces reproductive justice resolution at America’s 250th
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D – Los Angeles, Culver City, Inglewood) joined Reps. Lateefah Simon (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced the America 250 Reproductive Justice Resolution yesterday, affirming reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right and calling for policies, including universal healthcare, maternal healthcare, paid family leave, comprehensive sex education, and protections against pregnancy-related criminalization.
The resolution, introduced on the occasion of the nation’s 250th anniversary, comes as the Supreme Court and the Trump administration have rolled back reproductive healthcare protections nationwide. It draws on the reproductive justice movement founded by Black women in the 1990s and is endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including Planned Parenthood of Maryland, the Guttmacher Institute, MomsRising, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
It should be noted, however, that Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was also part of the American eugenics movement, which advocated for and played a big part in the sterilization of Black American women.
“As we celebrate America at 250, we must reaffirm that our founding ideal of freedom includes not just reproductive freedom, but reproductive justice,” said Kamlager-Dove. “Every woman should be free to access the full spectrum of reproductive health care — including abortion — and to decide when, if, and how to have children. Reproductive justice is a fundamental human right.”
Torres, Schiff demand OMB drop politicized grant rule
U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) led members of the California congressional delegation last week in demanding that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescind a proposed regulation that would allow political appointees to control all aspects of the federal grant review process.
The proposed OMB rule, if enacted, would apply government-wide to every agency that reviews grants and financial assistance proposals. California leads the nation in scientific advancements, including biomedical engineering and quantum computing, and is among the top recipients of federal research funding — making the state disproportionately vulnerable to politically motivated grant decisions.
“The rule is unprecedented, expansive, and applies across the federal government to every agency that reviews grants and other financial assistance proposals,” the lawmakers wrote. “It would allow political appointees to control all aspects of the grant review process, setting the stage for politically motivated decision-making that places the whims of the President over the well-being of the American people.”
The lawmakers identified four specific areas of harm: the STEM talent pipeline and national competitiveness, biomedical and scientific research and development, higher education funding at California universities, and state and local government services.
“The effects of this rulemaking could reverberate for generations,” they wrote. “California and the rest of the country will backslide behind other nations in the areas of health, innovation, research, and scientific development.”
