Hahn pleads with Newsom to halt Catalina deer killing
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week urging him to suspend or revoke a state permit authorizing the Catalina Island Conservancy to begin killing the island’s mule deer population.
Hahn’s letter came a day before Los Angeles County Judge Curtis Kin issued a tentative ruling Tuesday denying a preliminary injunction that opponents of the eradication plan had sought, according to The New York Times.
Following the ruling, the Catalina Island Conservancy said it would begin the first phase of the multiyear project, killing the first 200 of the island’s roughly 2,000 mule deer between now and the end of October. A final ruling on the injunction is expected within 90 days, according to the Times.
“Tomorrow, these deer could begin to be killed, and once they are gone, they are gone forever. Governor Newsom can still stop this, and I am asking him to act,” said Hahn, according to City News Service.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the conservancy’s restoration management permit on Jan. 30, allowing trained specialists to eradicate the deer population over four to five years as part of a broader habitat restoration effort called Operation Protect Catalina Island.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone, whose department oversees fire operations on Catalina, has told Hahn’s office that the deer consume vegetation that could otherwise fuel wildfires, according to the supervisor’s office.
Padilla, Schiff laud $150M for Olympics-bound Vermont bus corridor
U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (D-CA) this week lauded the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in providing nearly $150 million in federal funding for LA Metro’s Vermont Transit Corridor Bus Rapid Transit project, the maximum amount permitted under the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Small Starts Program.
The Vermont Avenue BRT project will add 12.4 miles of all-day dedicated side-running bus lanes and 26 enhanced bus stations with upgraded lighting and safety-focused crosswalks. The project is a key component of LA Metro’s transportation plan for the 2028 Olympics and is expected to significantly cut travel time on one of the county’s busiest bus corridors during the Games.
“Our local public transit systems are the backbone of the economy, connecting people to jobs, schools, essential services, and opportunities in their communities. As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we must ensure Angelenos and visitors alike can rely on safe, accessible, and high-quality public transportation. With the Games now less than two years away, this funding is an important down payment, and we look forward to working with DOT and the Administration to secure the remaining federal transportation investment essential to making the Games a success,” said Padilla.
“I am proud to work with Senator Padilla, our Congressional partners, and local leaders in securing these important federal dollars that will help deliver safe, efficient, and reliable transportation for thousands of Angelenos ahead of the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This investment will support local economic growth, upgrade bus stations along the route, reduce travel time, and connect thousands of people along one of Los Angeles County’s busiest bus routes,” said Schiff.
Rodriguez secures $3.75M for Sylmar wildfire protection
Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando, Arleta, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City, North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Lake View Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hills) announced this week that she secured $3.75 million in new Proposition 4 funding to strengthen wildfire prevention and emergency response in Sylmar.
The funding includes $2.5 million for wildfire mitigation and new fire roads and access improvements, and $1.25 million toward a new Sylmar fire station, building on funding commitments already made by the city of Los Angeles and local partners.
Sylmar sits along a high-risk wildland-urban interface and has faced multiple major wildfires, including the Sayre Fire in 2008, the Saddleridge Fire in 2019 and the Hurst Fire during the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. Limited access routes and the community’s equestrian population present unique evacuation challenges.
“Our families in Sylmar and along the foothills know what it means to live with the threat of wildfire. They have experienced the fires, the evacuations, the smoke, and the uncertainty that comes with wondering whether their loved ones, homes, and neighborhoods will be safe. This funding is about making sure our community is better prepared, strengthening new fire roads and emergency access, while investing in the emergency response capacity we need when every minute matters,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also credited Senator Caroline Menjivar for her strong advocacy for the Sylmar fire station investment in the Senate, and LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez for decades of community advocacy.
Barger, Board approve $3M for Palmdale foster care village
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, and portions of the San Gabriel Valley), whose Fifth District includes Palmdale, secured unanimous Board of Supervisors approval this week for $3 million in financing to support development of Together California’s new foster care village in Palmdale, designed to let sibling groups in the foster care system remain together.
The action approves a $3 million loan through the Los Angeles County Development Authority to provide permanent financing for the 4.7-acre village, which will feature individual homes surrounding a central community facility staffed by trained foster parents dedicated to caring for sibling groups.
“Keeping siblings together can provide an important source of stability and connection for children navigating the foster care system. Supporting Together California and this village is deeply important to me because I believe it will change lives. This project will give foster youth siblings an opportunity to grow up supported by dedicated caregivers and a community committed to their success,” said Barger.
Roughly 30% of sibling groups in the Antelope Valley consist of four or more children, and 16% involve five or more siblings, making it difficult to find placements that can keep larger sibling groups together.
Barger has also committed $1.06 million in Fifth District discretionary funding to support Together California and help bring the village to fruition.
The organization will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Palmdale village on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
