Lieu urges Rubio to get Americans stuck in the Middle East
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Manhattan Beach) along with U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), yesterday led a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to help stranded Americans leave the Middle East and return to the United States.
The State Department has advised Americans in 15 Middle East countries and territories to leave due to serious safety risks and has instructed them to depart using commercial transportation. But with airlines cancelling commercial flights out of the region, and airports there closed, most Americans are unable to book a trip home. The State Department has announced charter flights from just three of the countries on the list.
The letter to Rubio, which is signed by 61 Members of Congress (including Lieu and Meng) calls for charter flights, military operations, and all other resources at the State Department’s disposal to be used to bring Americans back to the U.S. safely and quickly. It also asks the Department to issue updated guidance, including ensuring Americans know which expenses they are responsible for in the event of an evacuation. In addition, the correspondence criticizes the Administration for failing to have an evacuation plan already in place.
“The Trump Administration has totally failed at planning how they were going to keep Americans caught in this conflict safe and get them out of harm’s way,” said Lieu. “The State Department has a responsibility to help Americans get home but has so far come up short, leaving United States citizens to fend for themselves. That’s outrageous. Secretary Rubio and the Trump Administration must do everything in their power to safely evacuate Americans NOW.”
A copy of the letter to Secretary Rubio is available here.
Hahn, Board of Supervisors approves plan to reduce jail deaths
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Southeastern LA County including Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) yesterday saw the Board of Supervisors approve her comprehensive proposal aimed at reducing deaths in Los Angeles County jails through stronger accountability, improved safety practices, and increased transparency across multiple County departments.
Hahn’s motion comes after an alarming increase in deaths in county custody. In the first two months of 2026, ten people died in LA County jails—following a devastating 2025 in which 45 people died in County jails.
“As long as people are in our custody, they are on our care, and we have a duty to protect their lives,” said Supervisor Hahn. “This effort is about increasing accountability, acting with urgency, and doing better—now.”
Supervisors Hilda Solis, Holly Mitchell, and Lindey Horvath approved the motion, while Kathryn Barger abstained.
The approved motion builds on a previous motion Hahn authored in 2025 and responds to the resulting findings from reports and presentations by the Sheriff’s Department, County health agencies, and oversight bodies about persistent systemic failures despite prior reforms.
Reforms in the motion include quarterly reports from the Office of the Inspector General on the Medication Assisted Treatment program and an audit by the Auditor-Controller.
Hahn emphasized in the motion that the human toll of in-custody deaths is compounded by a significant financial cost to taxpayers. Over the past five years, Los Angeles County has spent millions on settlements and judgments related to deaths in custody—funds that could otherwise support prevention, housing, healthcare, and social services.
The motion requests that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and directs that the Department of Health Services’ Correctional Health Services, Office of Inspector General, Auditor-Controller, Medical Examiner, and other departments implement reforms within 120 days and report back publicly on progress, funding needs, and staffing requirements.
Read the full approved motion here.
Horvath’s motion addresses LAHSA’S failure to pay service providers
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath yesterday (D-Western and San Fernando Valley areas including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Universal City, Sherman Oaks, Pacoima, San Fernando) yesterday saw the full Board of Supervisors approve her motion to address ongoing payment failures at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and ensure service providers delivering County-funded homelessness programs are paid for work they have already performed.
“The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has repeatedly failed to provide meaningful oversight or transparency for taxpayer dollars. That is why Los Angeles County is transitioning to direct accountability through our new Homeless Services and Housing Department (LADHSH). This transition is not the cause of instability—it is our response to it,” said Horvath.
“As we enter the eleventh month of this transition, we are ensuring providers are paid, and financial best practices are in place, while demanding clarity from LAHSA on what happens after July 1. Public funding requires public accountability,” the lawmaker added.
The motion directs the County’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, the LADHSH, and the Auditor-Controller to embed County staff at LAHSA to review financial operations, stabilize contract administration, and directly oversee a plan to ensure providers are paid for County-funded contracts through June 30, 2026.
County leadership will return to the Board with a financial analysis and corrective action plan on April 14, 2026.
Read the full motion here.
Barger, Supervisors allocate $3.8 million to help fire survivors build ADUs
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Northern LA County including Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) yesterday saw the full Board of Supervisors unanimously approve $3.8 million in state funding to launch a new program that will help homeowners in unincorporated communities, with a focus on areas impacted by the Eaton Fire, to build small additional homes on their properties.
The program will provide financial assistance to at least 35 and up to 50 qualifying households to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs), often referred to as “granny flats” or backyard homes. The effort will be implemented in partnership with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity and is designed to expand affordable housing options, stabilize neighborhoods, and support fire recovery efforts.
“Eaton Fire survivors deserve support that helps them rebuild their lives,” said Barger. “This program will provide direct financial assistance so homeowners can add safe, affordable housing on their property. ADUs can help house displaced family members, provide rental income to offset rebuilding costs and offer long-term stability. I fully support this meaningful investment that will help keep families in their community.”
The additional homes supported through this program must be used for housing and kept affordable for middle-income households for at least 10 years. Construction must begin or be completed by the end of 2030.
The funding comes at no cost to County taxpayers and will be used to provide direct grants to eligible homeowners and to cover limited administrative costs to ensure the program is delivered effectively.
For more information about eligibility and application timelines, details will be released in the coming months.
