Hochman pushes murder charges for repeat drunk drivers who kill
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman is backing state legislation to strengthen California’s drunk driving laws after the bill — which includes a provision named for an 18-year-old Loyola High School student killed by a recidivist drunk driver in Manhattan Beach last year.
Senate Bill 907, authored by State Sen. Bob Archuleta (D – Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, La Mirada) and co-sponsored by Hochman’s office, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the CA Safe Roads Coalition, passed the state Senate unanimously with bipartisan support in May and now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. If it clears that committee it will go to the Assembly floor for a full vote.
“Losing a child is unimaginable. Losing a child to a careless decision is infuriating,” said Hochman. “My office frequently sees cases of impaired drivers with previous DUI convictions reoffend, yet still face consequences under current law that do not reflect the seriousness or repeated nature of their conduct. This must change.”
The bill’s centerpiece is Braun’s Law, named for Braun Levi, who was killed last year when a recidivist drunk driver struck him. Braun’s Law would require that drivers whose DUI charges are pled down to a lesser offense receive a Watson Warning — an advisement that if they drive while impaired and kill someone, they can be charged with second-degree murder.
The measure also increases penalties for hit-and-run causing injury or death when the driver has a prior DUI conviction within the past ten years.
Hochman credited Deputy District Attorney and Legislative Advocate Tamar Tokat for driving the bill on behalf of the office, and thanked Braun’s mother, Jennifer Levi, for championing the legislation.
“We urge the Assembly to pass SB 907 and for Governor Newsom to sign it in order to help save lives from these senseless and preventable offenses,” said Hochman.
Pérez demands probe of fatal ICE shooting in Houston
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D – Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Glendale, Arcadia, Monrovia) called for a full independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston businessman and father, shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Tuesday while driving construction workers to a job site.
Araujo is the tenth person fatally shot by federal immigration agents since the start of President Trump’s second term.
Araujo had no criminal record. According to Pérez and reports from the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Department of Homeland Security is also attempting to deport eyewitnesses to the shooting — a development Pérez said calls into question the integrity of any investigation.
“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a good, family man with no criminal record who was trying to build a better life for his family and earn a living to allow his sons to go to college,” said Pérez. “This is the American dream personified. We demand a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the release of Araujo’s body to his family and the preservation of all evidence related to the shooting. Charges must be brought forth against all ICE agents involved in his death for any wrongdoing. Furthermore, LULAC has reported that the Department of Homeland Security is attempting to deport eyewitnesses to the killing of Araujo. If these ICE agents have nothing to hide, then why try to deport people with information?”
Pérez also extended condolences to Araujo’s family.
“He should still be alive, with his loved ones, contributing to his community and American society,” said Pérez.
Friedman: California swept the Emmys with film tax credit
U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena) this week celebrated the dominant showing of California-made television in the 78th Primetime Emmy Award nominations — with the two most-nominated shows on television both filmed in her district.
Twenty productions filmed at least partly in California earned a combined 193 nominations. The Pitt, filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, led all shows with 25 nominations. Hacks, filmed at Universal Studios, earned 24 nominations — an all-time record for a comedy series in a single season.
Both studios sit within Friedman’s 30th Congressional District. Other California-filmed nominees include Beef, Spider-Noir, Fallout, Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, Euphoria, Palm Royale and Dancing With the Stars, among others. Fallout relocated its entire production from New York to Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio in Santa Clarita and the old Valley Plaza Strip in North Hollywood after California expanded its Film and Television Tax Credit Program to $750 million annually.
“It’s no coincidence that the two most nominated shows on television were made right here, on sound stages in Burbank and streets across Los Angeles, by the best crews, the best technicians, and the best cast in the entire world,” said Friedman. “This is what happens when we invest in our signature industry. Fallout moved home from New York, Margo’s Got Money Troubles traded a planned New York shoot for Fullerton and Los Angeles, and tens of thousands of Angelenos went to work telling the stories the whole world watched this year. California’s expanded film tax credit is working, and now Congress needs to do its part. I won’t stop fighting for a national film tax credit until every production that can be made in America is made in America.”
The nominations are the first announced since California expanded the tax credit program, which in its first year supported 170 projects generating $6.6 billion in direct production investments statewide.
Horvath rolls Beach Bus to Venice for World Cup
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D – Pacoima, Panorama City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Sylmar) is expanding the Topanga Beach Bus route today and Saturday to include a stop at the official FIFA Venice Beach Fan Zone, giving San Fernando Valley residents a direct transit connection to one of the World Cup’s signature viewing destinations.
The temporary stop at Windward Avenue and Main Street will run today, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, only. On July 10 three scheduled trips will be modified to extend to Venice Beach. On July 11 service begins at 1 p.m. with a late-night return trip from Venice Beach to the Valley at 10:10 p.m., allowing riders to catch the evening match. The expanded route was developed in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
“All aboard the Topanga Beach Bus,” said Horvath. “On July 10 and 11, we’re making it even easier for residents and visitors to experience the excitement of the World Cup by adding a Topanga Beach Bus stop at the Venice Fan Zone. Whether you’re cheering on your favorite team or enjoying a day at the beach, we’re expanding access to the moments that bring people together while making it easier to leave your car behind.”
For updated schedules and route information visit LAGoBus.com.
