Horvath strengthens water resilience and firefighting capacity with $14M Malibu project
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D-Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Panorama City, Pacoima) announced yesterday that she and local leaders recently broke ground in Malibu for the Carbon Canyon Water Main and Pump Station Improvements Project.
The $14 million project will replace approximately 6,900 feet of undersized water mains and upgrade a critical pump station to meet modern fire flow standards — strengthening water reliability and increasing firefighting capacity for Malibu, Topanga, and Sunset Mesa.
The announcement comes as LA County Waterworks District No. 29 — the same district the project serves — is currently under an active boil water advisory affecting portions of Malibu, underscoring the urgency of the infrastructure upgrades.
“We are moving with urgency to deliver for communities recovering from the Palisades and Franklin Fires,” said Horvath. “This is just the beginning — by championing infrastructure improvements like this, and calling on our state and federal partners to meaningfully invest in improvements alongside the County, we can deliver the modern, reliable infrastructure our residents need.”
“The Carbon Canyon water project is a critical investment for our communities,” said LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “By modernizing our infrastructure, we are securing a dependable water supply for our firefighters in the Santa Monica Mountains, ensuring improved water quality, and creating a more reliable system that residents can count on for years to come.”
The project is part of a broader $250 million effort to modernize Waterworks District 29, which serves more than 20,000 residents across the Santa Monica Mountains. It is expected to be completed in December 2027.
Whitesides announces $1M federal funding to improve Santa Clarita Valley drinking water safety
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley) yesterday joined members of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency to announce a new federal investment that will remove dangerous PFAS chemicals from the region’s drinking water.
Whitesides secured the funding in Congress’s annual budget. It will go toward the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s PFAS treatment vessels, which remove unhealthy “forever chemicals” from drinking water.
“Clean drinking water is a right, not a privilege, and every family in our community should feel confident that their water is safe and free from toxins,” said Whitesides. “I was proud to bring this funding home for the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, and further the important work they do to remove PFAS and other toxins from our water supply. The reopening of two wells will increase the agency’s treatment capacity and help ensure that they are best prepared to keep our community’s drinking water safe.”
PFAS chemicals can cause major health problems if left untreated. The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency serves close to 291,000 residents through around 76,800 connection points. The funding will help restore 4 to 6 percent of the annual drinking water supply, ensuring more clean water is available to the Santa Clarita Valley.
Hochman charges man with killing girlfriend’s pet rabbit
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced charges yesterday against a 25-year-old North Hollywood man on felony and misdemeanor counts in a case alleging domestic violence and animal cruelty in the killing of his girlfriend’s two-month-old rabbit.
“This defendant is accused of assaulting his girlfriend on prior occasions, then later killing a defenseless animal in a violent outburst,” said Hochman. “That kind of criminal behavior will land you in prison. We will prove these charges in court and seek the full punishment under the law.”
Nikolas Hart pleaded not guilty on all charges yesterday and bail was set at $150,000. The court also issued a protective order prohibiting Hart from owning, possessing, or having any animals in his care or custody.
The criminal complaint alleges that on Feb. 11 at about 9 p.m., Hart, who lived with his girlfriend, stomped on her pet rabbit, Momo, in a fit of rage, then placed the animal in a trash bag and threw it to the ground from their second-story apartment. The rabbit died from blunt force trauma to the chest, abdomen, and face.
Hart is accused of assaulting his girlfriend on previous occasions.
Hart’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 16 in Department 122 of the Van Nuys Courthouse. If convicted as charged, Hart faces up to eight years in state prison.
Padilla slams Trump’s FY 2027 budget proposal
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, last week slammed President Trump’s official Fiscal Year 2027 budget request of $2.2 trillion in total discretionary funding.
“Donald Trump has raised the cost of housing, groceries, and health care, taken our country into war, and now he’s asking families to foot the bill for his disastrous agenda,” said Padilla.
“With his proposed budget, Trump is asking Congress to cut critical programs that millions of Americans depend on: health care for veterans, scientific and medical research, education for children across the country, housing assistance, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Notably, he wants to cut Election Security Grants and decimate the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which would put our elections infrastructure at risk.
“Meanwhile, his unprecedented $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal — a 50 percent increase from last year — is so large that some Pentagon officials worry they won’t know what to do with it.
“Congress must reject this budget and fight for one that reflects our values, not the whims of Donald Trump.”
