County, Cities brace for heavy rains
Los Angeles County, the Cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and the rest of the County’s municipalities are bracing for a National Weather Service (NWS) forecasted storm system that is expected to move through the area this afternoon, bringing light to heavy rain through possibly Sunday, Nov. 16.
In light of the NWS forecast, Long Beach is implementing its inclement weather action plans and will monitor and address major issues as they arise.
The City is advising residents to prepare now, commute safely and avoid flooded roadways and intersections. The City is advising residents in historically vulnerable, low-lying areas of the city, including along the peninsula and Alamitos Bay, to be vigilant and prepare for potential localized flooding, as is customary during these weather systems. Protective berms remain built and fortified in vulnerable beach areas to safeguard residents and property. Residents should call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
As part of the City’s Be Storm Smart campaign, community members can view storm safety educational resources, including vital information, social media posts and videos offering guidance on storm preparedness and general emergency awareness best practices, by visiting longbeach.gov/LBRain and by following the City social media pages at @LongBeachCity and #LBRain and #BeStormSmart.
In the City of Los Angeles, officials have issued an Evacuation Warning that will go into effect at 6 pm today and continue through Sunday, November 16, for recent burn scar areas due to the potential for debris flows.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is contacting residents at roughly 60 properties that are especially vulnerable to any potential debris flows. Impacts in the area could include power outages, debris flows and potential road flooding.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center will activate at 6 pm today and the Mayor’s Office will continue coordinating with the Emergency Management Department, LAFD, LAPD, L.A. County Public Works and relevant City Departments to ensure all personnel are ready to respond as needed to keep Angelenos safe.
The Mayor’s Office will continue to monitor the forecast and issue regular updates. All Angelenos are encouraged to sign up for Emergency Alerts at NotifyLA.org.
The County is urging residents to ready.lacounty.gov/rain for preparedness tips and to sign for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov.
Kamlager-Dove, Gomez on their ‘No’ vote to continue fed funding
U.S. Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Downtown LA, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock) released statements yesterday on their “No” vote on reopening the Federal government that has been shut down for 40-Plus days affecting multiple services including SNAP benefits and travel delays.
Multiple Democratic elected officials in Washington voted to shut down the government arguing that any continuing funding resolution would have to include money to protect millions of Americans from seeing their healthcare premiums skyrocket.
“Nearly 58,000 of my constituents are on the verge of losing their health care because of Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ relentless attacks on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. My position has never wavered: I will vote no on any funding bill that fails to address the health care crisis that Republican leaders have created,” said Kamlager-Dove.
This shutdown has been painful. In my district, lines for food banks wrap around the block and community health centers are making difficult choices to keep their doors open. Yet, every day of this shutdown, my office has been flooded with calls—from families at risk of losing both food assistance and Medi-Cal coverage—urging Democrats to hold the line.
While this is not the outcome we wanted, make no mistake: the fight is far from over. Americans now see more clearly than ever that every aspect of their life is more expensive under the Trump Administration.”
Gomez said after 54 days, House Republicans finally showed up to work only to immediately throw working families under the bus.
“I voted NO on this disastrous government funding deal that does nothing to solve the real crisis families are facing,” said Gomez. “This deal might end the shutdown, but it lets healthcare tax credits expire, which means higher premiums, higher costs, and fewer people able to stay insured. Under Trump’s economy, families are already getting crushed by rent, groceries, and childcare. Republicans just voted to make it even worse.”
Hahn holds second of four food giveaways
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) held a food giveaway event at LA Harbor College in Wilmington in which approximately 2,500 families received free groceries.
This was the second of four massive food giveaways that Hahn is hosting in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Hahn’s office also partnered with the LA County Department of Public Social Services to promote the giveaway among its clients.
“It’s clear that so many people in our communities are hurting right now. I saw the need and my office moved quickly to get these events up and running, and the response has been incredible,” said Hahn, who helped hand the boxes of food out, along with several members of her staff. “Food is the most basic necessity, and no one should go hungry during this pause in federal food programs.”
The box of groceries that families received today included both fresh and non-perishable items, including oatmeal, rice, canned goods, beans, vegetables, fruit, pasta sauce, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and a frozen chicken. There were no eligibility requirements to receive the food, and participants were not asked for identification.
Hahn held her first food giveaway in Pico Rivera on November 8. Her next giveaway, originally planned to be held tomorrow, has been postponed due to rain to next Friday November 21 at the Long Beach City College Veterans Stadium. Hahn’s fourth giveaway will be held at the Fedde Sports Complex in Hawaiian Gardens on Nov. 26.
Bass, Lee on Advancing LAFD Chief Nomination to Full City Council
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass this week applauded the City Council’s Public Safety Committee for voting to advance the nomination of LAFD Chief Jaime Moore to serve as the next Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The Public Safety Committee members discussed Moore’s proven experience as an LAFD firefighter, extensive record as an executive leader and his agenda of reform. His nomination will now be considered and voted on for approval by the full City Council tomorrow.
“I want to thank Committee Chair John Lee and the Public Safety Committee for their thoughtful consideration of Jaime Moore,” said Bass. “Chief Moore is a proven and admired firefighter and executive who will urgently advance an agenda of reform to better prepare L.A. for major emergencies and upcoming world events and to improve responses to 911 calls citywide.”
“Chief Moore brings decades of experience, steady leadership, and a proven commitment to public safety at a pivotal time for the LAFD,” said Councilmember John Lee, Chair of the City’s Committee on Public Safety. “His dedication to keeping our city safe and ready for any challenge is exactly what Los Angeles needs, and I look forward to his appointment moving forward to the full City Council.”
