Bass, Menjivar on withdrawal of U.S. Marines
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass yesterday lauded the Pentagon announcement that they were withdrawing the 700 U.S. Marines that were deployed to the City to protect Federal buildings in Downtown Los Angeles earlier this summer when protests erupted across the City and County against federal enforcement agents detaining undocumented immigrants.
“This is another win for Los Angeles but this is also a win for those serving this country in uniform,” said Bass. “Just this morning I stood with Veterans, families of active duty officers, and business leaders to show the impact of this unnecessary, unprecedented, and unconstitutional assault on our city. We took the administration to court and won, now we continue that momentum with today’s news. Los Angeles stands with our troops, which is why we are glad they are leaving.”
Reports of the Marine withdrawal followed a press conference that Bass held with State Senator and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Caroline Menjivar (D-Burbank, Lang, Panorama City, Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, Winnetka) to highlight the impact the deployment has had on the troops, their families, local businesses and Veterans themselves.
“I stood in solidarity this morning with my Marine brothers and sisters, demanding that we release our servicemembers from this charade of a deployment,” said Menjivar. “We need to return the trust and dependability that our armed forces have earned from our community. We will not get used to this, this will not be our norm, and the Pentagon just now announcing withdrawing the Marines is the only way to honor their service.”
Kamlager-Dove, Mitchell sound alarm of Fed defunding Planned Parenthood
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) and L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell yesterday sounded the alarm on the looming public health crisis that would be triggered by federal defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Earlier this month, President Trump signed a budget reconciliation bill that includes a provision to “defund” Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) filed a lawsuit challenging the law and its unconstitutional, politically motivated attack on local health centers’ ability to provide care. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that was set to expire yesterday.
“We refuse to stand by while the Trump Administration dismantles our health care system and further erodes our reproductive rights,” said Kamlager-Dove, who also serves as the Planned Parenthood Los Angles Board Co-Chair. “Because they couldn’t eradicate abortion through Dobbs, they snuck a backdoor abortion ban into their Big Ugly Bill to target providers and threaten their ability to offer care.
“Make no mistake, California will remain a beacon of reproductive freedom. We will not be intimidated, we will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight—for Planned Parenthood, for providers, and for every patient who depends on them.”
Mitchell said stripping Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood doesn’t just threaten clinics, it threatens people.
“Forcing clinics to shut down is a direct assault on the health and well-being of Black and Brown communities, low-income families, and others for whom Planned Parenthood is their only source of health care,” said Mitchell.
Whitesides introduces legislation to better predict storms
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley) last week introduced the bipartisan Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act that will enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to track and predict atmospheric rivers — massive storm systems that bring heavy precipitation and flooding to California.
Atmospheric rivers are increasingly unpredictable in California, often defying traditional forecasts, which complicates water management and emergency planning. This unpredictability poses a heightened risk in Southern California, where heavy rains on recent wildfire burn scars can trigger dangerous mudslides and flash floods, threatening vulnerable communities in the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and Northern San Fernando Valley.
The legislation directs NOAA to expand research, deploy new monitoring technologies, and improve data sharing to provide more accurate and timely forecasts. This will help communities prepare better for atmospheric rivers and mitigate the devastating effects of flooding and landslides.
“In Southern California, we’re no stranger to the threat of natural disasters, including atmospheric rivers,” said Whitesides. “I’m proud to co-lead this legislation that has the backing of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, which will help us reduce the risks that come from flooding. Taking steps to bolster our emergency preparedness efforts is critical to keeping families across the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, and Northern San Fernando Valley safe.”
