The Thorn West is a state and local news roundup compiled by members of DSA-LA. Our goal is to provide a weekly update on the latest developments in state and local politics, and to track the issues that are most important to our membership. Writers wanted! Email [email protected] if interested!

Issue No. 223 - January 17, 2025

State Politics

• Last week, several explosive and destructive wildfires erupted across LA County. Over 25 casualties have been reported, and many thousands of homes have been destroyed in and around the communities of Altadena and Palisades Park. DSA-LA has put together this evolving emergency resource guide, containing news and organizing opportunities.

• In response to the devastation of the ongoing wildfires in LA County, Governor Newsom has proposed a 2.5 billion response package. Newsom also called for the suspension of some environmental regulation that he argued would impede rebuilding.

• Newsom also published an open letter inviting incoming president Trump to tour the areas devastated by wildfires. Trump has incoherently blamed environmental conservation policy for causing the fires, and threatened to withhold disaster relief.

• On Friday, the Governor released an early draft of the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, forecasting a small and unexpected surplus after two years of heavy shortfalls.

City Politics

• LA Public Press breaks down the controversy surrounding recent budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Many city departments experienced cuts after hundreds of millions of dollars were committed to raises for LAPD officers. More granular breakdown here.

• Former mayoral candidate and real estate billionaire Rick Caruso, who has been outspoken in his criticism of Mayor Karen Bass’ handling of the fires, hired private firefighters to protect his Palisades mall while local public hydrants ran out of water. More on the growing reliance on private firefighters here.

• In response to the wildfires, Los Angeles has extended the filing period to register as a candidate for the city's Neighborhood Council elections (many of which will be uncontested), and also made it easier for Neighborhood Councils to issue monetary grants to local nonprofits.

Housing Rights

• The wildfires have been followed by rampant price gouging on rent, as landlords attempt to profit from the devastation. While citizens have responded by collaborating on a spreadsheet documenting violations (here), the State Attorney General has vowed to investigate and prosecute landlords in violation of the price gouging laws; violations can also be reported here.
  

• A motion from Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez would reintroduce COVID policies mandating a blanket temporary rent freeze, as well a moratorium on evicting tenants affected by the fires. The city council postponed voting on it.

• LA Public Press documents the work of unhoused communities and advocates in developing networks of mutual aid during the wildfires.

• Grist puts the recent fires in the context of the rising cost of homeowner insurance in California. The New Republic debunks the myth that insurance companies are being “forced” to raise rates, rather than using these disasters as an opportunity to shed risk and increase profits.

Immigration

• In neighboring Kern County, Border Patrol agents conducted a massive raid, allegedly targeting agricultural workers for detainment and deportation – signaling a return to the practice of frequent workplace raids carried out during the first Trump administration.

• Capital & Main explores how immigrant communities mobilized local relief efforts to help navigate the wildfires.

Local Media

• As false information about the wildfires proliferates, the Institute for Nonprofit News is offering grants for small independent news sources covering the disaster locally.

Environmental Justice

• Climate protesters with Sunrise Movement LA rallied outside a facility operated by oil company Phillips 66, and 16 demonstrators stormed the facility’s office building. The protestors demanded that the oil industry accept financial responsibility for the damages caused by climate change.

• Why does climate change lead to more dangerous wildfire seasons? Not only because of the longer dry seasons, but also because of the wild swings between drought and heavy rain.

• KCRW conducted an expert panel discussion (available in English and Spanish) on the impact of the fires on air quality in Los Angeles.