Thursday, May 2, 2024

East LA eyes a path to independence … again

Presented by Uber: Inside the Golden State political arena
May 02, 2024 View in browser
 
POLITICO California Playbook

By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner

Presented by 

People walk by Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, an area of unincorporated Los Angeles County territory east of downtown Los Angeles.

Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo wants to study the feasibility of creating a special district in the area. | Reed Saxon/AP Photo

THE BUZZ: TURF WAR — A long-simmering debate over giving East Los Angeles independent control is bubbling up again: this time, in Sacramento.

A bill by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo to study the feasibility of creating a special district in the area has reignited tensions between the community and county leaders, who, for decades, have gone back and forth over whether the unincorporated chunk of Los Angeles County should have its own leadership.

On one side are the residents and business owners who feel ignored, and are looking for more power over things like economic development, housing and parking congestion. On the other side are those like LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, the sole local representative for the area, who says the residents can’t afford incorporating and has taken to social media to accuse Carrillo of misleading the public — and state lawmakers — about the bill.

"I just think she's misinforming people," Solis told Playbook about Carrillo. "It's more about economics: Do we have the money to pay for it? Do people really understand what this means?"

Currently, East Los Angeles is a seven-square-mile island of unincorporated territory surrounded by municipalities, including the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce and Montebello. The area has one of the highest concentrations of Latino/Hispanic Americans in the nation, and was the site of an historic display of Mexican American opposition to the Vietnam war known as the Chicano Moratorium.

Over the years, East LA has lost valuable areas — like East Los Angeles College and a strip of retail shops along Whittier Boulevard — to surrounding cities, but it still has a greater population than many of those around it.

"East LA has 120,000 people and doesn't have any local representation," Carrillo said. "What I think residents would like to see is to be a part of some of the decision-making that is done on behalf of East LA."

None of the four attempts to incorporate East LA in the last 63 years have been successful. The most recent one, in 2012, was struck down by the county’s local agency formation commission, or LAFCO.

As the area’s only local elected leader, Solis also represents a wider district of 2 million people that stretches from Silverlake to the San Bernardino County line.

Underlying all the public sparring is a looming game of musical chairs in LA politics. Solis, a former member of Congress and former U.S. labor secretary, is in her final term as a county supervisor. Carrillo, after losing her bid for Los Angeles City Council in March, is leaving her legislative office at the end of this year.

As Playbook reported last month, state Sen. María Elena Durazo, who represents the region in the Legislature, is considering a run for Solis’ vacant seat in 2026. Carrillo, meanwhile, just recently opened a state Senate campaign committee. 

Carrillo’s bill, while contentious, doesn’t actually change anything. The legislation would require LAFCO to establish an East LA task force, solicit input, and by the end of 2026, send a report to the Legislature detailing the potential impacts of creating a city or special district, as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages that go along with it. LAFCO has raised concerns that the county would have to foot the $750,000 bill to complete the study.

But the mere mention of incorporation has politicians feeling territorial. The county board of supervisors, led by Solis, last week voted unanimously to oppose Carrillo’s bill — declaring that the county provides numerous public services to the community, regardless of how much revenue it generates, and that, “incorporation is unlikely to prove beneficial for East LA residents and businesses.”

That didn’t stop it from passing through the Assembly’s local government committee, however. It now heads to the Appropriations committee.

Carrillo expressed disappointment at Solis’ public campaigning against the bill, and said she hopes to have more conversations in the future.

“I would not be doing my job if I wasn't responding to my community members and my constituents who want to see a better East LA,” she said. “So, it's unfortunate that she's taken that route.”

GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook.

You can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte.

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

 

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ELECTION UPDATES

From left, Joe Simitian, Evan Low and Sam Liccardo are shown.

Assemblymember Evan Low will advance to the runoff alongside former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, leaving Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian behind. | AP, Getty and Simitian Campaign

LOW MOVES UP — The seemingly never-ending primary election in California’s 16th Congressional district has finally come to a close, and it’s Assemblymember Evan Low who will advance to the runoff alongside former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, leaving Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian behind.

The results of the recount came in Wednesday afternoon, giving Low a five-vote advantage over Simitian weeks after election officials declared a perfect tie for second place. Low and Liccardo will now face off to succeed outgoing Rep. Anna Eshoo in her Silicon Valley seat.

The recount was initiated by San Jose resident and tech entrepreneur Jonathan Padilla, who caught some heat for his connections to Liccardo. He donated to the former mayor’s campaign in December, and worked for him during his 2014 mayoral campaign and subsequent time in office.

SUPREME GIG — California’s gig economy worker wars have gone through the Legislature and before voters as unions and companies battled over whether deliverers and drivers should be considered employees or contractors. Soon the issue will land before the state’s preeminent judges. The California Supreme Court has set May 21 to hear oral arguments in a labor-backed challenge to Proposition 22, which Uber et al funded to avoid reclassifying workers as employees. An appeals court largely upheld the initiative last year.

 

THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.


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THE WEST

Pro-abortion rights demonstrators rally.

The Arizona Senate voted to roll back a state Supreme Court decision that had prompted widespread condemnation from Democrats, especially those in California. | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

ABORTION ACCESS  — The Arizona Senate voted to repeal the state’s 1864 total abortion ban on Wednesday, rolling back a state Supreme Court decision that prompted widespread condemnation from Democrats, especially those in California.

The Civil War-era law inspired Gov. Gavin Newsom to introduce new legislation l ast week that would allow licensed Arizona physicians to quickly get a temporary license to see their patients in California. Although many abortion rights advocates cheered the vote to repeal on Wednesday, there’s still likely to be a gap between when the ban takes effect and when the repeal takes effect.

Newsom’s office, when asked for comment, directed Playbook to a press release from last week explaining how his Senate Bill 233 will offer a stopgap measure for abortion access during that time, and help combat any confusion the Arizona legislature might create.

 

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ON THE AGENDA

FLOOR SESH — The state Senate and Assembly will hold floor sessions at 9 a.m.

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

CAN’T GET IT RIGHT — You’d think there would be enough water from this year’s wet winter to go around, but neither environmentalists nor farmers nor cities are happy with what they got. Read more about what they wanted — and who they blame for not getting it — in last night's California Climate.

Top Talkers

— Violence between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators continues to loom over UCLA’s campus, where several local leaders have criticized police for failing to swiftly intervene. POLITICO’s Blake Jones has the latest updates on the protests in Los Angeles and beyond.

— The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reprimanded District Court Judge Roger Benitez for engaging in “abusive or harassing behavior” by ordering a marshal to handcuff a defendant’s 13-year-old daughter. Benitez said he meant to discourage the teen from using drugs, but the higher court said he abused his authority by shackling a spectator who wasn’t behaving disorderly.

The incident is likely to give fodder to Benitez’s critics, including Gov. Newsom, who’s taken issue with several of the judge’s rulings striking down California’s strict gun-safety laws. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

 

GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.

 
 
AROUND THE STATE

SACRAMENTO: California has opened a new state office complex in downtown Sacramento. It's the largest office space for state workers, with room for more than 5,000 employees. (The Sacramento Bee)

EAST BAY: Thousands of homeowners in Orinda, an affluent city on the eastern side of the Berkeley Hills, have been informed that State Farm won’t renew their home insurance policies. Some owners were told the decision was due to fire risk. (San Francisco Chronicle)

LOS ANGELES: Diana Teran, a top adviser to District Attorney George Gascón, has been charged with 11 felonies for allegedly misusing confidential records about sheriff’s deputies. Her attorney disputes the charges. (Los Angeles Times)

FRESNO: Teachers say they are fighting to prevent cuts to ethnic studies courses as the Fresno Unified School District faces a budget shortfall. The district must already comply with a state mandate to provide the course as a graduation requirement. (The Fresno Bee)

 

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PLAYBOOKERS

Trivia winners Peter Birke, Brendan Burns, Ryan VanZuylen, and Lindsey Andersen.

The winning team was a group of grad school pals from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. | Lara Korte for POLITICO

SPOTTED: TRIVIA NIGHT IN SF — Thanks to all who came out to Manny's in the Mission last night for POLITICO California trivia! The winning team was a group of grad school pals from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Pictured here are: Peter Birke, Brendan Burns, Ryan VanZuylen, and Lindsey Andersen, known collectively as: "#2 in the Noe Valley Toilet, #1 in our hearts."

TRANSITIONS Casey Hernandez has been named partner at the strategic communications firm Seven Letter. Hernandez previously led communications for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Herbalife in LA, as well as held roles in the Obama administration.

MEDIA MOVES — Kylie Robison is joining The Verge as a senior AI reporter. She was previously a senior tech reporter at Fortune.

— Erica Hellerstein is the new senior labor and economics reporter for El Tímpano, a Latino- and immigrant-focused outlet in the Bay Area.

— Neal Koch is the new editor-in-chief of The Orange County Business Journal. He has previously worked for the Pacific Coast Business Times.

BIRTHDAYS — Brynn Cook with the state Senate Environmental Quality Committee …

IN MEMORIAM — We were saddened to learn veteran political communications aide John Vigna has died, his mother confirmed. Vigna worked for the California Democratic Party, former Speaker John Perez and former Board of Equalization member Fiona Ma. He also competed on "Jeopardy."

WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. Disclaimer: All information will be verified.

CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com.

 

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