By Keri Blakinger and Emily Elena Dugdale | LA Times One deputy was convicted of driving drunk with a loaded gun in the car. Another was suspended for failing to promptly report an on-duty traffic accident. An experienced detective was accused of lying on his job application. And a commander was demoted to captain for turning a blind eye to a cheating scandal in a popular law enforcement relay race. For five months, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office has fought to keep secret the names of eight Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies at the center of the case against Diana Teran,…
Author: SBE Staff
By Hannah Wiley | LA Times The former chief of staff of a California state senator who recently left the Democratic Party to become a Republican filed a lawsuit against her on Thursday alleging that she sexually harassed him, created a hostile workplace and fired him in retaliation for rejecting her sexual advances. The lawsuit, filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court, claims that for much of 2023, state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) “engaged in erratic, controlling, sexually dominating abuse of authority and power” against her chief of staff, Chad Condit. “This was a sex-based quid pro quo relationship of…
By Libor Jany and Richard Winton | LA Times When Los Angeles police Officer Brady Lamas was relieved of duty in 2022 for allegedly sharing nude photos of a fellow cop — his wife at the time — he reportedly found a lifeline with a private company named Watermark Security Inc. Started by Jamie McBride, an LAPD detective and director for the union representing most rank-and-file officers, Watermark has earned a reputation in law enforcement circles for offering a soft landing to cops who face disciplinary action. McBride promised good pay, reportedly telling officers suspended or fired from their departments over various…
By Angie Orellana Hernandez | LA Times Isaac Galvan, who served on the Compton City Council with Chambers for two years, said in 2021 that during a closed-session meeting, Chambers called his son an “ugly wetback.” He made the claim during the public portion of the July 13, 2021, council meeting. After Galvan accused Chambers of using the slur in talking about his son, the city commissioned an investigation that cleared Chambers of wrongdoing. But now, two people at the meeting — who originally swore under oath that they did not hear her say the slur — told The Times…
In celebration of the City of Hawaiian Gardens’ 60th anniversary, we are pleased to announce that this year’s Golf Tournament, which will be held on October 21, 2024, will be held at the prestigious Old Ranch Country Club, located at 3901 Lampson Ave, Seal Beach. This exciting event is dedicated to supporting the Hawaiian Gardens Youth Non-profit Organization. Mayor Victor Farfan urges the community to participate in this vital fundraising effort, stating, “Your support is crucial in providing the necessary resources for our youth programs. Together, we can significantly impact the lives of our young residents. Please join us for…
The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Kids Book Festival returns to West Hollywood Park on Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This free event celebrates children’s literacy and fosters a love for reading for kids of all ages, presented by the American Born Chinese Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting children’s bilingual literacy, along with the City of West Hollywood. “We are proud to host the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival once again in our city,” says city officials. “Books open incredible worlds to our children, and through this festival, we celebrate the power of stories to fire the imagination and encourage lifelong reading habits.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRMbB7IktIo&t=2s This year’s festival will…
Growing Labor Opposition to Legislation Sponsored by Wealthy Gaming Tribes Aimed at Eliminating Their Gaming Competitors SACRAMENTO – The California Gaming Association, California Cardroom Alliance, and Communities for California Cardrooms announce growing opposition with many labor unions joining in opposition to Senate Bill 549 by Senator Josh Newman as it could have a “devastating impact on public sector jobs.” Joining in opposition to SB 549 includes the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Professional Firefighters, and SEIU California and Teamsters Local 630 as well as a growing number of locals such as: AFSCME District Council 36, AFSCME District…
The Grace Yoo for Los Angeles City Council campaign is gaining momentum with a recent poll conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research. The poll reveals that attorney Grace Yoo leads and appointed incumbent Heather Hutt thanks to a strong demand for change. This offers Yoo a significant opportunity to unseat Hutt in the upcoming election. The polling data collected July 22 – July 29, 2024, among likely voters in the district, shows that Yoo and Hutt are virtually tied as the race begins. After respondents hear positive and negative statements about both candidates, Yoo pulls significantly ahead with 46% support…
By Anabel Sosa | LA Times SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to a package of 10 bills meant to combat retail theft, an effort that divided Democrats as they confronted key issues in the upcoming November election. The legislation has been the focus of intense political debate all year, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders responding to the pressure created by a tough-on-crime ballot measure that would stiffen penalties for retail theft. Democratic leaders were hopeful their bills could sway prosecutors to drop the measure, but negotiations collapsed, leaving California with two different visions for addressing crime. The district…
By Keri Blakinger | LA Times Four months after California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced a slew of felony charges against a top advisor to the Los Angeles County district attorney, state prosecutors this week dropped three of the 11 counts but still pushed forward toward a trial. Diana Teran, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department advisor who later oversaw ethics and integrity operations at the D.A.’s office, is accused of illegally using confidential personnel records. State prosecutors allege Teran broke the law three years ago when she flagged several sheriff’s deputies’ names for possible inclusion on an internal…