Newsletter: Essential California: Why housing vouchers aren’t helping L.A.’s homeless
Good morning. It is Tuesday, May 31. Maybe it’s time to get in the car and drive off into the desert like all these folks who are drawn to Joshua Tree. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:
TOP STORIES
More homicides
Despite receiving additional resources from a federal anti-crime program, Compton has experienced a surge in violence this year and seen the number of homicides already surpass last year’s total. Los Angeles Times
Little help
In Los Angeles County, there are 2,200 homeless people with housing vouchers but nowhere to go. Soaring rental prices have exceeded baseline federal voucher caps, and with a low vacancy rate, people are tripping over each other to get into units. “A lot of people think once you have a voucher, that’s it, you have some golden ticket. But it’s not. You have to compete with everyone else,” said Michelle Solis, a case worker at Housing Works. Los Angeles Times
Republicans and Latinos
Some Latino Republicans see Donald Trump as a major threat to growing the GOP in California. Is this another Proposition 187 in the making? “We had fought for every inch in changing the minds and hearts of not just fellow Latinos, but also fellow Republicans in understanding how we need to work together. And Trump comes along and everything just gets pushed aside,” said Luis Alvarado, a GOP media strategist. Los Angeles Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
Shark attack: Some Orange County beaches were closed for Memorial Day after a suspected shark attack. A woman was swimming off Corona del Mar State Beach on Sunday when she was mauled by a shark or other animal. “Due to the nature of the incident and the type of injuries the victim sustained, lifeguards are treating it like a shark-bite incident and are continuing to take action to protect beach goers and ocean users,” according to a statement from Newport Beach officials. Los Angeles Times
New trees: A new study finds the drought did not stop trees and shrubs from regrowing in areas damaged by wildfires. Researchers focused on the Santa Cruz Mountains, particularly areas ravaged by fires in 1985 and 2008. Los Angeles Times
L.A. AT LARGE
Damage done: Volunteers spent the weekend trying to remove graffiti from a veterans memorial monument in Venice, but officials say long-lasting damage has been done to the landmark. Los Angeles Times
Honoring the fallen: A crowd marked Memorial Day at Los Angeles National Cemetery, where more than 88,000 veterans and family members are buried. “I don’t know if there’s any place else I’d rather be than honoring people who served,” said Vietnam-era Navy veteran Rafael Vila. Los Angeles Times
Nothing nice to say: Politicians at L.A. City Hall are struggling with how to keep decorum at City Council meetings while protecting the First Amendment rights of participants. The issue came to a head after one gadfly was accused of drawing a racist picture of council President Herb Wesson and swearing at a councilwoman. 89.3 KPCC
Infamous killing: Former LAPD homicide detective Steve Hodel is again speaking out about his belief that his father killed the Black Dahlia. In 1947, Elizabeth Short was a 22-year-old aspiring actress who was killed and split in two, with her remains found in a vacant lot. “While law enforcement officials disagree about whether Steve Hodel is a brilliant vigilante or an obsessive crackpot, no one has been able to prove him wrong. That fact has been all the encouragement Steve needs to keep digging.” The Guardian
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Rural politics: Could Bernie Sanders find political success in the conservative Central Valley? “Sanders’ goal was to activate the same band of young voters and liberals who helped drive Barack Obama to a stunning victory in Fresno County in the 2008 general election.” Los Angeles Times
Example for nation: The success of California’s Democratic Party could serve as an example for the nation. The party is in complete control of Golden State politics, and there’s a pool of younger politicians waiting to take over the state’s top leadership positions. Gov. Jerry Brown appears, in some ways, to be the political love child of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. “Jerry is extraordinarily adept at populism. But he also has the hardheaded pragmatism that comes with experience, wisdom — and age,” said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. New York Times
Returned donation: Rep. Janice Hahn’s supervisorial campaign will return a $1,500 donation from a businessman who was fined in a money-laundering case at L.A. City Hall. Peter Barker was fined $170,000 in 2013 for laundering dozens of campaign donations. “Once the Times notified the campaign about the issue, the campaign immediately directed its compliance team to return said contribution,” said a spokesman for Hahn, who is running for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Los Angeles Times
Political spending: Spending on independent expenditures in the lead-up to the state’s June 7 primary has hit a record $24 million, which means voters are hearing less from the candidates they’re voting for and more from the special interests supporting or opposing those candidates. “It’s special interests trying to control the race and buy their way into the Legislature,” said Bob Stern, an attorney who helped draft the state’s campaign finance rules. Los Angeles Times
CRIME AND COURTS
Named in honor: The 14 people who died in the San Bernardino terrorist attack are being remembered through a school in Laos. A charity recently dedicated a school there as the “14 Lights the Daniel Kaufman School.” Kaufman was one of the people who died when two people armed with guns stormed the Inland Regional Center. “I thought, how can I turn something so negative into something positive,” said Asad Rahman, who was friends with Kaufman. The Press-Enterprise
Wanted man arrested: A man wanted for allegedly killing his pregnant girlfriend in April was captured at the Mexican border. Police believe Philip Patrick Policarpio beat his girlfriend during a card game before shooting her in the forehead. He was arrested Sunday as he crossed back into the United States from Tijuana. Los Angeles Times
Canine recovery: A Woodland police dog was hit by a car Sunday as he chased after a suspect. Peydro underwent surgery and is expected to need considerable rehabilitation to recover from his injuries. Sacramento Bee
Consumer dissatisfaction: The state is probing the consumer meltdown that occurred when Frontier took over for Verizon. Los Angeles Times
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Historical home: A mansion built for the Ghirardelli family in 1911 is on the market for $5.29 million. The home was originally built in the Mission Revival style, but Joseph Ghirardelli’s widow redesigned the home shortly after it was built. SFGate
Sports paradise: It’s a good time to be a Bay Area sports fan. The Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA Finals, beating the Oklahoma Thunder in Oakland. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks are in the Stanley Cup Finals. Los Angeles Times
Musical peacemaker: Snoop Dogg is trying to increase unity and peace in Pomona.The “Pomona City Movement” is intended “to bring artists from throughout rival areas of the city to represent a united Pomona. Organizers say the project has led to a reduction in animosity and violence within Pomona.” Daily News
Her story: This is the saga over what was supposed to be the first sex reassignment surgery in the California prison system. California Sunday Magazine
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
San Diego will have low clouds and a high of 71 degrees. Los Angeles will have clouds as temperatures reach a high of 74. Riverside will be cloudy and 86. Sacramento will be sunny and very hot as temperatures reach to 101 degrees. It will be sunny and 70 in San Francisco.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California Memory comes from Glenn Roberts:
“It was 1954. I was a naive 19-year-old GI, just back from Korea. Just outside San Jose, in Coyote, Calif., the 101 was a three-lane highway. You had to turn your lights on to pass in the third lane. I ended up in Pacific Grove. At that time you couldn’t buy alcohol in the city limits — a Methodist retreat. I spent many happy years there. Now I’m an old man and living in the Indiana Veterans home, near my birthplace.”
If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)
Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.
