Newsletter: Essential California: Hollywood street performers might soon have some new rules
Good morning. It is Wednesday, June 29. Angelyne is selling one of her hot pink Corvettes on eBay. The bidding starts at $11,111. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:
TOP STORIES
Street performers
Knock-off superheroes and break dancers could soon need day passes to perform on a busy stretch of Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider the idea at a meeting later today. Business owners say the permits are needed to keep performers from harassing tourists, but critics believe the proposal infringes on free speech. Is this the end of the famous street scene? Los Angeles Times
Together till the end
The two people who died in the Erskine fire have been identified as Byron McKaig, 81, and his 90-year-old wife, Gladys. Based on the positioning of their bodies, it appeared McKaig was protecting his wife from flames. “He would have stayed past the last minute in order to save her. I know he would have,” said Frank Brassell, a diner owner who knew the couple. Los Angeles Times
Up for parole
The district attorney of Los Angeles County is opposing the parole of Leslie Van Houten, a member of the Manson “family” convicted of killing Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969. “She clearly lacks insight, genuine remorse, and an understanding of the magnitude of her crimes,” Jackie Lacey wrote in a letter to the governor. Van Houten has been denied parole 19 times, but a two-member review board is now recommending her release. Los Angeles Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
Water windfall: An underground reservoir in the Central Valley has three times more water than previously believed. “There’s far more fresh water and usable water than we expected,” said Robert Jackson, a co-author of the new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Smithsonian
Fewer trees: The tree die-off in the Sierra Nevada is creeping across state lines. “All you’ve got to do is stand back and take a look up the hillside,” said John Christopherson, Nevada Forestry’s Natural Resources manager. Tahoe Daily Tribune
L.A. AT LARGE
Industry leader: The aerospace pioneer who helped to make Southern California into a hub of high-tech weapons research died Monday at age 103. Simon Ramo was known for leading the development of a rocket that could deliver a nuclear warhead to a target 6,000 miles away in 30 minutes. “He’s really one of the giants,” said Loren Thompson, a defense policy analyst at the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Va. Los Angeles Times
One to watch: The New York Times believes Mayor Eric Garcetti is a young Democrat to watch given his heritage (Jewish and Mexican), education (Rhodes scholar) and “playful side” (he’s portrayed fictional mayors on television). That said, “detractors find him more cerebral than dynamic, with a shortfall of ambitious initiatives for the city.” New York Times
New jobs: Meet the women installing solar panels in Watts. CityLab
You’re with me, leather: Inside L.A.’s risqué Mr. Leather competition — and a look at the “Leather Community.” BuzzFeed
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
High times: An initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana has qualified for the ballot in November. It would allow those 21 and older “to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of cannabis for recreational purposes and would allow individuals to grow as many as six plants.” Los Angeles Times
Getting around: For decades, Orange County planners have debated building a light rail or streetcar system. The latest idea — a streetcar system in Anaheim — appears close to death, like so many other proposals before it. Voice of OC
Political donations: Business leaders frequently donate to both major political parties, but Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is outraged that Apple CEO Tim Cook would host a fundraiser for House Republicans at the same time he’s speaking out against presumptive GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. “Poor Tim. What a nice guy he is, but somebody gave him bad advice,” Pelosi said. SFGate
CRIME AND COURTS
Performance evaluation: L.A. County sheriff’s deputies who perform poorly in their first year of service are not being weeded out, according to a new report from the inspector general, which also found most deputies were promoted without any true assessment of their work. Many evaluations included boilerplate language, and some referred to a generic “Deputy Doe” or used the wrong gender pronouns. “Letting go of problem recruits is important because deputies are protected by civil service rules once their one-year probationary term ends, and it is significantly harder to fire them.” Los Angeles Times
Another lawsuit: The owners of Urth Caffé in Laguna Beach are counter-suing a group of Muslim women who say they were discriminated against when they were ordered to leave the restaurant. The seven women say they were kicked out of the cafe in April because they were “visibly Muslim.” Los Angeles Times
Crime and punishment: A bill making its way through Sacramento would require prison time for eight specific sexual assault crimes. The legislation was drafted after a Stanford student was sentenced to six months in jail for raping a woman. Under the current law, Brock Turner could have avoided jail altogether and received a sentence of probation. Los Angeles Times
Hit-and-run: This is a gruesome story: Police say a drunk driver hit a pedestrian and drove a mile after the man’s body crashed through her windshield and landed in the passenger seat. Esteysi Sanchez, 29, fled the scene but was later arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter. She’s being held on $1.5-million bail. Los Angeles Times
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Star power: The “trophy wife” is so passé. It’s all about power couples now in Hollywood, even though husbands don’t seem to want to talk about their successful spouses. Hollywood Reporter
Closing up shop: Donut Time provided a safe haven for sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard and later became immortalized in the film “Tangerine.” But Donut Time is no more. The shop’s owner retired and moved back to Cambodia. LA Weekly
Olympic gold: Caitlyn Jenner is back on the cover of Sports Illustrated 40 years after winning the gold medal in the Olympic decathlon. The medal “commemorates extraordinary work that allowed her to withstand the pain of what is now called gender dysphoria but then was seldom talked about at all.” Sports Illustrated
Cool off: These amazing pools look particularly spectacular in this heat wave. Curbed LA
Hold your nose: Crews took down a tree in Golden Gate Park’s dog park and created a giant urine-soaked dirt cloud. SFist
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Parts of San Diego will have fog as temperatures reach a high of 81 degrees. Los Angeles will have fog and a high of 89. It will be sunny and 104 in Riverside. San Francisco will be cool with a high of 69 degrees. Sacramento will be sunny and 101 degrees.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California Memory comes from Sue Abitanta:
“In 1974, I taught in New Jersey. Another teacher and I took a cross-country Greyhound trip. When we got to L.A., I wanted to visit Disneyland and see ‘I Do, I Do’ starring Rock Hudson and Carol Burnett. My friend didn’t stay for the play. When I arrived at the theater, bedraggled and holding my Disneyland bag, the show was sold out. I waited at the entrance. Presumably, to remove this eyesore, they sold me a ticket. I sat fourth row, dead center, next to Charlton Heston in a tux. I loved the play, despite being underdressed in my Mickey tee.”
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.
