Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 5h

So wait when did this meeting happen before or after this little spat

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 12h

Here's the letter with the legal explanation for how Bass is proposing this could happen: mayor.lacity.gov/sites/g/file...

Providing fire affected properties with a time limited exemption from Measure ULA
can be accomplished in two steps:
For the first step, I request that the City Council adopt an ordinance giving the
Director of Finance increased delegated authority to promulgate rules that grant
this limited one-time exemption to Measure ULA. I request that the Council adopt
such an ordinance as soon as possible. I look forward to signing it into law. After
adoption of the ordinance, I will issue an executive directive instructing the
Director of Finance to promulgate a temporary exemption that provides much
needed relief for those Palisades residents who owned and occupied residential
property in the Palisades at the time of the fire, avoids unintended loopholes, and
furthers the purpose of ULA.

1 5

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 12h

This would be the second attempt from Bass to try to undermine ULA, the first one didn't end so well!

In abrupt turnabout, Mayor Bass withdraws her bill to overhaul L.A.'s 'mansion tax'

Bass had pushed for the bill to rewrite Measure ULA in the final days of the legislative session, only to reverse course, saying she needed more time.

www.latimes.com

1 11

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 12h

Mayor Karen Bass is asking LA's city council to pass an ordinance that would exempt Pacific Palisades transactions from ULA, the city's transfer tax.

Of note: "The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue"

Mayor Bass Takes Action to Provide New Relief to Palisades Fire Survivors, Accelerate Community Recovery

Calls on City Council to Provide Fire-Affected Properties with Time-Limited Exemption, Announces Mayoral Executive Directive

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass announced actions to provide new relief to Palisades Fire survivors and accelerate community recovery. She called on the City Council to adopt an ordinance that would assist in the establishment of a one-time exemption to Measure ULA for Palisade homeowners and announced that once the ordinance is adopted she would issue an executive directive to direct the Office of Finance to create the rule providing this exemption. The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue. The Mayor’s plan to create a time limited exemption from the Measure ULA property transfer tax will help homeowners who need to or wish to move from the fire impacted area and speed up sales of these properties and spur rebuilding and rehabilitation of the Palisades.

10 9 46

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 12h

Thanks for having me!

1 2

Reposted by Alissa Walker

Sarah Enni @sarahenni.bsky.social · 15h

New On the Bleachers! @zanopticon.bsky.social & I on playoff baseball; players taking on WNBA; downright erotic sports coverage; James Dolan is watching you; & @awalkerinla.bsky.social tells us about covering LA's upcoming mass sporting events!

🔶 Apple bit.ly/3KAPzTJ
🔶 Spotify bit.ly/471NW91

1 4 3

Reposted by Alissa Walker

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

The findings of the after-action report are also extremely relevant to the deal the city is making with LA28 if/when a fire breaks out during the summer of 2028.

This part: "Fire alert plan costs: equipment pre-positioning costs and venue evacuation costs if wind fire conditions or worse arise"

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · Aug 8

In a city with a billion-dollar budget hole unable to provide basic services now, what happens when millions more people are here? Just thinking about the trash alone is stressing me out.

And who's paying for the heat injury prevention plans when it's 100 degrees for a week in the summer of 2028?

11. Does the ECRMA Require Funding for the Following Specific Direct Costs for
Games Security, Fire, Sanitation and Public Transit ? All direct security costs for Police, Fire and Public Transportation, including salaries, overtime, intra-agency communication systems, technology, extra vehicles, and equipment needed to manage extended shifts without shade or
shelter; All law enforcement mutual aid costs including housing, salaries, food and transportation for all mutual aid officers mandated by federal authorities (mutual
aid will not be reimbursed by the State for non-emergency deployments);
Transportation safety officers on public transit used for the Games; Infrastructure and staff for Emergency Medical Services Heat Injury Prevention Plans (e.g., cooling and watering stations, shade canopies, posted EMS staff along walking routes and at venues; extra medical and first aid equipment
costs);
Core alvin noon iguan we posioning costs and venue evacuation All direct costs for enhanced transit and transportation including extra train cars;
synchronized and aligned emergency response and communications systems;
All direct costs for road and freeway closures;
All extra insurance costs; All direct costs for sanitation including non- customary salaries, overtime for
extended 24/7 day cleaning, extra trash pickup.

3 11

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

The findings of the after-action report are also extremely relevant to the deal the city is making with LA28 if/when a fire breaks out during the summer of 2028.

This part: "Fire alert plan costs: equipment pre-positioning costs and venue evacuation costs if wind fire conditions or worse arise"

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · Aug 8

In a city with a billion-dollar budget hole unable to provide basic services now, what happens when millions more people are here? Just thinking about the trash alone is stressing me out.

And who's paying for the heat injury prevention plans when it's 100 degrees for a week in the summer of 2028?

3 11

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

The topline recommendation is interesting because Bass claimed one of the reasons she fired former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley is because she refused to do an after-action report, which Crowley denied when she filed her suit against the city. I'll be reading the whole thing tonight 🍿

1 1 5

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

After-action report is out — and already technically out of date based on today's news. It also makes recommendations, many of which Bass says LAFD has already implemented, including "changed leadership."

Here's the report: lafd.org/sites/defaul...

“The Palisades Fire was one of the worst natural disasters in our city’s history. It is vital we learn from what was effective, like the relentless heroism of firefighters responding to the blaze, and the challenges we faced in order to build a stronger emergency response system to prepare for whatever may come our way. LAFD has already implemented many changes since January, including changed leadership, strengthened interagency coordination, upgraded communications technology, enhanced wildfire training and evacuation drills and improved pre-deployment protocols. Thousands of families are still displaced, and every day they go without a home is a day too long. My commitment, and the commitment of the entire City, is that we will continue to do everything we can to bring Angelenos back home.”

1 1 8

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Google is now “official cloud provider” of LA28.

Does the no-build games include data centers

28
TEAM
USA
GOOGLE TEAMING UP WITH TEAM USA AND LA28 AS FOUNDING PARTNER TO ENHANCE THE FAN JOURNEY FOR THE LA28 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
Google Cloud to serve as the Official Cloud Provider of the
LA28 Games
Google to support NBCUniversal's Multi-Platform Coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games with Enhanced
Viewing Experience
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK (Oct. 8, 2025) - LA28, Team
USA and NBCUniversal are partnering with Google to deliver a more personal and interactive experience for Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes and spectators, no natter where or how you follow Team USA in Milano Cortina and the LA28 Games in the US.

Delivering the latest Al advancements, Google is surfacing new ways to search for information during NBCUniversal's coverage and helping LA28 Games organizers as they prepare for our first Olympic and Paralympic Games in the U.S. in 26 years. NBCUniversal will also partner with YouTube to provide fans with select content around the Games, serving as an extension of NBCUniversal's coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"With tools like Gemini and new Google Search features like Al Mode, it's easier than ever for people to find the information they're looking for, no matter how simple or complex," said Marvin Chow, Vice President of Marketing, Google.
"Our partnership with LA28, Team USA, and NBCUniversal builds on our successful collaboration from last summer, making the Olympic and Paralympic Games more personal and interactive for fans with the help of Al."

6 29

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Yes it’s absolutely possible and going to happen more in a hotter, drier climate

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

"Justice department confirms what I've been saying for months" the previous fire "wasn't properly contained by LA city fire" and the "state left it to burn on their property"

Don't worry Spencer Pratt and his fans are already out here with the truth you guys

An instagram video of Spencer Pratt, wearing a Heidi Montag shirt

@spencerpratt
We know now the city of LA and the state of California allowed a fire to burn for a week on Topanga State Park where it rekindled and destroyed the Palisades. What can be done to hold Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass accountable for
this negligence?
2h krd0710 What do you think about the 29 year old they're
blaming this on??
2h 39 likes Reply
View replies (8) kissmyphanie So how are you not holding the fire department accountable for this if anyone????? The people
physically responsible????? #yesonprop50
1h 4 likes Reply
— View replies (5) ashh_mcm So is this arsonist who they say is 29 and named and blamed for palisades fire just a fall guy by the powers
that be
1h 10 likes Reply
View replies (3) jfprapz Can you sue Newsom/Bass?? Also PLEASE run for
Governor!!
2h 321 likes Reply
View replies (11)
冂
Liked by krystalmarja and 9,166 others

krd0710 What do you think about the 29 year old they're
blaming this on??
2h 39 likes Reply
Hide replies
nchester7 @krd0710 scapegoat!
2h 41 likes Reply
gemini_darling1@krd0710 Definitely scapegoat.
2h 19 likes Reply
marnibronson @krd0710 Scapegoat

1 10

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Now that this has become a federal investigation they're going to try their hardest to politicize the cause. But we should really stay focused on how a fire LAFD thought they'd put out could rekindle and explode a week later in hurricane-force winds.

We'll need our own after-after-action report now

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Mayor Karen Bass says now that the feds have arrested an arson suspect for Palisades Fire, the city’s after-action report could be released as soon as today. She also says she’s concerned about liability since the investigation claims the fire rekindled from a January 1 fire in the same location

3 4 18

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Also of note: we still do not have an LAFD chief in place after Bass fired (technically demoted) Kristin Crowley in February. We have an interim chief. Bass said today that the announcement about Crowley's replacement would be made by the end of the month

Interim LAFD Chief Ronnie Villanueva gets 6-month extension as search for permanent chief continues

Mayor Karen Bass appointed Villanueva as the interim chief after she demoted former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley for alleged leadership failures related to the January wildfires.

www.dailynews.com

1 1 8

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

It will also be very interesting to see what the city's after-action report even says since the county's after-action report did not attribute blame or responsibility. LA city officials also refused to cooperate with the LA County report

LA County leaders, frustrated with report on January fire response, vote to take action

The county Board of Supervisors voted to implement recommendations in an after-action report, as well as study how to restructure a key department.

laist.com

1 2 11

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

This would make the Palisades Fire the second of two major urban fires of the past few years that have been started by rekindling; the other was Lahaina. The 1991 Oakland Hills was also rekindled by a six-acre fire that firefighters thought they had put out the day before

Uber driver accused of intentionally starting fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades

Authorities announced the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is suspected of setting a fire on New Year’s Eve that eventually became the Palisades fire.

www.latimes.com

1 1 17

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Mayor Karen Bass says now that the feds have arrested an arson suspect for Palisades Fire, the city’s after-action report could be released as soon as today. She also says she’s concerned about liability since the investigation claims the fire rekindled from a January 1 fire in the same location

2 5 32

Reposted by Alissa Walker

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 2d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

190 4.9K 11K

Reposted by Alissa Walker

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 2d

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

140 3K 5.8K

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 2d

Proposed activities for the city's 2028 program include cultural festivals in each council district, murals, viewing parties, transit corridor programming, and community activations — but there's no funding yet in place to do many of these things. Only $15 million has been budgeted so far

Programming
A
B
C
15 Council District-Specific Cultural Festivals
Arts Development Fee Projects
Mural Conservation & Legacy Enhancement Mural Works - New Murals, Conservation, and
Apprenticeship Program
New Community Activation Grant Category
Community Arts Celebrations & Exhibitions
Youth Arts Education & Engagement
←、<
Make Music LA
New Olympic & Paralympic Murals Community Celebrations - Cultural Activation (ie.
viewing parties)
くくくくく^
Cultural/Neighborhood Hubs & Community
Activations
<くくくく
Disability Arts & Paralympic Celebration
LA-Brisbane Cultural Exchange
Transit Corridor Cultural Programming
Games Venue Cultural Activation
Olympic/Paralympic Arts Festival
International Artist Exchange
LA River Cultural Activation

Framework A - Base Level ($15 Million) • Programming items labeled Framework A only (These are core, essential programs within
existing budgeted funds)
Framework B — Expanded Level ($30 Million)
• All items under Framework A • PLUS all items labeled Framework B only (This tier adds additional programs, projects,
and events as funding allows)
Framework C — Full Level ($40 Million)
• All items under Frameworks A and B • PLUS all items labeled Framework C (Complete programming, with all components
fully funded)

1 7

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 2d

LA's Department of Cultural Affairs just released its planning framework "intended to serve as a complementary plan to LA28’s Cultural Olympiad Strategic Plan."

Where is LA28’s Cultural Olympiad Strategic Plan? Good question.

Read here: culture.lacity.gov/2028-cultura...

Purpose:

The purpose of the 2028 Cultural Program for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Cultural Program) Framework is to provide a blueprint for the planning efforts related to the Host City’s arts and cultural activities of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Games). The Games agreement between the City and LA28 requires coordination between both organizations for the arts and cultural program for the Games, and requires a program that features local events, festivals, and cultural experiences that engage and showcase Los Angeles–based artists, neighborhood and arts organizations, and cultural producers, while utilizing existing arts and cultural facilities. The City’s Cultural Program will feature a wide range of disciplines including, but not limited to -– visual arts, exhibitions, music, dance, theater, film, literary arts, fashion, design, culinary arts, and multidisciplinary art forms—reflecting the breadth and depth of creativity across the City.

The City will collaborate with LA28, LA County, and a broad network of partners to deliver this vision through its Cultural Program, intended to serve as a complementary plan to LA28’s Cultural Olympiad Strategic Plan. The Cultural Program will actively build upon and engage with DCA’s extensive network of grantees, artist rosters and arts/cultural organizations, partners, and other artists across every region of Los Angeles to maximize participatory and engagement opportunities for City-based artists and organizations. These partnerships will have varying levels of commitments to maximize engagement—from direct programming and grant funding to partial support, affiliated initiatives, and coordinated programming—all unified through common branding, publicity, and cooperative outreach efforts.

Acting as a central hub for this work on behalf of the Host City, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) will foster and grow partnerships that spark creativity, increase cultural connections, and generate a lasting i…

2 4 19

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 2d

Not that LA necessarily needs any help from ICE to surveil the people attending their megaevents

Joey Scott @joeyneverjoe.bsky.social · 7d

The LAPD justified this purchase, along with other digital surveillance technologies, by citing the Olympics and other major events coming to Los Angeles. The events are an excuse to grow the depts surveillance tech that they're using right now, including for protests. @nolympicsla.bsky.social

OUTCOMES AND IMPACT STATEMENT
Provide a clear description of existing capability levels that will support identified goals and objectives and whether the project is sustaining and
maintaining current capabilities as opposed to building new capabilities.
Describe the current state (baseline or starting point) of the project at the beginning of the FY 2022 UASI period of performance. Discuss major milestones,
purchases, training activities, or other implementation steps that have been or will have been started and/or completed before the application of FY 2022
UASI funds.
The goal of further developing these capabilities is not only to address all-crimes/all-hazards, but also prepare for large scale events such as the Super
Bowl, All-Star Game, World Cup, and Olympics -- all of which will be present in the City of Los Angeles in the next several years. Preparation for these
events from a digital perspective has to be appropriately measured and scaled in terms of both human analytic talent as well as technology. This project will
continue to build toward the Olympics 2028. All technologies have a myriad of public safety uses beyond major events, and will be utilized to their fullest
potential.

1 1 8

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 2d

When I shared this I really thought we'd see at least one or two local leaders saying this would not be the way LA would host the Super Bowl in 2027 but I guess not 🙃

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 4d

“There will be,” adding that federal immigration officers would be “all over” the event.

People should not attend the event, she went on, unless they are “law-abiding Americans who love this country”

Kristi Noem Says ICE Will Be ‘All Over’ the Super Bowl

www.nytimes.com

2 4 11

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 2d

Reminder also that the adjacent swim stadium in Expo Park will be closed for an indefinite amount of time in both 2027 and 2028 as the pool is upgraded to “international standards” then used as a staging area during the games

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 23d

City leaders are framing this as a win for the neighborhood, but, to be clear, this upgrade is not for local families — it's for training athletes. This benefits LA28 so they can use the pool as a staging ground for the summer, not necessarily the community, which apparently was never asked

1 7