Author: Chris Gallagher

  • The Electoral College and the Future of Our Elections

    The Electoral College and the Future of Our Elections

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Near the close of their speeches at the Democratic National Convention, both Michelle and Barack Obama exhorted their listeners to actively support the Harris campaign, to “work like our lives depend on it.” Former President Obama declared, “If we each do our part over the next 77 days, if we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbors . . . we will elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.” “Do something,” asked the former First Lady, “you know what you need to do.” 

    But there was and is a problem with the Obamas’ urgent call to action: the roughly 80 percent of the population who do not live in “swing states” lack a clear notion of what they “need to do” to actively support their candidates. In those “sure states” (as they once were labeled), there is little to be gained, for either Democrats or Republicans, in knocking on doors, conversing with neighbors, calling people in nearby towns and cities, or putting up yard signs. The few steps that non-swing state citizens can take – writing checks or joining a phone bank to cold call swing state voters – offer little of the satisfaction or sense of solidarity that can come from in-person participation in a political cause. 

    The reason for this, of course, is our deeply flawed electoral system, in particular the practice in 48 states of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who wins that state’s popular vote. That practice sequesters most of us, deterring us from becoming fully active, from learning by engaging our fellow citizens and participating in the processes of democracy. Both political parties insist that this is the most important election of our lifetimes, but most Americans are mere spectators, sitting in front of screens watching the campaign unfold in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, or Arizona. 

    “Winner take all” (WTA) also makes it more likely that the candidate who loses the popular vote can still win the electoral vote and become President – an outcome that violates basic democratic principles. Moreover, the system depresses voter turnout and leads to the quadrennial emphasis on issues that matter most to swing states – not to mention the extra monies that tend to flow to swing states between elections. 

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    Why do we have this system? It’s not mandated by the Constitution. The framers left it to the states to decide how to allocate electoral votes, although most of them appear to have expected the states to adopt district-based systems. For the first decade or so, many states did allocate electoral votes by district (often congressional districts), while others deployed WTA (then called the “general ticket”) or allowed their legislatures to choose electors without even holding a popular election. WTA then took root in more states for largely partisan reasons: political majorities in individual states wanted to guarantee that their candidate would win all of the state’s electoral votes. Virginia famously took this step in the hotly contested election of 1800 to prevent John Adams from winning even a few electoral votes. The shift was so unprincipled that Virginian John Marshall, on the brink of becoming Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, declared that he would never vote for President again while WTA remained in place. 

    Indeed, WTA was widely disparaged throughout the early decades of our history. Four times between 1813 and 1826, the Senate approved constitutional amendments to require district elections; on one occasion the House fell only a few votes short of the required two-thirds vote that would have sent the amendment to the states to be ratified. Some of the Constitution’s framers themselves, including James Madison, favored prohibition of WTA. North Carolina Representative James Strudwick Smith argued that a district system would “give the minority as well as the majority of the people of every state a chance of being heard. . . . You will bring the election near to the people and consequently you will make them place more value on the elective franchise.” 

    Efforts to eliminate WTA have recurred for the last two centuries. Michigan adopted a district system in the 1890s, as Maine and Nebraska have done more recently; Republicans and Democrats in numerous states have seriously considered taking that bold step in both the 20th and 21st centuries. Meanwhile, Congress periodically debated amending the Constitution to require the allocation of electoral votes either by districts or through a proportional system in which a candidate’s electoral vote would match their percentage of the popular vote. In 1950, the Senate approved an amendment calling for a proportional system; in 1969, the House passed an amendment that would have replaced the Electoral College with a national popular vote – which also, of course, would have eliminated WTA. 

    The historical record thus makes clear that widespread dissatisfaction with WTA is not a modern phenomenon: it is as venerable as the Constitution itself. Reform efforts nonetheless have met with limited success, thanks to the primacy of ever-shifting partisan interests that overrode democratic values or beliefs about how a presidential election should work. It is difficult to conjure up a principled rationale for an electoral system that not only discards the votes of political minorities but effectively adds them to the winner’s total. 

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    Elizabeth Cavanagh is the CEO/Chair of the Making Every Vote Count Foundation (MEVC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the proposition that all votes cast for President in every state should count equally

    Can anything be done? Individual states could join Nebraska and Maine in adopting systems that better suit the political diversity of their populations. But history suggests that such a strategy will not get very far. Parties with reliable majorities in each state have had little interest in diminishing the electoral payoff that comes with winning the state; and politicians of both parties have been reluctant to reduce their states’ Electoral College influence by acting as first movers, however principled such a decision might be. California will not abandon WTA while Texas retains it. And ongoing efforts to adopt the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would require participating states to award all of their electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, face difficult hurdles. 

    The more plausible, and durable, strategy would be a constitutional amendment requiring states to allocate their electoral votes utilizing some type of proportional scheme. Alternatively, a constitutional amendment providing for a national popular vote would achieve the same result. (Despite their success in Maine and Nebraska, district systems will remain problematic as long as partisan gerrymandering is widespread and legal.) Constitutional reform that modifies or replaces the Electoral College would also provide an opportunity to rid ourselves of the deeply undemocratic – and hazardous – “contingent” election system. Currently, if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives selects the President, with each state’s delegation (no matter how large or small) casting one vote. Although not utilized since 1824, the contingent system – which has the rare distinction of having been denounced by both Thomas Jefferson and Mitch McConnell – is a ticking bomb, set to explode during a close election. 

    The task of Electoral College reform is daunting. Since the 1970s, the mere mention of reform has often elicited responses of weary pessimism even among those who favor the idea. Our Constitution is notoriously difficult to amend, and Republicans reflexively oppose reform because they currently believe that the Electoral College works in their favor. The polarization and inflammatory rhetoric of contemporary politics make cooperation, and even discussion, difficult. 

    But that does not mean we should continue to accept an undemocratic system that was created more than 200 years ago, itself a product of partisanship and gamesmanship. Since the 1940s (when the first reliable polls were taken), a majority of the American people has favored Electoral College reform or abolition; we have come close to altering the system on multiple occasions; and partisan perceptions of advantage have commonly shifted over time. Change will be hard but not impossible. 

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    Alex Keyssar is the Matthew W. Stirling, Jr. Professor of History and Social Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is the author of Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? (2020) and has collaborated with MEVC on its educational mission

    No reform will happen between now and November; voters will focus on more immediate issues through Election Day and likely into January. But no matter the outcome of this year’s election, the challenges facing American democracy will persist, and among them is the task of doing something about a presidential election system that dampens engagement and turnout, deforms the conduct of campaigns, and fails to match democratic values. Surely we can do better – and have a national conversation about how to do so. Just imagine how very different the current campaign would look if every vote, in every state, really did count. 

    Written in partnership with Alex Keyssar and Elizabeth Cavanagh.

  • Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM: The Role of Innovative Learning Platforms

    Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM: The Role of Innovative Learning Platforms

    Image credit: Pexels

    The gender divide in STEM fields remains a significant challenge, despite increased awareness and efforts to encourage female participation. Women are underrepresented in many STEM disciplines, often due to a combination of societal stereotypes, lack of role models, and confidence gaps. Despite surpassing men in overall graduation rates, women comprise only 29.2% of those in STEM fields. 

    Studies have shown that the issue is confidence, not capability. From an early age, girls may feel discouraged from pursuing STEM subjects or feel less competent in classroom settings than their male counterparts, leading to a decrease in interest and engagement over time. In K-12, girls rated their confidence in their math skills 27% lower than identically skilled boys. In higher education, women who initially entered college in a STEM discipline cited lack of confidence in their math abilities as a main reason for changing majors.

    This disparity is concerning for two reasons: It not only limits individual potential, but also deprives the STEM fields of diverse perspectives and talents that are crucial for innovation and growth.

    Learning platforms with supplemental instructional materials play a crucial role in bridging this gender gap by providing female students with a supportive and pressure-free environment to practice math concepts at their own pace. 

    Photo of a male and female student holding books in front of a blackboard
    Photo of a male and female student holding books in front of a blackboard

    One such platform is Sofia, an unlimited math practice platform developed by Link-Systems International (LSI), which uses algorithms to generate new problems of consistent difficulty. This algorithmically generated content ensures continuous and tailored practice that students can access from the comfort of their own device. The platform’s step-by-step hints and just-in-time tools help students when they encounter difficulties, fostering a sense of achievement and building confidence. 

    By enabling female students to work through challenges independently and gain mastery over math concepts, without the immediate pressure of traditional classroom settings, platforms like Sofia help cultivate their interest and competence in STEM subjects. 

    “In the edtech industry, we should be doing more to ensure that all types of students have access to the tools they need to succeed,” commented Vincent Forese, President of LSI. “We are making math practice easier and more accessible to students who may otherwise just have given up.”

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    Photo of Vincent Forese, President of LSI

    Addressing the gender gap in STEM is crucial for fostering innovation and growth within these fields. Diverse perspectives are essential for creative solutions, and supporting female students in STEM education is an important step toward achieving this. As educational platforms and institutions continue to recognize and address these disparities, the future of STEM looks more inclusive than ever. 

    Written in partnership with Tom White.

  • Markus Schulz on LA’s Dance Music Legacy & Dreamstate Return

    Markus Schulz on LA’s Dance Music Legacy & Dreamstate Return

    Image credit: Pexels

    With the release of his exclusive mix for the signature In Search of Sunrise (Black Hole Recordings) compilation series, Markus Schulz has Los Angeles on his mind. The City of Angels has always held a dear place in the global trance/progressive music DJ/producer’s heart. The new In Search of Sunrise 20 (ISoS20) release commemorates the 20th edition and 25 years of the series, a must-have mix compilation for every self-respecting electronic dance music (EDM) lover. Though he spends every weekend touring the world and DJing in venues intimate, huge and festival mega-sized, he somehow always manages to come back around to Los Angeles. Considering he spends more time on First Class flights than most flight attendants, we wondered what it was about L.A., exactly, that keeps drawing this globetrotter back time and again. On the eve of Markus Schulz’s return to The Golden Stage to play Dreamstate on November 22nd, 2024, L.A. Examiner sat down with the man himself to discover what makes him tick.

    L.A. Examiner: You’re somewhat of a DJ legend around L.A., a metropolis that’s very fickle when it comes to nightlife. What is it about your relationship with Los Angeles that’s proved so resilient over the years?

    Markus Schulz: The Los Angeles chapter of my career has to be among the most important. When I started touring, I was quite intimidated by playing in Los Angeles and wasn’t sure if I belonged in the same sentence as the greats of our scene. I was really lucky that there was a small but very passionate selection of fans who embraced my sound early on, and it was through their enthusiasm and word-of-mouth that the number of people coming to see me would grow quite quickly. I’ve never forgotten those people. What makes it special is that they are still coming to the shows to this day.

    L.A. Examiner: Take us to the beginnings of your involvement with Avalon Hollywood. When you first started performing there, did you envision your events would become the beasts they’ve become?

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    Markus Schulz: It would have been around the late 2000s. I didn’t really have a regular home in the clubs there. Most of my appearances in Southern California were at the big arena or outdoor events such as Monster Massive and Together As One. But when I was booked to play at Avalon, knowing that there was an after hours culture and the club would stay open beyond 2am, it really fed into my soul as a DJ.

    L.A. Examiner: So, in a way, the city’s culture inspired you artistically, which in turn allowed you to grow your foothold in Los Angeles?

    Markus Schulz: I used to have a mix compilation series themed around certain cities around the world which held special resonance, and the 2012 edition was dedicated to Los Angeles. For the release party, we took over Avalon for two consecutive nights on Presidents’ Day weekend. The first night was my first open to close solo set experience at the venue, and on the second I was joined for back to back sessions with a selection of DJs from the Coldharbour Recordings family. That sowed the seeds for everything that has happened at Avalon since.

    L.A. Examiner: You are one of the rare DJs on earth who regularly play “marathon” DJ sets exceeding eight, nine, 10 hours, often more. In and around L.A., your New Year’s Eve shows at Avalon Hollywood (open-to-close, naturally) came to be known in some circles as almost a rite-of-passage for ringing-in the New Year. Can you share with us some of your all-time highlights and memories?

    Markus Schulz: It’s an incredible privilege to have been able to play open to close sets at a historic venue like Avalon on so many occasions, especially on New Year’s Eve. I haven’t kept count, but it must be getting close to 10 times, soon. The great thing about them is because Los Angeles is a destination city, people from all over the United States and even internationally plan trips around the shows; so it feels like there’s a worldwide family housed within those famous walls.

    The most memorable moment I ever had was when I proposed to [my wife] Adina [Butar] onstage on New Year’s Eve. I was so nervous about it and had practiced the sequence with my visuals guy to make sure everything was right. Adina had been onstage performing and thought she was about to start singing another song, when the audio changed to “Destiny,” one of my biggest tracks and a personal one because I wrote it about her. I get emotional thinking about it because Adina’s parents were there, and mine were there, too. My mother, Rose, passed away in February 2019, only a few months before the wedding; but I look back and I was so grateful she got to experience such a personal moment.

    L.A. Examiner: Where else can dance music-lovers find you playing in the L.A. metro area?

    Markus Schulz: I’m delighted to be playing Dreamstate Southern California on November 22nd. I’ve played Insomniac’s events all over the world – from Poland to Mexico and in the U.S. in San Francisco and Chicago – so, to finally play at the one where the Dreamstate experience began will be pretty cool.

    Follow Markus Schulz online:

    Official website: https://www.markusschulz.com/

    Facebook: www.facebook.com/markusschulz

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OO0PboZcIWUWL7j2IyeoL

    Instagram: www.instagram.com/markusschulz

    Written in partnership with Trillest Ent.

  • California’s Small Business Regulations Hurt Skid Row Community Efforts

    California’s Small Business Regulations Hurt Skid Row Community Efforts

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Our City and State’s Most Vulnerable Communities and Small Businesses are Being Hurt by a Lack of Sensible, Balanced Regulations – Our Elected Leaders Need to Do More to Fix the Problem

    I know what it means to be saddled with endless and redundant laws and regulations that can only hurt the most vulnerable. Recently, my organization, Creating Justice LA, decided to purchase the Skid Row People’s Market to expand our reach into the food systems in the Skid Row community. The Market serves as a reliable place for healthy, affordable food options and community in an area with no grocery stores where many are food insecure. The Market keeps jobs in the community, creating a holistic approach to health and healing. As the new owners of this LA institution, we are working hard to effectively serve the surrounding community–but may not be able to get it done due to burdensome regulations that are not designed to help those that need it the most. To help our community, we need to take hold of our future. At Creating Justice LA, that has meant cooperating with community leaders and finding sensible solutions to the difficult challenges of our time. 

    The Market will allow us to better serve Skid Row, but California’s small business regulations have made it a challenge to stay afloat while meeting the needs of our community. When it comes to support, the State Legislature and the Governor seem to be focused on massive companies that do not represent the state’s working population. 

    I am proud to lead the Creating Justice Peace and Healing Center, a community-led space on Los Angeles’ Skid Row where service, acceptance and inclusion are our core values. The center focuses on ensuring that members of our community have strong advocates for what is sensible and right when it comes to issues of the environment, economic injustice, and social healing. 

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    Our member-led co-ops thrive because we work collaboratively with local agencies and community activists. In our own way, we have created powerful methods to help our community, which has included finding compromises with local leaders to help those in need. We believe that the focus we put on making sensible, thoughtful decisions that benefit our community will help to provide equal opportunity and economic justice to all Californians. Two examples of this are The Hip Hop Smoothie Shop and Skid Row Coffee, which we created to serve as employment and entrepreneurship incubators that also provide residents with affordable, nutritious food and drink options in a community where those options are both hard to find and much needed.

    Larger companies with more ample resources are better positioned to either absorb the impact of policies that raise costs or even change the rules on a dime. If they can’t, they simply move operations outside the state. While there is a need for regulations to protect employees, consumers, and the environment, they must be well thought-out, reasonable, and helpful to small businesses rather than hurtful.  

    For example, the Los Angeles City Council is eyeing a potential ban of plastic water bottles which could exacerbate existing water quality and safety issues in the city. Working on Skid Row, I can tell you that plastic water bottles are a safe, accessible, consistent source of water that is essential for serving the unhoused. A ban like this could make clean water much more expensive and much less accessible for the thousands of folks that we serve.

    At the state level, SB 54, or the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, aims to reduce California’s annual waste by requiring that all single-use packaging must be recyclable or compostable by 2032. Nearly every business in California is likely to be impacted directly or indirectly by SB 54. Whether the impact on small businesses is negative or positive will depend on how it’s implemented—meaning that state and local policymakers have an opportunity and responsibility to work in community with small business owners to be sure they achieve SB 54’s environmental objectives without harming the small business environment or the communities that rely on them.

    Business regulations in California are well-intentioned but misguided, and they have drastic consequences for small businesses and their surrounding communities. California’s small businesses need smart, balanced policy solutions to continue as forces of economic and social development. 

    Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie is a prominent community and faith leader in Los Angeles. Cue is the Pastor and founder of The Row LA – “The Church Without Walls” founded in 2006, in Downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row community. Pastor Cue is also a faith-rooted organizer with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), since 2015 and is co-lead organizer of the Black Jewish Justice Alliance (BJJA) as well as Co-convener of the Black and Brown Clergy and Community coalition. He has been featured in several publications, including the Los Angeles Times, PBS SoCal, Downtown Los Angeles Weekly, and ABC7. 

    Written in partnership with Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie.

  • LA Philanthropists Push for Community-Focused Journalism

    LA Philanthropists Push for Community-Focused Journalism

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    A collective of Los Angeles media leaders and philanthropists have partnered with the American Journalism Project to bolster community-focused journalism in the city. This new organization, the Los Angeles Local News initiative, successfully raised nearly $15 million for their foundation.

    A Response to the Decline in the Media Industry

    Within the broader media industry, the local news ecosystem in Los Angeles was hit especially hard, resulting in cuts and layoffs. Even the Los Angeles Times cut 115 staffers in January, having laid off 74 newsroom staffers last year. The cuts affected largely Latino staffers and led much of the senior staff to resign. 

    Community Before Profit

    This new initiative is intended to support a community-first network of media outlets, partnering with nonprofit newsroom CalMatters to emphasize regional accountability.

    “L.A. County is far too complicated and diverse a place for any one outlet to serve all local news needs of all residents,” said Michael Ouimette, the chief investment officer at the American Journalism Project.

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    News Deserts and Media Needs

    As of 2022, the American Journalism Project interviewed 845 LA County residents in 244 zip codes and found that many residents felt their needs were not met by local news. They don’t have access to outlets that voice their particular concerns, let alone meet basic needs.

    News deserts are on the rise in the United States, and outlets are often stretched too thin to address comparatively minor, but still essential, local matters. Everyone in every zip code needs access to reliable, nonpartisan insight to help make informed decisions about their lives.

    “When people think about news deserts,” said Monica Lozano, board chair of the LA Local News Initiative and former CEO of La Opinión, “they’re thinking about rural America, or communities that are off-grid, but we have those same sorts of deserts in the region.”

    An Experiment in Hyperlocal News

    This kind of “hyperlocal” news model as an interconnected media web is a promising idea, but similar California startups have had mixed success. The Long Beach Post was one such hyperlocal initiative, receiving praise before going through similar layoffs to other news outlets. Earlier this year, however, Look Out Santa Cruz was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News reporting.

    Fortunately, the LA Local News Initiative has found the model they want to replicate: Boyle Heights Beat. A bilingual, nonprofit newsroom serving the Latino community since 2010, the Boyle Heights Beat has become a digital news outlet serving East LA, but reporting on the communities they live in.

    Boyle Heights Beat has integrated itself with the community, holding quarterly meetings to speak with locals and give voice to their concerns. Their reporters, editors, and coordinators hand deliver print editions to local establishments, including libraries and community centers—all 30,000 of them.

    While it is not certain how far their model can spread, the success and community response have been remarkable. To increase accountability journalism and local news coverage in LA, they will use this basis to launch and operate community publications in areas needing greater coverage.

    Further Initiatives and Responses in Media

    They also plan to launch the LA Documenters initiative, which will act as a local affiliate to the existing Documenters Network. The network has its origins with the Chicago civic media outlet City Bureau, which both trains and pays local residents to attend and cover public meetings, such as school board meetings.

    Another hope for LA journalism comes in the form of the California Journalism Preservation Act, a bill proposing that tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta pay to link to a news outlet’s work. This would give many struggling news outlets a boost in online spaces and a new stream of income to build better journalism.

  • High Heat Expected for Highly Populated California Cities 

    High Heat Expected for Highly Populated California Cities 

    Image credit: Unsplash

    While many Californians are moving inland in search of affordable housing and more space, they may find life isn’t greener on the other side. Some California cities with the biggest recent population booms are at risk for dangerously hot days driven by climate change and sky-high electric bills, according to a CalMatter analysis. This combination of rising populations and alarming extreme heat puts more Californians at risk of illness, posing a serious challenge for unprepared local officials. 

    As greenhouse gasses continue to warm the planet, many individuals across the globe are experiencing higher temperatures and intense heat waves, and an international panel of climate scientists recently stated that it is “virtually certain” that “there has been increases in the intensity and duration of heatwaves and in the number of heatwave days at the global scale.”

    The CalMatters analysis identified which California communities are most at risk, with the top 1% of the state’s more than 8,000 census tracts being communities that have grown by more than 500 people in recent years and are also expected to experience the most intensifying heat due to climate change. 

    Identified California communities by CalMatters include Lancaster and Palmdale in Los Angeles County; Apple Valley, Victorville, and Hesperia in San Bernardino County; Lake Elsinore and Murrieta in Riverside County; and the Central Valley cities of Visalia, Fresno, Clovis, and Tulare.

    Risks of Relocating Inland in California

    According to data from researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Colorado Boulder, and UC Berkeley, it is expected that by 2050 neighborhoods in these 11 inland cities will experience 25 or more high heat days every year. A high heat day is defined as when an area’s maximum temperature surpasses the top 2% of its historic high—essentially when temperatures skyrocket above the highest temperatures recorded there this century. 

    “We are seeing much more rapid warming of inland areas that were already hotter to begin with,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain.

    “There’s an extreme contrast between the people who live within 5 to 10 miles of the beach and people who live as little as 20 miles inland,” he said. “It’s these inland areas where we see people who…are killed by this extreme heat or whose lives are at least made miserable.”

    Despite inland California communities expected to experience higher temperatures, neighborhoods along the coast will remain much more temperate. Areas such as San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Long Beach are not expected to experience significantly more high heat days, with San Francisco expected to average six days a year in the 2050s exceeding 87 degrees, compared to four days in the 2020s. On the other hand, Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley of California will jump from 17 days surpassing 103 degrees to 32. 

    Eric McGhee, a policy director who researches California demographic changes at the Public Policy Institute of California, stated that many people moving inland are low and middle-income Californians looking to expand their families, find more affordable housing, and live comfortably, making them more willing to sacrifice other privileges, like cooler weather. 

    California is “becoming more expensive, more exclusive in the places that are least likely to experience extreme heat,” Swain said. As a result, he said, “the people who are most at risk of extreme heat”—those with limited financial resources—“are precisely the people experiencing extreme heat.”

    Impact of Extreme Heat on California’s Population

    The effects of extreme heat on the body can happen quickly and can be deadly, triggering heat strokes and heart attacks, as well as exacerbating asthma, diabetes, kidney failure, and other illnesses in people of all ages. 

    In The Golden State, extreme heat contributed to more than 5,000 hospitalizations and almost 10,600 emergency department visits over the past decade, with the health effects falling “disproportionately on already overburdened” Black people, Latinos and Native Americans, according to a recent state report.

    With hotter days forecasted, city and county officials must grapple with how to protect their residents who are already struggling to stay cool and pay their electric bills, but despite warnings, many local officials are failing to respond adequately.

  • Why LA’s Recent Earthquake is a Cause for Concern

    Why LA’s Recent Earthquake is a Cause for Concern

    Image credit: Unsplash

    On Monday the 12th, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Los Angeles area, hitting a lesser-known but potentially significant fault system: the Puente Hills thrust fault. Experts have pointed to the similarities to the well-known San Andreas fault that runs along the outskirts of the city, but the Puente Hills fault lies directly beneath some of the most densely populated places in the Los Angeles and Orange counties, including the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The fault could one day produce a massive earthquake, say experts, warning of a magnitude as high as 7.5.

    The Vulnerable Underbelly of Los Angeles

    “We have an incredibly dense concentration of vulnerable buildings right on top of the Puente Hills fault, so that’s what makes it so particularly dangerous,” said Lucy Jones, a seismologist and a research associate at Caltech. Many of the structures on top of the fault were built in the 1950s and 60s and have yet to be retrofitted to meet modern seismic safety standards. The unreinforced concrete common in these buildings poses a particular risk in predictive earthquake models, as their likely collapse will have a more significant fallout.

    “Concrete is heavy,” Jones said, and went on to say, “When we’ve run these models, those are the buildings that are killing a lot of people.” Some models analyzing a potential 7.5 magnitude earthquake have predicted as many as 18 thousand deaths in the Los Angeles area.

    The Complex Problem of the Puente Hills Fault

    The Puente Hills fault is one of a complicated series of thrust faults that are described as “blind” because they are hidden beneath layers of rock and sediment. This makes them difficult to predict until they become a problem. This system includes faults that are stacked and oddly inclined, running through the Los Angeles basin. While it isn’t clear that the Puente Hills fault is the specific one responsible for Monday’s quake, experts see it as a top candidate because of its proximity to the epicenter.

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    Blind thrust faults are notorious for their destructive potential. A similar fault caused the 1994 Northridge quake, a magnitude 6.7 event that caused widespread damage across Los Angeles. An earlier quake, the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake, hit just a branch of the Puente Hills fault and registered a magnitude of 5.9. That earthquake killed eight people and caused $358 million in property damage.

    Puente Hills vs. San Andreas: Disasters Waiting to Happen

    Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular, is built atop a seismically active landscape full of active fault lines. The Puente Hills and San Andreas faults are only two of these faults, but they carry disproportionate potential for destruction.

    The San Andreas fault is one of the largest and most active faults in the world and is regularly responsible for some of California’s most significant earthquakes. It runs from the Southern California desert to Northern California’s coast and is the main plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. It is capable of causing large quakes that span great distances. But its last truly major event was the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake, retroactively estimated to have been a 7.9 magnitude quake that caused significant damage. The area had been only sparsely populated at the time.

    “Summed up over the next few thousand years, the San Andreas is going to do more to us than the Puente Hills,” says Jones, though this is “because the Puente Hills will move once and the San Andreas is going to move 20 times.”

    The Puente Hills fault threatens the Los Angeles Valley with the potential for a single, history-changing cataclysm that would directly strike urban centers. Area seismologists have pointed out that, while Southern California had been relatively quiet in terms of significant quakes over the past two decades, this year has already seen 13 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater. “We really are earthquake country,” warns Jones, “And we’ve been lulled into a sense of complacency.”

  • Miss USA Competitions Return to LA After Shocking Resignations

    Miss USA Competitions Return to LA After Shocking Resignations

    Image credit: Unsplash

    51 contestants in both the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants will participate in the competitions this year. Each of the 2023 title holders resigned, for the first time in the event’s history, and both are returning to Los Angeles this week to declare new winners. 

    There are three main rounds of competition, including swimsuit (Miss USA) or athletic wear (Miss Teen USA), evening gown, and an onstage interview, though the contestants also have a preliminary interview with the judges. 

    Relinquishing Crowns

    Noelia Voigt, winner of the Miss USA pageant, and UmaSofia Srivastava, winner of the Miss Teen USA pageant, separately announced on their social media that they would relinquish their crowns. Neither has addressed specifics publicly, though rumors of non-disclosure agreements abound. Voigt cites mental health reasons while Srivastava claims a clash in personal values between herself and the Miss Teen USA organization.

    While there were no public statements, CNN obtained Voigt’s resignation letter, which helped to explain things somewhat. Starting with frustrations over administrative issues that delayed her prizes from the competition, an apartment and a car, Voigt then proceeded into much more serious allegations. In the letter, Voigt claimed that pageant president Laylah Rose attacked her character by calling her “mentally ill.” She also noted a “toxic work environment” and claims of sexual harassment during a parade appearance due to the lack of an “effective handler”. 

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    Rose and Miss USA declined to respond to CNN’s requests for comment, but she later released a statement reported by the Los Angeles Times which refuted the allegations.

    Vacancies and Upsets

    Following the resignations, Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii, last year’s runner-up to the Miss USA pageant, stepped into the role in place of Voigt. The runner-up to the Miss Teen USA pageant, Stephanie Skinner, declined the title, leaving the role vacant. Gankiewicz may also crown the new Miss Teen USA as a result, another first for the event. Overall, the two resignations have left the organizations in a mess.

    Uncertain Prizing

    This year, Miss USA’s website has no information about the prize package, but Instagram posts suggest that Garcelle Beauvais of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” will be one of the hosts. Traditionally, Miss USA pageant winners have received the following: a luxury car, an LA apartment, and a six-figure salary for one year so long as they make appearances and support the organization’s causes. Additional benefits have included designer clothes, guest spots on television shows, and five-star resort stays, though none of these appear listed on the current website. 

    Who Can Participate in Miss USA?

    To participate in Miss USA, a participant must be a US citizen recognized as medically and legally female, while either being a permanent resident, full-time student, or full-time employee of their state for a given period. There are no longer age restrictions, and previous requirements that a competitor had to be single and without children have been done away with. Julia Morehouse was the first married woman to compete.

    The History of Miss USA Competitions

    Another frequent question concerns the difference between Miss America and Miss USA. Both are major national pageants with a shared history, but as brands they are distinct. Miss America began as a small competition in 1921, quickly rising in prominence. However, when the 1950 titleholder, Yolande Betbeze, refused to appear in swimwear, Catalina, a company that made swimwear, dropped their sponsorship of Miss America and founded Miss USA. Today, Miss America acts as a non-profit scholarship program, while Miss USA is a franchise part of the Miss Universe Organization, whose winners automatically represent the United States during its international pageant. Miss America got rid of the swimsuit portion altogether in 2018.

    What’s Next

    Miss Teen USA’s 42nd finals is on August 1st, and Miss USA’s 73rd edition is on August 4th at the Peacock Theater.

  • Permit Deadline Extended for the Sunset of LA’s Emergency Dining Program

    Permit Deadline Extended for the Sunset of LA’s Emergency Dining Program

    Image credit: Pexels

    Once the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, businesses rushed to find solutions to prevent themselves from failing. Restaurants were hit especially hard, but chef Jenee Kim saw a solution in LA’s emergency al fresco dining program. Allowed to skirt the permitting requirements during the pandemic, Kim invested $80,000 in building an outdoor patio in the parking lot.

    The Impact of Park’s BBQ Patio

    Her restaurant, Park’s BBQ, has brought quality Korean meats and banchan for over 20 years, and she was determined to keep it that way. The patio succeeded in bringing her customers back. Today, with the pandemic largely weathered, the patio experience has become just another part of the restaurant. Customers love the light and the seating, providing an outdoor alternative to the main restaurant. Despite this, Kim plans to tear it down.

    Temporary Measures

    The emergency dining program was a temporary one, and after a meeting with the building and safety department, she found out that she would need to get a permanent permit for her patio. While the city expressed that they would make it easy to get a permit, Kim felt that the rules and restrictions would prove too much and remained resigned to tearing it down.

    LA’s 2020 dining program required little more than an online form, but its sunset is reinstating the requirements that were ignored during the pandemic. Business owners who wanted to keep their additions rushed to get the paperwork in order, but fortunately Mayor Karen Bass announced an extension just before the final deadline. Six more months was a relief for business owners.

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    The Start of an Optimistic Future

    While the permitting process remains complicated, Park BBQ’s Operations Director, Ryan Kim, feels optimistic about the current situation. The patio will remain open for the foreseeable future. 

    Why the Old Process?

    So, what exactly is the problem with the old process? As overseer of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, Eddie Navarrette, explained on LAist 89.3’s AirTalk: “It’s essentially a building permit for private property…four engineers were assigned to your project…a green engineer for environmental standards, one for disabled access, one for zoning, and one for your building. That’s four people to look at your project.”

    Businesses also need several approvals. Rather than one department, business owners can expect to communicate with the Health Department, the Transportation Department, and the Building and Safety Department to get their hands on a permit. Often, they need to hire a professional just to keep everything in order. 

    Progress for the LA Restaurant Industry

    Navarette is working on proposals for streamlining the approval process. Resources available for training and the application process seem limited to English, leaving many restaurant owners without guidance, since they may not speak English. Accessibility will be key for these individuals to keep their COVID-19-era extensions around. Navarette also suggests that a self-certification process for restaurants could be a solution, which could permit them to have tables and chairs in their parking lots as an outdoor alternative. 

    “It’s progress,” said Navarette, “but we have a long way to go. I’m proud of the Mayor and her staff doing the right thing, but the only way we’re going to get there is to do the work. This is a step in the right direction, but it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and we gotta stay in the race.”

    While progress is being made, the future of these restaurants remains unclear. Progress has to keep moving or it will come to a halt and leave restaurant owners like Kim without options going forward. As Navarette expresses, the marathon is ongoing for every restaurant owner who wants to stay in the race.

  • LA Metro Moves Toward Establishing Its Own Police Force 

    LA Metro Moves Toward Establishing Its Own Police Force 

    Image credit: Unsplash

    It has been over a year since the LA Metro board approved a plan to create its own transit police force. During LA Metro’s scheduled board meeting on Thursday, June 27, board members have decided to turn this vision into reality. The decision was taken after reviewing possible plans for establishing a new in-house public safety department. Although several board members were absent at the meeting, the vote for this move passed unanimously, with ten affirmatives. 

    The step was taken after widespread public comment and statements from leaders of the three law enforcement agencies currently contracted to provide public safety services on LA Metro trains and buses. The board members are now embarking on a prolonged process of building a new security force from scratch. This decision will eventually end or modify existing contracts between LA Metro and regional law enforcement partners. 

    LA Metro is looking forward to a five-year phased transition to establish a “Transit Community Public Safety Department” (TCPSD). The plan’s next steps will include creating a “transition team” comprising experts in various public safety fields, such as policing, mental health, social services, and human resources. LA Metro will also collaborate with CalPERS, an agency that administers retirement benefits for state employees, and initiate the recruitment process for officers to staff the new police force. 

    With this move, LA Metro aligns with other regions that employ their own transit police, such as the Bay Area, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. 

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    LA Metro operated its own transit police force from 1978 to 1997. It was formed in response to a spike in violent crime across the transit system, mainly against bus operators. The Southern California Rapid Transit District’s police force even employed over 500 officers, making it the 10th largest law enforcement agency in California and the largest transit police force in the nation. Later, a politically driven move for cost-cutting led the agency to merge with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. These agencies, along with the Long Beach Police Department, continued to supervise the security system despite their effectiveness being questioned in light of their multimillion-dollar contracts. 

    An audit conducted in 2023 by the Office of the Inspector General revealed that many officers assigned to patrol transit stations, trains, and buses spent most of their time away from these areas. The report also revealed that more than half of transit-related 911 calls were responded to by officers who were not assigned to the Metro system. 

    At the meeting, LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, and Long Beach Police Department Chief Wally Hebeish answered questions from board members and defended the performance of officers assigned to Metro duty. Sheriff Luna highlighted the challenge of patrolling Metro’s extensive service area, stating, “We can’t be everywhere.” He added, “We do the best that we can to keep people safe, and we have pretty darn good response times.” Expressing his concerns about major upcoming events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, he shared, “This is not the time to experiment with new projects.” He stated, “Public safety is too important for that.” 

    The contracts with these agencies have continued despite criticism of the performance of contracted law enforcement.  Many leading activists are advocating for the resurrection of a dedicated transit police force.

     Violent crime against passengers and transit operators is what originally led to the creation of an in-house police force. The rise of deadly narcotics like fentanyl and a significantly larger homeless population has added to the urgency of this decision.

  • Affordable Summer Activities in Los Angeles: Enjoy on a Budget

    Affordable Summer Activities in Los Angeles: Enjoy on a Budget

    Image credit: Unsplash

    While Los Angeles is known as the beloved City of Angels, and rightfully so for many people, there is no denying the extremely high prices associated with the area. The cost of living in this extensive metropolis, according to PayScale, is at least 51% higher than the national average.

    Nevertheless, you do not have to be living in L.A. to feel the pain of steep prices, as a mere visit can set you back. According to Budget Your Trip, the average visitor to the city spends approximately $258 per day. For two people to stay one week can cost them approximately $3,614.

    Exploring Affordable Activities in Los Angeles

    So, the high prices in this typically sunny location begs the question of what a person or family can do here if they happen to be working with a tight budget. To offer some ideas, the following information looks to inspire you with several inexpensive — or even totally free —things to do in L.A. this summer.

    Must-Visit Free Attractions This Summer

    First, we cannot continue without mentioning the Griffith Observatory, which is a beautiful place to catch stunning views, including by telescope. If catching the perfect shot of the Hollywood sign, along with breathtaking views of the city and the incredible nature that encircles it, the Griffith Observatory is the ideal spot. The destination is on a steep hill, so you will need to drive or catch an Uber. There are parking fees, as well as a fee for visiting the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. The fees usually range from approximately $6 to $10, however, children under five are admitted for free. Admission to the grounds, public telescopes, and the observatory building are free to all.

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    If you are looking for something more aligned with the incredible California beaches, Venice Beach on the West side of L.A. is the perfect place to go for a Bohemian vibe and to enjoy tons of street vendors selling art and souvenirs, as well as many performers. The beach offers plenty of fun and entertainment for one person or an entire family, and if you’re up for a walk, you can visit the century-old Venice Canals Walkway. The footpath is a little-known tourist attraction with a sort of European feel, and the best part is, everything mentioned above is completely free!

    The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles offers a unique fossil lab, historical exhibits, and relics of ancient creatures, with tickets priced at $18 for adults and free for children under two. Also notable is the Getty Museum, showcasing art from the Middle Ages, featuring stunning architecture, city views, and beautiful gardens, with free admission but closed on Mondays.

    Those looking to save some money around LA often also find themselves at Olvera Street for a taste of Mexico. Located near Chinatown, this little historic monument pays homage to Mexico and its incredibly vibrant history. You can enjoy authentic Mexican restaurants and food stands, as well as all sorts of small museums that honor Mexican art and history. All museums are free to visit. There are no parking costs listed online, however, but it can be a bit expensive so you may want to walk from the metro or grab an Uber.

    Lastly, for more historic aspects of L.A., the Angels Flight in the downtown district is a 118-year-old funicular that transports passengers along the world’s shortest railway. It runs from Hill Street to Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill and was reopened in 2017 after being shut down for many years. A one-way trip is $1.00, and a souvenir round-trip ticket is $2.00. Hopefully, with all of the options mentioned here and many others, you can now plan a nice trip to Los Angeles that won’t scare your wallet.

  • Los Angeles to Celebrate Make Music Day

    Los Angeles to Celebrate Make Music Day

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Almost nothing else can bring the world together in the same significant way as music can. Breaking cultural boundaries and translating across seas, the magic of music resides with its ability to build connections and let others feel seen and heard. Celebrating the power of music and bringing artists together, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with LA Commons and Make Music LA, is celebrating Make Music Day this Friday, June 21.

    Being live streamed globally, LA’s Make Music Day celebration is a part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad, an event that runs through the end of summer 2024 and combines art and sport (or “muscles and mind” as Pierre de Coubertin put it). This popular celebration aims for inclusiveness, with Paris 2024 encouraging everyone, including, artists, troupes, non-profits, communities, sports clubs, and more, to get involved with the cultural program.

    Founded in 1982 as Fête de la Musique, this musical celebration is celebrated in more than 1,000 cities in 120 different countries, becoming an international phenomenon since its birth. Its wide recognition is the reason why the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympias has named Make Music Day one of its key days of action leading up to the games. 

    As part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad, LA’s Make Music Day will be a part of the global “rhythmic relay” called “Pulsations,” which means “heartbeat” in French. “Pulsations” is under the creative direction of French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf. Uniting 24 countries with a shared rhythmic heartbeat, “Pulsations” started in New Zealand, traveling throughout Asia, Africa, America, and Europe, offering a 100% livestream that invites everyone to join the celebration. 

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    The LA celebration will be held on People Street in Leimert Park Village Plaza in front of the historic Vision Theater. “Pulsations LA” will feature artists recognized as “Cultural Treasures” by the Cultural Treasures of South L.A., a community-based resource for anyone looking to learn more about the culturally rich life of South Los Angeles. The resource provides a database, interactive map, and multimedia story bank of cultural treasures, featuring people, places, organizations, and events that help keep the multicultural community vibrant and diverse.

    LA’s Make Music Day will feature musical performances from Kinnara Taiko, Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Jazz Ensemble featuring vocalist Dwight Trible, tap dance by the Nicholas Dance Studio, poetry by “artivist” S. Pearl Sharp, and a family-friendly drum workshop by Project Knucklehead.

    Los Angeles City Councilwoman Heather Hutt, 10th District, expressed, “We are honored and thrilled to have our Make Music Day Celebrations in Leimert Park, and partake in an amazing experience of global artistry and unity. For decades, South Los Angeles has been a vibrant center of expression with a rich cultural history. This celebration will be a testament to this legacy, inspiring our city for years to come.”

    Los Angeles is set to pick up the rhythm from Mexico and pass it along to Canada, inviting musicians of all ages, cultures, genres, and skill levels to create a free public outdoor concert to share their musical heartbeats with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. 

    For information on how to participate in Make Music Los Angeles, visit makemusicla.org, and a complete global livestream schedule can be found at makemusicday.org/pulsations.