Here are some Southern California news items for today: Hundreds of federal agents raided businesses in the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles today, arresting nine people and seizing $65 million in cash in a crackdown on Mexican drug cartels. This mornings raid, dubbed “Operation Fashion Police” was two years in the making. California Attorney General Kamala Harris said the operation has struck at the heart of the districts dirty money trade, leaving what she called a huge hole in the profits of Mexican drug cartels who receive laundered money from downtown LA businesses. Homeland Security, DEA, and ICE agents, as well as local police, all took part in the mass raid. United Teachers Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl testified at a Public Employment Relations Board hearing on the unions unfair-labor practice complaint against the LAUSD over the reconstitution of Crenshaw High School. Community groups are also staunchly opposed to the “break-up” of the school, a proud LA African-American institute. KPFK News Producer Ernesto Arce was at the US Center recently for a townhall on the changes to Crenshaw High. Well upload that report tomorrow. The Los Angeles City Council discussed litigation over a city ordinance banning people from sitting, sleeping or lying on sidewalks in the Skid Row area. Homeless advocates say the city is trying to push poor and low-income residents out of the area to make east downtown more attractive to wealthy developers. Gov. Jerry Brown was at the Ronald Reagan state building in downtown LA today to sign Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014, which provides paid sick days to about 40 percent of the state workforce who do not receive the benefit. The legislation will make the state the second in the nation to require paid sick leave. KPFK News Producer Dan Fritz was there and will have a full report tomorrow night. A group of bicyclist advocates announced a new LA County program to promote a new law that requires motorists to give bicycles at least three feet of clearance. The “I GIVE 3 FT” safety awareness campaign was heralded by Assembly member Steven Bradford, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Automobile Club of Southern California and the California Highway Patrol outside of a local cyclist club. There have been several deaths attributed to motorist collisions with bicyclists this year, including the case of a Sheriff Deputy who was distracted when he struck and killed a cyclist earlier this year. Several local elected officials gathered at the port of Long Beach to urge Gov. Jerry Brown to sign a climate bill that will reduce pollution from buses, trucks and other freights. Senator Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia joined officials from California Coalition for Clean Air, the Port of Long Beach, CALSTART and California Multimodal to raise awareness of the benefits of cleaner-burning engines. A grand opening celebration for the Parents in Partnership office at the Edmund D. Edelman Childrens Court was held this afternoon as part of Family Reunification Week. Its an annual tribute to parents who overcome prison, addiction and other hardships to successfully reunite with their children. The PIP program provides first-hand support and guidance to families attending their initial court hearings. During todays festivities, Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Michael Nash introduced two mothers who overcame significant obstacles to regain custody of their children. Tune in to the KPFK News, a segment of the Pacifica Evening News, every weeknight during the 6 oclock hour. Our website is KPFKNews.org. You can email us at [email protected] or call us at 818-985-2711 x 227.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 01:17:48 +0000
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