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Today is Wednesday, Aug. 7, and here is what's happening in Southern California politics:
Headlines
Los Angeles' 911 system went down repeatedly in the month of July, reports the Los Angeles Times. "Our general dispatch system, both in the human architecture, the technological architecture and the systems themselves, needs a serious upgrade," says Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The head of the union representing Department of Water and Power employees wants the city to approve a new contract by Friday, according to the Daily News. Mayor Eric Garcetti has publicly said he does not like the deal that is on the table, and council President Herb Wesson told the newspaper he needs more time to brief the new council members on the proposal.
The Courage Campaign's Rick Jacobs joined the Garcetti Administration as the deputy chief of staff for Operations, according to KPCC. During the campaign, Jacobs co-directed a political action committee that raised and spent more than $2 million on the new mayor's behalf.
Three residents who want to over turn the city’s at-large election system have sued the city of Whittier, reports KPCC. "Under the California Voting Rights Act, the city must abandon its at-large system if voting patterns are polarized — that is, if Latinos mostly vote for one candidate and whites for another," according to the station.
Gov. Jerry Brown needs Southern California Democrats' support for a $24 billion plan that could solve some of California's water fights, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Their millions of constituents could see dry taps should the state's current water system fail. But most legislators from the south have little experience with water policy, and they don't hear much from voters on the issue," per The Times.
President Obama slept in Woodland Hills last night, per LAObserved. "A savvy observer on Facebook quips: 'I wonder where he's getting dinner delivered from — BJs? Cheesecake? Morton's?'"
Streetsblog LA talks to the new Metro Chair Diane DuBois.
Pressers
None
Upcoming Votes
Wednesday
- LA City Council: Report on valet parking operators (10 a.m.)
Friday
- LA City Council: Recommendation to move around money for the Controller's Office (10 a.m.)
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