The Thorn West is a state and local news roundup compiled by volunteer members of DSA-LA. Our goal is to provide a weekly update on the latest developments in state and local politics, and to track the issues that are most important to our membership. Writers and copy editors wanted! Email [email protected] if interested!

Issue No. 231 - May 2, 2025

City Politics

• Angelenos packed City Hall to speak against layoffs and service cuts in Mayor Bass’ proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is now being reviewed and amended by City Council. The full proposed budget, as well as the mayor’s budget summary, is available on the City Administrator’s website, while Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and City Controller Mejia have released their own summaries. LA Public Press has more, collecting many of the individual department memos that spell out how these cuts will impact the city. Angelenos and major city power brokers have come out to decry budget cuts to Animal Services (which were restored in the Budget Committee Wednesday), climate programs in the Climate Emergency Management Office, Street Services, the LA Department of Transit, and over 400 non-officer positions in the LAPD. The Mayor also traveled to Sacramento to appeal to the State to help prevent layoffs. The full city council will hear a final round of public comment before voting on a full budget on May 21st.

• The Trump administration’s tariffs on goods from China are about to take effect. The Port of Los Angeles, where Chinese goods account for 45% of all business, is anticipating a 35% dropoff in cargo.

Immigration

• A judge has enjoined the California Border Patrol from conducting warrantless arrests without probable cause. The suit was brought by the ACLU in response to a series of workplace raids conducted by the Border Patrol, which resulted in dozens of indiscriminate arrests.

Labor

• Across the city and nationwide, workers celebrated May Day, or International Workers’ Day. May Day rallies became a platform for expressions of solidarity with immigrant communities under assault from the Trump administration.

• 55,000 Los Angeles County workers, represented by SEIU 721, participated in a 48-hour work stoppage this week, concluding with a rally in Downtown Los Angeles at which the police made several arrests. Workers are protesting several unfair labor practices by the County, amid stalled contract negotiations.

Transportation

• A recent audit has revealed that the city’s commitment to Vision Zero, which was passed in 2015 with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths in the city by 2025, has been poorly implemented. As budget cuts threaten to move the city even further from this goal, safe streets activists staged a die-in at city hall in protest.

• A plan to build a people mover in Inglewood, connecting Sofi Stadium to Metro stations, has been officially halted following public pushback. A network of bus-only lanes is being proposed as an alternate means of connecting the stadium with transit.

• Coastal erosion has once again disrupted passenger rail service between Los Angeles and San Diego, forcing closures estimated to last for six weeks.

Environmental Justice

• The vandalism that destroyed dozens of trees across downtown Los Angeles also steered attention to proposed budget cuts to the city’s urban forestry programs.