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.

Issue No. 244 - December 5, 2025

State Politics

• The current budget forecast from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office for the upcoming fiscal year predicts that the state will again face a multi-billion dollar deficit.

City Politics

• In Phase 2 of DSA-LA’s endorsement process, members voted to endorse Marissa Roy for City Attorney. Roy joins a slate including incumbent City Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez in CD 13 and CD 1, Estuardo Mazariegos and Faizah Malik in CD 9 and CD 11, and incumbent Rocío Rivas in LAUSD board district 2. Volunteer with DSA-LA on these campaigns or join DSA-LA’s slate launch event tomorrow afternoon in South LA.

ICE in LA

• The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to advance a motion banning all law enforcement officers from wearing masks.

• The LA County Public Defender’s Office’s new pilot program will provide residents with representation in immigration court. The program will be funded by unclaimed funds from a class action lawsuit over unlawful ICE detentions.

• LA Taco continues its daily reporting on all federal immigration activities across the Los Angeles area.

Police Violence and Community Resistance

• A motion from Council Member Soto-Martinez to restrict LAPD’s use of rubber bullets and tear gas was voted down by the city council. Only Council President Harris-Dawson joined the DSA-LA endorsed bloc of council members in supporting the amendment.

Transportation

• The LA City Council voted 12–1 to oppose the proposed gondola from Union Square to Dodger Stadium. However, the Metro Board has now voted unanimously to advance the project. Residents, the DSA-LA Climate Justice Committee, and Council Members Ysabel Jurado, Soto-Martinez, and Hernandez protested the board meeting.

Housing

• The city council voted to lower maximum annual rent increase limits in rent-controlled units, but a late amendment by CMs John Lee and Monica Rodriguez would exempt “small” landlords. After public opposition, the measure was returned to the Housing and Homelessness committee.

Environmental Justice

• The LA Times explains the sudden appearance of a comical number of 90-gallon green composting bins on Los Angeles curbs—the Bureau of Sanitation appears to have interpreted a state law as requiring their delivery, at a rate as high as one per unit, to many city apartment buildings.