LA City Council

May 3 2013

Despite threats from gun rights groups

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles City Council voted today to ban the possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines within the city, despite threats from gun rights groups that they would sue.

Councilman Mitchell Englander said before the 11-0 vote that the action will not take guns away from their owners. “This is taking away high-capacity magazines,” he said.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Mar 28 2013

One woman has a chance to fill San Fernando Valley seat

As the May 21 L.A. city runoff elections draw nearer, there is a troubling anomaly that may be shaping up—the almost total absence of women in elected positions in municipal government. Add to that the total elimination of Black women in elected office.

At this point, there are only two slots left that women could potentially win, when voters go to the polls—L.A. city mayor and the seat for the 6th Council District.

Jan 28 2013

Production, sale or marketing

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Without discussion, a Los Angeles City Council committee today approved a motion calling on the city’s three pension fund managers to divest from companies involved in the production, sale or marketing of assault weapons or high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The proposal was introduced earlier this month by Councilwoman Jan Perry, who said the city needs to respond to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children were killed.

Sep 27 2012

Jan Perry is termed out of office and running for mayor

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Sen. Curren Price Jr. will seek the Los Angeles City Council seat currently held by Jan Perry, who is termed out of office and running for mayor, his campaign announced today.

Price, D-Los Angeles, represents a South L.A. district that overlaps with the 9th City Council District. He is prevented by term limits from running for his Senate seat again.

In a campaign statement, Price said the district stands to benefit if the city green-lights a project to build an NFL football stadium downtown.

Sep 25 2012

Amid reports that salaries at DWP are significantly higher than others

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles City Council will consider approving higher electricity rates today amid reports that salaries at the Department of Water and Power are significantly higher than those paid by other utilities, both public and private.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.