LA City Council delays increase to 2030
The Los Angeles City Council has officially delayed minimum wage increases for tourism workers. The council made the final vote Tuesday, pushing back a boost to $30 an hour for airport and hotel workers from 2028 to 2030.
The controversial move comes after L.A. faced major pressure from business interests, which had gathered enough signatures to put a measure on the November ballot to repeal the business tax. That effort could have financially ruined the city if it passed. After the City Council voted to delay the wage from the November ballot, the leaders behind that ballot measure withdrew it.for tourism workers.
The council made the final vote Tuesday, pushing back a boost to $30 an hour for airport and hotel workers from 2028 to 2030. The controversial move comes after L.A. faced major pressure from business interests, which had gathered enough signatures to put a measure on the November ballot to repeal the business tax. That effort could have financially ruined the city if it passed.
After the City Council voted to delay the wage from the November ballot, the leaders behind that ballot measure withdrew it. It's a maneuver hotel workers have called a"shakedown.
" Originally celebrated as an"Olympic Wage," the $30 minimum was pegged to the arrival of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. But a battle to upend it started as soon as the City Council passed it last year.
" I would expect my councilmember to stand up for working Angelenos, not help giant companies take money out of our pockets," Jordan Long, a bartender at LAX, said at a recent council meeting. Stuart Waldman with the Valley Industry & Commerce Association told LAist that business groups decided to advance their ballot measure after unions wouldn't broker a deal with them directly.
Topline: The Trump administration has mass-deleted information about prosecutions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including cases of defendants who assaulted police officers. The removals mark the latest phase of President Trump's effort to rewrite the history of the violent riot. Justice Department news releases that detailed guilty pleas, jury verdicts and prison sentences abruptly disappeared from government websites last week.
A review by NPR found that the deleted material included information about some of the most serious assaults on law enforcement that occurred that day. The Trump administration has mass-deleted information about prosecutions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including cases of defendants who assaulted police officers. The removals mark the latest phase of President Donald Trump's effort to rewrite the history of the violent riot.
Justice Department news releases that detailed guilty pleas, jury verdicts and prison sentences abruptly disappeared from government websites last week. , saying,"We are proud to reverse the DOJ's weaponization under the Biden administration. We will do everything in our power to make whole those who were persecuted for political purposes. This includes stripping DOJ's website of partisan propaganda.
" A review by NPR found that the deleted material included information about some of the most serious assaults on law enforcement that occurred that day. , who pleaded guilty to driving an electroshock device into the neck of former Washington, D.C. , Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone, and who was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
, who pleaded guilty to assaulting police and grabbing Fanone by the neck and pulling him into the mob of rioters while yelling,"I got one!
" Head was sentenced to more than seven years in prison. , who was convicted by a jury of assaulting law enforcement with a metal flagpole, tackling a police officer to the ground and trying to remove the officer's gas mask. Webster was sentenced to 10 years in prison. , who was convicted by a jury of assaulting police with a wooden pallet and carrying a loaded handgun on Capitol grounds.
Alberts was sentenced to seven years in prison. , who was convicted by a jury of assaulting police officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair at law enforcement. Schwartz was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The mass deletion of government information about the riot, in which a mob of Trump supporters injured 140 police officers and threatened the lives of members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence, follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to whitewash the attack.hired a former riot defendant who was seen on video urging the mob to"kill" police. The administration settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed while storming the Capitol, for nearly $5 million.
On the fifth anniversary of the riot, the White House created a website that distorts that day's events, describing the rioters as"patriots" and blaming police for causing"chaos.
" And just last week, the administration announced aWhen speaking about the attack, Trump consistently describes his supporters as victims rather than perpetrators of violence. Police officers who were violently assaulted on Jan. 6 have described suffering lifelong physical and psychological injuries.
"I have been sentenced to a lifetime of medical issues that include physical pain and mental and emotional distress," former Capitol Police Sgt. Federico Ruiz said in a.
"There is not a day that goes by that pain, discomfort, and/or a mental health issue do not flare up to remind me of that day. " Brendan Ballou, a former federal prosecutor who worked on Jan. 6 cases, told NPR in a recent interview that the administration's effort to flip the story of the riot is part of a broader effort to attack democratic institutions.
"It's clear there is an ongoing fight to rewrite the history of Jan. 6, because these people know if they can successfully get people to forget about Jan. 6 — or worse yet, condone it — then they will be able to convince people to accept any attack on democracy," said Ballou. Ballou currently represents two police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 and are suing to prevent payouts from the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
The searchable database covers all the nearly 1,600 criminal cases, including charges, convictions and sentencing outcomes. The archive also includes a timeline of the day's events and makes accessible hundreds of videos from police body cameras, Capitol surveillance footage and other sources. NPR is currently taking legal action to obtain additional video evidence held by the government, which has not been previously disclosed.
Nader Adeli a group of Iranian-Americans from around Los Angeles who play soccer together on weekends in an adult league, under the team name Arya FC. Iran's participation in the World Cup has been in question since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against the country in late February. Whether the Iran team shows up or not won't be settled until they arrive in the U.S. L.A.
County is home to about 166,000 Iranian-Americans — the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran. FIFA is planning to ban Iran’s former Lion and Sun flag in the stadiums. That flag is associated with those that want to see a return to monarchist rule in the country. Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup next month in unprecedented circumstances.
As the U.S. war in Iran drags on, the United States is the first host nation in World Cup history to be at war with a participating country. And the Iran men’s team is scheduled to play two of its matches in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran. Iran's participation in the tournament has been in question since the U.S. and Israel launched a bombing campaign against the country in late February.
Whether they show up or not won't be settled until the team arrives in the U.S. to play. They were scheduled to train in— Kevan Harris, associate professor and vice chair, UCLA Iran's first match is June 15 at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand. In the meantime, Iranians in Los Angeles are anticipating the coming tournament with complicated feelings.
" Sports is supposed to displace war. It's not supposed to be war," said Kevan Harris, a sociologist at UCLA who studies the Iranian diaspora.
"Teams fighting it out when a war is going on, it has a flavor that's very difficult to process. Do I want them to win? Do I want them to lose? I don't know.
"For some, those dynamics and their opinions about the Iranian government are inextricable from the coming World Cup. For others, it's just about the soccer. In Woodland Hills, a group of Iranian-Americans from around Los Angeles play soccer together on Sundays in an adult league, under the team name Arya FC. On a recent weekend, many players said they were excited for the World Cup, and most said they'd root for Iran's team, known as Team Melli.
"It's a lot going on in Iran right now, and there are a lot of mixed emotions," said Bobby Riahi, an Arya FC player who said he was going to a World Cup match and would support Iran. "You can't be a soccer fan and not be excited about the World Cup. Am I excited about seeing my national team? I have mixed feelings this year.
" In Woodland Hills, a group of Iranian-Americans from around Los Angeles play soccer together on Sundays in an adult league, under the team name Arya FC. Between stretches and warm-ups, others said they doubted Iran would advance beyond the first round of the tournament. Some named players in Iran that they followed or said that they watched Iranian football. Most didn't want to talk politics.
Those that did, including one person who said he wouldn't support Iran because he thought it was the regime's team, didn't want to share their full names.
" It's a tough moment for sure for a lot of Iranians. I think a lot of my compatriots are pretty much divided," said Mehran Janani, another player.
"There is a split, I think, in the Iranian population, about the Iranian team being here. There are some folks that are excited. There are some folks who are not happy for the presence of the Iranian team. And that all comes down to politics, unfortunately.
""Soccer has always been the most-watched sport in the world. And I think that will bring everybody together, at least for a period of one month of June to July," he said.
"Let's hope for the best – that Americans will see the other side of the Iranian people as well. "Iran's participation in the World Cup has been marked by political controversy before, including just four years ago.
In 2022, the Iranian national team headed to Qatar for the World Cup as mass protests took place in Iran, sparked by the Christian Pulisic of USA battles for the ball with Ramin Rezaeian of Iran during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Thumama Stadium on Nov, 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
"There was all kinds of pressure around trying to say that the team was not a national team, but that it represented the Islamic Republic, and therefore it should be boycotted," said Niki Akhavan, associate professor of media and communication studies at Catholic University of America. Iran did end up playing in the World Cup in 2022, where the team faced the U.S. for just the second time in tournament history. They lost 1-0.
Fans with the USA and Iran's flags attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022. Prior to that, the two countries faced off in 1998 at the World Cup in France. The showdown came after nearly two decades of hostility between the U.S. and Iran following the Iranian Revolution and subsequent hostage crisis.
Score board showing the final score of the World Cup 1st round match at the Stade de Garland on June 21, 1998 in Lyon, France. Naim Sadav and Mehdi Pashazadeh of Iran and David Regis of USA in action during the World Cup match at the Stade de Garland on June 21, 1998 in Lyon, France. Iran won 2-1, knocking the U.S. out of the tournament. Before the match, Iranian team members presented the U.S. team with white roses.
But in the stands, USA Team players exchange flowers with the Iranian Team before the World Cup 1st round match at the Stade de Garland on June 21, 1998 in Lyon, France. This time around, some members of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles think that protests around the World Cup are inevitable.
"There's no doubt that there will be protests. The question is where will they happen?
" said Harris, of UCLA. "What will be the slogan? What will be the demand? That's hard to tell.
" Sheila Rossi, who was born in Iran and is now the mayor of South Pasadena, said she expects there to be conflict over the flags people will bring to the Iran matches. Many demonstrators in Los Angeles have carried the country’s pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag as a symbol of protest.
That flag bears the same green, white and red stripes as Iran's national flag, but includes an image of a golden sun and lion instead of an Arabic inscription. Still, others are hoping the tournament can usher in a time of celebration for Iranians who have spent much of the year worrying about the war and family inside Iran. Shaheen Ferdowsi runs a Persian restaurant in West L.A. called Meymuni Cafe.
Throughout the year, he's hosted events to bring together Iranians from around Los Angeles, and opened his doors to people after protests against the Iranian government and amid the war. Now, he's hoping the cafe can be a place of celebration during the World Cup. He's planning watch parties and special menu items like lamb nachos for the occasion.
He's also hoping his restaurant can be a space for Iranians visiting from other parts of the world for the tournament to gather.
"The heartbeat of the Persian diaspora is in Los Angeles," he said. " I think that there's just going to be an electric vibe of Iranians all together here. " Back on the soccer field in Woodland Hills, Mehran Janani, one of the players, said he hoped the tournament could bring some levity to people inside Iran, who have endured months of war and a crackdown on protests before that.
" I think with the current political climate in Iran, I'm hoping that at least the soccer will bring some joy to the Iranian nation," Janani said. “I know as a country we love soccer. ” If both teams do advance through the first round, it's possible that the U.S. and Iran teams will face each other again, this time on American soil. If the countries each finish second in their groups, they'll play in Dallas, Texas on July 3.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. Southern California is in store for cooler temperatures, gusty winds and a chance of showers this week as a mixed bag of “May Gray” weather moves into the region.
The cooler forecast is expected to stick around through Thursday before warmer temperatures kick in Friday, lingering into next week. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below normal “at the very least” in L.A. County for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. That doesn’t mean L.A.
County won’t see sunshine, particularly in the mornings. It won’t be quite as chilly in Orange County, according to Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the San Diego office. But in the Inland Empire, she said, temperatures will be “well below” the seasonal average. Showers and a brief thunderstorm or two are possible, mostly in the L.A.
County mountains and higher terrain areas, but there is a small chance of wet weather drifting into the valleys and coastal areas. It’s going to be gusty on L.A. County beaches, mountains and desert areas through Thursday. A wind advisory was in effect Tuesday for the Antelope Valley, as well as parts of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Some of Santa Barbara County, including El Capitan State Beach and San Marcos Pass, are under a wind advisory through Wednesday morning. Orange County mountains will see winds between 40 to 50 mph with isolated gusts around 70 mph. Villafane encouraged people to be careful driving through the mountain areas, especially with taller vehicles “because they can get blown around a little bit.
”A high surf advisory is in effect for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara county beaches until Wednesday evening. Dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves between 8 to 12 feet are expected, according to forecasters. Rip currents could also kick up along Orange County beaches.
“So definitely to be careful when they're swimming out there, pay attention to those flags and those lifeguards,” Villafane said. By early next week, L.A. County temperatures will hang around 90 degrees in the valleys and mid-80s in downtown L.A. Temperatures on the coasts are expected to stay near normal, likely in the upper 60s to mid-70s.
Next Tuesday looks like it’ll be the warmest day in Orange County with temperatures up to several degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service. Axel Pecero was arrested by federal immigration officials last summer. After being detained for months at the Adelanto immigrant detention center, he chose to voluntarily leave the U.S. in hopes he can be reunited with his son in a few years.
About 200,000 children in the U.S. have been separated from their parents being detained under the Trump administration, according to aRead more about how one father was arrested last year. He now is in Mexico, unsure of when he'll be able to return to his son. Last August, Axel Pecero was in Burbank for a conference. He traveled frequently for his work as a foster youth advocate.
A warrant he had for driving with a suspended license from several years ago popped up. It listed a $10 bail amount. Burbank police released him hours later with a citation to appear in court later that month, a department spokesperson said. Pecero never made it — when he exited the jail, he said, immigration agents were waiting for him.
“As soon as I opened the door, Department of Homeland Security is literally right at the door. It was three of them. They were, like, blocking the entrance completely,” he said. They arrested him, took him to the federal building in Los Angeles, and then to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County.
Pecero began pursuing legal options to be released.
“I could be deported. But I'm fighting my case,” he told LAist from Adelanto.
“I have a son here that I'm fighting to stay with and be able to stay to help and support and raise. ”by the Brookings Institution estimates that more than 200,000 children in the U.S. have been separated through detention under President Trump. Pecero shares custody of Ajay with the boy’s mom. Ajay would frequently stay over with Pecero in his apartment near downtown L.A.
— they’d go out to the park, or to eat, or play sports. They’d also hang out with Pecero’s younger brother, Isaac, who lived with Pecero.
“How would they try to deport him if he's been here way before he could, before he even remembered coming to this country? I found it unbelievable,” he said. Isaac Pecero said after his brother was detained at Adelanto, he tried to make up for his older brother’s absence by taking Ajay on outings to the park and elsewhere.
“But we were missing something and that was my brother. It was sad when I had to tell like, ’Oh, I'm sorry, you can't see your dad. ’ I didn't even know what to tell him when he was asking me where his dad was. I didn’t know what to say,” he said.
“It was just heartbreaking because, you know, my nephew, me and my brother — we were the trio. Wherever we were at or whatever we were doing, as long as we were together, it was always fun, you know? We were the family. ”Axel Pecero said he was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by his grandmother when he was three years old, and grew up around Los Angeles and the South Bay with various relatives.
As a teen, he lived with his aunt. At 18, he left to live on his own.
“ It was rough. Six months later I had spent through all of my savings and then I was broke, and then couldn't pay for my apartment no more, so I ended up homeless,” he said. He said he was arrested for trespassing; when it was time to renew his DACA status in 2019, he was denied, according to his immigration attorney.
“I was young, I was dumb, I was just trying to survive out here by myself,” he said. “It was a journey trying to get all my life in order. ” A spokesperson for DHS said Pecero has pending charges including for drug possession, larceny and burglary.
LAist could not locate court records in Los Angeles related to the burglary charge . When asked for more details, the DHS spokesperson said they didn’t have information about what jurisdiction the burglary charge was in. Axel Pecero said his life changed after his son was born.
He started attending Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where a program for former foster youth connected him to resources and housing support. He joined a network of foster youth advocates, landing work with California Youth Connection and other organizations. Pecero traveled around the state and to Washington D.C. to testify on behalf of kids who’ve been in the foster care system.
“I was doing policy work and I wanted to do policy work — that was the plan,” he said. Axel, who was a delegate with the National Foster Youth Institute, would travel across the state and to D.C. , to advocate for foster youth. In February, an immigration judge denied Axel Pecero’s bond to be released, citing him as a flight risk, according to his attorney.
After seven months in detention, Pecero faced a choice: Leave the country and have a chance to come back to see his son in a few years. Or face deportation, and get barred from returning to the United States for 10 or 20 years, he said, even to visit. By March, “ looking at at my circumstances, I opted for the voluntary departure,” Axel said. A judge granted it.
A week later, DHS put him on a bus to Tijuana, then he got a flight to Cancun, where his mother lives. He hadn’t seen her for 18 years. Before he left the U.S., Pecero saw his son Ajay one last time in an Adelanto visiting room.
“As soon as he saw me, he was crying. He ran into my arms. I picked him up, and he was crying, and I was crying too, you know? And he just said, ‘Dada,’ and he just came and he ran up to me, and I told him I missed him.
He said he missed me, too. And I was like,"I love you, son’,” he said.
“ It's not like anything that I'm used to in the United States. So that’s a big change for me that I have to kind of get used to,” he said.
“I’m leaving everything, my life, everything I had went to school for. My son, my friends, my family that I had out there. ” He said he’s been able to talk with Ajay more frequently now on Facetime, but it’s hard to explain where he is or what will happen next. ”He was telling me, like, ‘Dada, come home.
’ And I was like, I was like, ‘I can't, son. Like, I'm in Mexico. ’ And he's like, ‘Why? ’ And I'm like, ‘It's because, like, I'm too far.
I'm really far away. ’” For now, Pecero is searching for a job in the tourism industry, and he’s not sure if he’ll apply to school. He said he feels like he’s torn on moving ahead.
“It’s complicated because I’m trying to be present in where I’m at, but at the same time it’s hard because I’m like, OK, I don’t really know how long I want to be here just because I’m thinking of Ajay,” he said. He fears making roots too deep in his new home, because it might create more distance between him and his son.
“It’s frightening because these are the years that he needs me the most,” he said. “Not being able to be there stresses me out because I can’t raise him how I would want to raise him. ”
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