Police Commission Finds that Dale Garrett Shooting Last Year was Not Within Policy – But True Justice for Police Murders is Hard to Find

Dale Garrett was shot and killed by LAPD in the Skid Row community last year at this time – the anniversary of the police murder is this coming Thursday.  LA CAN members and other community members will be holding a vigil in his honor calling for the end of police murders and abuse, and accountability for officers.  The vigil will take place on 5th and Spring Streets at noon – PLEASE JOIN US!

Two weeks ago, the Police Commission finally heard the results of the use of force investigation.  Dale was actually shot twice in the back.  Just as witnesses – many of whom were LA CAN members who came forward to provide testimony – had earlier claimed, the shooting was found to be out of protocol by the Commission – though Chief Beck and the Inspector General found it to be within protocol. The Commissioners found:

“In conclusion, Detective A and B’s failure to follow proper protocols or to operate in a manner consistent with Department tactical training, by having and communicating an operational/tactical plan, to include support personnel, unjustifiably and substantially deviated from approved Department training.”

“In conclusion, the BOPC found Detective A’s lethal use of force to be out of policy.”

Although the Commission took this unusual action to overrule the internal report (they find the large majority of shootings to be justified, though communities know this isn’t true), Chief Beck gets to decide the discipline for these officers.  And the LA Times reported recently that Beck has not been strongly disciplining officers for unjustified shootings – otherwise known as police murders.

While LAPD continues to enforce the most minor violations against poor residents in downtown LA -  sending people to jail for sitting on the sidewalk – their officers are allowed to commit major violations, even kill people, without any consequence.  LA CAN believes criminal charges should be pursued in this case and we will continue to demand police accountability throughout our community – to the policy makers and on the streets.  Stay tuned.

Joel Rubin of the LA Times reported on this today:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-shooting-20120507,0,5626899.story

The public version of the use of force report is here:

http://www.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/042-11_%20Central%20_OIS.pdf

CALL CA SENATE AND GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NOW! Oppose SB 292, SB 226, AB 900!

***URGENT ACTION*** CALL SENATE AND GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NOW!

Oppose SB 292, SB 226, AB 900

Last-minute bills give special treatment to big developers like AEG, leave out communities and local jobs, attack environmental protections

This week, we’ve seen our legislative process abused for the gain of corporations like AEG. Now, even more projects are piling on. In the last 36 hours of the session several bills – SB 226 and AB 900 – will gut CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) for every urban community in the state.  SB 226 does not streamline, but completely exempts projects in urban areas from CEQA. Period. AB 900, while not an exemption, “streamlines” CEQA out of existence.

CEQA is a vital process that provides information about projects to decision makers and community members so that, together, they can ensure communities are provided important benefits promised, and avoid unintended problems. Communities support sustainable economic development. In fact, only one out of every 354 CEQA reviews (less than 3%) are the subject of litigation, and many fewer of those projects are delayed or stopped.

Hiding under the pretense of job creation (without real evidence those jobs will ever come) these bills create two different standards for the protections of CEQA: one for inner city communities and one for everybody else.

We would share the full bill language with you if we could, but we haven’t even seen it yet – and neither have many of the legislators who will vote by the end of session tomorrow.

The lack of transparency in the law making process happening right now is alarming. We need you to call your senators and the governor’s office right now and tell them to stop shoving through last minute bills that give special treatment to big developers, disenfranchise communities, and attack environmental protections.

Huge traffic jams, dirtier air, displacement of homes, delays in getting to the hospital trauma center, and more for the community surrounding large developments – all without the CEQA provisions to negotiate a better deal. Does that seem fair?

For AEG, the worst that could happen without these last-minute proposed bills is a delay in construction while much need mitigation to traffic, air quality, and displacement measures are negotiated through a CBA (Community Benefits Agreement). If passed, these bills–collectively–destroy CEQA for all the urban communities of the state.

Call Senators and the Governor RIGHT NOW and tell them:

1.     We DO NOT want special treatment for big corporations like AEG and other big developers.

2.     Last-minute laws like this erode public trust, and in the long term do not create more jobs or healthier communities.

3.     Vote NO on SB 292, SB 262 and AB 990. They cut my voice out of the process and set up unequal protections for urban communities.

**If you call after hours or no one answers, leave a message and/or visit their website (links below) to send a direct message!

Governor’s Office

Gov. Jerry Brown: (916) 445-2841

Senate Offices (find you Senator by address on the CA Senate website)

Name	District	Party
Alquist, Elaine Kontominas	13	Democrat	(916) 651-4013
Anderson, Joel	36	Republican	(916) 651-4036
Berryhill, Tom	14	Republican	(916) 651-4014
Blakeslee, Sam	15	Republican	(916) 651-4015
Calderon, Ron	30	Democrat	(916) 651-4030
Cannella, Anthony	12	Republican	(916) 651-4012
Corbett, Ellen M.	10	Democrat	(916) 651-4010
Correa, Lou	34	Democrat	(916) 651-4034
de León, Kevin	22	Democrat	(916) 651-4022
DeSaulnier, Mark	7	Democrat	(916) 651-4007
Dutton, Bob	31	Republican	(916) 651-4031
Emmerson, Bill	37	Republican	(916) 651-4037
Evans, Noreen	2	Democrat	(916) 651-4002
Fuller, Jean	18	Republican	(916) 651-4018
Gaines, Ted	1	Republican	(916) 651-4001
Hancock, Loni	9	Democrat	(916) 651-4009
Harman, Tom	35	Republican	(916) 651-4035
Hernandez O.D., Ed	24	Democrat	(916) 651-4024
Huff, Bob	29	Republican	(916) 651-4029
Kehoe, Christine	39	Democrat	(916) 651-4039
La Malfa, Doug	4	Republican	(916) 651-4004
Leno, Mark	3	Democrat	(916) 651-4003
Lieu, Ted W.	28	Democrat	(916) 651-4028
Liu, Carol	21	Democrat	(916) 651-4021
Lowenthal, Alan	27	Democrat	(916) 651-4027
Negrete McLeod, Gloria	32	Democrat	(916) 651-4032
Padilla, Alex	20	Democrat	(916) 651-4020
Pavley, Fran	23	Democrat	(916) 651-4023
Price, Jr., Curren D.	26	Democrat	(916) 651-4026
Rubio, Michael J.	16	Democrat	(916) 651-4016
Runner, Sharon	17	Republican	(916) 651-4017
Simitian, S. Joseph	11	Democrat	(916) 651-4011
Steinberg, Darrell	6	Democrat	(916) 651-4006
Strickland, Tony	19	Republican	(916) 651-4019
Vargas, Juan	40	Democrat	(916) 651-4040
Walters, Mimi	33	Republican	(916) 651-4033
Wolk, Lois	5	Democrat	(916) 651-4005
Wright, Roderick D.	25	Democrat	(916) 651-4025
Wyland, Mark	38	Republican	(916) 651-4038
Yee, Leland Y.	8	Democrat	(916) 651-4008

LAPD Continues Criminalization Efforts against LA CAN to Squash Organizing and Silence Dissent, but We Won’t Let that Happen

On Wednesday, July 6th, just hours after the conviction of General Dogon was announced, LA CAN and partners including Dream Team LA, Comunidad Presente, Hippie Kitchen and others gathered for our monthly protest of the supposed Skid Row Neighborhood Watch Walk.  Pete White, LA CAN Co-Director, was distinctly targeted and arrested during the protest.

This Walk is organized by the Central City East Association, a business improvement district which promotes criminalization of homelessness and the increased policing and enforcement under the Skid Row Safer Cities Initiative.  Often, City Attorney Trutanich, Councilmember Jan Perry, other business leaders, and media attend the walk.  What is conspicuously missing every month is Skid Row residents.

LA CAN and our partners decided to begin a monthly protest of this event for several reasons, including: 1) the City Attorney’s crackdown on protest and dissent which has impacted all of the participating organizations; 2) the lack of resident involvement in the Walk – instead using the walk to demonize and degrade residents; and 3) to protest the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI), since the Walkers are generally accompanied by several SCI officers who have made thousands of arrests of poor, mostly Black residents as part of the Initiative.

We have been doing this protest since March, but this month the response from LAPD was quite different and more intense.  Although there were only 10-12 people, mostly business reps, participating in the Walk, there were dozens of LAPD officers on hand.  Officers gave conflicting information to legal observers about our right to be there and our right to protest on public property.

LAPD at 6th and Gladys, a block before arrest

Although we were simply exercising our first amendment right on a public sidewalk that was not closed to the public nor occupied by a permit obtained by CCEA, Pete White was arrested for what LAPD claimed was disrupting a public meeting.  After the arrest, an order to disperse was given and all others were threatened with arrest.

A community partner who also attended the protest of the “Safety Walk” posted this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_4qOHHall8&feature=channel_video_title

LA CAN leadership has been targeted with arrests, detentions, false charges, degrading comments and public statements by LAPD, and much more because of our opposition to Safer Cities and our active resistance to criminalization efforts.  We believe this arrest, and especially this ridiculous charge, is unjust like all the rest and we will fight it all the way.  Pete has been released from jail and his first court date is scheduled for July 27th.  Stay tuned for ways to support.

 

The Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez, United States District Judge, Issues Order to Stop LAPD’s Ongoing Practice of Taking Property from Homeless People, Finding the City’s Argument Lacked Credibility

For Immediate release

Contact:   
Law Offices of Carol Sobel
310 393-3055 [o]/ 310-922-7001[c]

Pete White
213-434-1594 [c]

A federal district judge in Los Angeles issued an injunction today against the City of Los Angeles to halt the seizure and destruction of the personal possessions of homeless residents of Skid Row.  This follows a temporary restraining order the court issued against the City on April 22, 2011.

The court’s order rejected the City’s claim that the property was abandoned or created a public hazard. The judge ruled that homeless individuals have an expectation of privacy in their property, even when they leave it unattended on public sidewalks for short periods of time. The court also rejected the claim that signs posted by the City advising that property on the sidewalks would be disposed of was proper justification that anything on the sidewalk was abandoned and could be taken and destroyed.

Jeff Dietrech of the Catholic Worker/Hippie Kitchen located in Skid Row stated, “Homeless people have now had their inalienable rights of person and property validated by the court—LAPD hands off!”

In its ruling the court also noted that significant evidence submitted by the City in opposition to the claims of the homeless individuals was not credible and conflicted with other evidence the City submitted. The opinion recognized the City’s initiative to revitalize the downtown area, but found that the homeless population will suffer greater injury without the court’s intervention on behalf of their rights.

LA CAN Organizer and Skid Row resident Steve Richardson, better known as General Dogon, worked diligently to collect documentation presented in the lawsuit. When informed about Judge Gutierrez’s ruling, he stated, “Thankfully this is one judge that saw through the City of Los Angeles’ lies—this is more than just a lawsuit. It is about dignity, respect, and property rights for all people.”

Click HERE to read Judge Gutierrez’ Preliminary Injunction Ruling (Highlights added by LA CAN).

Continued Over-Saturation of LAPD and Lack of Mental Health Teams in Skid Row

As reported many times on this blog, LA CAN members are adamantly opposed to the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) and the ongoing actions of between 40 and 100 additional officers SCI brought to the Skid Row community in 2006. We have witnessed several “maximum enforcement days” over the past few weeks – escalating the police state once again.

As a form of harm reduction, our CommunityWatch teams monitor police activity daily to attempt to prevent civil rights violations. This video shows the extreme over-saturation of police officers, as well as raises serious questions about why this man needed to have a hood placed over his head, held like that on the public sidewalk, and why he was taken away in an ambulance – we can only assume it was because of physical injury or mental health condition.

If it was related to mental health, where were the specially-trained SMART team LAPD officers? Why were there dozens of uniformed police officers there? And why was at least one LAPD officer taking photos of this man, in the hood, with what appears to be his personal camera? An inquiry has been made to Central Bureau command staff, but to date they have given no response to the community.

This and dozens of other incidents has led to a community recommendation to LAPD and the Police Commission that SMART team officers be increased in the Skid Row community.  On March 8th, LAPD reported to the Commission that additional SMART teams weren’t needed and there weren’t enough resources to add officers.  However, the Commission did not accept that report and a sub-committee is meeting on this urgent issue.   We ask, couldn’t a few of the dozens of officers that respond to these incidents be shifted to the SMART team?

On Homeless Memorial Day, LA CAN Releases Survey Data on the Devastating Impacts of Safer Cities Policing in Skid Row

On Tuesday, December 21st, the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) held a press conference to release a human rights assessment of Skid Row’s Safer Cities Initiative, an intensive policing effort launched by Mayor Villaraigosa that has been sustained for more than four years.  Residents also delivered the report to the Police Commission and called for the end of Safer Cities.

The Human Rights Assessment is available here:

Human Rights Assessment-Skid Row’s Safer Cities Initiative 2010

The report is based on a survey of more than 200 poor and homeless residents of downtown Los Angeles and shows that:

• More than half of the respondents (53.6%), both homeless and housed, had been arrested in just the past year.  This compares to an adult arrest rate in the State of California of 4.9 percent.
• As a result of arrest, 51.5% lost their housing, 42.4% lost access to social services, and 16.4% lost employment.

• Although LAPD touts improvements in biased policing (formerly racial profiling), 75 percent reported being profiled by police in the past year due to their race, economic status, or residence in the Skid Row community.  Almost 80 percent of respondents reported they do not feel safe from police violence and police harassment.
• The report also includes previously unpublished data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s 2009 Homeless Count that shows that the most prevalent form of victimization reported by those surveyed was police harassment (37%), exceeding assault (24%) and robbery (18%).

 

Press Release: Downtown Residents and Faith-Based Groups Protest Increasing Criminalization and Harassment, Human Rights Abuses, and Four Years of Financial Waste

September 29, 2010

Contact: Pete White

Los Angeles

Community Action Network

(213) 228-0024 Ext. 201

Downtown Residents and Faith-Based Groups Protest Increasing Criminalization and Harassment, Human Rights Abuses, and Four Years of Financial Waste

On Thursday, September 30^th, Skid Row residents and faith-based supporters took action all day long to highlight both long-standing and new tactics of criminalization of homelessness and poverty.

Last week, Mayor Villaraigosa touted his purported efforts to end homelessness in Los Angeles by holding a dog and pony show at the New Genesis project in downtown LA.  Yet he failed to acknowledge that his permanent supportive housing program hasn’t funded any new units in more than a year while at the same time the Mayor has refused to end his expensive, failed policing initiative on Skid Row, which has already cost local taxpayers hundreds of millions.

There has been no relationship between crime rates and police resources on Skid Row, where in 2006 former Chief Bratton added 50 extra uniformed officers and as many undercover cops to police a 50-square-block area that’s home to only 15,000 people, most of them poor and black.

Recently, Chief Beck and Councilmember Perry escalated Safer Cities policing to a new low, establishing new “criminals” in faith-based groups distributing free food and other basic necessities in Skid Row.  After more than 35,000 arrests and tens of thousands of citations under Safer Cities, LAPD is not just targeting poor and homeless people but also the people that provide much needed relief to them.

And now this model will be exported — this devastating enforcement strategy was just unveiled last week as a solution for homelessness in Venice.  Criminalization does not end homelessness or poverty – it only exacerbates it.

Hot Off the Press: Community Connection #37

[enter here to read real stories of Angelenos making history] community connect 37FINAL

It is that time again, Community Connection time! This edition will highlight the Los Angeles Right to Housing Collective’ response to the May 21, 2010 melee in City Council. We will take you to the Mayor’s Mansion and LA Council President Eric Garcetti’s home where residents let him know “that we shall not be moved!” We will also bring you news from Northern Cali where executives of Amerland Group, headed by Ruben Islas, have been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection to faulty fire systems in one of their affordable housing for seniors projects [search back-issues of the CC and read more about Amerland's failures to adequately serve low-income families and individuals].  These are but a few of the stories that are just a mouse click away, join us as we connect communities locally and abroad.

We Stand for Just Immigration Reform NOT Criminalization

–Los Angeles, CA

Circle of Conscience

LA CAN stands solidly against any attempt to criminalize people because of their legal status, sexual orientation, gender, color of their skin, etc. Racial profiling is indeed a Human Rights violation and we will fight to see its end!

Today we stood in solidarity with immigrant rights organizations who dared to be different; who said enough is enough; who chained themselves for the world to see. Chants of, “we are Arizona” could be heard up and down the streets and it most certainly found its way into the cells of immigrants waiting deportation. To paraphrase Comrade Sister Angela Davis, “if they come for you a night they will come for me in the morning” sums it up quite nicely.

Real Immigration Reform and stop the Safer City Initiative NOW!

Sistah Soldier ready for whatever...

Raul A. IDEPSCA, a soldier for justice in the truest sense.

the calvary prepares to engage

the people respond!

This is what we say...

Rent Freeze for Main Street!

Freeze Our Rents Right Now

-Los Angeles, CA

Angelenos, withering under the weight of a depression with no end in sight, are calling for the Los Angeles City Council to give them a break. The break they are demanding comes in the form of a “rent freeze” slated to last for the next 12 months. It is fact that the lion’s share of Los Angeles residents are indeed renters. Plus, in light of the housing bubble collapse, many more Angelenos have been thrust into marginal housing; an already over-burdened social service system; and the ranks of homelessness.

As cuts to crucially needed services continue to send the quality of life for poor residents straight down the toilet, banks and businesses continue to get bailed out. Adding insult to injury  in many instances banks have assumed the role of landlord in foreclosed multi-unit properties. There are numerous reports stating that banks are not making repairs, violating health and safety code standards, and attempting to drive people from their units. Why? Because it is easier to get rid of an empty building, that’s why!

Many of these institutions are direct, or indirect beneficiaries, of the bailout.

A Little History

The City-sponsored “Economic Study of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the Los Angeles Housing Market” (RSO Study) was released in June 2009. This study includes recommendations relative to the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), including calling for the elimination of the 3% “floor” on rental increases allowed by the RSO based on the Consumer Price Index and elimination of the additional 1% rent increase allowed for each utility (gas or electricity) where it’s included in the rent. The study showed that the utility increases allowed in the RSO bears no relationship to the actual cost to landlords, thus providing landlords with a significant windfall at tenants’ expense.

The current CPI rate for 2010 is -.62 %, which means that renters will face unjustified rent increase of 3%, due to the “floor” beginning July 1, 2010, unless the rent increase moratorium is passed.

The City of West Hollywood currently has a 0% allowable rent increase. In San Francisco rent increases are now 0.1%,  in Oakland it is 0.7%, in Santa Monica it is a 1% increase, and in Berkeley it is a 0.1% allowable rent increase.  Why does Los Angeles continue to stand out and to have a 3% minimum increase on the books?

On May 5, 2010, in a 3-1 vote in our favor, we were able to convince the Community & Economic Development Committee that a moratorium is warranted. As with all political struggle our original 12-month demand was reduced to 4 months–of course this was without our knowledge or support. While this falls short of our ultimate 12-month moratorium we are clear that we will continue to fight hard for a vote on Friday that reflects the community’s. Moreover, we will not stop fighting for the Human Right to Housing until all of our demands are met.

If you are a tenant living in Los Angeles we urge you to come and join the growing ranks of tenants fighting for the rent-freeze and the universal right to housing.

Details:

LA City Hall , 200 N. Main, Los Angeles, CA

Friday, May 7^th 10:00am – conference to be held immediately after the vote