Latest news with #LosAngelesCityCharter
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge denies emergency motion to stop transfer of L.A. Zoo elephants Billy and Tina
A judge denied a temporary restraining order on Thursday seeking to stop the Los Angeles Zoo from transferring two beloved elephants to a zoo in Oklahoma. An L.A. resident sued the zoo last Friday over its decision to move elephants Tina and Billy to the Tulsa Zoo, arguing that they should instead be sent to an animal sanctuary. His lawyers then filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday. Melissa Lerner, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, told reporters outside the courtroom on Thursday that the judge denied the motion 'largely on the basis that this is an issue that should be addressed by the City Council and Mayor Karen Bass,' adding that the judge 'encouraged the public to reach out to their council members and to Mayor Bass and to tell them that this is unconscionable and unacceptable.' Animal rights advocates have criticized the L.A. Zoo for decades for holding elephants in a relatively small enclosure, which they say causes serious health issues. Two elephants were euthanized in the last few years because of health issues that the zoo said were age-related, leaving only Billy and Tina, who live in separate enclosures in an elephant habitat of about 6.5 acres. The zoo announced it would be transferring the pachyderms to a spacious elephant complex at the Tulsa Zoo in late April, sparking further criticism. Read more: As L.A. resident sues zoo over Billy and Tina, Cher says elephants have 'served their time' Outside the courtroom, Lerner continued to call on the mayor to act. 'Mayor Karen Bass can resolve this with one phone call — it is not difficult,' Lerner said. 'We wish she would rise to the occasion and do the right thing here. She has the power to intervene and prevent their transfer before it's too late.' A representative for the mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The emergency filing cited the urgency of the case, noting that the transfer could happen at any moment and that transporting elephants can pose serious health risks. It urged the judge to 'maintain the status quo' by keeping Billy and Tina in L.A. until the court had more time to review the case. Much of the contents of the initial lawsuit, including a declaration from the singer Cher, discussed how the decision-making process to transfer the animals was made without input from the public or from City Council. In its first statement since the lawsuit was filed, the L.A. Zoo said Thursday morning that the 'difficult decision' to relocate Billy and Tina was made in accordance with recommendations from and consultations with the Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums and its Elephant Species Survival Plan. 'The care and wellbeing of the animals is always a top priority and decisions impacting the animals are made at discretion of the Zoo Director — an authority granted in the Los Angeles City Charter. Activist agendas and protests are rightfully not a consideration in decisions that impact animal care,' the statement said. Read more: Last two elephants to leave L.A. Zoo after years of controversy. But their new home is the subject of debate L.A. Zoo Director and Chief Executive Denise Verret is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a longtime advocate for the elephants, filed a motion last month seeking to pause their relocation until the City Council could review the possibility of sending them to a sanctuary. At a budget hearing last week, Blumenfield asked Verret a series of questions about the elephants. In a hearing on May 8 where the Council member and zoo director went head-to-head on the issue, Verret said as of that date that the L.A. and Tulsa zoos had not yet signed a contract and no date had been set for the transfer. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Judge denies emergency motion to stop transfer of L.A. zoo elephants Billy and Tina
A judge denied a temporary restraining order on Thursday seeking to stop the Los Angeles Zoo from transferring two beloved elephants to a zoo in Oklahoma. An L.A. resident sued the zoo last Friday over its decision to move elephants Tina and Billy to the Tulsa Zoo arguing that they should instead be sent to an animal sanctuary. His lawyers then filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order on Tuesday. Melissa Lerner, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, told reporters outside the courtroom on Thursday that the judge denied the motion 'largely on the basis that this is an issue that should be addressed by the City Council and Mayor Karen Bass,' adding that the judge 'encouraged the public to reach out to their council members and to Mayor Bass and to tell them that this is unconscionable and unacceptable.' Animal rights advocates have criticized the L.A. Zoo for decades for holding elephants in a relatively small enclosure, which they say causes serious health issues. Two elephants were euthanized in the last few years because of health issues that the zoo said were age-related, leaving only Billy and Tina, who live in separate enclosures in an elephant habitat of about 6.5 acres. The zoo announced they would be transferring the pachyderms to a spacious elephant complex at the Tulsa Zoo in late April, sparking further criticism. Outside the courtroom, Lerner continued to call on the mayor to act. 'Mayor Karen Bass can resolve this with one phone call, it is not difficult,' Lerner said. 'We wish she would rise to the occasion and do the right thing here. She has the power to intervene and prevent their transfer before it's too late.' A representative for the mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The emergency filing cited the urgency of the case, noting that the transfer could happen at any moment and that transporting elephants can pose serious health risks. It urged the judge to 'maintain the status quo' by keeping Billy and Tina in L.A. until the court had more time to review the case. Much of the contents of the initial lawsuit, including a declaration from the singer Cher, discussed how the decision-making process to transfer the animals was made without input from the public or from City Council. In its first statement since the lawsuit was filed, the L.A. Zoo said Thursday morning that the 'difficult decision' to relocate Billy and Tina was made in accordance with recommendations from and consultations with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and its Elephant Species Survival Plan. 'The care and wellbeing of the animals is always a top priority and decisions impacting the animals are made at discretion of the Zoo Director — an authority granted in the Los Angeles City Charter. Activist agendas and protests are rightfully not a consideration in decisions that impact animal care,' the statement said. The L.A. Zoo Director and Chief Executive Denise Verret is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, a longtime advocate for the elephants, filed a motion last month seeking to pause their relocation until the City Council could review the possibility of sending them to a sanctuary. At a budget hearing last week, Blumenfield asked Verret a series of questions about the elephants. In a hearing on May 8 where the councilmember and zoo director went head-to-head on the issue, Verret said as of that date that the L.A. and Tulsa zoos had not yet signed a contract and no date had been set for the transfer.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley appeals her dismissal over deadly fires
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is appealing her dismissal, nearly a week after Mayor Karen Bass removed her from the top post in the wake of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. Crowley sent a letter to the Los Angeles City Council on Thursday, informing them she is proceeding with an appeal of Bass' removal of her as fire chief. According to the Los Angeles City Charter, the appeal would require the approval of two-thirds of the 15 city council members to overturn the firing. In response, a spokesperson for Bass' office said in a statement, "Former Chief Crowley has the right to appeal her dismissal." Bass removed Crowley from her position on Friday, saying firefighters were sent home instead of being used when the deadly fires broke out last month. "We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley's watch," Bass said in a statement. "Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the President of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after action report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removal." Ronnie Villanueva, a retired LA Fire chief deputy of emergency operations, was appointed interim chief. Crowley exercised her civil service rights to stay with the department at a lower rank with duties to be assigned by the new interim chief, according to the mayor's office. MORE: Los Angeles removes fire chief in wake of massive wildfires The former chief said it was an "absolute honor to represent and lead the men and women of one of the greatest fire departments in the world." "I am extremely proud of the work, sacrifice and dedication of our LAFD members, both sworn and civilian," she said in a statement on Saturday. Crowley's dismissal as chief was met with criticism by Freddy Escobar, the president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. "Chief Crowley is a strong leader who has the respect of our firefighters and wasn't afraid to tell the truth," he said in a statement on Saturday. "She's being made a scapegoat from a devastating fire without the benefit of a full investigation into what actually happened." Bass has faced tremendous pressure and questions surrounding her decision to attend an event in Ghana when the fires broke out on Jan. 7, despite days of warnings about the unprecedented weather event that drove the fires. Crowley openly criticized Bass in a local TV interview on Jan. 10, saying Bass had failed the city, citing funding and staffing of the fire department. Bass said she has not cut the fire department budget while in office. MORE: Los Angeles Fire Department budget sustained cuts but saw overall increase At least 29 people died as multiple wildfires -- fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds -- raged across Southern California in January. The largest of the fires in Los Angeles County -- the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood -- began on Jan. 7 and spread to 23,707 acres. The fire remained active for 44 days. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The second largest of the fires -- the Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena -- also began on Jan. 7 and spread to 14,021 acres. It remained active for 44 days and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. ABC News' Mark Osborne, Nadine El-Bawab and Bonnie Mclean contributed to this report. Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley appeals her dismissal over deadly fires originally appeared on
