Latest news with #RalphM.BrownAct
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L.A. council members were told a vote could violate public meeting law. They voted anyway
When Los Angeles City Council members took up a plan to hike the wages of tourism workers this week, they received some carefully worded advice from city lawyers: Don't vote on this yet. Senior Assistant City Atty. Michael J. Dundas advised them on Wednesday — deep into their meeting — that his office had not yet conducted a final legal review of the flurry of last-minute changes they requested earlier in the day. Dundas recommended that the council delay its vote for two days to comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state's open meeting law. "We advise that the posted agenda for today's meeting provides insufficient notice under the Brown Act for first consideration and adoption of an ordinance to increase the wages and health benefits for hotel and airport workers," Dundas wrote. The council pressed ahead anyway, voting 12-3 to increase the minimum wage of those workers to $30 per hour by 2028, despite objections from business groups, hotel owners and airport businesses. Read more: L.A. council backs $30 minimum wage for hotels, despite warnings from tourism industry Then, on Friday, the council conducted a do-over vote, taking up the rewritten wage measure at a special noon meeting — one called only the day before. The result was the same, with the measure passing again, 12-3. Some in the hotel industry questioned why Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who runs the meetings, insisted on moving forward Wednesday, even after the lawyers' warning. Jackie Filla, president and chief executive of the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles, said the decision to proceed Wednesday gave a political boost to Unite Here Local 11, which represents hotel workers. The union had already scheduled an election for Thursday for its members to vote on whether to increase their dues. By approving the $30 per hour minimum wage on Wednesday, the council gave the union a potent selling point for the proposed dues increase, Filla said. "It looks like it was in Unite Here's financial interest to have that timing," she said. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who opposed the wage increases, was more blunt. "It was clear that Marqueece intended to be as helpful as possible" to Unite Here Local 11, "even if it meant violating the Brown Act," she said. Harris-Dawson spokesperson Rhonda Mitchell declined to say why her boss pushed for a wage vote on Wednesday after receiving the legal advice about the Brown Act. That law requires local governments to take additional public comment if a legislative proposal has changed substantially during a meeting. Mitchell, in a text message, said Harris-Dawson scheduled the new wage vote for Friday because of a mistake by city lawyers. "The item was re-agendized because of a clerical error on the City Attorney's part — and this is the correction," she said. Mitchell did not provide details on the error. However, the wording on the two meeting agendas is indeed different. Read more: Faced with a $30 minimum wage, hotel investors start looking outside L.A. Wednesday's agenda called for the council to ask city lawyers to "prepare and present" amendments to the wage laws. Friday's agenda called for the council to "present and adopt" the proposed changes. Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for Unite Here Local 11, said in an email that her union does not control the City Council's schedule. The union's vote on higher dues involved not just its L.A. members but also thousands of workers in Orange County and Arizona, Hernandez said. "The timing of LA City Council votes is not up to us (sadly!) — in fact we were expecting a vote more than a year ago — nor would the precise timing be salient to our members," she said. Hernandez said Unite Here Local 11 members voted "overwhelmingly" on Thursday to increase their dues, allowing the union to double the size of its strike fund and pay for "an army of organizers" for the next round of labor talks. She did not disclose the size of the dues increase. Dundas' memo, written on behalf of City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto, was submitted late in Wednesday's deliberations, after council members requested a number of changes to the minimum wage ordinance. At one point, they took a recess so their lawyers could work on the changes. By the time the lawyers emerged with the new language, Dundas' memo was pinned to the public bulletin board in the council chamber, where spectators quickly snapped screenshots. 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
16-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. council members were told a vote could violate public meeting law. They voted anyway
When Los Angeles City Council members took up a plan to hike the wages of tourism workers this week, they received some carefully worded advice from city lawyers: Don't vote on this yet. Senior Assistant City Atty. Michael J. Dundas advised them on Wednesday — deep into their meeting — that his office had not yet conducted a final legal review of the flurry of last-minute changes they requested earlier in the day. Dundas recommended that the council delay its vote for two days to comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state's open meeting law. 'We advise that the posted agenda for today's meeting provides insufficient notice under the Brown Act for first consideration and adoption of an ordinance to increase the wages and health benefits for hotel and airport workers,' Dundas wrote. The council pressed ahead anyway, voting 12-3 to increase the minimum wage of those workers to $30 per hour by 2028, despite objections from business groups, hotel owners and airport businesses. Then, on Friday, the council conducted a do-over vote, taking up the rewritten wage measure at a special noon meeting — one called only the day before. The result was the same, with the measure passing again, 12-3. Some in the hotel industry questioned why Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who runs the meetings, insisted on moving forward Wednesday, even after the lawyers' warning. Jackie Filla, president and chief executive of the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles, said the decision to proceed Wednesday gave a political boost to Unite Here Local 11, which represents hotel workers. The union had already scheduled an election for Thursday for its members to vote on whether to increase their dues. By approving the $30 per hour minimum wage on Wednesday, the council gave the union a potent selling point for the proposed dues increase, Filla said. 'It looks like it was in Unite Here's financial interest to have that timing,' she said. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who opposed the wage increases, was more blunt. 'It was clear that Marqueece intended to be as helpful as possible' to Unite Here Local 11, 'even if it meant violating the Brown Act,' she said. Harris-Dawson spokesperson Rhonda Mitchell declined to say why her boss pushed for a wage vote on Wednesday after receiving the legal advice about the Brown Act. That law requires local governments to take additional public comment if a legislative proposal has changed substantially during a meeting. Mitchell, in a text message, said Harris-Dawson scheduled the new wage vote for Friday because of a mistake by city lawyers. 'The item was re-agendized because of a clerical error on the City Attorney's part — and this is the correction,' she said. Mitchell did not provide details on the error. However, the wording on the two meeting agendas is indeed different. Wednesday's agenda called for the council to ask city lawyers to 'prepare and present' amendments to the wage laws. Friday's agenda called for the council to 'present and adopt' the proposed changes. Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for Unite Here Local 11, said in an email that her union does not control the City Council's schedule. The union's vote on higher dues involved not just its L.A. members but also thousands of workers in Orange County and Arizona, Hernandez said. 'The timing of LA City Council votes is not up to us (sadly!) — in fact we were expecting a vote more than a year ago — nor would the precise timing be salient to our members,' she said. Hernandez said Unite Here Local 11 members voted 'overwhelmingly' on Thursday to increase their dues, allowing the union to double the size of its strike fund and pay for 'an army of organizers' for the next round of labor talks. She did not disclose the size of the dues increase. Dundas' memo, written on behalf of City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto, was submitted late in Wednesday's deliberations, after council members requested a number of changes to the minimum wage ordinance. At one point, they took a recess so their lawyers could work on the changes. By the time the lawyers emerged with the new language, Dundas' memo was pinned to the public bulletin board in the council chamber, where spectators quickly snapped screenshots.
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California School Board possibly engaging in 'antisemitic tropes,' violating transparency laws: Superintendent
A California county superintendent suggested that Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) school board members should bring legal representation to meetings, take ethics classes and engage in conflict resolution training after video emerged of members engaging in "antisemitic tropes" at a recent contentious meeting. "In recent months, my office has received a number of questions and concerns regarding conduct and rhetoric at PVUSD Board meetings. My own observations have confirmed the validity of several of these concerns," Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Farris Sabbah wrote in an April 23 letter addressed to PVUSD Board President Olivia Flores and other members. "In particular, I was deeply concerned by comments made by trustees at the April 16, 2025, Board meeting that appeared to invoke antisemitic tropes," he said in the letter obtained by the North American Values Institute and shared with Fox News Digital. The PVUSD School Board held the meeting in question to discuss renewing a contract for the ethnic studies curriculum with Culturally Responsive Education (CRE). Jewish community members have expressed concern about the CRE curriculum due to the organization's founder, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, having authored a draft ethnic studies curriculum that was rejected by the California school board due to concerns over antisemitism. Despite the state rejecting Tintiangco-Cubales' preferred curriculum for ethnic studies, the PVUSD Board still intends to contract with CRE to draft their ethnic studies' curriculum. After Jewish community members raised their objections to the CRE curriculum, multiple board members engaged in rhetoric that employed what Sabbah's letter described as "antisemitic tropes." During the April 16 meeting, board member Joy Flynn used her time to discuss Jewish "economic power." "It has been something that I've discovered, or that I've been a little taken aback by is the lack of acknowledgment of economic power historically held by the Jewish community, that Black and Brown people don't have," Flynn said. Board member Gabriel Medina seemed to address the Jewish community when he said, "I don't see you people at protests for immigration. I don't see you at protest where people are being taken away right now. I don't see you advocating to bring back Abrego Garcia or Mahmoud Khalil. You only show up to meetings when it's beneficial for you so you can tell Brown people who they are, but guess what, we're telling our own stories now." Sabbah's letter suggested that the board may be in violation of the California transparency law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, by "taking, or attempting to take, action on matters not properly listed" and recommended the board have legal counsel present at future meetings. He also recommended the board take classes in "governance, ethics and education law" as well as conflict resolution following the combative meeting. "Antisemitic rhetoric has no place in PVUSD, least of all from trustees charged with upholding students' rights, ensuring nondiscrimination, and fostering safe, inclusive education environments," Sabbah wrote. When asked for comment, Medina referred Fox News Digital to a Substack post in which he replied to Sabbah's letter. "Framing board member comments as invoking 'anti-Semitic tropes' without directly naming or analyzing those comments reduces a complex and painful debate to vague accusations. This tactic chills speech, especially when used against trustees of color challenging systems of power. As Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes, 'The problem with liberalism is that it often demands civility from the oppressed while allowing power to remain unchallenged.' We must ask: whose discomfort is being centered when our board addresses racial inequity?" Medina wrote in the April 23 post. He wrote that the comments at the school board meeting were directed at a "group of individuals – many of whom have aligned with far-right groups." PVUSD superintendent Dr. Heather Contreras told Fox News Digital that legal representation will be present at the next school board meeting, and a decision will be made about whether legal counsel will be present at future meetings. She said her district stands firmly against antisemitism. "PVUSD stands firmly against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and hate. We are aware of concerns raised regarding recent remarks attributed to some members of the Board of Trustees, and we want to be clear about the values that guide our district. PVUSD is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students, families, educators, and community members—regardless of background, race, religion, or identity. We remain focused on upholding the principles of equity, dignity, and mutual respect in everything we do. PVUSD will continue to work with our diverse communities to ensure our schools reflect the values we expect from our leaders and instill in our students," Contreras told Fox News Digital. Board president Flores and trustee Flynn referred Fox News Digital to Dr. Contreras' statement when asked for comment. "Our focus is on supporting the Board and District directly as we work together to serve students and families of all identities. We have no additional comments at this time," Sabbah told Fox News Digital. CRE's Tintiangco-Cubales did not return a request for comment.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California county superintendent warns school board may face legal trouble over 'antisemitic tropes'
A California county superintendent suggested that Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) school board members should bring legal representation to meetings, take ethics classes and engage in conflict resolution training after video emerged of members engaging in "antisemitic tropes" at a recent contentious meeting. "In recent months, my office has received a number of questions and concerns regarding conduct and rhetoric at PVUSD Board meetings. My own observations have confirmed the validity of several of these concerns," Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Farris Sabbah wrote in an April 23 letter addressed to PVUSD Board President Olivia Flores and other members. "In particular, I was deeply concerned by comments made by trustees at the April 16, 2025, Board meeting that appeared to invoke antisemitic tropes," he said in the letter obtained by the North American Values Institute and shared with Fox News Digital. The PVUSD School Board held the meeting in question to discuss renewing a contract for the ethnic studies curriculum with Culturally Responsive Education (CRE). Jewish community members have expressed concern about the CRE curriculum due to the organization's founder, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, having authored a draft ethnic studies curriculum that was rejected by the California school board due to concerns over antisemitism. Newsom's Viral 'Latinx' Claim Crumbles Amid Scrutiny Of His Own Administration's Online Records Despite the state rejecting Tintiangco-Cubales' preferred curriculum for ethnic studies, the PVUSD Board still intends to contract with CRE to draft their ethnic studies' curriculum. Read On The Fox News App After Jewish community members raised their objections to the CRE curriculum, multiple board members engaged in rhetoric that employed what Sabbah's letter described as "antisemitic tropes." During the April 16 meeting, board member Joy Flynn used her time to discuss Jewish "economic power." "It has been something that I've discovered, or that I've been a little taken aback by is the lack of acknowledgment of economic power historically held by the Jewish community, that Black and Brown people don't have," Flynn said. Board member Gabriel Medina seemed to address the Jewish community when he said, "I don't see you people at protests for immigration. I don't see you at protest where people are being taken away right now. I don't see you advocating to bring back Abrego Garcia or Mahmoud Khalil. You only show up to meetings when it's beneficial for you so you can tell Brown people who they are, but guess what, we're telling our own stories now." Sabbah's letter suggested that the board may be in violation of the California transparency law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, by "taking, or attempting to take, action on matters not properly listed" and recommended the board have legal counsel present at future meetings. He also recommended the board take classes in "governance, ethics and education law" as well as conflict resolution following the combative meeting. "Antisemitic rhetoric has no place in PVUSD, least of all from trustees charged with upholding students' rights, ensuring nondiscrimination, and fostering safe, inclusive education environments," Sabbah wrote. Maine 'Maga' Parent Silenced At School Board Meeting During Speech Opposing Trans Athletes In Girls' Sports When asked for comment, Medina referred Fox News Digital to a Substack post in which he replied to Sabbah's letter. "Framing board member comments as invoking 'anti-Semitic tropes' without directly naming or analyzing those comments reduces a complex and painful debate to vague accusations. This tactic chills speech, especially when used against trustees of color challenging systems of power. As Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes, 'The problem with liberalism is that it often demands civility from the oppressed while allowing power to remain unchallenged.' We must ask: whose discomfort is being centered when our board addresses racial inequity?" Medina wrote in the April 23 post. He wrote that the comments at the school board meeting were directed at a "group of individuals – many of whom have aligned with far-right groups." PVUSD superintendent Dr. Heather Contreras told Fox News Digital that legal representation will be present at the next school board meeting, and a decision will be made about whether legal counsel will be present at future meetings. She said her district stands firmly against antisemitism. "PVUSD stands firmly against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and hate. We are aware of concerns raised regarding recent remarks attributed to some members of the Board of Trustees, and we want to be clear about the values that guide our district. PVUSD is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students, families, educators, and community members—regardless of background, race, religion, or identity. We remain focused on upholding the principles of equity, dignity, and mutual respect in everything we do. PVUSD will continue to work with our diverse communities to ensure our schools reflect the values we expect from our leaders and instill in our students," Contreras told Fox News Digital. Board president Flores and trustee Flynn referred Fox News Digital to Dr. Contreras' statement when asked for comment. "Our focus is on supporting the Board and District directly as we work together to serve students and families of all identities. We have no additional comments at this time," Sabbah told Fox News Digital. CRE's Tintiangco-Cubales did not return a request for article source: California county superintendent warns school board may face legal trouble over 'antisemitic tropes'
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California county superintendent warns school board may face legal trouble over 'antisemitic tropes'
A California county superintendent suggested that Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) school board members should bring legal representation to meetings, take ethics classes and engage in conflict resolution training after video emerged of members engaging in "antisemitic tropes" at a recent contentious meeting. "In recent months, my office has received a number of questions and concerns regarding conduct and rhetoric at PVUSD Board meetings. My own observations have confirmed the validity of several of these concerns," Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Farris Sabbah wrote in an April 23 letter addressed to PVUSD Board President Olivia Flores and other members. "In particular, I was deeply concerned by comments made by trustees at the April 16, 2025, Board meeting that appeared to invoke antisemitic tropes," he said in the letter obtained by the North American Values Institute and shared with Fox News Digital. The PVUSD School Board held the meeting in question to discuss renewing a contract for the ethnic studies curriculum with Culturally Responsive Education (CRE). Jewish community members have expressed concern about the CRE curriculum due to the organization's founder, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, having authored a draft ethnic studies curriculum that was rejected by the California school board due to concerns over antisemitism. Despite the state rejecting Tintiangco-Cubales' preferred curriculum for ethnic studies, the PVUSD Board still intends to contract with CRE to draft their ethnic studies' curriculum. After Jewish community members raised their objections to the CRE curriculum, multiple board members engaged in rhetoric that employed what Sabbah's letter described as "antisemitic tropes." During the April 16 meeting, board member Joy Flynn used her time to discuss Jewish "economic power." "It has been something that I've discovered, or that I've been a little taken aback by is the lack of acknowledgment of economic power historically held by the Jewish community, that Black and Brown people don't have," Flynn said. Board member Gabriel Medina seemed to address the Jewish community when he said, "I don't see you people at protests for immigration. I don't see you at protest where people are being taken away right now. I don't see you advocating to bring back Abrego Garcia or Mahmoud Khalil. You only show up to meetings when it's beneficial for you so you can tell Brown people who they are, but guess what, we're telling our own stories now." Sabbah's letter suggested that the board may be in violation of the California transparency law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, by "taking, or attempting to take, action on matters not properly listed" and recommended the board have legal counsel present at future meetings. He also recommended the board take classes in "governance, ethics and education law" as well as conflict resolution following the combative meeting. "Antisemitic rhetoric has no place in PVUSD, least of all from trustees charged with upholding students' rights, ensuring nondiscrimination, and fostering safe, inclusive education environments," Sabbah wrote. When asked for comment, Medina referred Fox News Digital to a Substack post in which he replied to Sabbah's letter. "Framing board member comments as invoking 'anti-Semitic tropes' without directly naming or analyzing those comments reduces a complex and painful debate to vague accusations. This tactic chills speech, especially when used against trustees of color challenging systems of power. As Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes, 'The problem with liberalism is that it often demands civility from the oppressed while allowing power to remain unchallenged.' We must ask: whose discomfort is being centered when our board addresses racial inequity?" Medina wrote in the April 23 post. He wrote that the comments at the school board meeting were directed at a "group of individuals – many of whom have aligned with far-right groups." PVUSD superintendent Dr. Heather Contreras told Fox News Digital that legal representation will be present at the next school board meeting, and a decision will be made about whether legal counsel will be present at future meetings. She said her district stands firmly against antisemitism. "PVUSD stands firmly against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and hate. We are aware of concerns raised regarding recent remarks attributed to some members of the Board of Trustees, and we want to be clear about the values that guide our district. PVUSD is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students, families, educators, and community members—regardless of background, race, religion, or identity. We remain focused on upholding the principles of equity, dignity, and mutual respect in everything we do. PVUSD will continue to work with our diverse communities to ensure our schools reflect the values we expect from our leaders and instill in our students," Contreras told Fox News Digital. Board president Flores and trustee Flynn referred Fox News Digital to Dr. Contreras' statement when asked for comment. "Our focus is on supporting the Board and District directly as we work together to serve students and families of all identities. We have no additional comments at this time," Sabbah told Fox News Digital. CRE's Tintiangco-Cubales did not return a request for comment.
