Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published September 1, 2026 12:17 PM
The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors meeting on April 15, 2025.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Topline:
Los Angeles County rolled out a new way to participate in Board of Supervisors meetings Tuesday with a revamped registration system that officials say will make it easier for residents to have their voices heard.
Why it matters: Under the pilot system, people making public comments over the phone will get a text message reminder when the item they want to speak on is before the board, meaning they don’t have to watch the entire meeting that can run hours-long.
Why now: “This overhaul of our public comment system is about empowering residents in every corner of L.A. County — especially those who may not be able to take time out of their Tuesdays to come down to the Board Room — to speak up on the decisions that affect their lives,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement.
Read on ... for details on how to participate in public comment.
Los Angeles County rolled out a new way to participate in Board of Supervisors meetings Tuesday with a revamped registration system that officials say will make it easier for residents to have their voices heard.
Under the pilot system, people making public comments over the phone will get a text message reminder when the item they want to speak on is before the board, meaning they don’t have to watch an entire meeting that can run hours-long. It also gets rid of all the access codes, pins and “raise hand” features callers would’ve been required to use.
Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district stretches from Whittier to Catalina Island, said what the board does is for the public, and it's the board's responsibility to make it as seamless and accessible as possible for residents to share their thoughts.
“This overhaul of our public comment system is about empowering residents in every corner of L.A. County — especially those who may not be able to take time out of their Tuesdays to come down to the Board Room — to speak up on the decisions that affect their lives,” Hahn said in a statement.
How does it work?
First, register here starting at 9 a.m. the day of the meeting if you’re planning to make public comments in person or over the phone. It’ll ask you to select the meeting you want to participate in and the agenda item(s) you want to speak on.
To speak over the phone, you’ll have to call (213) 444-2600 to connect to the meeting. Pins and access codes are no longer required, but expect to follow some prompts when you dial in. Plus, if you get disconnected, you won’t lose your place in line.
You’ll then get a text reminder when your agenda item is up (don’t forget to enter your phone number and opt in when you register). Each speaker will be called by name or by the last four digits of their phone number.
To speak in person, you can also register at a kiosk in the boardroom. You should check in at the kiosk when you arrive and wait until your name is called to the podium to speak.
You’re not required to register, but it’ll make the process quicker, according to county officials. Anonymous public comments are also allowed.
Officials said the new system is accessible for people with disabilities, including a portal that supports screen readers for blind or visually impaired people.
You can still submit written public comments online through the board’s website.
Why it matters
Residents have expressed “many concerns” about the previous public comment system for both in person and over the phone, Supervisor Hilda Solis said during Tuesday’s board meeting.
“I hope everyone will utilize this new system, it has been a great investment,” said Solis, who is also chair of the board. “I hope this will help to expedite all of those concerns.”
The pilot comes about a year after the L.A. County Board of Supervisors introduced real-time translation services and moved to a new teleconference platform for public comments after people reported issues with the old system.
How can I keep up with the board meetings?
When: Supervisors meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays. You can find the full calendar, including canceled meetings, here.
Where: Room 381-B, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.
How to watch: The meetings are broadcast live here and on YouTube.
They’re also aired on KLCS in the city of L.A. at 11 p.m. the following Wednesday.
Agendas: You can find the agendas for each meeting here.
You can also sign up to have the agendas sent straight to your email inbox through that page.
If your internet access is iffy, you can call (213) 974-1442 to ask for the agenda to be mailed to you.
The U.S. Postal Service could "derail" the midterm election if it continues rushing out "untested" technology as part of President Trump's push to restrict mail-in voting, a newly released whistleblower report warns.
USPS prepares online portal: With voting by mail for the midterms set to officially start this week, key parts of the USPS plan for carrying out Trump's directives, including requirements for states to comply, remain blocked for now by a court order in the legal fight over the president's executive order. Still, the mailing agency has been preparing for months to launch an online portal that would allow state election officials to submit absentee voters' names and ballot envelope barcodes required by the now-blocked rule.
Why it matters: Testing of that new system, however, has been insufficient, according to claims by a whistleblower, outlined in a disclosure that Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut submitted Monday to USPS. If courts allow USPS' plan for Trump's order to proceed for the midterms, problems with the online portal could lead to eligible absentee voters not receiving their mail-in ballots in time or at all.
What could go wrong: One potential logistical hurdle, the whistleblower claimed, stems from an unusual "zero-percent failure policy" USPS has set for the process of verifying that the mail-in ballots states want to send out meet the requirements of its new rule. As designed, the process is entirely unforgiving. It could delay ballots by the thousands in repeated verification cycles — and thus prevent states from mailing enormous numbers of ballots," the disclosure said.
The U.S. Postal Service could "derail" the midterm election if it continues rushing out "untested" technology as part of President Trump's push to restrict mail-in voting, a newly released whistleblower report warns.
With voting by mail for the midterms set to officially start this week, key parts of the USPS plan for carrying out Trump's directives, including requirements for states to comply, remain blocked for now by a court order in the legal fight over the president's executive order.
Still, the mailing agency has been preparing for months to launch an online portal that would allow state election officials to submit absentee voters' names and ballot envelope barcodes required by the now-blocked rule.
Testing of that new system, however, has been insufficient, according to claims by a whistleblower, outlined in a disclosure that Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut submitted Monday to USPS.
"USPS leadership, it appears, has discarded all best practices as they speed the project to be ready for a September 1 implementation — raising questions about whether catastrophic failure would be a feature rather than a bug," said the disclosure, prepared by Whistleblower Aid, a nonprofit organization representing the anonymous federal government official with direct knowledge of the Postal Service's development of the new system.
If courts allow USPS' plan for Trump's order to proceed for the midterms, problems with the online portal could lead to eligible absentee voters not receiving their mail-in ballots in time or at all.
One potential logistical hurdle, the whistleblower claimed, stems from an unusual "zero-percent failure policy" USPS has set for the process of verifying that the mail-in ballots states want to send out meet the requirements of its new rule.
"As designed, the process is entirely unforgiving. It could delay ballots by the thousands in repeated verification cycles — and thus prevent states from mailing enormous numbers of ballots," the disclosure said.
Spokespeople for USPS did not immediately respond to NPR's questions about the whistleblower disclosure.
In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Blumenthal urged Steiner to "abandon this ill-conceived, unconscionable plan and ensure that all Americans can exercise their constitutional right to vote, including by mail, without interference by USPS."
Blumenthal said on a phone call with reporters that he found the details of the disclosure "mind-boggling" as an elected official and U.S. citizen.
"And what the disclosure reveals is that the Postal Service has designed a system that is intended to fail," the senator added.
The president, who has voted by mail himself, defended his directives for USPS and other federal agencies as a way to curb illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens, which many studies and audits show is extremely rare.
Last week, a federal judge in Boston issued a temporary restraining order against USPS after finding that its plan for Trump's order is likely illegal because the mailing agency has no authority to control voting by mail.
The Trump administration has appealed that ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, setting up what will likely be another battle at the Supreme Court, which has not yet weighed in on the legality of Trump's directives.
More lower court rulings on Trump's order may also be on the way as election officials and mail-in voters attempt to sort through the uncertainty the ongoing legal fight has caused.
Editor's note: USPS is a financial supporter of NPR.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment says it has reached a deal to purchase the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno. The company expects to close the transaction in early 2027.
Adding another team to their portfolio: Kroenke’s company owns the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal of the English Premier League, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.
Read on... for more on the deal and this developing story.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership of the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno.
The company led by Stan Kroenke made the surprising announcement Tuesday, saying it expects to close the transaction in early 2027. Major League Baseball, which must approve any sale, didn’t immediately comment on the news.
Kroenke’s company owns the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, Premier League champion Arsenal, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids and SoFi Stadium, along with the large Hollywood Park campus around the multibillion-dollar Inglewood arena. The conglomerate has now moved into baseball with the Angels, whose turbulent 23-year tenure under Moreno’s ownership will finally come to an end.
“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market,” Kroenke said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”
Moreno, an outdoor advertising magnate from Arizona, bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Company in 2003. While the club had steady success in its first years under Moreno with much of the roster that won the 2002 World Series, winning five AL West titles in six seasons during the 2000s, the Halos have entered a period of decline since their most recent playoff victory in 2009.
At 53-85, the AL-worst Angels are currently headed to their 11th consecutive losing season and their 12th consecutive non-playoff season, both the longest active streaks in the majors.
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Kavish Harjai
writes about how people get around L.A.
Published September 1, 2026 11:09 AM
Forest Lawn Drive, which has become a contentious street safety topic in the run up to the mayoral election, provides access to Griffith Park.
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Robyn Beck
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/AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
A bill that threatens a long-planned project to slow cars on Forest Lawn Drive near Griffith Park in Los Angeles passed both chambers of the California legislature on Monday. It now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.
The bill:Senate Bill 194 contains several provisions related to transportation. On Friday night, legislators added language to the bill specific to the city of Los Angeles. That language would require L.A. to hold a public hearing and gain approval from the City Council and the mayor before reducing “the number of vehicle travel lanes on a street that provides the only access to two or more adjacent cemeteries.”
The backstory: The L.A. Department of Transportation and the office of Councilmember Nithya Raman had planned to reduce the number of lanes on a 1-mile stretch of the Forest Lawn Drive, which has seen more than 95 collisions, including four deadly ones, since 2013. The project, which was slated to break ground earlier this summer, was paused in the spring by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who cited community opposition, including from two cemeteries along the road that have advocated against the project.
Status of the project: It’s unclear exactly how the city will address safety on the road without the lane reduction. In a statement, Bass’ office said city departments have proposed alternatives that include protected bike lanes and maintaining the number of driving lanes “with additional safety measures.” Her office did not respond to questions about what those additional safety measures would be. The L.A. Department of Transportation has not responded to requests for more information.
A fence is being erected around the entrance to the Jergins Tunnel in Long Beach on Aug. 21, 2026.
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Thomas R. Cordova
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Long Beach Post
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Topline:
Fed up with people living in and starting fires in a historic tunnel under downtown, the city of Long Beach has started building a fortified metal fence to keep them out.
The backstory: The Jergins Tunnel below Ocean Boulevard has been sealed up for decades, but after the pandemic, when the city’s homeless population saw a sharp increase, it became a problem. People managed to get past the wood panels intended to block access, and firefighters had to douse fires inside at least four times since 2022. People’s charred belongings and makeshift bedding were often visible afterward.
More details: The city would not say how much the new fence is expected to cost. Padilla said $156,200 has been spent so far on materials and labor, and the project won’t be finished until mid-to-late September.
Read on.... for more on the historic Jergins Tunnel.
Fed up with people living in and starting fires in a historic tunnel under downtown, the city of Long Beach has started building a fortified metal fence to keep them out.
The Jergins Tunnel below Ocean Boulevard has been sealed up for decades, but after the pandemic, when the city’s homeless population saw a sharp increase, it became a problem. People managed to get past the wood panels intended to block access, and firefighters had to douse fires inside at least four times since 2022. People’s charred belongings and makeshift bedding were often visible afterward.
Brett Ales, who owns the nearby Beach Hut Deli, said it had gotten so bad that there was a noticeable smell if you got close to the tunnel’s entrance.
After a fire in September last year, the city put together plans for a heavy-duty fence to “improve site security, reduce the potential for vandalism and fires and help protect the structural integrity of the tunnel,” Public Works spokesperson Jocelin Padilla wrote in an email.
A fence is being erected above and along the Jergins Tunnel in Long Beach on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
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Thomas R. Cordova
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Long Beach Post
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The city would not say how much the new fence is expected to cost. Padilla said $156,200 has been spent so far on materials and labor, and the project won’t be finished until mid-to-late September.
What is the historic Jergins Tunnel?
The 181-foot-long, 30-foot-wide tunnel was built by local businessman Andrew Jergins in 1927. It allowed pedestrians to visit the old Pike amusement park without dodging cars on Ocean Boulevard.
The tunnel was used regularly until 1967, when Ocean Boulevard was widened and the tunnel’s two entrances were sealed off.
It sat underneath the Jergins Trust Building until 1988, when it was torn down.
The interior of the Jergins Tunnel in 2018.
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Brian Addison
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Long Beach Post
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It sat largely unnoticed by anyone — except for local history buffs — until it got a sudden burst of attention in 2022 when pop star Lana Del Rey released a song titled “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.,” with lyrics about the tunnel’s “mosaic ceilings” and “painted tiles.”
Instead of leaving it to decay, some locals have sought ways to revive the tunnel as a monument to Long Beach’s history.
What happened to the plan for a Hard Rock Hotel?
In 2023, city leaders promised a huge makeover. They said the Jergins Tunnel would become a speakeasy and music venue underneath a new 31-story Hard Rock Hotel at the corner of Ocean and Pine.
Construction was supposed to begin in the summer of 2024, with an opening date in spring 2027, but shovels have yet to hit the ground.
Mayor Rex Richardson announces that a Hard Rock Hotel is coming to downtown Long Beach at Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.
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Brandon Richardson
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Long Beach Post
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It’s unclear what the holdup has been. The permits to build it are so old they’re about to expire, but the development company, Steinhauer Properties, has requested an extension, and the city has discretion to grant it, said Craig Nakano, a spokesperson for Community Development.
The city anticipates hearing an update on plans for the hotel as soon as the fall, Nakano said.
Steinhauer Properties did not respond to an email and phone message requesting comment.
More fences to block homeless people
The fence around the Jergins Tunnel is the second to be erected around a downtown landmark recently.
The city spent $811,449 building one around the Billie Jean King Main Library, blocking off much of its outdoor terrace that was often crowded with tents and sleeping bags.
City officials say fewer people are camping out on the terrace, clearing up space for outdoor library programs and saving them $70,000 so far on power washing the sidewalk.
A fence that was recently constructed around the Billie Jean King Library in Long Beach on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.
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Thomas R. Cordova
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Long Beach Post
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Nevertheless, the fence became a flashpoint for residents concerned about how much it cost and a symbol of Long Beach’s failure to reduce homelessness.
A citizens’ advisory committee on homelessness policy wrote a letter to the mayor and City Council saying that money would have been better spent housing people than clearing them off a sidewalk.
