The Brief

Identity: It’s a fuzzy term and can mean different things to different people.

Now: California lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Jewish people to identify as an ethnic group for state data collection. On a recent episode of AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news program, we asked listeners to share how they understand their Jewish identity.

Some things they said:

• Jewish identity isn’t just tied to religion and is mostly cultural. 
• They feel that unfortunate experiences of antisemitism have strengthened bonds with their community.
• Many expressed concern about the government misusing data.
• Some listeners welcomed the bill, saying Jewish people don’t fit into existing boxes.

Listen to the full episode above: to hear more reactions to the proposal.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Several Eastside bands will perform Saturday at a special tribute to Ritchie Valens as part of Grand Performances’ free summer concert series.

The “Ritchie Forever” program at downtown LA’s California Plaza will blend live music, storytelling and archival visuals to celebrate what would have been the Mexican American rock pioneer’s 85th birthday. The event will feature artists from East L.A., El Sereno, Highland Park, Southeast L.A. and more.

Families can bring a picnic from home or grab food from Grand Central Market, and get there early to score a spot on the grass or in the amphitheater. We recommend hopping on the Metro E Line from Mariachi Plaza to the Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill station and either walking up the hill or taking Angels Flight up to California Plaza. 

The event will start at 6 p.m. and is open to all ages. RSVP here.

A variety of bands will join the stage Saturday, including these Eastside bands:

Denise Carlos and Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras

From left to right: Jose Cano, Denise Carlos and Hector Flores pose outside the Paramount Theater in Boyle Heights.

(

Andrew Lopez

/

Boyle Heights Beat

)

Denise Carlos and Hector Flores of the Eastside-born band Las Cafeteras will perform at Grand Performances. The group began playing shows in 2005 while they were music students at Eastside Cafe, a community space in El Sereno that inspired the band’s name.

Las Cafeteras blend son jarocho — a traditional folk music from Veracruz, Mexico — with electronic music, punk, cumbia and hip-hop. Their mostly bilingual songs explore themes of love, identity and social justice. Learn more about the band here.

Bryan Ponce from The Altons

Bryan Ponce, lead guitarist and singer of The Altons.

(

Courtesy of Red Heart Media

)

Bryan Ponce, lead guitarist and singer of the band The Altons will also join the celebration.

The Altons is a modern soul and retro-indie-soul band from Southeast LA that has captivated local audiences for several years, quickly driving them to become a staple of the scene, according to the band’s website.

Formed in 2016, the group combines vintage Chicano soul, Motown-style harmonies, and Latin rhythms with modern indie sensibilities. Learn more about them here.

Thee Sinseers

Joey Quiñones, lead of Thee Sinseers.

(

Courtesy of Grand Perfromances

)

Straight out of East LA, this band was formed in 2019 and led by multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter Joey Quiñones.

Quiñones and his crew have been introducing a new era of modern soul with vibes of traditional ska and dancehall reggae.

Thee Sinseers are currently on tour. Learn more here.

Irene Diaz

Artist Irene Diaz.

(

Courtesy of Grand Performances

)

Irene Diaz, born and raised in Highland Park, is a singer-songwriter, whose captivating vocals and soulful melodies have garnered critical acclaim.

Diaz blends elements of folk, soul, and Chicanxs influences, creating a sound that is both intimate and expansive, according to her site. You can learn more about her here.

A panel of three judges for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously rejected the federal government’s request to delay improving conditions at the Adelanto Immigration Detention Center, a privately run facility in San Bernardino County.

How we got here

On July 16, a U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to immediately improve medical care, disability accommodations and daily conditions, including access to drinkable water, for people held at the facility, which is run by one of the largest private prison companies in the U.S.

The government, under that order, had to submit a plan to address the deficiencies alleged by plaintiffs in the lawsuit. When federal officials filed that plan, they signaled that they planned to appeal and argued that conditions at Adelanto already meet the standards for immigration detention.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs — people held at the detention facility — strongly disagreed and have submitted reports describing routine violations of the July 16 order.

What the 9th Circuit said

In their decision, the three 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges noted that the lower court found that people held at Adelanto are “subject to punitive conditions, including a lack of consistent access to potable water and adequate medical care.”

The judges, who were appointed by presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, considered the government’s argument that it is the GEO Group, the for-profit detention operator paid to run the facility, that ultimately has control over the conditions. In denying the request to stay, the judges found that the government is “ultimately responsible for ensuring that the conditions of confinement are constitutionally acceptable.”

And the judges suggested remedies available to the government, including withholding payment or imposing other financial penalties on the contractor if it fails to meet its obligations. They also said ICE could release or move plaintiffs to avoid constitutional violations.

The appeals court rejected several other arguments from government lawyers, including the government’s claim that enforcing the order will harm its enforcement efforts, and that conditions at Adelanto already meet standards.

“The government also does not meaningfully dispute that the types of conditions the district court found to exist are unconstitutional,” the decision states.

What’s happens next

The government is continuing to appeal the preliminary injunction. Arguments in the full appeal are due to the appeals court on Sept. 17.