The Brief

A federal judge has found top California prison officials in civil contempt for failing to hire enough mental health professionals to adequately treat tens of thousands of incarcerated people with serious mental disorders.

Chief U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller on June 25 ordered the state to pay $112 million in fines at a time when the state is trying to close a multibillion-dollar budget deficit. The fines have been accumulating since April 2023, after Mueller said she was fed up with the state prison system’s inadequate staffing despite years of court orders demanding that the state address the issue.

“The sanctions imposed here are necessary to sharpen that focus and magnify defendants’ sense of urgency to finally achieve a lasting remedy for chronic mental health understaffing in the state’s prison system,” Mueller said in her order in the long-running class-action lawsuit.

The ongoing harm “caused by these high vacancy rates is as clear today as it was thirty years ago and the harm persists despite multiple court orders requiring defendants to reduce those rates,” she added.

Mueller ordered the state to pay the fines within 30 days and said they “will be used exclusively for steps necessary to come into compliance with the court’s staffing orders.” She ordered California to keep paying additional fines for each month the state remains in violation of court orders.

The ruling was unwelcome news for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is struggling with a budget deficit that’s forcing reductions in numerous state programs.

The contempt finding “is deeply flawed, and it does not reflect reality,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a Newsom spokesperson. “Amid a nationwide shortage of mental health therapists, the administration has led massive and unprecedented efforts to expand care and recruit and retain mental health care professionals.”

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson Terri Hardy said the state will appeal Mueller’s order. Prisoners “often have greater access to mental health care in custody than what presently exists for people outside” because of the state’s “extraordinary steps to expand access to mental health care,” Hardy said.

Mueller’s contempt finding comes as Newsom, a Democrat, has prioritized improving mental health treatment statewide, partly to combat California’s seemingly intractable homelessness crisis. His administration has argued that Mueller is setting impossible standards for improving treatment for about 34,000 imprisoned people with serious mental illnesses — more than a third of California’s prison population.

Attorneys representing prisoners with mental illness vehemently disagree.

“It’s very unfortunate that the state officials have allowed this situation to get so bad and to stay so bad for so long,” said Ernest Galvan, one of the prisoners’ attorneys in the long-running litigation. “And I hope that this order, which the judge reserved as an absolute last resort, refocuses officials’ attention where it needs to be: bringing lifesaving care into the prisons, where it’s urgently needed.”

As part of her tentative contempt ruling in March, Mueller ordered Newsom personally, along with five of his top state officials, to read testimony by prison mental health employees describing the ongoing problem during a trial last fall.

The other five were the directors of his departments of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State Hospitals, and Finance; the corrections department’s undersecretary for health care services; and the deputy director in charge of its statewide mental health program.

Mueller limited her formal contempt finding to Corrections Secretary Jeff Macomber and two aides, Undersecretary Diana Toche and Deputy Director Amar Mehta.

“Fundamentally, the overall record reflects defendants are following a ‘business as usual’ approach to hiring, recruitment and retention that does very little if anything to transform the bureaucracy within which the hiring practices are carried out,” Mueller wrote.

Mueller had ordered state officials to calculate each month what they owe in fines for each unfilled position exceeding a 10% vacancy rate among required prison mental health professionals. The fines are calculated based on the maximum annual salary for each job, including some that approach or exceed $300,000.

The 10% vacancy limit dates to a court order by Mueller’s predecessor more than 20 years ago, in 2002, in the class-action case filed in 1990 over poor treatment of prisoners with mental disorders.

The $112 million in pending fines for understaffing is one of three sets of fines Mueller imposed.

She imposed $1,000-a-day fines in 2017 for a backlog in sending imprisoned people to state mental health facilities. But that money, which now tops $4.2 million, has never been collected, and Mueller postponed a planned hearing on the fines after prisoners’ attorneys said the state was making improvements.

In April 2023, Mueller also began assessing $1,000-a-day fines for the state’s failure to implement court-ordered suicide prevention measures. A court-appointed expert said his latest inspection of prisons showed the state was not in full compliance.

Continue the trend of shopping small ahead of the holidays by checking out the crafts and activities at the many markets springing up across the city. In West Hollywood, the weekend brings the Rainbow District Winter Market, which features local artisans and vendors, plus a “Drag on Ice” show at the skating rink on Sunday. A little further east, the Melrose Trading Post hosts Merry Melrose every Sunday this month, with visits from Santa and gift-making workshops. Saturday, the Natural History Museum hosts its annual L.A. Commons Cultural Treasures Marketplace, with vendors from South L.A. and beyond. Hollywood Park also opens for its Winterfest, with photo ops, farmer’s market goodies and more. So now you can’t blame us if you don’t find something cute for the toughest family members on your list!

Planning ahead, the Foo Fighters just announced that they’ll play a benefit show for homeless charities Hope the Mission and the L.A. Mission at the Kia Forum on Jan. 14, with tickets on sale this Sunday. But if you’re heading out to see some music this week, Licorice Pizza’s Lyndsey Parker recommends two solo spinoffs happening Friday — Scars On Broadway from System of a Down’s Daron Malakian at the Palladium and Flock of Dimes, from Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner at Zebulon. KIIS FM’s annual Jingle Ball, featuring Conan Gray, Zara Larsson, the Kid Laroi, Jessie Murph, Alex Warren, Leon Thomas, Reneé Rapp, Audrey Hobert and more, takes over the Intuit Dome on Friday as well. Saturday, the Aces with Lydia Night will be at the Bellwether, and Plague Vendor with Strawberry Fuzz will play the Teragram. And on Sunday, Fletcher plays the United Theater, while Say Anything and Motion City Soundtrack are at the Wiltern.

Elsewhere on LAist.com, you can get your tickets to Saturday’s Go Fact Yourself with Al Madrigal and 24 star Mary Lynn Rajskub, search for the best bagels in O.C. and more.

Events

The Big Fat Christmas Show

Friday, December 5, 8 p.m.
El Portal Theatre
5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 
COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO

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Courtesy El Portal

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Broadway performers from a variety of shows descend on North Hollywood for the annual Big Fat Christmas Show, a singing-and-dancing spectacular. The El Portal has hosted Grammy and Tony winners over the years and always puts on a great show, all benefitting Hope the Mission around the holidays.

Ruthie Rogers and Ed Ruscha in conversation with Laurene Powell Jobs

Sunday, December 7, 4 p.m.
Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar
3200 Motor Ave., Mid-City
COST: $25-$65, MORE INFO

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Courtesy Live Talks Los Angeles

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Would some lemons brighten up your winter? Chef Ruthie Rogers, cofounder of River Cafe in London, and iconic Los Angeles artist Ed Ruscha celebrate their favorite citrus, the simple lemon, in their book that combines art and cooking, Squeeze Me: Lemon Recipes & Art. They will discuss the 50 innovative recipes and Ruscha’s illustrations with Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of Emerson Collective.

Brown Broadway

Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7
The Assistance League Theatre
1367 N St Andrews Place, East Hollywood
COST: FROM $44.52, MORE INFO

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Courtesy Anita Lee Publicity

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This new musical from Billie King is a dinner-theater-style immersive evening that combines a Southern-food-themed meal with the story of the Black musicians and performers who migrated west to Los Angeles in the 1920s through the '40s, chasing their dreams and confronting racial barriers along the way. See Central Ave. in a way you never have before!

Folk Cancer: Hooray for Hollydays

Saturday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. 
Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills
COST: FROM $92; MORE INFO

Siblings and folk darlings Rufus and Martha Wainwright honor the memory of their mother, Kate McGarrigle, with Cancer Can Rock, an organization supporting musicians facing cancer. For their holiday concert and fundraiser, friends like Lucy Dacus and Beck join the pair for an evening of folk favorites. Check out Lyndsey Parker’s interview with Rufus Wainwright ahead of the show.

LA Public Library Creators in Residence open house

Sunday, December 7, 2 p.m. 
Mark Taper Auditorium 
L.A. Central Library 
630 W. 5th Street, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy LAPL

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Fashion designer Ashley Walker and food writer Tien Nguyen have spent the past year as artists-in-residence at the L.A. Library. See the product of their work at an open house and presentation at the Mark Taper Auditorium. They will be joined by special guest restaurateur Monica Lee for a conversation about their work and to view project highlights on display.

Venice’s Holiday Sign Lighting & Block Party and Palisades Village Lighting

Saturday, December 6
Pacific Ave. & Windward Ave., Venice 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Palisades Village lighting
15225 Palisades Village Lane, Pacific Palisades
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Venice Paparazzi

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The West Side gets lit, with the annual tree lighting in Palisades Village — the first since the devastating fires — and the Venice sign lighting in Venice. Palisades will be more traditional, with hot drinks and kid-friendly activities; Venice features live music and a festive atmosphere by the beach at Windward.

The Nutcracker Suite

November 29 through December 24
American Contemporary Ballet
333 S. Hope Street, Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $85, MORE INFO

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Courtesy ACB

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Sugar plum fairies grace the stage once again at American Contemporary Ballet's The Nutcracker Suite, one of L.A.’s favorite renditions of the Tchaikovsky holiday classic since 2017.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Friday, December 5, 7 p.m. 
Q&A with Director Rian Johnson 
Landmark Sunset
8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
COST: $22.75; MORE INFO

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Netflix

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The latest installment of the popular whodunit Knives Out series recently hit theaters, and director Rian Johnson will be on hand for a Q&A following this screening at the Landmark Sunset (I typed Sunset 5 about four times there; old habits die hard!). Collider is hosting this one, moderated by Perri Nemeroff.

Nutcracker Holiday Brunch

Sunday, December 7
Four Seasons Los Angeles
300 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills 
COST: $185; MORE INFO

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Courtesy the Four Seasons

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The Four Seasons is joining forces with the Pasadena Civic Ballet and Storyland Productions for an immersive Nutcracker-themed lunch with elegant tea sandwiches, artisanal pastries and Chef Riccardo’s Nutcracker Wonderland dessert display.

Let Japanese Curry Melt Your Heart: A Month-Long Celebration of Japan’s Signature Dish in LA

Monday, December 1 through Wednesday, December 31
Free tasting at Fatty Mart December 5 to 7
Various locations
COST: MORE INFO

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©All Japan Curry Manufacturers Association

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Japanese curry in all its delicious forms is on offer at a number of restaurants in the area, and the month kicks off with favorites at Mar Vista's Fatty Mart deli.

A warming trend kicks in for the region today that will raise temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal by next week.

Highs for L.A. and Orange County coasts will get up to around 70 degrees.

Valley communities will see highs mostly in the mid 60s to low 70s.

Inland Empire temperatures will range from 63 to 71 degrees. Coachella Valley temps will drop down to 61 degrees. In the Antelope Valley, we're looking at highs in the mid 50s.

Wind advisories

The San Gabriel, Santa Susana, Santa Monica mountains are under wind advisories until 3 p.m. Thursday.

We're looking at wind speeds from 35 to 45 mph, with some gusts up to 55 mph.

Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Santa Clarita Valley, Malibu and parts of Ventura County are also under a wind advisory until 3 p.m. Wind speeds there will range from 25 to 35 mph, with some gusts up to 45 mph.

Look out for fallen tree limbs. The recently rain-soaked ground could make it easier for entire trees to fall. Some power outages could also occur.

Beach hazards

You'll want to avoid swimming in the ocean because of strong rip currents and breaking waves from high surf. Minor flooding of beach parking lots is possible. These conditions will last until Friday morning for the Orange County coast, and until Saturday morning for L.A. County beaches.

Bryan Fuller probably is best known for creating television shows like Pushing Daisies and Hannibal — shows with devoted fans, many of whom still hope for series comebacks.

But when Fuller first came to Los Angeles to go to film school at USC in the 1990s, things didn’t go as planned.

After running out of financial aid, he had to drop out. But by staying in L.A. and taking odd jobs, like delivering head shots to casting directors at night, Fuller told LAist he still got an education in the industry.

Getting a foothold in L.A.

“There were a couple of times when I was delivering head shots that I would just see that they're in the middle of auditions, and I put my name down and I would go in and audition,” Fuller says. “Just because I was there and sort of fearless at that time and didn’t know what I should or should not do.”

That same fearlessness helped lead to his first writing job, for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. His unusual job-seeking tactic: “ I would pull up to the gate and say I was a delivery person and slide story ideas under the doors of Star Trek producers until they hired me.”

Fuller went on to work on Star Trek: Voyager, and in the early 2000s, he created his first original series, Dead Like Me, for Showtime.

As he got a foothold in the industry and went on to create other shows, as an openly gay writer and producer, Fuller took pride in infusing his stories with queer themes, something he would become known for (and touch on directly in an Achievement Award acceptance speech at Outfest in 2017).

Gateway horror, queer horror and the origins of ‘Dust Bunny’

In 2022, he executive produced a docuseries called Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror, and his latest project, the film Dust Bunny, which he wrote and marks his feature directorial debut, feels like a natural progression.

Part fairy tale, part thriller (or “gateway horror” as Fuller also describes it) the film is about a little girl who hires a hit man to kill the monster under her bed.

And while it might not seem like a queer story on its face, Fuller says it could be interpreted as one.

“Whenever I see a child championing themselves,” Fuller says, “that feels like a queer story. Because so many times, we as queer children have to become our own heroes and have to become our own champions.”

Sophie Sloane and Mads Mikkelsen in a scene from "Dust Bunny," written and directed by Bryan Fuller.

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Gabor Kotschy

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Courtesy Roadside Attractions

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But the story is also universal, which was by design.

Fuller explains: “There's a line in Dust Bunny where Aurora, played by Sophie Sloan [...] says, ‘My parents weren’t very nice to me,’ and that was designed to be a little unclear so the audience could see themselves in Aurora, whatever that means to them.”

Having a film or TV show that makes you feel seen, Fuller says, “I think is valuable not only for queer people, but for any child who feels that they may not belong or feels that they may not have a support system.”

The role of queer storytellers

Asked whether the Trump administration’s targeting of the LGBTQ community, particularly trans people, has changed his perspective on his role as a queer storyteller, Fuller was reflective.

“I think queer people have always encountered some kind of resistance that gives us friction," Fuller says. "And with that friction, there are sparks and growth, and that scar tissue is necessary to build an armor, particularly when we're looking at these stories through a fictional lens. They allow us to build upper resistance to real-life threats.”

Fuller says it also connects to his love of horror.

“It's one of the reasons I love horror movies and I love the thematic of 'the final girl,'" Fuller says. “Because I look at those movies as — if [Friday the 13th actresses] Amy Steele and Adrienne King can survive Crystal Lake, then I can survive my adversaries.”

To watch Bryan Fuller’s full interview with LAist host Julia Paskin, about "Dust Bunny," what he thinks it would take to keep more film and TV production here in Los Angeles and his ideas for a new ‘Star Trek’ movie, click here.

Today marks the final deadline for California counties to certify the results of the special election on Proposition 50, the ballot measure to redraw California’s congressional maps through 2030.

Statewide, turnout was 50%, with “yes” votes winning with 64.4%.

The Associated Press called the vote within minutes of polls closing Nov. 4, but the official vote count takes several weeks. The California Secretary of State now has until Dec. 12 to certify the full results.

Here’s what we know about turnout and the vote margin across Southern California.

Did the vote margin change?

Not really.

In many races, the vote margin narrows or widens as the count goes on, but Prop. 50 stayed remarkably consistent. The margin we saw on election night is pretty much what still stands. As of this morning, 64.4% of ballots counted voted “yes,” while 35.6% were “no.”

What was turnout like?

Voters notoriously do not show up for off-year elections in the same numbers as, say, a presidential election.

But given how consequential Prop. 50 was, there was a lot of curiosity about how many voters would actually participate. About 11.6 million people showed up for the special election — a turnout of 50% statewide.

It’s not as high as California’s last special election in 2021 on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom — turnout then was 58.4%. But it’s a solid showing for California, especially for an off-year special election. In fact, it’s on par with California’s 2022 midterm elections, which saw 50.8% turnout.

Here’s the voter turnout breakdown among Southern California’s six counties — this is pending final certification from the state:

• Imperial County: 35.8%
• L.A. County: 44.9%
• Orange County: 52.3%
• Riverside County: 45.9%
• San Bernardino County: 44.2%
• Ventura County: 55.3%

Where did ‘yes’ and ‘no’ votes come from across SoCal?

“Yes” won the majority of the vote in all six Southern California counties — Imperial, L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. The margin was the widest in L.A. County, where “yes” had 74.3% of the vote. The smallest was in Orange County, with “yes” votes at 55.5%.

If you’re curious to dig further into the details, here’s a breakdown of the vote by city in Orange County and a preliminary map of what the vote looked like across L.A. County neighborhoods.