Morning Briefing: L.A. County Sheriff Called On To Resign

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Good morning, L.A.

At today’s meeting of the L.A. County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, commissioner Robert Bonner called on Sheriff Alex Villanueva to resign. Noting that he made the call with “great reluctance,” Bonner nevertheless went on to lay out the reasons for his request.

They include Villanueva’s repeated attempts to avoid oversight by Inspector General Max Huntsman, the lack of enforcement of the Sheriff’s own policy that prohibits deputies from joining secret cliques inside the department, and his contentious relationship with the Board of Supervisors, among other perceived transgressions.

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Bonner went on to say that Villanueva has “demonstrated on multiple occasions that he lacks the judgement needed to be the sheriff, and that he's unable to provide the leadership needed by the Sheriff's Department."

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.

— Jessica P. Ogilvie

Coming Up Today, September 18

Contributor Jervey Tervalon reflects on his childhood in Jefferson Park and the teachers who could have decided his future — and one who let him have that future back.

Caroline Champlin takes a deep dive into what’s at stake for L.A. in the 2020 Census, and how a lawsuit that's playing out in federal court may or may not change things.

David Wagner reports on the state's new unemployment numbers, which are out today.

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The Past 24 Hours In LA

Wildfires: The Bobcat fire has burned 50,539 acres in the Angeles National Forest and is at 3% containment. The El Dorado fire has burned 18,506 acres in the San Bernardino Forest and is at 63% containment.

Policing Law Enforcement: Robert Bonner, the most conservative member of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, today called on L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva to resign.

Coronavirus Updates: At least 38 detainees at ICE's Adelanto detention center have tested positive for the coronavirus, with more test results on the way. A new report finds shortcomings in the Sheriff's Department's efforts to contain COVID-19 in the jails. And the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately impacting L.A.’s working moms.

The 2020 Census: The winding down of the 2020 Census must remain on hold nationwide through Sept. 24, at the latest.

Here’s What To Do: Attend a new drive-in movie experience in Chinatown, learn about the solstice and the equinox, discover the scents of mummification, and more in this weekend’s best online and IRL events.

Photo Of The Day

Four-year-old Ayla Ballesteros's drawing of herself and her friend Jackson. She says the line between them shows they're standing six feet apart, and the blue circles around them are the "sickness."

(Courtesy Delilah Ballesteros)

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This post has been updated to reflect changes in what's coming up for today.

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