Morning Briefing: LA’s New Officials Take Action

Good morning, L.A.

Election results are still coming in, but those who’ve already secured the vote are making swift moves. Last night, newly elected District Attorney George Gascón met with leaders of Black Lives Matter L.A., as well as some families of people who have been killed by police.

The evening was significant because it was Gascón’s first official meeting as D.A.-elect, and because Gascón’s predecessor, Jackie Lacey, was taken to task repeatedly for allegedly refusing to meet with the activist group.

During the campaign, Gascón pledged to reopen four fatal police shootings if elected. At last night’s event, he was reminded of that promise. Activists also repeatedly told him that they would continue to hold him accountable for law enforcement’s deadly use of force.

"We can't be the full mothers that we want to be because our child is gone," said Lisa Vargas, whose son Anthony was shot 13 times in the back by Sheriff’s deputies. "In order for us to trust you, you gotta earn that trust. It's not just going to be given to you."

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

– Jessica P. Ogilvie

Coming Up Today, November 11

On this Veterans Day, Robert Garrova profiles Luther Hendricks, 95, one of the first members of the all-Black Montford Point Marines, the Marines’ equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Carla Javier covers LAUSD Supt. Austin Beutner’s rollout of a return-to-campus plan, which would allow parents to choose between hybrid classes and online only instruction.

A UC Irvine Law clinic is demanding that the L.A. County Sheriff's department return a student journalist’s cell phone and camera memory card, which the clinic contends were unlawfully seized. In September, Pablo Unzueta says he was arrested while photographing protests over the shooting of Dijon Kizzee for the Cal State Long Beach student newspaper and that his equipment was seized. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez will have the story.

Some restaurants around Southern California are offering deals to current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans. Christine N. Ziemba has some of the best options.

The Census Bureau is reporting that non-response rates were high this year for questions involving birth date, race, Latino or Hispanic origin. Caroline Champlin examines what happened.

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The Past 24 Hours In LA

Policing Law Enforcement: District Attorney-elect George Gascón met with members of Black Lives Matter-L.A. and relatives of people killed by police Monday night. L.A. County has agreed to pay $3.9 million to settle a wrongful death suit filed by the family of Ryan Twyman, who was shot to death by two sheriff’s deputies as he backed up his car in a Willowbrook parking lot in June 2019.

Election 2020: Michelle Steel has won the 48th Congressional District race, flipping the district back to red after the “blue wave” that swept California in 2018. L.A. County officials updated election returns on Monday afternoon, providing a clearer look at the voter turnout and several key races. Prop 15, which would have undone part of Prop 13, failed to pass.

Coronavirus Updates: COVID-19-related restrictions are now tighter for 11 counties in California, including three that slipped back to the most restrictive purple tier – San Diego, Sacramento and Stanislaus.

True Crime: This week's Servant of Pod goes behind the lens -- and the mic -- with true-crime legend Marc Sperling, a pioneer true crime documentarian who co-created the podcast Crimetown.

Photo of the Day

Lisa Hines' daughter, Wakiesha Wilson, died in a jail cell. Police have alleged it was a suicide; Hines and others believe Wilson was killed. Here, Hines speaks to D.A.-elect George Gascón.

(Frank Stoltze/LAist)

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