One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
LA Sheriff's Department sends cease and desist over Yes On S 'eviction notice' mailer
A photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department showing a mailer put out by supporters of Measure S designed to look like an eviction notice.
(
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
)
A photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department showing a mailer put out by supporters of Measure S designed to look like an eviction notice, noting the indications that it's not a real eviction notice.
(
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
)
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department issued a cease and desist letter Friday over a Yes On S political campaign mailer designed to look like a Sheriff's Department eviction notice, according to a statement from the department.
"The political mailer depicted in the photos attached to this message is counterfeit and could mislead members of the public to believe they are subject to legal action by the Sheriff’s Department," the department said in the statement. "The use of this mailer is unauthorized and unlawful under the California Business and Professions Code."
The mailer, paid for by the Coalition to Preserve L.A., looks like an eviction notice, with the case number replaced by "THIS COULD BE YOU OR A LOVED ONE." It also includes a fine-print disclaimer required of political mailers as well as a mass mailing postage stamp in the corner. On the opposite side, the mailer reads, "For 20,000 Angelenos, this notice was real because of greedy developers," before continuing to make a pitch for Measure S.
A photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department showing a mailer put out by supporters of Measure S designed to look like an eviction notice, noting the indications that it's not a real eviction notice.
(
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
)
The Sheriff's Department cites a code that prohibits using "a trade or brand name, seal, emblem, or insignia" without permission in a way that indicates something has been approved or endorsed by the local government.
Coalition to Preserve LA, who authored and sent the mailers, defended the mailer pointing out that a campaign disclaimer was included.
"We did not mean to scare anyone," said a spokesperson on Saturday. "We sent mailer to highlight evictions, which are happening around the city, particularly in low income areas, where developers are building more and more luxury developments."
Sponsored message
The letter from the Sheriff's Department asked Preserve LA to mail a correction stating that it did not authorize the mailer.
Preserve LA said its attorneys were reviewing the letter and determining if they would comply with its requests.
Read the full cease and desist letter from the Sheriff's Department below:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
