Morning Brief: The City's Parked EVs, A Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested, And Wildflowers

Good morning, L.A. It’s April 11.

Reports about climate change make it very, very clear that the world needs to act now if we would like there to still be a habitable world in 50 to 100 years.

One recommendation that seems within reach is switching from gas-guzzling cars to electronic vehicles. And the City of L.A. recently started to do just that — but instead of putting their brand-new fleet of EVs onto the streets, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation left some of them parked in a city-owned lot for two years. 

My colleague Ryan Fonseca reports that the vehicles sat idle because city officials hadn’t acquired the requisite charging stations.

Collectively, the cars are worth more than $384,000. 

The news about the city’s parked EVs came about as a result of an investigation by the City Controller Office’s Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Unit. The finding: LADOT’s decisions wasted city resources.

Officials were on the right track, it seems, by purchasing the cars. According to the a recent climate report, cities could reduce global emissions by 40% to 70% within 30 years if residents and officials electrify transportation vehicles, improve access to walking and cycling, reduce air travel and unhook buildings from gas or coal-powered electricity. 

In total, LADOT currently has 67 electronic vehicles in its parking enforcement fleet, and charging stations at five of its facilities.

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

What Else You Need To Know Today

• An L.A. Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for sexual abuse of a child. 
• High-risk patients who test positive for COVID-19 can now receive a free course of COVID treatment pills on the spot at dozens of testing sites in L.A.
• LaQuedra Edwards won $10 million in the lottery after someone bumped into her at an L.A. supermarket and caused her to accidentally push the wrong number on the machine.
• A new bill moving through the state legislature would mandate a 4-day workweek for companies with more than 500 employees. 
• Air pollution data from the pandemic lockdown point to racial inequities among communities with regards to the amount of fresh air they can access.
• Black women are at higher risk of uterine fibroids, and many are seeking more nuanced care.

Before You Go ... Time For The Wildflower Bloom

Wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument

(Curtis Kautzer courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior

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Spring is in full swing — though it’s felt like the height of summer in recent days and it’s California’s driest start to a year on record. Still, there are ways to see Southern California wildflowers blooming.

The spectacular superblooms of years past aren’t expected in 2022, but there's still plenty of nature to enjoy.