Good morning, L.A.
Since March, Californians have faced job loss, housing insecurity and all kinds of other financial strain. And from a renter’s standpoint, the response from lawmakers has been both spotty and uncertain.
As the year comes to an end, protections are running out. Some renters are living with deep uncertainty, worried that an eviction notice could appear on their door at any minute.
Speaking to my colleague Aaron Mendelson, Kara Gomez, who rents a mobile home in Pomona, expressed her concern. With her husband out of work and six children to look after, she doesn’t know whether she’ll be able to stay in her home from one day to the next.
"It's all really up in the air," she said.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
What You Need To Know Today
Coronavirus Numbers: L.A. County reported nearly 13,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 88 new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, pushing the death toll since the start of the pandemic past 9,000.
California Politics: Governor Gavin Newsom will appoint his longtime political ally, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, to represent California in the U.S. Senate, ending months of speculation about a successor to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Mayor Garcetti issued a rare last-minute veto to a city council spending plan on the grounds that "far too many of the proposed expenditures do not meet the demands of the moment or the call of history."
Money Matters: L.A. freelancers are getting a financial boost, but some say it’s too little, too late. In a new episode of the LAist Studios podcast, California City, it’s the end of an era: a judge has approved the sale of Silver Saddle Ranch.
Holiday Travel: About 40,000 passengers a day have been going through TSA checkpoints this week, despite warnings from health officials.
Hollywood: MGM studios — home of the famous pre-movie roaring lion — believes its library of film and TV titles could be attractive to streaming services.
First Person: In a year of loss felt profoundly in the Latino community, an iconic Christmas song of heartbreak brings back memories of better Noche Buenas, and a desire for no more suffering. A love letter, and farewell, to East Hollywood’s El Gran Burrito.
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