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Morning Briefing: George Gascón Wins L.A. District Attorney Race
George Gascon, candidate for Los Angeles County District Attorney, speaks to attendees at the local Democratic Party's drive-in watch party near the L.A. Zoo on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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Good morning, L.A.
In one of the most closely-watched district attorney races in the country, former San Francisco D.A. George Gascón has ousted incumbent Jackie Lacey to serve as the top prosecutor in Los Angeles County.
Lacey conceded yesterday, and Gascón’s win is considered a victory for the criminal justice reform movement, locally and nationally. Gascón ran as a reformer, and his accomplishments in San Francisco included co-authoring measures that would reduce incarceration. In his victory speech Friday, the former LAPD assistant chief vowed to stop seeking the death penalty immediately, and to reopen some cases involving shootings by law enforcement officers.
The latter commitment is likely a nod to local activists, who’ve held weekly protests outside Lacey’s downtown office since 2016. Their goal was to hold her accountable for her failure to prosecute law enforcement officers who used deadly force, and ultimately unseat her.
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"This is an important win to show that people can and will hold even the most powerful DA in the country accountable," Black Lives Matter member and BLD PWR founder Kendrick Sampson said in a statement.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
The Past 24 Hours In LA
Money Matters: Families that are currently able to take their youngsters to in-person child care are reaping the developmental benefits of early education, and they might have a better chance of surviving the pandemic-caused recession. Decades ago, a single mom forced into working for herself due to racism, built a successful clothing business and raised her son with her earnings.
Scandals And Cults: A court document filed this week reveals specific allegations from a fraud investigation against a former Long Beach Community College District president and a sitting trustee. The documentary series Seduced on the Starz network offers another perspective on NXIVM, the alleged sex cult that was also profiled in the HBO documentary, The Vow.
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Election 2020: George Gascón beat Jackie Lacey in the L.A. District Attorney’s race, a result that’s seen as a victory for the criminal justice reform movement. Nithya Raman won the L.A. City Council’s District 4 seat, beating out incumbent David Ryu. For the latest updates on all local races, check out our ongoing coverage.
Rethinking Thanksgiving: From taco kits and tom kha mashed potatoes to chicken parms and Basque cheesecakes, think outside the bird this Thanksgiving.
Weekend Reads
There's a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone to stay current on the news. But if you have some time this weekend, these articles provide much-needed insight into the current moment in L.A., as well as some news you may have missed:
The Muppet Studio employees are voicing concerns about an internal structure that doesn’t allow female puppeteers to advance along with their male counterparts. (THR)
The history of the L.A. District Attorney’s office shows why George Gascón’s win is so significant. (The Appeal)
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Here are the Hollywood heavyweights who worked to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each for Joe Biden. (THR)
More than 1,200 Trader Joe’s employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)
With the results of this election, El Monte now has an all-female city council. (NBC Los Angeles)
California’s cannabis market is stabilizing, seemingly boosted by the pandemic. (Marijuana Business Daily)
Compton is piloting a guaranteed income program, beginning with 800 low-income residents. (LA Sentinel)
Photo of the Day
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A protester at a Black Lives Matter protest outside Jackie Lacey's office on Wednesday.
(Chava Sanchez/LAist)
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