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Thousands Join Barragán’s Tele-Town Hall to Stand Against ICE Raids, Military Presence — and Access Critical Resources for All

LOS ANGELES — On June 18, Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) hosted a tele-town hall to address the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles County. Rep. Barragán spoke to nearly 8,000 participants about the Trump administration’s decision to target immigrant families and entire communities — not serious criminals — and how this has sparked fear, anxiety, and protests across the region. She raised concerns about the use of federal troops in neighborhoods where local officials had already confirmed the situation was under control, calling it an unnecessary public show of force and political theater.

Rep. Barragán was joined by representatives from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA, and Immigrant Defenders Law Center, who helped answer questions and share resources.

“Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are terrorizing immigrant families and communities in my district and throughout Los Angeles County,” said Rep. Barragán. “We’re seeing ICE agents gathering near our schools and the recent raids forcing communities to cancel local events because people are too afraid to gather in public spaces. And when our communities spoke up through protest, Trump responded by sending in the National Guard and Marines. This isn’t just about immigration. It’s about democracy. It’s about whether the federal government will protect people’s rights or punish them for speaking out.”

Statements by members of immigrant rights organizations who attended Rep. Barragán’s town hall:

“This moment demands both clear understanding and united effort,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director for CHIRLA. “We’ve spent decades creating systems to help immigrants. This work is incredibly pertinent now – immigrants and community members should know they are not alone in this process.”

“Misinformation is more dangerous now than ever, in light of ICE’s presence in Los Angeles,” said Matthew Toyama, Managing Attorney at CHIRLA. “People are being detained and deported because they don’t know they have options when interacting with immigration officers and attorneys willing to protect their rights. These are times that test the fabric of our Constitution and our consciences.”

“Fear is spreading through our immigrant communities,” said Kristen Hunsberger, Managing Attorney at Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “Now is an essential time for people to know there are resources and information available to them – and we are here to help with that. Immigrant rights are human rights, and should be defended just as strongly.”

With these issues facing Angelenos every day — and with almost 8,000 in the tele-town hall — RLn has gathered legal resources and ‘Know Your Rights’ information to help our readers. Find below, immigrant organizations and resources for everyone to utilize in these critical times, and please share with your neighbors.

 

Legal resources

Immigrant organizations

Immigrant Support Services

To support communities through ICE Raids in LA, California Common Cause is sharing resources:

  • Statewide Rapid Response & Legal Aid Directory

The California Immigrant Policy Center (https://caimmigrant.org) has compiled a comprehensive list of hotlines, legal service providers, and rapid response networks across the state. Whether you’re in Los Angeles or anywhere else in California, this resource connects you with trusted, local help.

  • Know Your Rights with ICE

The Immigrant Defense Project’s guide (https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/)

breaks down what to do—and not do—if you or someone you love encounters ICE. Everyone, regardless of status, should know their rights.

  • CHIRLA My Rights Resources

CHIRLA (https://www.chirla.org/myrights)

offers clear, up-to-date information about your rights when facing ICE enforcement in Los Angeles. This resource empowers community members to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/common-cause-ice-raids.


Printable Know Your Rights Info

  • National Immigrant Rights Center

https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your-rights/ice-encounter

https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

  • I America

https://iamerica.org/know-your-rights/

  • UFW Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/ufwfoundation/p/DDnT8Q8JNwe/?img_index=3

  • American Civil Liberties Union

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights#police-or-ice-are-at-my-home

  • United We Dream

https://unitedwedream.org/resources/know-your-rights/

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association

https://www.aila.org/aila-files/20036845-F2B6-4749-9E38-E47CBA77C3EE/Know-Your-Rights-2025-Update-2.pdf

 

REPORT ICE
  • San Bernardino and Riverside: 909-361-4588

 

  • Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline: (213) 833-8283

 

  • ÓRALE (City of Long Beach) Hotline: 562-245-9575

 

 

  • 805 Immigrant Rapid Response Network (Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties) Hotline: (805) 870-8855
    • Website: www.805immigrant.org ​

 

  • VC Defensa (Ventura County)

 

As Trump Cuts LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Hotline, California Steps Up with Mental Health Investments and Support

 

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom June 19 condemned the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a vital service used by hundreds of thousands in crisis. While the federal government turns its back on vulnerable youth, California is stepping up with historic mental health investments, including a $4.7 billion Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and continued partnerships with organizations like the Trevor Project to provide LGBTQ suicide prevention for youth.

“Cutting off a proven lifeline for people in need is outrageous and inexcusable. While this federal administration slashes services and tries to erase LGBTQ people, California will do the opposite. Every child — straight, gay, transgender — belongs,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom

Current landscape

In September 2022, the Trevor Project started providing LGBTQ youth specialized support through the 988 Lifeline. Federal funding for these specialized services will no longer be available via the 988 program starting on July 17. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. They also said that their counselors helped about 500,000 people in 2024, 231,000 of which came through the 988 line.

California resources

In California, there are 12 centers that have trained crisis counselors to respond to 988 calls/chats/texts from help seekers needing support during suicide/behavioral health crises. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth and young adults can be accessed directly via the Trevor Project by phone/text/chat at 1-866-488-7386.

Additionally, California offers digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families via CalHOPE for non-crisis moments. The CalHOPE warm line connects callers to peer counselors who listen with compassion, provide non-judgmental support, and guide you to additional resources that can give hope and help you cope.

CalHOPE Connect offers safe, secure, and culturally sensitive emotional support for all Californians who may need support related to stress, anxiety, and depression. Resources for LGBTQ youth can be found HERE.

Governor’s Briefs: State Parks Week Highlights Access as Trump Slashes Public Lands, Police and Safety Funds

After Celebrating State Parks Week, Newsom Administration Calls Out Federal Assault on Public Lands

SACRAMENTO — As the Trump administration threatens the future of federal public lands, California is celebrating its thriving state park system, the largest in the nation, and its commitment to expanding access to the outdoors. This comes after the state celebrated its fourth annual California State Parks Week with more than 170 events last week, highlighting the people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly unique.

On June 13, the Newsom administration sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior warning of public safety risks and reduced access due to major cuts proposed to staff and programs that support National Parks and other federal public lands. In contrast, California is expanding access to the outdoors, investing in communities and laying the groundwork for further expansion.

As outlined in the letter, the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to federal agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs threaten public lands, water supply, wildlife, and tribal sovereignty. These cuts would lead to reduced staff, services, public access, and increased risks such as wildfires and jeopardized public safety.

Outdoors For All

Connecting people to nature is critical for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Outdoor spaces also help communities adapt to climate change, can be good for wildlife and biodiversity, and are reliably a powerful economic engine for the state. Unfortunately, outdoor access and its many benefits are not equitably distributed to all communities.

California has made an investment of more than $1 billion dedicated to expanding parks and nature access, including to Californians who live in underserved communities.

The administration’s Outdoor Access for All and California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiatives have created access programs for children and families to explore California’s state parks, mitigated impacts from climate change, and helped the economy.

State Parks protect the best of the state’s natural and cultural history; more than 340 miles of coastline; the tallest, largest and among the oldest trees in the world; and deserts, lakes, rivers and beaches. There are more than 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, prehistoric and historic archeological sites, ghost towns, historic homes and monuments — all waiting to be explored.

 

Trump is Gutting Police and Public Safety Funding in California

LOS ANGELES – Donald Trump, a convicted felon who has prioritized pardoning individuals convicted of assaulting police, is gutting public safety funding — slashing billions from programs that help police departments, fight terrorism, prevent gun violence, and protect women and children from domestic violence — all while he added to the nation’s debt to pay for militarizing Los Angeles and his birthday party July 14.

Trump is defunding public safety

President Trump is proposing to gut public safety funding across the country. At a time when violent crime is dropping, Trump’s “big beautiful bill” threatens to erase substantial progress on public safety, at a time when exactly the opposite is needed.

The President’s proposed funding cuts include:

  • $1 billion from police departments to reduce violent crime, hate crime, and crime against women.
  • $646 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for violence and terrorism prevention.
  • $545 million from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cutting its workforce by more than 2,000 personnel and reducing its capacity to keep criminals off the street.
  • $491 million from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), making our cyber and physical infrastructure more vulnerable to attack.
  • $468 million from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), greatly reducing its ability to crack down on firearm trafficking and reduce gun violence.
  • $212 million from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), greatly reducing its capacity to help state and local law enforcement and weakening efforts to fight international drug smuggling impacting the United States.
  • $107 million from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Public Safety and Justice, exacerbating current understaffing and making tribal communities less safe.

Grocery Workers Launch Practice Pickets Ahead of Potential ULP Strike at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions Across Southern California

 

LOS ANGELES — The familiar sounds of grocery shopping –beeping scanners, rolling carts, and checkout chatter– mix with the booming chants of workers conducting practice ULP strikes this week, as workers prepare for a possible full-scale Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike at Southern California Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions grocery stores.

Workers launched picket lines on June 16 and continued practice ULP strikes, including the action June 18 at a Los Angeles Ralphs, as part of United Food and Commercial Workers or UFCW Local 770’s week of practice ULP strike actions.

Stores remain open during these practice ULP strikes, but workers are using the picket lines to engage with shoppers, who have been vocal about their support for the essential workers.

These actions follow last week’s overwhelming ULP strike authorization vote impacting 45,000 UFCW workers across Southern California, and come just before critical contract negotiations are scheduled to resume on June 25.

Grocery workers are escalating their fight to protest Unfair Labor Practices or ULPs by Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions stores across Southern California. The unfair labor practices include surveillance, threats, and interrogation of employees. These union-busting tactics are designed to interfere with workers’ efforts to achieve a fair contract.

This week’s targeted actions serve as a clear warning to Ralphs and Albertsons (the parent company of Vons and Pavilions). If the companies fail to comply with labor laws and respect their workers, ULP strikes across Southern California could be imminent.

“Ralphs and Albertsons must respect both customers and workers. Every time I do my grocery shopping, I’m grateful for the friendly, helpful service the employees provide, even though they’re stretched thin, overworked, and underpaid,” said Amardeep Gill, a regular shopper at Vons in Echo Park. “These workers deserve a fair contract, not intimidation from corporate giants who profit from their labor. When employees are treated with dignity and respect, customers get better service. It’s that simple.”

“Ralphs and Albertsons are trying to intimidate workers to discourage us from fighting for the fair contract we deserve,” said Caleb Stewart, a produce clerk at a Los Angeles Ralphs. “This practice ULP strikes show the companies that grocery workers are united for ourselves and the communities we serve on a daily basis.”

BACKGROUND

For four months, seven Southern California UFCW locals and their bargaining teams have been negotiating with Ralphs and Albertsons for a new contract that addresses several issues impacting store operations, working conditions, and customer service, including the severe staffing crisis.

The companies have dismissed workers’ proposals, falsely calling their concerns “anecdotal” rather than addressing the real problems employees have brought to light.

Shoppers also face frustrations, with Consumer Reports catching Kroger (Ralphs’ parent company), overcharging customers by 18.4%. “Bullies at the Table,” a study by the Economic Roundtable found 92% of workers witness this practice, while a customer survey conducted by UFCW Locals 770 and 324, along with LAANE shows customers report severe understaffing at Kroger and Albertsons-owned stores, leading to empty shelves, long lines, and added burdens on shoppers.

Grocery Workers Rising is 65,000 essential grocery workers across Southern California. These workers are employed at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros., Gelson’s and Super A stores. Their contracts expired on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

These 65,000 grocery workers make up the largest union grocery contract in the nation, are rising up and fighting for:

  • Living wages
  • Affordable healthcare benefits
  • A reliable pension
  • More staffing and better working conditions for a better customer experience

Details:Visit the campaign atwww.groceryworkersrising.org.

LA City Attorney Feldstein Soto Challenges Unprecedented Military Deployment in Los Angeles

 

LOS ANGELES — Last weekend, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto filed an amicus brief requesting that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals deny the federal government’s motion for stay pending appeal in Gavin Newsom v. Donald Trump. Feldstein Soto’s brief argues that as a matter of both constitutional principle and practical expertise, states and local municipalities, rather than the federal government, hold the primary responsibility for addressing public safety and crime within their jurisdictions, including responding to any civil unrest, disorder, and criminal activity connected with public protests.

“My Office will continue to defend the rights of Angelenos to gather and protest peacefully and we will fight to free our City from the illegal deployment of federal troops,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. The brief the city attorney filed with co-counsel Democracy Defenders Fund challenged the deployment of troops in Los Angeles. The LAPD has the expertise to manage these protests, hold accountable those who break the law, and to keep Angelenos safe while peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.

Nearly all of the crimes and violence associated with these protests have occurred within one square mile of City Hall and have involved no more than a few hundred people at any given time. On Saturday, the No Kings protests by tens of thousands in Los Angeles were peaceful throughout the day with the exception of a disturbance in the same area of downtown late in the afternoon.

Over the last nine days, the City and LAPD have implemented public safety tools, including an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in downtown LA, to prevent protests from further escalating.

The city attorney asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to not allow the military’s unprecedented deployment in downtown Los Angeles to stand. The city attorney also requests the court to reject the Government’s motion for stay pending appeal, allow the TRO to go into effect, and let the city to focus on fulfilling its duties to protect its residents and preserve their freedoms.

Details: The brief can be accessed here.

LA County Advances Motion on Workforce, Economic Impact of Federal Immigration Sweeps

 

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors June18 approved a motion to assess the workforce and economic impacts in Los Angeles County and mobilize resources for affected workers and businesses following increased federal immigration enforcement.

On June 6, the federal government intensified its immigration enforcement in the County of Los Angeles, deploying widespread, aggressive tactics to remove large numbers of individuals from carwashes, Home Depot parking lots, public streets, churches, restaurants, and many more. Immigration agents fail to identify themselves or uphold due process. The raids conducted by the federal government have removed people from their workplaces, leaving their families unaware and waiting for them to return home after a day at work. The current events have instilled fear in workers and their families across the county.

In response to the Trump Administration’s immigration approach, including the federalization of the California National Guard and deployment of the Marine Corps against civilians, protests have risen across the region. This escalation resulted in a curfew in downtown Los Angeles, impacting local small businesses. Many immigrant workers, including those who operate their own business, are afraid to work due to the aggressive federal enforcement activities in recent days. Small businesses who rely on immigrants for their workforce and customers have also seen a decrease in foot traffic. These events will have long term economic consequences on the region.

“The last week and a half have brought undue trauma and instability to our residents in Los Angeles County, especially to those who work in our hotels, carwashes, restaurants, construction sites, those that provide childcare and more. The ongoing immigration raids have created a chilling effect, with many families afraid to leave their homes to go to work or to support our beloved businesses.” said Chair Pro Tem Solis, who authored the motion. “Today’s motion will play a vital role in assessing the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration tactics on our workforce and local economy while mobilizing resources to connect our working families and businesses with essential support. Now more than ever, we must unite and take care of one another.”

Of the approximately 10.1 million Angelenos populating Los Angeles County, one-third are immigrants who fuel the local economy, drive innovation, and enrich its dynamic culture. The impact of indiscriminate mass deportation has significant ripple effects beyond those at direct risk of removal.

Immigrant Angelenos continue to make significant contributions to the region’s economy. In 2019, immigrants contributed about $115 billion to the economy through the federal, state, and local taxes they paid and their spending power combined. This has helped grow Los Angeles county’s GDP to $960 billion, making it the 19th largest economy in the world.

The approved motion directs the county’s department of economic opportunity to collaborate with applicable entities to assess and report back in 15 days on the economic impact to small businesses due to loss of workforce, property damage, and imposed curfews as a result of federal immigration enforcement in the county, in addition to identifying available supportive, culturally responsive services for small business. Further, the motion directs collaboration between the Department of Consumer Business Affair’s, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Small Business Commission, and the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board, and more.

Gov. Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments

LOS ANGELES — SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom June 18 announced his appointment of 16 Superior Court Judges: six of whom are in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

William Forman, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Forman has been a partner at Winston & Strawn, LLP since 2021. He was a partner of Scheper Kim & Harris, LLP from 2009 to 2021. Forman was counsel at Wilmer Hale from 2008 to 2009. He worked as an associate at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe from 2003 to 2008. Forman served as a deputy federal public defender at the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California from 1997 to 2003. He was an associate at Arnold & Porter from 1992 to 1997. He worked as an associate at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro from 1990 to 1991. Forman received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James A. Kaddo. Forman is a Democrat.

David Garcia, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Garcia has worked as a supervising attorney at Inner City Law Center since 2023. He worked as a director of Investigations at Edison International from 2013 to 2022. He worked as a senior attorney at Southern California Edison Company from 1997 to 2013. He worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California from 1990 to 1997. He worked as a deputy district attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1986 to 1990. He worked as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice from 1985 to 1986. Garcia received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daniel Feldstern. Garcia is registered as a Democrat.

Sumako McCallum, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. McCallum has served as a Court Commissioner for the court since 2024. She served as senior deputy county counsel at the Office of County Counsel, County of Los Angeles from 2014 to 2024. She worked as a staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles from 2003 to 2014. McCallum worked as an associate at Morrison & Foerster, LLP from 2000 to 2002. McCallum received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. McCallum is a Democrat.

Alan Z. Yudkowsky, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Yudkowsky has served as a Court Commissioner on that court since 2019. He worked as Principal at the Law Offices of Alan Z. Yudkowsky from 2011 to 2019. Yukowsky held multiple positions at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan since 1990, including partner, special counsel, and associate. Yudkowsky received a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Barbara M. Scheper. Yudkowsky is a Democrat.

Melanie Chavira, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Chavira has served as a city prosecutor at the Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office since 2012. She has worked as a trial advocacy instructor at the Trial Advocacy Prosecution Program from 2012 to 2024. Chavira served as a prosecutor and assistant supervisor at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2012. Chavira received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary Lou Villar. Chavira is a Democrat.

Terrence Jones, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jones has worked as chief trial counsel at Cameron Jones since 2022. He worked as chief trial counsel at the Law Office of Terrence Jones from 2017 to 2022. Jones worked as an associate at Ballard Spahr from 2015 to 2017. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California from 2008 to 2015. Jones received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Serena R. Murillo to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Jones is a Democrat.

Board Rejects State Ban on Youth with Asthma in Firefighting Rehab Program

 

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors June 17 approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn to oppose a proposed policy change by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or CDCR that would ban young people with a history of childhood asthma from participating in the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp fire training program.

Pine Grove is California’s only fire camp for incarcerated youth, providing young men between the ages of 18 and 25 with CAL FIRE training in wildland firefighting. Participants serve on real fire crews, responding to emergencies across the state—including recent deployments to Los Angeles County during the Eaton and Palisades fires.

“Pine Grove is one of the most meaningful and effective rehabilitative programs we have in California,” said Supervisor Hahn during today’s Board meeting. “It teaches structure, discipline, and gives these young men a real shot at turning their lives around through job training that can lead to a stable, rewarding career as a firefighter.”

The CDCR plans to enact a new policy starting July 1, 2025, that would prohibit anyone with any history of childhood asthma from participating in Pine Grove — despite the current policy already excluding youth with active asthma. Supervisor Hahn expressed concern that this blanket ban would disproportionately impact youth from Los Angeles County, where rates of childhood asthma are elevated due to decades of environmental injustice, especially in communities near freeways, ports, and industrial zones.

“Black children in Los Angeles County are almost twice as likely to have asthma compared to their peers,” Hahn said. “This change will unfairly shut out too many young men from our communities who are eager to serve, rehabilitate, and build a future for themselves – especially those who grew up in low-income marginalized neighborhoods.”

Supervisor Hahn also emphasized that the proposed restriction goes far beyond the LA County Fire Department’s own policy, which does not ban individuals with a history of asthma from serving as firefighters.

The motion directs the county’s chief executive office legislative affairs and intergovernmental relations to send a five-signature letter to the CDCR urging them to abandon the policy change and continue allowing youth with non-active asthma to be evaluated for Pine Grove.

The decision also comes at a critical time for Los Angeles County’s juvenile justice system. As part of a court-approved plan to depopulate Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, the Probation Department is identifying youth eligible for rehabilitative placement at Pine Grove. Restricting access to the camp could undercut that plan.

“When I speak to the youth at Los Padrinos, many tell me they want to go to Pine Grove and become firefighters,” said Hahn. “We owe it to them to protect that opportunity.”

Read the full approved motion here: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/204276.pdf

The Music Center and Gloria Molina Grand Park Announce Significant Updates to Two of Downtown LA’s Most Popular Summer Events Including ‘Summer Block Party’ and ‘Dance DTLA’

 

LOS ANGLES — In light of recent events affecting a portion of Downtown L.A. and the ongoing circumstances impacting the region, The Music Center and Gloria Molina Grand Park June 17 announced changes to two major free summer events:

Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party, initially scheduled for the Fourth of July, has been postponed to later in the summer; and

The Friday, June 20, iteration of The Music Center’s Dance DTLA outdoor dance party series, will move to The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, in BP Hall and The Blue Ribbon Garden, from its original outdoor location on Jerry Moss Plaza, and the time for the event is changing to 5 to 10 p.m.

“Gloria Molina Grand Park opened more than a decade ago to become not only the park for everyone, but also as a place where community and connection are celebrated. We are disappointed to postpone what would have been the largest free Fourth of July celebration on the West Coast; yet, the safety of our guests, artists, staff and volunteers will always be our number one priority,” said Gloria Molina Grand Park Director Robert Gonzalez. “Our plan for this event was more than celebrating a date on the calendar—we are celebrating community. When Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party takes place sometime later this season, it will, without a doubt, help renew the spirit and reinforce the resilience of Los Angeles. We look forward to welcoming All Angelenos to this wonderful event in the ‘park for everyone.’”

“Angelenos love The Music Center’s Dance DTLA! Dance and dancing have the unique ability to raise our spirits and bring us together as a community. That’s why it was important for us to move forward, safely, with the June 20th event,” said Josephine Ramirez, executive vice president of TMC Arts, the programming arm of The Music Center. “We held a similar dance party inside Walt Disney Concert Hall this past March to great success, and we look forward to welcoming Dance DTLA fans back for the start of our summer season. As it has been for more than two decades, no prior dancing experience is required to participate in Dance DTLA so come join us for another energetic evening on the dance floor!”

Details: For the latest updates, follow on social media @musiccenterla @grandparkla.

Ports Briefs: POLA Cargo Drops, Wharf Restoration at Berths 177–182 Completed

Port of Long Beach Sees Cargo Decline for May

LOS ANGELES —Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach declined 8.2% in May due to tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, but a temporary pause on those fees will likely trigger a cargo surge by late June.

Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 639,160 twenty-foot equivalent units in May, down 8.2% from the same month last year. Imports dropped 13.4% to 299,116 TEUs and exports decreased 18.6% to 82,149 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port rose 3.2% to 257,895 TEUs.

“We remain cautiously optimistic that import cargo will rebound at the end of June and into July just in time for the peak shipping season, when retailers stock the shelves with back-to-school supplies and begin preparations for the winter holidays,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “While uncertainty remains for the business sector, the Port of Long Beach is continuing to invest in rail and terminal improvements to move cargo efficiently, safely and sustainably.”

The port has moved 4,042,228 TEUs during the first five months of 2025, up 17.2% from the same period in 2024.

 

Port of Los Angeles Completes Construction of Berths 177-182 Wharf Restoration Project

LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles has completed construction of the $22.7 million Berths 177-182 Wharf Restoration project located along the East Basin Channel in Wilmington.

Approved by the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners in September 2023, the project began construction in November 2023, and included constructing approximately 382 linear feet of concrete wharf, 62-feet-wide. Work also includes slope erosion repair and bollard upgrades.

The new wharf, designed in compliance with the port’s seismic code, partially replaced a timber wharf that was extensively damaged in a fire that occurred in 2014.

“The completion of this project on the heels of the catastrophic Eaton and Palisades fires is a stark reminder of the need to rebuild with long-term resiliency as a top priority,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We’re proud to deliver this key infrastructure project as steel-handling operations remain uninterrupted.”

The project allows terminal operator Pasha Stevedoring & Terminals to continue shipping and receiving of steel products, including coils of sheet metal and wire rods, tubing, piping, rebar and other bulk material. Pasha’s terminal is a specialized 40-acre steel-handling facility with covered on-dock warehouses that comprise a 116,000 square-foot transit shed. The Port of Los Angeles is the largest steel-handling port on the West Coast.

Pasha operates two marine terminals at the Port of Los Angeles, including the site of the Green Omni Terminal Project, which demonstrates a full range of zero- and near-zero emissions equipment and vehicles.