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LOS ANGELES HAS NOT FINISHED CHOOSING ITS NEXT MAYOR The June primary is over. But the race for second place — and a spot in November’s runoff — is still too close to call. Thread 🧵 1/ Mayor Karen Bass has officially advanced to the November runoff election. However, her opponent has not yet been determined as additional ballots continue to be counted. 2/ Under Los Angeles election rules, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright. That did not happen. The top two finishers advance to November. 3/ Karen Bass currently leads the field. The battle now is for second place between City Councilmember Nithya Raman and businessman/reality television personality Spencer Pratt. 4/ What makes this race interesting is how much the margin has narrowed since Election Day. Each new batch of ballots has the potential to reshape who advances. 5/ Recent vote updates show Raman gaining ground on Pratt. The gap between the two candidates has become increasingly tight as additional ballots are processed. 6/ The issues driving the mayor’s race are familiar to every Angeleno: • Homelessness • Public safety • Wildfire preparedness • Housing affordability • City services • Infrastructure 7/ Whoever advances will face Mayor Bass in a city still dealing with major challenges and preparing for the 2028 Olympics. 8/ California elections are not decided on Election Night. Ballots continue to be verified, processed, and counted for weeks after voters cast them. 9/ That means the November matchup is still being determined. Every vote update matters. 10/ We’ll continue monitoring the results and provide updates as Los Angeles moves closer to knowing who will challenge Mayor Karen Bass this November. Follow @AngelenoInsights for Los Angeles election updates, government oversight, and public meeting coverage.

California Is About To Choose Its Next Governor For the first time since 2018, California voters are selecting a new governor. And the race remains unsettled days after Election Day. Thread 🧵 1/ Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run again. That means California voters are choosing a new governor for the first time in nearly a decade. The winner will oversee a state budget of more than $300 billion and nearly 40 million residents. 2/ California uses a “Top Two” primary system. All candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party. The two candidates receiving the most votes advance to November, even if they belong to the same party. 3/ After months of campaigning and millions spent on advertising, one candidate has already secured a place in the November election: Former California Attorney General and former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. 4/ The fight for the second spot remains extremely close. Republican Steve Hilton currently holds a narrow lead over Democrat Tom Steyer, but millions of ballots remain uncounted statewide. 5/ As of this weekend, election officials report roughly 3 million ballots still awaiting processing across California. That means standings can continue shifting as new vote updates are released. 6/ The governor’s race has become one of the most expensive in California history. Candidates and outside groups have spent hundreds of millions of dollars attempting to shape the outcome. 7/ The race is also being viewed as a referendum on issues Californians discuss every day: • Cost of living • Housing affordability • Homelessness • Public safety • State regulations • Economic growth These issues are expected to dominate the November campaign. 8/ If current trends hold, California could see a Democrat-versus-Republican showdown in November between Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton. But with millions of ballots still outstanding, the final matchup has not yet been officially decided. 9/ California’s next governor will inherit major challenges: A housing shortage, insurance market turmoil, homelessness, budget pressures, infrastructure demands, and wildfire recovery efforts. 10/ The primary may be over, but the race for governor is not. The counting continues. And California’s political future is still taking shape one ballot at a time. Follow @AngelenoInsights for California and Los Angeles government, budget, and election updates.

Why California Elections Take Weeks To Finish Election Night isn’t the end of the election in California. In fact, millions of ballots are often still being counted after the first results are released. Here’s why. 🧵 1/ Many people expect election results to be final on Election Night. California doesn’t work that way. Election Night results are simply the first batch of counted ballots. The official count continues for weeks. 2/ California conducts one of the largest elections in the country. More than 22 million voters are registered statewide. Processing millions of ballots takes time. 3/ Every vote-by-mail ballot must go through verification. Election officials compare the signature on the ballot envelope against the voter’s registration record before the ballot can be counted. 4/ If a signature doesn’t match or is missing, the ballot isn’t automatically rejected. Voters are given an opportunity to “cure” the issue by providing additional verification. That process takes additional time. 5/ Provisional ballots also require review. These ballots are used when election workers need to confirm voter eligibility before counting the vote. Each provisional ballot must be individually researched and verified. 6/ California accepts vote-by-mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and received within the legal deadline. That means valid ballots can continue arriving after Election Day. 7/ Counties must also conduct quality-control reviews. Election officials reconcile ballot totals, verify precinct reporting, investigate discrepancies, and perform post-election audits. 8/ The process is known as the “official canvass.” State law gives counties several weeks to complete it before results are certified. 9/ This is why close races can change after Election Night. As additional ballots are counted, margins can narrow, widen, or occasionally flip. 10/ Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Independent, or something else, the goal of the canvass is the same: Count every eligible ballot accurately before final certification. 11/ The next time someone asks why California is “still counting votes,” the answer is simple: The election isn’t over until the official canvass is complete. Election Night is the first report. All information in this thread is based on publicly available election procedures and official election administration guidance. Informational purposes only.

LA County’s Tax Increase Is Still Too Close To Call A major Los Angeles County ballot measure remains undecided days after Election Day. Measure ER would increase the county sales tax to fund health and social service programs. And as additional ballots are counted, the outcome could still change. Thread 🧵 1/ What is Measure ER? Measure ER would add a countywide sales tax increase dedicated to funding healthcare, mental health, homelessness-related services, public health programs, and other county services. Supporters argue it would provide a stable funding source as federal and state funding remains uncertain. 2/ Why isn’t the result final? California does not finish counting ballots on Election Night. Counties continue processing: • Vote-by-mail ballots • Provisional ballots • Ballots requiring signature verification • Ballots received near Election Day that were properly postmarked Millions of ballots remain to be counted statewide. 3/ Los Angeles County alone still has hundreds of thousands of ballots left to process. That means margins can continue moving for days or even weeks after Election Day. Close races and ballot measures are especially vulnerable to late shifts. 4/ What happens if Measure ER passes? The additional sales tax would be collected countywide and directed toward programs authorized by the measure. County officials say the funding would support healthcare delivery, behavioral health services, homelessness-related programs, and other public services. 5/ What happens if it fails? County leaders would need to identify other funding sources, reduce planned spending, seek additional state or federal support, or return with future funding proposals. 6/ When will voters know the final outcome? The answer depends on how quickly remaining ballots are processed. California’s official canvass period lasts several weeks after Election Day. Until then, results remain unofficial. 7/ Regardless of where you stand on Measure ER, this race is a reminder that California elections are often decided long after Election Night. The count continues until every eligible ballot is reviewed. We’ll continue tracking updates as new results are released.

🚨 NEW: Los Angeles County is preparing for potential FEDERAL INTERFERENCE in the 2026 elections — and the Board may authorize lawsuits against the federal government if election operations are disrupted. 🧵 A new motion by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Lindsey P. Horvath outlines an aggressive “2026 Election Resiliency and Response” strategy. 1️⃣ The motion says LA County must prepare for rapidly changing legal and political conditions ahead of: • The June 2, 2026 primary • The November 3, 2026 general election The County says election rules could change “with little time to respond.” 2️⃣ One key concern cited directly in the motion: A pending Supreme Court case: Watson v. Republican National Committee The motion says the case could potentially invalidate laws allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to still count if received later. 3️⃣ The motion also references: • Ballot confiscation incidents across the country • Threats of federal arrests or lawsuits tied to election administration • Increased federal scrutiny of election operations This is unusually direct language for a County Board motion. 4️⃣ Here’s the BIG part: The motion would formally authorize Los Angeles County to SUPPORT or JOIN litigation against the federal government if the County believes elections are being interfered with. That includes: • Filing lawsuits • Joining lawsuits • Supporting litigation • Filing amicus briefs 5️⃣ The motion specifically states the County may participate in litigation: “against the federal government for any interference or disruption” involving the 2026 elections. That is a major escalation in County-level election positioning. 6️⃣ Another major provision: The County would provide legal defense for County election workers if they face federal criminal charges related to administering elections. The motion cites California Government Code Section 995.8. 7️⃣ According to the motion, this legal protection would apply if election employees acted: • In good faith • Without actual malice • Within the scope of County employment The proposal appears aimed at protecting election staff from politically charged prosecutions or investigations. 8️⃣ The motion repeatedly frames this as an “election resiliency” issue. County officials argue they need authority to respond QUICKLY to legal disruptions that could affect: • Voting access • Ballot processing • Election administration • Election staffing • Legal compliance 9️⃣ The broader context here is important. Across the country, election administration has become increasingly politicized following multiple years of litigation, recount battles, investigations, and federal/state conflicts over voting rules. LA County appears to be preparing NOW for those scenarios. 🔟 This may become one of the most politically controversial motions on the Board agenda. Supporters will likely argue: • It protects election workers • Preserves local election administration • Ensures rapid legal response capacity Critics will likely argue: • The language is too broad • It anticipates political conflict before it occurs • Counties should not pre-position for litigation against the federal government 1️⃣1️⃣ Another important detail: The motion references a recent Politico report about the DOJ increasing election scrutiny efforts. That article is cited directly in the Board document. 1️⃣2️⃣ This thread is based on publicly available Los Angeles County Board documents and is for informational purposes only. It is not legal or professional advice.

🚨 LA County is creating a MASSIVE new disaster recovery bureaucracy to oversee rebuilding after the Eaton and Palisades Fires. 🧵 The proposed “Los Angeles County Disaster Recovery Rebuild Authority” would centralize recovery operations for years to come. 1️⃣ The County says the January 2025 fires were among the most devastating disasters in LA County history: • Loss of life • Destroyed homes • Damaged infrastructure • Long-term displacement of residents Now officials say rebuilding needs a permanent centralized structure. 2️⃣ According to the motion, the County has already: • Received 3,300 permit applications • Issued 2,300 residential permits • Seen 1,200 homes already under construction in the Eaton Fire area alone Officials also say the County provided over $17 MILLION in fee deferrals and refunds. 3️⃣ But County leaders argue permitting alone is not enough. The motion says full recovery requires: • Infrastructure rebuilding • Housing recovery • Economic revitalization • Environmental rehabilitation • Restoration of community life In other words: This is evolving into a long-term regional rebuilding operation. 4️⃣ The proposal would formally establish a centralized “Disaster Recovery Rebuild Authority” under the Department of Public Works. That Authority would become the County’s unified coordination body for disaster recovery in fire-impacted unincorporated areas. 5️⃣ The motion says the Authority would coordinate: • Public Works • Regional Planning • Public Health • Fire Department • County Counsel • CEO Office • Other County departments The County is effectively building a multi-department disaster governance structure. 6️⃣ Another major detail: The County says the MOST resource-intensive phase of recovery is STILL AHEAD. The motion warns that: • Construction activity will continue climbing for years • Infrastructure rebuilding has barely begun • Utility coordination and inspections will intensify • Long-term staffing and funding are still unresolved 7️⃣ The County explicitly says the Authority must be operational BEFORE the next wave of rebuilding demand hits: “not in response to it.” That language suggests officials believe the current rebuilding surge is only the beginning. 8️⃣ The motion would also create a CEO Disaster Recovery Oversight Team. Its role: • Executive coordination • Long-term recovery strategy • Economic recovery planning • Cross-department oversight • Major project monitoring This is becoming an institutionalized recovery apparatus. 9️⃣ The County also plans quarterly rebuild progress reports covering: • Operational progress • Rebuilding metrics • Funding • Interdepartmental coordination • Resource utilization • Barriers requiring Board action Expect this to become a recurring major governance issue for years. 🔟 One important political question: How large does this eventually become? The motion repeatedly references: • Multi-year funding • State and federal funding opportunities • Staffing expansion • Administrative support • Long-term operational scaling This may ultimately evolve into one of the largest post-disaster governance structures in County history. 1️⃣1️⃣ Supporters will likely argue: • Recovery needs centralized coordination • The fires exposed fragmented bureaucracy • Long-term rebuilding requires dedicated leadership Critics will likely ask: • How large will this become? • How much will it cost taxpayers? • How long will it exist? • What oversight mechanisms will exist? 1️⃣2️⃣ The motion also keeps in place prior emergency recovery authorities approved by the Board earlier in 2025 until formally repealed. Meaning: The County’s fire recovery governance powers are continuing to expand — not shrink. 1️⃣3️⃣ This thread is based on publicly available Los Angeles County Board documents and is for informational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice.

🚨 LA County just released another wave of restaurant and food facility closures across the region. Some were shut down for vermin infestations, sewage issues, or lack of hot water. 🧵 Here are some of the closures flagged by LA County Public Health: 1️⃣ Multiple facilities were cited for VERMIN INFESTATIONS under California Health & Safety Code Section 114259.1. Among them: • La Patria Restaurant — Canoga Park • Akuma Ramen & Sushi Bar — West Hollywood • Taco Los Martinez — Pomona • Starbucks — Burbank • Yoshinoya — Los Angeles • Menyul Cafe — Koreatown 2️⃣ Some facilities were shut down for SEWAGE DISCHARGE violations. That includes: • Restaurante Guerrero — Los Angeles • Starbucks — Burbank • Chocoberry — Culver City Sewage-related closures are among the more serious public health concerns inspectors encounter. 3️⃣ Several businesses were also cited for NO VERIFIABLE HOT WATER. Examples include: • India Sweets & Spices — Canoga Park • Fleming Middle School — Lomita California food safety rules generally require hot water for proper sanitation and handwashing. 4️⃣ One notable detail: Some locations reopened within days after corrective action. Others remained CLOSED as of the report date. Meaning: Closure does not always mean permanent shutdown — but it does mean inspectors found conditions serious enough to temporarily halt operations. 5️⃣ The report spans locations across LA County, including: • Los Angeles • West Hollywood • Pomona • Canoga Park • Culver City • Burbank • Lomita • Koreatown • Diamond Bar This was not isolated to one region. 6️⃣ LA County Public Health regularly publishes these closure and reopening reports. The inspections can involve: • Vermin activity • Sewage issues • Hot water failures • Food storage problems • Sanitation violations Not every violation results in closure — these are generally the more severe cases. 7️⃣ One thing many residents don’t realize: Restaurants can sometimes continue operating with lower-grade violations and still receive point deductions. Closure usually happens when conditions cross a threshold considered an immediate public health risk. 8️⃣ The County’s closure reports often go viral because they reveal how many major chains and popular local spots appear in inspection records. This report included: • Starbucks • Yoshinoya • School cafeterias • Local restaurants • Markets • Cafes 9️⃣ Health inspection systems are designed to identify problems BEFORE they become larger outbreaks. 🔟 This thread is based on publicly available Los Angeles County Department of Public Health closure reports and is for informational purposes only. Inspection outcomes can change after reinspection and corrective action.

🚨 LA County may spend MORE on lawsuit settlements and legal payouts than most residents realize. And many of the cases start with problems people encounter every single day. 🧵 1️⃣ Potholes. Faded striping. Broken sidewalks. Flooding. Jail conditions. Medical errors. Employment disputes. All of these can eventually become taxpayer-funded legal claims. 2️⃣ Every week, the LA County Board of Supervisors agenda quietly includes: • settlement approvals • claims payouts • litigation updates • legal risk discussions Some settlements reach MILLIONS of dollars. Most residents never see them. 3️⃣ This week alone, LA County is considering a: $2.3 MILLION settlement tied to a Santa Clarita motorcycle crash involving allegations of faded roadway striping and maintenance failures. 4️⃣ According to County documents: Some roadway assets tied to the case allegedly were not even entered into the County’s inspection and maintenance inventory system. The County later updated maintenance tracking after the crash. 5️⃣ That highlights a bigger issue: Local government doesn’t just manage services. It manages LIABILITY. And liability grows when infrastructure ages faster than maintenance budgets. 6️⃣ LA County oversees: • thousands of miles of roads • bridges • flood channels • hospitals • clinics • probation camps • parks • detention facilities • administrative buildings That infrastructure is expensive to maintain properly. 7️⃣ Another hidden factor: Many lawsuits take YEARS before resolution. During that time, legal expenses continue growing through: • attorney fees • expert witnesses • investigations • depositions • court costs 8️⃣ Governments also sometimes settle because jury verdicts can become unpredictable. A settlement may actually be viewed internally as LESS risky than going to trial. 9️⃣ Another reality: Not all settlements involve admissions of wrongdoing. County documents often state settlements are approved because of: “the risks and uncertainties of litigation.” 🔟 But large payouts still raise public policy questions. For example: • Are maintenance systems adequate? • Are inspections happening consistently? • Are agencies documenting infrastructure properly? • Are operational failures being caught early enough? 1️⃣1️⃣ One reason these stories resonate: People see the underlying problems every day. Road conditions. Broken infrastructure. Government inefficiency. Delayed repairs. Operational backlogs. Then they see the lawsuits later. 1️⃣2️⃣ And because many settlements are buried deep inside lengthy Board agendas, most taxpayers never connect the two. 1️⃣3️⃣ Bigger question: How much money could governments SAVE long-term through better maintenance, oversight, and operational management before lawsuits ever happen? 1️⃣4️⃣ This thread is based on publicly available Los Angeles County Board, Claims Board, and related public documents and is for informational purposes only. It is not legal or professional advice.

🚨 NEW: LA County is moving to create a massive new contracting structure for “Justice Support Services” that could authorize years of future work orders across a broad range of programs tied to justice-involved populations. 🧵 The proposal comes from the County’s Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD). 1️⃣ The May 12, 2026 Board item requests approval for: “Master Agreements and Work Orders for Justice Support Services.” The proposal would allow the County to issue future work orders on an as-needed basis to prequalified vendors.

🚨 NEW: LA County’s retirement costs are projected to rise by another $129 MILLION next fiscal year under newly proposed pension contribution rates. 🧵 A new Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association report for FY 2026–2027 outlines updated employer and employee contribution rates tied to the County retirement system. 1️⃣ According to the report: Total estimated employer retirement contributions are projected to rise to approximately: $2.772 BILLION That’s an increase of about: $129 MILLION compared to the prior fiscal year. 2️⃣ The aggregate employer contribution rate would increase from: 25.61% ➝ 25.70% of payroll The County notes Los Angeles County itself covers more than 95% of employer contributions into the system. 3️⃣ The updated actuarial valuation estimates: • LACERA valuation assets: about $81.8 billion • Actuarial accrued liabilities: about $99.7 billion That leaves the system with a funded ratio of approximately: 82.0%

🚨 NEW: LA County is poised to approve a $2.3 MILLION settlement tied to a motorcycle crash in Santa Clarita involving allegations of faded road striping and dangerous roadway conditions. 🧵 The proposed settlement is scheduled for the May 12, 2026 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agenda. 1️⃣ The case is: Joshua Huber v. State of California, et al. Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV02739. The proposed settlement amount: $2,300,000 2️⃣ According to County documents, the crash occurred on: January 19, 2020 at approximately 5:55 p.m. The incident involved a motorcycle collision near: Soledad Canyon Road and the northbound SR-14 on-ramp in Santa Clarita.

🚨 LA County quietly pays out MASSIVE amounts of money every year in lawsuits and legal settlements. Most residents never hear about them. Here’s where the money goes — and why the payouts can become enormous 🧵 1️⃣ Los Angeles County is one of the largest local governments in the United States. It operates: • Hospitals • Jails • Probation camps • Public health systems • Roads and infrastructure • Beaches and parks • Homelessness programs • Law enforcement systems • Social services That scale also creates enormous legal exposure. Some settlements involve roadway conditions or infrastructure failures. Example: A proposed $2.3 million settlement tied to a Santa Clarita motorcycle crash alleged faded roadway striping and maintenance issues contributed to the collision. 4️⃣ Other cases involve: • Jail conditions • Use-of-force allegations • Medical negligence • Employment litigation • Contract disputes • Civil rights claims • Property damage • Probation-related incidents