Month: March 2023

The nation’s second-largest school district, based in Los Angeles, shut its doors to 422,000 students Tuesday in support of workers with the Service Employees International Union (“SEIU”) that launched a three-day strike over pay. More than 60,000 Los Angeles Unified School District employees – including school staff and teachers – made good on their promise to strike in response to a breakdown in contract negotiations. Negotiations have dragged on for about a year with more than 95% of union members voting to authorize a strike last month if talks didn’t progress.

The SEIU, which represents some 30,000 support workers including teacher’s aides, cafeteria workers and bus drivers, said many of its members live in poverty because of pay of about $25,000 per year in Los Angeles. Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99, said: “This is what solidarity looks like right here.” Arias said LAUSD failed to bargain in good faith, instead subjecting workers to stress and harassment: “If LAUSD truly values us and he [School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho] is serious about reaching an agreement, they must show workers the respect they deserve. We have had enough of empty promises.”

The union is asking for a 30% raise, and the Los Angeles Unified School District responded by offering what it called a “historic” 23% recurring raise and a 3% cash bonus. The local teacher’s union is also seeking a 20% raise over two years, and its teachers are striking in solidarity with the support workers, essentially forcing schools in the district to close.

Los Angeles Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at a press conference that his team is available for negotiations: “I made myself available alongside my team for hours [Monday], hoping that we would, in fact, be able to have a conversation for a whole host of reasons, some of which I do not understand. We were never in the same room, or even in the same building.”

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President Biden issued the first veto of his presidency on Monday, blocking a resolution that would have tossed what Republicans called a “woke” Department of Labor rule to weigh the effect of climate change and social factors when making investments.   Biden said in a tweet: “I just vetoed my first bill. This bill would risk your retirement savings by making it illegal to consider risk factors MAGA House Republicans don’t like. Your plan manager should be able to protect your hard-earned savings — whether Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene likes it or not.”

In a statement, Biden said: “There is extensive evidence showing that environmental, social, and governance factors can have a material impact on markets, industries, and businesses. But the Republican-led bill would force retirement managers to ignore these relevant risk factors, disregarding the principles of free markets and jeopardizing the life savings of working families and retirees. In fact, this bill would prevent plan fiduciaries from taking into account factors like the physical risks of climate change and poor corporate governance, that could affect investment returns.”

The resolution was introduced in the GOP-led House by Republican Rep. Andy Barr and passed in late February. The Senate soon voted 50 to 46 to overturn the rule, with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Jon Tester joining Republicans in support. House GOP leaders intend to hold a vote on overriding the president’s veto, which would require the support of two thirds of both chambers. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in a statement: “President Biden’s first veto is against a bipartisan bill that protects retirement savings from political interference. It is clear that President Biden wants Wall Street to use your hard-earned money not to grow your savings, but to fund a far-left political agenda. That will hurt seniors and workers, especially after President Biden’s reckless spending caused record inflation and rapid interest rate hikes.”

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On Monday, a Florida jury found three men guilty in the 2018 killing of rapper XXXTentacion (real name Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy), who was 20-years-old at the time of his death.  The jury in Broward County convicted Michael Boatwright, 27; Dedrick Williams, 26; and Trayvon Newsome, 24, on all charges — including first-degree murder for gunning down and robbing the rapper outside of a motorbike shop in Deerfield, Fla. The shooting was captured on surveillance video.

Prosecutors say the three men, along with 26-year-old Robert Allen, held up Onfroy and a family member outside of the shop while he was carrying $50,000 in cash on him (Onfroy reportedly was carrying the large sum of cash because he intended to buy a motorcycle that day, with the money kept in a Louis Vuitton satchel.). Onfroy’s family member was able to escape the scene despite Newsome pointing a gun at the vehicle he and Onfroy were in. Boatwright and Newsome were armed while Williams was driving the getaway vehicle. A struggle ensued and at least one of the men shot Onfroy. Allen testified that he plotted with the three defendants to rent a car and go on a robbery spree, pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 2022. He is still awaiting his sentence. The prosecution closed by showing a video of the suspects dancing and celebrating with hands full of $100 bills hours after the shooting took place.

Boatwright, Newsome and Williams are scheduled to be sentenced on April 6.

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Responding to former President Donald Trump calling for protests over his claims of an incoming arrest, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said his office will “not tolerate” intimidation.  On Saturday, Trump posted a message to Truth Social stating that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday, and telling his supporters “PROTEST. TAKE OUR NATION BACK.”

D.A. Bragg said in an email to about 1,600 employees at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office that he is coordinating with the New York Police Department and Office of Court Administration in preparation of any security risks. Bragg wrote in an email shared by Politico reporter Erica Ogden on Twitter: “We do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York. Our law enforcement partners will ensure that any specific or credible threats against the office will be fully investigated and that the proper safeguards are in place so all 1,600 of us have a secure work environment.”

Trump expects to be arrested in relation to the ongoing Manhattan case over his alleged hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen — who allegedly executed the hush money payments to Daniels — had testified against the former president last week, and has testified and written in his tell-all book that Trump directed him to make payments to Daniels. Daniels herself met with the DA on Wednesday, answering questions about the case and agreeing to make herself available as a witness for further questioning if needed.

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The City of Miami Beach has imposed a state of emergency and an overnight curfew for South Beach starting 11:59 p.m. Sunday, after multiple fatal shootings occurred during spring break festivities this weekend Police have now issued a curfew for the past three years during Spring Break season. According to the Miami Beach Police Department, the decision comes after two people were fatally shot between Friday and Sunday morning in the area.

Police first responded to emergency calls on Friday night, discovering two men who were shot near 7 Street and Ocean Drive. Both men were sent to Jackson Memorial Hospital, with one victim succumbing to his injuries at the hospital, police said. The other victim is in critical condition. According to Miami Beach Police, one person has been detained and three guns were found at the scene. Then on Sunday morning, police responded to a shooting where they discovered a wounded man near the 1000 block of Ocean Drive. The unidentified man was sent to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries, Miami Beach Police said on Twitter. Law enforcement officials are investigating both incidents.

According to Miami Beach city officials, the curfew will be effective until Monday morning at 6 a.m. local time. City officials said businesses in the area must close early enough to allow customers time to avoid a curfew violation. According to Miami Beach officials, further curfew limits are expected to go into effect from Thursday, March 23, through Monday, March 27.

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