🌱 CHP Shooting On The 405 + Gascón Focuses Attention On Wage Theft

Happy Friday, neighbors; today is National Titanic Remembrance Day! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

Traffic snarled for a good long time on the 405. Also, the DA wants to go after companies paying workers off the books. Finally, there have been quite a few arrests in the area.

First, today's weather:

Areas of fog, then sun. High: 71 Low: 54.

Here are the top five stories today in Los Angeles:

1. Were you stuck in traffic on the 405 on Thursday? At 2:50 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers shot a 37-year-old motorist near Skirball Center Drive. Officers stopped to investigate a damaged Ford Mustang on the side of the road and the man standing next to it “reached into the vehicle, pulled out a gun and started shooting at the officers.” (Press-Telegram)
2. District Attorney George Gascón announced a collaboration with the CA Labor Commissioner to “bolster the investigation and prosecution of wage theft.” “A 2020 study found that up to 21% of the construction workforce — some 2.4 million workers — are illegally paid off the books or misclassified as independent contractors, according to the District Attorney’s Office, which noted that losses to federal and state treasuries amount to some $8.4 billion.” (Spectrum News 1)
3. We learned on Wednesday that “a three-day joint federal, state and local effort focused on suspects wanted for violent crimes in Los Angeles resulted in 30 arrests, including 10 for murder.” It took place March 28 through 30, and “the arrestees included 15 documented gang members, police said. There were 10 firearms seized.” (NBC)
4. Speaking of arrests, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department announced that it made a Grab and Go retail theft arrest on Wednesday. The individual “is suspected in one robbery at the Nike Store in East Los Angeles, as well as multiple “Grab and Go” style retail thefts which occurred from February through April of this year.” It is interesting to note that the suspect “was out of custody on court-ordered ‘ankle monitoring’ as a result of a late 2021 Robbery arrest, as well as out of custody on his ‘Own Recognizance’ resulting from an early February Grand Theft arrest in Torrance.” (L.A. County Sheriff’s Department)
5. The Port of Los Angeles announced Thursday that it is seeking feedback “on a project to develop a 108,000-square-foot outdoor amphitheater on 2.5 acres that previously housed the San Pedro Public Market.” “The proposed project would also replace a previously proposed 100-foot-diameter Ferris wheel with an approximately 150-foot-tall by 50-foot-wide tower attraction.” You have until May 16 to weigh in. (My News LA)

Today in Los Angeles:

• Easter Bunny Photos at Bella Terra (12 PM)
• Rock & Roll Friday Nights EB’s Dance Party at the Original Farmers Market (7 PM)
• Memorial De La Muerte De Jesús with JWs at 1230 W Temple St (7 PM)
• CLF Easter Bouquet Technique Workshop at Runway Playa Vista (7 PM)
• The Matrix: Resurrections Drive-In Movie at Electric Dusk Drive-In (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Los Angeles Public Library invites you to listen and move along with Ms. Allison. Storytime kits available at your local branch while supplies last." (Facebook)
• Thursday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department welcomed Gayle Anderson, KTLA, to visit with our Los Angeles County Fire 911 Dispatch Center during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. (Facebook)
• Come meet animal ambassadors, make fun crafts, sing, dance, play and learn about nature while learning phrases in a new language at Deane Dana Friendship Nature Center! This class promotes creativity, exploration, and fitness. (Facebook)
• A Jefferson Park neighbor lost their medium-sized, white Maltipoo. He was last seen on 29th Pl and St. Andrews on Tuesday morning, April 12. (Nextdoor)
• Our Los Feliz Knolls neighbor found a dog, female boxer - no name tag - This Boxer was running up Talmadge and then Newdale. She has grey hair on her muzzle, a cloth collar and a metal pronged color. But no name or phone number. (Nextdoor)

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— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.