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Bass announces recommendation for new LADWP chief Pg 02
Monrovia Canyon Park restoration to complete by year's end Pg 21
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Thursday, April 25-May 01, 2024
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VOL. 13,
NO. 168
LA County supervisors get first look at proposed $45.5 billion budget By City News Service
T
he Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors got its first look at a proposed $45.5 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2024-25 Tuesday, noting the need to continue the fight against homelessness and find ways to help renters avoid losing their homes. Fesia Davenport, county CEO, unveiled the proposed budget Monday, which represents a reduction of $1.4 billion from the current fiscal year. While the proposed budget is lower, Davenport insisted it will maintain the county's priorities on housing and homelessness, public safety, among others. The proposal would also see about 835 new positions -- more than half of them in the Department of Mental Health -- for a total of 116,159 budgeted positions in the county workforce. The budget proposal includes $728.2 million in anti-homelessness funding, including money to hire more outreach workers,
Aerial view of the 110 Freeway. | Photo by Daniel Ramirez CC BY 2.0 DEED
housing navigators, mental health clinicians, and substance use counselors. About $300.6 million,
equal to 10% of ongoing locally generated unrestricted revenues, is being directed to the Care
First, Jails Last effort as outlined in Measure J, which mandates funding for community investments
and alternatives to incarceration. An additional $223.4 million in one-time funds from previous budget cycles
would be made available for Care First Community Investment programs under the proposal. Davenport said $95.6 million would assist foster families, prospective adoptive parents and relatives who foster family members. Another $81.1 million would be made accessible to replace EBT benefits for victims of card theft by skimmers and scammers acting statewide. During Tuesday's board meeting, supervisors asked Davenport questions about various aspects of the proposed budget, with a clear emphasis on fighting homelessness and maintaining services for people in supportive housing. Board Chair Lindsey Horvath asked Davenport in particular about providing financial and legal support for renters to help prevent them from falling into homelessness, nothing that such efforts are cheaper See LA budget Page 40
Star Wars stars to meet fans, raise funds for charity at Arcadia mall By Fabiola Diaz fdiaz@beaconmedianews.com
I
nternational Star Wars Day on May the 4th is days away and Chalice Collectibles at The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia will be hosting a fan event featuring stars from across the franchise’s galaxy to raise funds for two of LucasFilm’s favorite charities: the Make-A-Wish Foundation
and Starlight Foundation. Fans in the San Gabriel Valley, and beyond, will have the opportunity to meet: - Chris Bartlett, the voice and human behind C-3PO and 1-JAC on the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Bartlett has played the role of C-3PO in various projects when Anthony Daniels was
unavailable. Bartlett has also played Q9-0, or “Zero,” and The Ferryman on “The Mandalorian”; - Kat Cressida, the voice of Princess Leia in “Star Wars: Rebellion,” “X-Wing Alliance” and “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron,” as well as the voice of Dee Dee from “Dexter’s Laboratory,”
Jessie the Cowgirl from “Toy Story,” Constance Hatchaway from "The Haunted Mansion" and Marvel’s Elektra; - Misty Rosas, who portrayed Kuiil and Frog Lady on “The Mandalorian”; and - Leilani Shiu, who portrayed Teeka The Jawa on
“Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Tatooine Jawa and Offworld Jawa on “The Mandalorian,” and Tatooine Jawa and Chadra Fan in “The Book of Boba Fett.” Additionally, there will be fully interactive, cinemagrade, life-size droids of See Star Wars Page 39
R2-D2 and BB-8 interacting and taking photos with event guests. Bartlett, Cressida, Rosas and Shiu will be selling and signing Funko Pops, including vaulted ones, 8-by-10s, photo opportunities and other exclusive Star Wars