city

The restaurant looks incredibly similar to the fast-food giant, with the same red and yellow colour scheme, and a logo that looks not unlike the iconic golden arches. But there’s one big difference.

A British couple in America were astonished when they stumbled upon a ‘vegan McDonald’s’ – and loved it so much they demanded it comes to the UK. Liam and Janine Day, known as Those Happy Days on social media, regularly share content about their global travels.

They are currently in the USA, and shared a clip about the incredible discovery they made in San Francisco, California. In the TikTok video, Janine is shown pointing at a McDonald’s before turning to point at another business across the road, which looks remarkably similar – with a few notable differences.

Speaking in the video, Liam said: “Something very weird is happening here. That’s a regular McDonald’s, but right across the street is a completely vegan one.”

The video then cuts to inside the restaurant, called Mr Charlie’s. Liam continues: “It looks exactly like a McDonald’s, with red and yellow and fast food screens everywhere, but everything here is plant-based.

“Vegan burgers, vegan chicken nuggets, vegan fries, even a vegan McFlurry. It even feels like the real McDonald’s inside.”

Showing close-ups of the food as he and Janine tuck in, Liam adds: “Can I say that the chicken nuggets were the most life-like I’ve ever had, and the burgers taste just like a McDonald’s burger. In fact, they’re better than McDonald’s burgers.”

Concluding he says: “The UK really needs a Mr. Charlie’s. In fact, every city in the world needs one of these.”

Although Mr. Charlie’s does feature a number of cheeky nods to the fast-food giant in its red and yellow colour scheme, and logo, which looks not unlike a certain iconic golden arches, it is not affiliated with McDonald’s. It currently has four branches in California, with another opening soon, as well as one in Sydney, Australia.

The menu offers a number of plant-based takes on McDonald’s food, with the Mr. Chuck looking very similar to the famous Big Mac, and Mr. FluffHead ice cream featuring the same signature swirl as a McFlurry.

In their video description Liam and Janine wrote: “We genuinely had to do a double take… There’s a real McDonald’s on one side of the road, and a fully vegan version of it on the other. Same red & yellow vibe, same fast-food menu boards… but EVERYTHING is plant-based. And honestly? The nuggets were the most realistic we’ve ever had. Like, scary good.

“The burger tasted just like the classic McDonald’s flavour too. If no one told you, you’d never know.

“UK… we are BEGGING for @mrcharlies to come over and take over the world. Would you try a fully vegan McDonald’s?”

According to vegan business website vegconomist, Mr. Charlie’s opened its first branch in 2022, and quickly became known as the ‘vegan McDonald’s’, with pop megastar Lizzo among those praising the food. Having already expanded to Australia, it reportedly plans to open branches in New Zealand and Singapore, but there is no word so far on whether it will come to the UK.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Los Angeles city officials may be empowered to remove homeless encampments from hillside areas at severe risk of fire, even without the property owner’s permission, under a proposal that the City Council moved forward on Tuesday.

The proposal would allow the city to remove hazardous materials, including homeless encampments, from private property in hillside areas in “Very High Fire Severity Zones,” including in the Santa Monica and Verdugo Mountains.

By an 11-3 vote, the council directed the city attorney to draft changes to the municipal code, which the council will then vote on at a later date.

“Prevention [of fires] is the most cost-effective tool we have,” said Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who sponsored the proposal. “When we are in imminent threat of wildfires, especially as it relates to or is exacerbated by these types of encampments, we have a duty to act.”

Rubbish fires, many related to homeless encampments, have skyrocketed over the last several years, according to Los Angeles Fire Department data. Rodriguez said there have been five wildfires in her northeast San Fernando Valley district since she took office in 2017, though none was caused by an encampment.

Between 2018 and 2024, about 33% of all fires in the city, and more than 40% of rubbish fires, involved homeless Angelenos, according to the LAFD.

Rodriguez said the city is often left flat-footed when encampments pop up on hillsides and property owners don’t help address the issue.

“If a private property owner is not responsive, it puts the rest of the hillside community under threat,” Rodriguez said in an interview.

Rodriguez’s motion said it’s often difficult for city departments, including police and fire, to get permission from property owners to enter.

“It can take weeks to determine property ownership and to obtain the necessary signoffs from property owners to access the property, causing unnecessary delays and increasing the risk for a serious fire and threats to public safety,” the motion reads.

Some council members argued that while they agreed with the intent of the proposal, some details needed to be addressed.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez — who voted against the proposal — said he was concerned that homeless people would end up getting shuffled around the city.

“What I don’t want to see is this being used as a tool to push homeless folks from one side of the street to the other side of the street,” he said before casting his vote.

Soto-Martínez said he wouldn’t vote for the proposal until the city developed a definition of what a fire hazard is.

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado also voted against the proposal, saying she wanted the council to do more research before changing the municipal code.

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez was the third “no” vote.

While this lesser-known region in Spain is growing in popularity, it still gets only a fraction of visitors that other cities see, and it allows you to enjoy a completely different type of Spanish culture

TUI has added a new city break destination to its roster for spring, and it’s in a part of Spain that’s growing in popularity with Brits and has a unique look.

If you’re bored of the Spanish Costas and want to escape the usual packed tourist spots, then Northern Spain is becoming an alternative for Brits who want to see a different part of the country. The Basque Country alone saw a 40% increase in visitors last year, although this still only puts the area at 182,000 tourists a year- a fraction of the visitors to Southern Spain.

At the heart of the Basque Country is Bilbao, and if you’ve never been to this part of Spain, it’s an excellent starting point for immersing yourself in the area’s unique beauty and culture.

TUI will offer city breaks to Bilbao from four major UK airports this spring: Bristol, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, and Manchester. With flights from London taking just under two hours, it’s ideal for a long weekend or mini break.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

In a Lonely Planet article, one travel writer wrote: “When your plane banks toward Bilbao Airport for the final approach, the lush forest passing below looks nothing like the Spain you thought you knew.”

The climate and landscapes of this region are worlds away from the dry, sunny south, with milder weather that can be a respite from summer heatwaves. In March and April, daily highs are around 17C, while over the summer, it hits around 26C, and the south often bakes in temperatures in the mid-30s. It also gets more rain than the south, giving the surrounding area a fresh green look.

Bilbao sits on the banks of the Nervión River, and one of its most popular spots is its old town, also known as Casco Viejo. With colourful buildings dating back to medieval times, a grand cathedral, and the beautiful neoclassical Plaza Nueva, full of bars and restaurants, it’s the perfect city break destination.

In contrast, the Guggenheim Museum, with its unique Frank Gehry-designed exterior, looks different from anything else in the city, yet draws people in with its vast collection of contemporary art. Even if you don’t venture inside, it’s worth walking past to see its titanium-clad exterior shining in the sun.

In addition to its cultural delights, Bilbao is known for its colourful food scene, and as you wander the streets, you’ll find plenty of pintxos bars. A northern alternative to tapas; pintxos are bite-sized pieces of bread topped with ingredients from jamón to seafood or cheese, held together by a cocktail stick.

Another famous product of Northern Spain is its Rioja wines, which are the perfect pairing for a plate of pintxos. You can enjoy a day trip to wineries near the city, or simply visit one of the many wine bars for a tasting.

TUI’s deals include a 7-night stay 4T NYX Hotel Bilbao by Leonardo Hotels on a room only basis from £583 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing a Double or Twin Comfort Room departing from London Gatwick on the 14th of April 2026 with hand luggage only.

Or you can book a seven-night holiday staying at Hotel Sirimiri on a room-only basis from £451 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing a Double or Twin Standard Room departing from London Heathrow on the 21st of April 2026 with hand luggage only. Prices are subject to availability and may change. To find out more, visit the TUI website or download the official app.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

New York has confirmed that the federal government released another $77m for new tunnels and bridges connecting the state to its neighbour New Jersey, amid a feud with United States President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appeared at a construction site alongside union leaders to push for the release of the remaining funds, which were frozen in October amid a record-breaking government shutdown.

“It cannot continue like this,” Hochul, a Democrat, told workers at the site.

“The workers need to know that that job is going to be there: the one they signed up for, the one they trained for, the one they’re so proud of. It has to be there year after year, until this project is done.”

At stake is the fate of the Northeast Corridor project, a central part of the Gateway Program, an interstate initiative to expand and renovate the aging tunnels that the link metropolitan hubs between New York and New Jersey.

The federal government had pledged billions in support for the project, considered to be vital for transportation and safety reasons.

But on October 1, one day into a historically long government shutdown, the Trump administration announced it would suspend $18bn in funding for the project that had already been granted.

The move was designed to pressure Democrats — and Democrat-aligned jurisdictions — to comply with Republican demands to end the shutdown.

But Trump hinted at the time that some of the programming cuts could be permanent. The shutdown ended after 43 days in November, and still, the funding for the New York City tunnel project remained frozen.

Democrats decried the freeze an act of political revenge. “It should concern every American that the Trump Administration is willing to harm working families and our nation’s economy to punish Democrats,” Representative Jerry Nadler of New York said in response to the funding suspension.

But Trump has continued to withhold the funds. On February 3, the states of New York and New Jersey announced they were suing the Trump administration to release the funds.

“After four months of covering costs with limited operating funds, the states warn that construction will be forced to completely shut down as soon as February 6 unless federal funding resumes,” attorneys general Letitia James of New York and Jennifer Davenport of New Jersey said in a statement at the time.

Three days later, as the states hit that February 6 deadline, a US district judge ordered the funds to be released, citing the potential for irreparable harm to the project.

The ruling required more than $200m in reimbursement funds to be paid out to the states.

Over the last week, the federal government responded by releasing $30m, in addition to the $77m announced on Tuesday. But officials said it was still not enough.

At Tuesday’s news conference, union leader Gary LaBarbera emphasised that new construction was a necessity.

“Let me tell you: The existing tunnels, the trans-Hudson tunnels, are over a hundred years old. Their structural integrity has failed,” he said.

He added that the issue of maintaining safe transportation should be nonpartisan

“This isn’t a Republican tunnel or a Democratic tunnel, right? This should not be a political tug of war,” he said.

Governor Hochul, meanwhile, used part of her speech to address the president. “ Let’s stop the chaos. Let’s stop the insanity. Let them work, Mr President,” she said, in a gesture to the workers around her.

But this week, on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump doubled down on his opposition to the project.

“I am opposed to the future boondoggle known as ‘Gateway,’ in New York/New Jersey, because it will cost many BILLIONS OF DOLLARS more than projected or anticipated,” Trump wrote.

“It is a disaster! Gateway will likewise be financially catastrophic for the region, unless hard work and proper planning is done, NOW, to avoid insurmountable future cost overruns.”

He also denounced reports that he would un-freeze the funding in exchange for renaming New York’s Penn Station after him, as well as Washington’s Dulles airport.

“IT IS JUST MORE FAKE NEWS,” Trump wrote, adding that such a proposal was “brought up by certain politicians and construction union heads”, not him.

Still, his White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to confirm the reports last week during a news briefing.

“Why not?” she told a reporter. “It was something the president floated in his conversation with [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer.”

On Tuesday, reports emerged that the Trump Organization had filed trademark claims for any airports bearing the president’s name.

Republicans in Florida’s legislature have already sought to rename the international airport in Palm Beach for Trump, citing his nearby golf courses and residence at Mar-a-Lago.

The Fiji fixture is not Wales’ game to organise.

Wales traditionally play their home matches at the Principality Stadium but this contest is considered an away match with Fiji being the hosts.

Similarly, the invitational Barbarians will be the “home” side when they face Wales at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday, 27 June.

Fiji are set to play their Nations Championship home matches at venues outside their own country, given the logistical difficulties of travel to the Pacific Islands and the ability to maximise revenue at larger grounds elsewhere.

Fiji face England in the second round of fixtures, before finishing the July group stages against Scotland.

The Principality Stadium is also continuing the tradition of hosting a number of non-rugby events this summer, so is unavailable to stage matches in late June and early July.

There are no official events yet listed in the Principality Stadium calendar for July, but rock group Metallica are holding a concert in Cardiff on Sunday, 28 June, 12 days after Take That have played in the Welsh capital.

Wales will host Japan, New Zealand and Australia at the Principality Stadium in November in the second half of the Nations Championship.

NBA star Jaylen Brown had a public spat with the Beverly Hills Police Department Saturday night after police shut down a brand event he was hosting.

Brown, who signed a $285-million contract with the Celtics in 2023, was in Los Angeles for the National Basketball Assn.’s All-Star festivities.

He told ESPN that the event was hosted at Oakley founder Jim Jannard’s house. Brown is sponsored by Oakley.

The event took place in the Trousdale section of Beverly Hills and was shut down about 7 p.m. In a video posted on Brown’s Instagram account, the NBA star could be seen arguing with a BHPD officer who was shutting the party down.

“The owner didn’t say we needed a permit,” Brown told the officer in the video. Brown claimed the event was not a party, but rather a panel on culture.

“300k down the drain,” Brown wrote in a post on X after the incident, tagging the Beverly Hills Police Department.

“An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address,” BHPD said in a statement.

“Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur,” the statement continued.

Brown plays for the Boston Celtics, a historic rival of the Los Angeles Lakers, but added that he was surprised at his treatment by the city of Beverly Hills.

“I feel like we’re being targeted right now,” he said in a video posted to Instagram.

At one of the most popular tourist destinations, which dates back more than 5,000 years, visitors throw coins into a toilet in what they believe is a wishing well

The UK’s ‘lost city’ has been attracting tourists from around the world – but most of them want to toss pennies into a toilet.

Skara Brae, on the Orkney archipelago in Scotland, is a preserved Neolithic village that was inhabited by a farming community around 5,000 years ago. It stands as one of the finest-preserved farming settlements across the British Isles and is known as the “Scottish Pompeii”.

The village was inhabited between 3100 and 2500 BC, and its close proximity to the sea allowed its residents to easily hunt for fish while also growing crops and tending to their various animals. It isn’t exactly clear why Skara Brae was abandoned, but it’s thought to have become uninhabitable due to climate change and severe weather.

READ MORE: Abandoned UK village left a ‘ghost town’ with 33 unfinished new build homes boarded upREAD MORE: I booked a mystery holiday for £79 and thought things couldn’t get worse — they did

It was left largely untouched until a storm in 1850 uncovered the site, revealing its fascinating past and prehistoric dwellings. Following a dig at Skara Brae, remnants of the community were further uncovered, including stone dressers and box beds, along with artefacts such as tools, gaming dice, pots and jewellery.

Together with a substantial chambered tomb (Maes Howe) and two ceremonial stone circles (the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar), the settlement now forms part of the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” collection of monuments, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Dating back thousands of years, the site remains one of the island’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing crowds near and far. In a long-standing tradition, superstitious visitors have frequently thrown pennies into an ancient hole in the ground of the preserved Neolithic village, believing it to be a wishing well.

However, it’s actually a toilet – and not everyone realises. Experts have outlined that the hole in the ground is merely an “old sewer” and a network of well-constructed drains and substantial cisterns.

Local tour guide from Orkney Uncovered, Kinlay Francis, previously shared on Facebook: “For years, people have been throwing money down a subterranean hole in the Skara Brae ground, thinking they are throwing money down a well to make a wish.

“I have great delight in telling my clients and anybody who throws their money down there that they are, in fact, throwing money down a toilet.

“This is the old drain/sewer from the Skara Brae site. It is not, and I repeat, not a wishing well. So don’t go there to spend a penny.”

The post quickly amassed over 2,000 reactions and nearly 150 comments, as people couldn’t believe the hilarious mix-up. One person remarked: “Oh! So! Priceless!”, while a second said: “Really a p*****g well not a wishing well then”.

A third commented: “It’s not a wishing well…it’s a s******g well.” Yet, not everyone was prepared to ditch their beliefs, as one noted: “Still…maybe brings good luck”, and another stated: “Where there is muck, there is brass!”

The confusion hasn’t stopped visitors from marvelling at the Neolithic village, and it’s received outstanding praise on TripAdvisor. One traveller shared: “Skara Brae Prehistoric Village is a must-see if you are in the Orkney Islands. Such an interesting place. You will be blown away by how well-preserved this 5000-year-old site is.”

A second commented: “This was my second time to Skara Brae and it was just as wonderful as the first. The setting of this village is spectacular, and on this visit, the weather was outstanding. On my first visit, the rain was blowing sideways. It is fantastic to view the site and then visit the reconstructed house to see how these people lived. Not so different from us – pretty pots, stone dressers and reasonably comfortable beds with skins as duvets!”

One more noted: “A must-see bucket list experience older than the Giza pyramids. Although the museum is small, the recreated room really brings alive the site. They even had plumbing. Once you are at the site, you can tour the homes from the walkway, which shows the genius of the ancient culture. Plentiful parking with a good gift shop/cafe.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Considered to be one of the UK’s best cities with Roman ruins and a historic market, I was expecting more, but after visiting at the weekend, I left feeling underwhelmed and wouldn’t rush back.

I’m passionate about exploring fresh destinations across England, so when a particular city kept appearing on my social media timeline, I knew I had to make the trip. St Albans is a historic cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, situated approximately 20 miles north of London.

Nowadays, it’s recognised as an appealing and wealthy commuter hub, yet its heritage extends back almost 2,000 years. Combining Roman archaeological remains and medieval thoroughfares with contemporary retail outlets, St Albans has evolved into one of the most historically significant cities in southeast England.

St Albans’ roots trace back to the Roman settlement of Verulamium, established in the 1st century AD and growing into one of Roman Britain’s largest urban centres.

The settlement served as a vital hub for commerce and administration, featuring temples, bathhouses and a theatre. Sections of the Roman fortifications and mosaics remain visible today, especially in and surrounding Verulamium Park.

The vestiges of this Roman community constitute a significant element of the city’s character and draw numerous tourists annually.

The city takes its name from St Alban, traditionally regarded as Britain’s first Christian martyr, who was put to death for sheltering a Christian priest.

A memorial erected in his memory eventually became St Albans Cathedral, which continues to be the city’s most renowned monument.

Currently, it’s a thriving and affluent city celebrated for its heritage, open spaces and excellent transport connections to London. I popped over to St Albans this past weekend and left feeling somewhat let down.

Given its stellar reputation, I’d anticipated something rather more refined, yet sections of the town centre appeared decidedly weary.

Certain streets looked decidedly shabby, whilst the uneven footpaths made strolling about considerably less enjoyable than I’d envisaged.

The town was absolutely heaving as well, which contributed to a feeling of disorder rather than character, and securing a parking spot proved far trickier than expected. This might have been down to it being market day.

I kicked off my morning at The Ivy for brekkie, what should have been a proper treat at a restaurant I previously adored. However, it failed to impress, with sluggish service and subpar fare.

That being said, alternative dining options were genuinely brilliant. I grabbed a bite at Japes, where the pizza was absolutely cracking, and also popped into Knoops for a decadent hot chocolate.

Regarding places to grab food, drinks and browse, the town absolutely excels, as it does with its historical offerings.

It’s also difficult to write off entirely a place boasting shops like Anthropologie, Oliver Bonas and Space NK – that trio alone typically indicates a respectable retail destination. Yet, notwithstanding that, I’m uncertain I’d be keen to return in the near future.

Markets reopen in Dilling, South Kordofan’s second largest city. Yet residents face critical medical shortages and persistent aerial attacks.

Life is cautiously returning to the streets of Dilling, the second largest city in South Kordofan state, after the Sudanese army broke a suffocating siege that had isolated the area for more than two years.

For months, the city had been encircled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), cutting off vital supply lines and trapping civilians in a severe humanitarian crisis.

While the lifting of the blockade has allowed goods to flow again, local authorities and residents said the city remains under the threat of drone attacks.

Al Jazeera Arabic’s Hisham Uweit, reporting from Dilling, described a city “recovering slowly” from the economic strangulation.

“For over two years, heavy siege conditions were imposed on the city. Movement disappeared, goods vanished and livelihoods narrowed,” Uweit said.

“Now the eyes of buyers pick through the few available goods … as if the market itself is announcing its recovery at a leisurely pace, drawing determination from the patience of its residents.”

Markets return to life

The immediate impact of the army’s advance is visible in the local markets, which were largely shuttered during the blockade. Fresh produce, absent for months, has begun to reappear in stalls.

“The market and vegetables have all returned,” a local trader told Al Jazeera. “Before, the market didn’t exist. Now we have okra, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chillies and lemons. Everything is with us, and the market has returned to normal.”

However, the resumption of trade masks deep scars left by the isolation. The blockade devastated the local economy, stripping residents of their savings and leaving infrastructure in disrepair.

‘The price of isolation’

While food supplies are improving, Dilling’s health sector remains in critical condition. The city’s main hospital is struggling with a severe lack of equipment and essential medicines, a shortage that has had life-altering consequences for the most vulnerable.

Abdelrahman, a local resident suffering from diabetes, paid a heavy price for the siege. During the months of encirclement, insulin supplies ran dry. His condition deteriorated rapidly, ultimately leading to the amputation of both his legs.

“He had a medical appointment after a month, but the month closed off his check-ups,” a relative of Abdelrahman said. “He is suffering severely. He is missing his insulin. There is a shortage of food, and he is tired. His health has declined sharply.”

‘Chased like locusts’

Despite the Sudanese army asserting control over access routes, the security situation in Dilling remains precarious. Authorities said the city is subjected to almost daily drone strikes launched by the RSF and SPLM-N, targeting infrastructure and residential areas.

For Maryam, a mother displaced multiple times by the conflict, the breaking of the siege has not brought peace. She described the terror of the unmanned aerial vehicles that hover over their homes.

“Now the drones bombard and chase us. They chase us like locusts,” Maryam said. “When they come, we just run to hide. When they hover over us, they burn the thatch [roofs], start fires and force you to leave your home.”

She added that the constant threat of aerial bombardment makes normal life impossible: “If you are having a meal, like porridge, … the moment you see them, you leave it.”

Uweit said that while the lifting of the siege is a “glimmer of hope” and a first step towards recovery, the dual challenge of rebuilding a shattered health system and fending off persistent military attacks means Dilling’s ordeal is far from over.

Two years ago, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass went to Sherman Oaks to cut a quick campaign ad for a trusted ally: Councilmember Nithya Raman.

Standing next to Bass, Raman looked into the camera and praised the mayor’s work on homelessness, saying she was “honored” to have her support.

“I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside her,” Raman said.

That video, recorded at a get-out-the-vote rally for Raman’s reelection campaign, feels like a political lifetime ago. On Feb. 7, Raman launched a surprise bid to unseat Bass, saying the city is at a “breaking point” and no longer capable of providing basic services.

Raman’s entry into the race, hours before the filing deadline, shocked the city’s political elite and infuriated the mayor’s supporters. Some observers called it a betrayal of Shakespearean proportions.

Raman’s name had appeared on a list of Bass endorsers just weeks earlier. Bass’ support for Raman’s 2024 reelection bid had helped the councilmember earn 50.7% of the vote and avoid a messy runoff.

“How can she treat a relationship like this, and dispose of it once it’s served its purpose?” said Julio Esperias, a Democratic Party activist who volunteered with Raman’s 2024 campaign at Bass’ request. “It’s a breach of trust, a betrayal, and it’s kind of hard for me to stomach at the moment.”

In 2024, Bass — then at the peak of her popularity — was featured prominently in Raman’s campaign mailers. She sent canvassers to knock on voters’ doors. A speech Bass delivered at Raman’s rally in Sherman Oaks was turned into a social media video with stirring background music.

Councilwoman Nithya Raman talks to attendees during an election night party held by the Democratic Socialists of America – LA chapter at The Greyhound on Nov. 4 in Los Angeles.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

That video, along with other posts highlighting Bass’ support for her, still appears on Raman’s Instagram page, which now promotes her run for mayor.

Bass, politically bruised over her handling of last year’s devastating Palisades fire, now faces an insurgent campaign from one of the City Council’s savviest players.

Esperias said he regrets helping Raman claw back the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party in 2023, after it nearly went to her opponent.

Bass, for her part, has downplayed any hard feelings, saying she intends to run on her record — including her collaboration with Raman. Asked if she viewed Raman’s candidacy as a betrayal, she responded: “That’s not significant now.”

Mayor Karen Bass speaks before signing a rent stabilization ordinance passed by the Los Angeles City Council, the first update to the ordinance in nearly 40 years, at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

“I will tell you that it was a surprise, absolutely,” Bass said. “But I am moving forward, I am going to run my race, and I look forward to serving with her in my second term.”

Raman has been delivering a similarly complicated message, expressing deep respect for the mayor while arguing that the city is in desperate need of change.

On the morning of Feb. 7, before filling out her paperwork at the city clerk’s office, Raman called Bass to inform her she was running.

The next day, the two women met privately at Getty House, the mayor’s mansion. Neither would say why they met or what they discussed.

At City Hall, both supporters and critics of Bass have been retracing recent events, looking for clues as to how things went wrong.

In November, while watching election returns for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Raman told The Times that Bass was the most progressive mayor the city ever had — noting that Angelenos “vote their values.” Last month, Bass twice announced that she had Raman’s endorsement.

On Friday, Raman said she could not remember exactly when she endorsed Bass, saying she believed it came during a phone call with the mayor “probably in the fourth quarter of last year.” At the same time, she said her exasperation with the city’s leadership has been building for months.

“I have been actually frustrated by the conditions in the city for quite some time, particularly over this last year, where we are both unable to deliver basic services, like fixing streetlights and repaving streets for my constituents, but also are not moving toward a more accountable, transparent and efficient system of addressing issues like homelessness,” she said in an interview.

Gloria Martinez, center, of United Teachers Los Angeles, speaks at a rally outside City Hall featuring opponents of the effort to rewrite Measure ULA, a tax on property sales to pay for housing initiatives.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Raman pointed to Measure ULA, the voter-approved tax on property sales of $5.3 million and up, as a catalyst for her mayoral bid. Although she has been a supporter of the tax, she has also concluded that it is a major obstacle to building new housing.

Last month, Raman tried without success to put a measure on the June 2 ballot that would have scaled back the types of properties covered by the tax, in hopes of jump-starting apartment construction.

Raman also told The Times that Inside Safe, the mayor’s signature program to move unhoused people indoors, needs to be redesigned so it is “fiscally sustainable.” She said she “simply did not see any progress” from the mayor’s office on that issue.

Asked whether she betrayed Bass, Raman said her decision to run was driven by the growing problems facing the city — and the need for change.

“My most important relationship in this role is with the people of Los Angeles, not the politics of City Hall,” she said.

Bass campaign spokesperson Douglas Herman pointed out that Raman is head of the council’s housing and homelessness committee — and that she repeatedly voiced support for Bass programs that have delivered back-to-back reductions in street homelessness.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman scans a QR code to get election updates during an election night party in March 2024.

(Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times)

“While we are developing more cost effective models, it is absolutely urgent that we get people off our streets immediately,” Herman said. “Nithya Raman is acting like a typical politician and knows it because she congratulated Mayor Bass for cleaning dangerous and long-standing encampments in her district.”

Raman’s decision has sparked an outcry from an unlikely combination of Bass allies. Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., executive editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel, condemned Raman’s actions last week in an editorial that invoked the O’Jay’s 1972 hit “Back Stabbers.”

“One of life’s greatest disappointments is discovering that someone you believed was a friend is not,” wrote Bakewell, whose newspaper focuses on issues facing the city’s Black community.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents rank-and-file LAPD officers and opposed Raman’s reelection in 2024, offered a similar take.

“If political backstabbing were a crime, Nithya Raman would be a wanted fugitive,” the union’s board, which has endorsed Bass, said in a statement.

Zev Yaroslavsky, a former county supervisor and City Council member, does not believe that Raman’s recent history with Bass — endorsing her and later running against her — will be an issue for the electorate. In L.A. political circles, however, it will be viewed as a transgression, at least in the short term, he said.

“As a politician, you don’t have much currency. What you have is your word,” he said.

Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, said he is certain that Raman and the other major candidates — community organizer Rae Huang, reality television star Spencer Pratt and tech entrepreneur Adam Miller — have looked at polls showing that Bass is politically weakened and vulnerable to a challenge.

“If Raman becomes mayor, nobody’s going to remember this, including the political class,” he said. “If she doesn’t, it’ll be a little more difficult for her. It’s not irreparable. But there will be a residue to this.”

On the council, Raman belongs to a four-member voting bloc, each of whom won office with support from Democratic Socialists of America. While Bass is generally considered more conservative than Raman on public safety issues, the two share many of the same policy priorities, particularly around homelessness.

In her first campaign for City Council in 2020, Raman ran on a promise to address the city’s homelessness crisis in a humanitarian way, by moving unhoused residents into temporary and permanent housing.

Bass, a former state Assembly speaker and 12-year member of Congress, took office two years later and made homelessness her signature issue, convincing the council to expand her power to respond to the crisis.

Raman backed Bass’ declaration of a homelessness emergency, which gave the mayor the power to award contracts and sign leases directly. A week later, Bass staged her first Inside Safe operation in Raman’s district, on a stretch of Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood.

As recently as July, Raman appeared on a Bass press release touting the city’s progress on homelessness.

Bass first announced that Raman had endorsed her on Jan. 27. Raman said she did not begin seriously contemplating a run for mayor until the following week, as the filing deadline approached.

Over a tumultuous 48-hour period, former L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner exited the race, while real estate developer Rick Caruso and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced that they, too, would stay out.

“I realized we were potentially not even going to have a real competition, and that troubled me,” Raman said.

Esperias, the Bass supporter, said he is still processing Raman’s decision to run.

He said Bass tapped him to help Raman in 2023 after one of Raman’s opponents, deputy city attorney Ethan Weaver, cleared a key hurdle in his bid for the endorsement of the county’s Democratic Party.

Esperias, who lives in L.A.’s Vermont Square neighborhood, said he worked with Raman’s team on a plan to persuade party members to pull Weaver’s endorsement, then flip it to Raman. While Esperias and others called and texted party members, Bass sent a letter urging them to endorse Raman.

Weaver, in an interview, said he immediately felt the difference. After Bass’ letter, interest in endorsing him evaporated.

“It changed the amount of people that would take my call,” he said.

Once the election was over, Esperias said, Raman sent a text message thanking him for his help during a tough campaign.

“I put my credibility, I put my relationships on the line to help build this coalition to get that endorsement,” Esperias said.

Raman argued that the support has gone both ways.

During Bass’ first mayoral campaign, Raman held a fundraiser at her Silver Lake home and introduced Bass to key people in her district.

“I did help her in her election as well, just like she helped me,” she said.

Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.

“IT’S definitely your best picture ever.”

That was the verdict from my son when I proudly showed off my hot-off-the-easel painting after an inspiring “art experience” on a weekend break in Wales.

It was the highlight of my time in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, with Coastal Cottages.

The location is the UK’s smallest city — more of a village with a stonking great cathedral attached.

Our base was the cosy Goat Street Cottage — a traditional end-of- terrace kitted out in a very comfortable country style.

It sleeps five and has everything for a short break, a longer holiday or even a family Easter or Christmas.

GO SEA IT

One of the best UK holiday cottages has seals & dolphins swimming offshore

SAY WAT

It may be dubbed the UK’s ‘worst big town’ but here’s why you actually SHOULD visit

The centre of St David’s is a few yards away and yet it’s incredibly quiet.
Pembrokeshire’s golden beaches are the big draw and even in winter they are breathtaking.

The water was turquoise, the skies blue and the sand seemed to go on for ever.

This is a national park lined by a stunning coastal path. At Whitesands Bay, surfers were catching the waves.

The fact the water was icy made no difference.

There isn’t just one beach here — the St David’s Peninsula has 26.

Solva, a quaint inlet, and Newgale — backed by massive pebble bank — were among our favourites.

We were the odd ones out as we didn’t have a dog. Among the walkers they were almost compulsory.

There are signs everywhere for dog ice cream, dog menus and home-made dog treats.

Many of Coastal’s 400 cottages welcome four-legged visitors too.

Ours had a dog bed in the living room although pets are not allowed on sofas or upstairs.

The crashing waves were our muse when we met artist Jill Jones for a two-hour lesson booked through the cottage’s concierge service.

Jill is a human dynamo who, after a 30-year career in graphic design, built her own studio in Talbenny loaded with art equipment.

MAGICAL MEMORY

She has a unique technique and doesn’t believe in doing more than a few strokes with one brush.

So every few seconds we had fresh brushes in our hands with the used ones tossed into a large bucket.

Her step-by-step teaching was truly motivating.

It was the first time in years anyone had really shown me proper acrylic painting skills so I could achieve a result I wanted to hang on my wall.

The concierge service can also deliver hampers of Welsh produce or flowers to your cottage or book activity days ranging from boat trips to spa treatments, cooking classes or flying lessons.

It turns a cottage stay into a magical memory.

Pleased with our masterpieces, we treated ourselves to a hearty and delicious Sunday lunch at The Castle pub in Little Haven.

Back in St David’s, there was just time for a final browse of the shops.

Arts and crafts abound, from the Goat Street Gallery to Solva Woollen Mill and the Window On Wales which had so many covetable gifts it felt like Etsy on steroids.

For the family back home, we grabbed some handmade treats from Chapel Chocolates and the MamGu Welshcake bakery.

If you want to eat out on a Sunday evening, be warned. Despite having a three-Michelin-rosette restaurant and a tapas bar, the town was mostly closed — but this was in winter.

Luckily Saffron met our needs for a final Indian meal.

At the Oriel Y Parc visitor centre we topped up the EV — the break had already recharged our human batteries.

Tbut there are still some places where you can get a drink for less than £5.

The cost of a pint continues to creep upwards. Tracking down a boozer flogging pints for under a fiver has become nearly impossible, yet certain spots still won’t leave your wallet crying.

A report from takepayments has uncovered which UK cities offer the most wallet-friendly drinking experience. The research examined 34 major UK cities against 16 affordability measures, encompassing housing, transport, wages, and discretionary spending (such as the cost of a pint).

Each location received a score out of 10 for overall affordability, identifying where Brits can enjoy the cheapest tipple.

Derby emerged as the nation’s most affordable city for a beverage, with pints priced at a mere £3.60. That’s a bargain when you fancy unwinding after a day discovering what the city has to offer – and there’s loads to see.

Situated in the East Midlands within Derbyshire and hugging the River Derwent, Derby serves as an ideal starting point for venturing into the picturesque British countryside, boasting numerous walking routes and cycling trails, reports the Express.

Among the finest is the Vicar Wood & Mackworth loop accessible from Markeaton Park. This 6.1km ramble takes roughly 90 minutes, beginning at the Mundy Playcentre car park.

Winding through farmland and parks, it’s ideal for families. There’s also Calke Abbey – a dilapidated stately home boasting sprawling gardens and a remarkable natural history collection.

Originally an Augustinian Priory, the property was acquired by Sir Henry Harpur in 1622. The estate remained in the family for generations, and from 1924 onwards, Calke was left largely untouched, though it underwent gradual modernisation.

Today, the National Trust has preserved the house much as it was, offering a fascinating glimpse into life from a bygone era.

After exploring the residence and grounds, visitors can stop by the on-site cafe and gift shop – ideal for picking up mementos.

When we decided to rank the best Los Angeles movies, we thought 101 titles would be plenty: room enough for undeniable classics, personal obsessions, even a guilty pleasure or two. Of course it wasn’t. You let us know, endorsing many of our selections but insisting we’d missed a few.

Sifting through your responses, 14 films had the most passionate advocacy. You’ll find them listed below in alphabetical order. Together they make up a perfectly valid alternate list, one that captures the glamour and romance of L.A. — as well as its lovable plasticity — just as well.

‘American Gigolo’ (1980)

Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton in the movie “American Gigolo.”

(Paramount Pictures)

Reader Cindy Simon from Pacific Palisades shares an anecdote: “I had just moved to L.A. from New Jersey. My friend and I — young mothers — ducked out of our baby-centered life to see ‘American Gigolo.’ The first scene was the incredible Richard Gere smoothly walking outside a Malibu beach house. My friend and I literally gasped!”

There is so much to recommend to this movie — an excellent choice and a regrettable omission on our part. Not only is it responsible for introducing Blondie’s “Call Me” to the world, it does so via an opening credits scene of Pacific Coast Highway cruising that all but defined L.A. hedonism as the ’70s became the ’80s.

‘The Anniversary Party’ (2001)

Jennifer Beals, Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh in the movie “The Anniversary Party.”

(Peter Sorel / Fine Line Features)

“A dysfunctional showbiz marriage in the Hollywood Hills, a party with a lost dog, what’s not to love?” asks reader Jim Ehlers of Pasadena. “It’s so iconically L.A. — the sexy mid-century modern house. When do you get Parker Posey, Gwyneth Paltrow and John C. Reilly in the same cast?”

That spectacular glass-walled home in the Hollywood Hills is the Schaarman House, designed by architect Richard Neutra. But fans know the movie for other reasons: Phoebe Cates came out of retirement to act with her “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh. Today’s audiences ogle a young Alan Cumming.

‘City of Gold’ (2015)

Jonathan Gold in the documentary “City of Gold.”

(Sundance Selects)

Junko Garrett of Eagle Rock says this documentary “captures the essence of L.A.: diversity and vibrancy, amazing food and people. I was a big fan of Jonathan Gold’s articles and looked forward them every week.”

So did we. Gold’s omnivorous enthusiasm remains a guiding light for so many Angelenos and his Pulitzer-winning food writing is easy to find. We’re still going to several of the film’s featured restaurants: Jitlada, Chengdu Taste, Guelaguetza.

‘Crash’ (2004)

Thandiwe Newton and Matt Dillon in the movie “Crash.”

(Lorey Sebastian / Lions Gate Films)

More than a few of our readers bemoaned the omission of an Oscar-winning best picture like “Crash.” Says Jim Rodriguez of Torrance, it “captures the quintessential reality that, in L.A., all the levels of social strata, at one time or another, exist side by side on our roads and freeways, separated by a few feet, metal and glass. And yet, still so isolated from each other.”

And Ian Barnard of DTLA calls the movie “a wonderful antidote to Hollywood’s whitewashed and unrealistically glamorous depictions of L.A.” It shows the city “in all its diversity, prejudices, contradictions, inequities and generosities.”

To us, “Crash” will always be the movie that stole “Brokeback Mountain’s” glory. But let’s be generous and note that Carney’s Restaurant on Ventura gets a nice moment.

‘The Day of the Locust’ (1975)

William Atherton, left, and Donald Sutherland in the movie “The Day of the Locust.”

(Paramount Pictures / Getty Images)

The Nathanael West novel is, of course, essential, so where’s the movie? Reader Andrea Hales, a San Diegan who lived in Los Angeles for 15 years, calls the film version “eerie and fascinating, capturing the essence of Los Angeles: the city of hopes and dreams, fires and riots. The setting is 1930s Hollywood but it could be today.”

One thing is certain: As a one-stop shop for classic L.A. locations, you can’t do much better than “The Day of the Locust,” which takes us to the Ennis House, Paramount’s iconic Bronson Gate and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

‘Earthquake’ (1974)

A scene from the movie “Earthquake.”

(United Archives / Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Reader Dina Schweim, writing from Winston-Salem, N.C. (fine, we’ll allow an outsider’s perspective in this case), expressed her disappointment to not find “Earthquake” on our list: “There are few things I love more than a good disaster movie that obliterates L.A. to balance out fanciful and the corrupt — and yes, I was pleased to see that ‘Volcano’ made the list but ‘Earthquake’ really does capture the raw core of what destruction in L.A. can look like.”

The film was mostly shot on the Universal backlot and we wish it had more of an authentic L.A. feel. Still, if you harbor satisfaction at seeing the city get trashed (and who doesn’t on occasion?), we’re not getting in the way of that rumble.

‘(500) Days of Summer’ (2009)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in the movie “(500) Days of Summer.”

(Chuck Zlotnick / Fox Searchlight Pictures)

You like this one. Really like it. “It celebrates and beautifies the city in a way few other movies ever have,” says Anthony Cavalluzzi of Yorba Linda, adding, “Its absence completely invalidates the list.” And Michael Backauskas of Beverlywood writes, “I went to see it five times and I never do that.”

Any film about an aspiring architect is going to make the most of its locations. If you mourn the lovers’ bench at Angel’s Knoll Park, know that it became immortal because of this film.

‘Get Shorty (1995)’

John Travolta and Rene Russo in the movie “Get Shorty.”

(MGM)

This comedy’s dialogue was quoted in our comments twice. For reader Sean Dickerson of Beverly Grove, the movie gives us “maybe the greatest line about our city: ‘What is the point of living in L.A. if you’re not in the movie business?’” And for David Hughes of Sierra Madre, the moment comes when John Travolta’s gangster-turned-Hollywood-wannabe is asked what he knows about the movie business: “I don’t think the producer has to know much.”

There is an unforced charm to the way Travolta’s character falls in love with Hollywood — he’s already a movie geek but other elements fall into place for him. Eagle-eyed viewers will recognize both the Aero and Vista theaters.

‘Grand Canyon’ (1991)

Kevin Kline and Danny Glover in the movie “Grand Canyon.”

(20th Century Fox)

Paul Krekorian of Encino calls this one “a brilliant and underrated study of life in Los Angeles. In a deeply personal way it lays bare so many of the societal challenges Los Angeles always struggles with — economic segregation, racial division and injustice, violence, the disparity between Hollywood-created facades and the reality of ordinary life, and the struggle to find meaning and substance.”

Its writer and director, Lawrence Kasdan, was also responsible for “The Big Chill,” a similar portrait of generational flux, and there are quiet moments in “Grand Canyon” that are some of his best. It also starts with a Lakers game.

‘Knight of Cups’ (2015)

Christian Bale in the movie “Knight of Cups.”

(Melinda Sue Gordon / Broad Green Pictures)

Reader Peter Turman of Brentwood sees depth in Terrence Malick’s oblique portrait of a distracted screenwriter (Christian Bale) searching for grace but finding a lot of sex, calling it “a fever-dream meditation on Los Angeles and Hollywood, with its promises, chimeras, illusions, seductions, nightmares and disappointments, told by a great filmmaker who knows of what he speaks.”

Malick shot all over Los Angeles but his moments on the Warner Bros. lot, the enormous numbered studio buildings looming, may be his most beautiful.

‘Lost Highway’ (1997)

Patricia Arquette and Balthazar Getty in the movie “Lost Highway.”

(October Films)

Even with two other David Lynch films placing on our list, that wasn’t enough for Clark Leazier of West Hollywood, who calls the L.A. vistas and landmarks in “Lost Highway” “the most burned in my brain — particularly the Firestone Auto Shop that is now the popular All Season Brewing in Mid City. Also it captures Southern California nighttime driving in a messed up yet accurate way.”

Lynch obsessives know “Lost Highway” to be the one narrative film in which you can see the director’s own house, part of his compound on Senalda Drive in the Hollywood Hills, used as the setting for his main characters’ mansion.

‘Spanglish’ (2004)

Paz Vega, left, Téa Leoni and Adam Sandler in the movie “Spanglish.”

(Bob Marshak / Columbia Pictures )

Says Rochelle Lapides of Ventura County, “It tells one of the essential stories of our Los Angeles-bound Mexican immigrant population and the cultural challenges they face. Also, in my opinion, it’s one of Adam Sandler’s best dramatic roles.”

Agreed, especially on Sandler, whose turn in “Punch-Drunk Love” so impressed director James L. Brooks, he decided to cast him here. The film’s romantic patio scene is filmed at the Beverly Hills restaurant Il Cielo.

‘Star 80’ (1983)

Mariel Hemingway, left, Eric Roberts and Cliff Robertson in the movie “Star 80.”

(Paramount Pictures / Getty Images)

“Talk about dying for the dream,” writes William Mariano of Escondido. “It was filmed in the same spot she died.” He means Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, murdered by her sicko husband Paul Snider in a Rancho Park home that was actually used by the movie’s production while filming their dramatization of the crime.

“Star 80” does crystallize the ominous side of the L.A. myth, as a place where you’ll arrive, find success (and exploitation) and be destroyed in the process. Bob Fosse completists need to see it; it was the “All That Jazz” director’s final movie.

‘Tequila Sunrise’ (1988)

Kurt Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson in the movie “Tequila Sunrise.”

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Jean Clark of Manhattan Beach celebrates this thriller’s cast, cinematography and plot, which she sums up as “classic good guy vs. bad guy and the woman who loves them both, set against the dark underbelly of glamorous L.A. and its golden beaches back in the 1980s.”

And Jean would know — the movie was largely shot around Manhattan Beach. But don’t go looking for Michelle Pfeiffer’s restaurant Vallenari’s. It was entirely constructed on a soundstage.

It’s one thing most everyone agrees on: federal funding cuts have left the Los Angeles County health system teetering toward financial collapse.

But the supervisors’ chosen antidote — a half-cent sales tax to replenish county coffers — is being condemned by a slew of cities as its own form of financial catastrophe.

“I heard from every city in my district,” said Kathryn Barger, the only supervisor who voted against putting the sales tax on the June ballot.

The resounding reaction? “Absolutely not,” she says.

“People are fatigued,” Barger said. “I’m not convinced that it’s going to pass.”

Observers wouldn’t have sensed that fatigue from the rowdy crowd of supporters that filled the board meeting Tuesday, along with seldom-used overflow rooms. The supervisors voted 4-1 at the meeting to put the tax on the ballot.

“There really are no other viable and timely options,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who introduced the measure along with Supervisor Hilda Solis. “Trust me, I looked high and low.”

The goal, supervisors say, is to generate $1 billion per year to backfill the dwindling budgets of local hospitals and clinics battered by federal funding cuts.

The county’s already bracing for impact. The Department of Public Health announced Friday it would shutter seven clinics. Officials say it’s just the beginning, with the county poised to lose more than $2 billion in funding for health services over the next three years. Hospitals could be down the road, they warn.

But many cities, some of which could have local sales tax hit more than 11%, are revolting on the plan.

“I have been getting calls and texts and letters like honestly I have not gotten in a long time,” Supervisor Janice Hahn told the audience as a message from Jeff Wood — the vice mayor of Lakewood — pinged on her phone. “They are really diving in on this one.”

In a series of opposition letters, the cities unleashed a torrent of criticism. Norwalk called the tax “rushed.” Palmdale said it had “significant flaws.” Glendale found it “deeply troubling and fundamentally unfair.”

Some bristled at the cost to consumers. Palmdale and Lancaster — some of the poorest cities in the county — could wind up with some of the highest sales tax rates in the state if the measure passes.

Some cities say the bigger issue is they don’t trust the county. They point to its checkered history of pushing ballot measures that don’t live up to their promises.

Measure B, a special parcel tax, was passed in 2002 to fund the county’s trauma center network. An audit more than a decade later found the county couldn’t prove it used the money for emergency medical services.

Measure H, the homelessness services tax measure, was passed in 2017 as a temporary tax. Voters agreed in 2024 to make the tax permanent and to double the rate — though some cities insist they’ve never gotten their fair share of the funds.

“It’s a historical issue,” said Glendora mayor David Fredendall, whose city opposes the sales tax. “We don’t trust it.”

The county decided to put the sales tax on the ballot as a general tax, meaning the money goes into the general fund. Legally, supervisors could use the money for whatever services they desire.

“They say ‘No, this is our plan’, but we’re going to expand from five to nine supervisors over the next few years before this tax expires,” said Marcel Rodarte, the head of the California Contract Cities Assn., a coalition of cities inside the county. “They may say we need to use these funds for something else.”

A general tax also is easier to pass, since it needs only a majority vote. Special taxes — levies earmarked for a specific purpose — need two-thirds of the vote.

The measure also asks voters to approve the creation of an oversight group that would monitor where the money goes. The supervisors also voted on a spending plan for the tax money, which would dedicate the largest portion of funds for uninsured residents over the next five years.

Some opponents predict the tax will stick around longer than advertised.

“A temporary tax is like Bigfoot,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., a group that advocates for lower taxes. “It exists in fantasy.”

State of play

— FRIENDLY FIRE: Three hours before the filing deadline, L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman jumped into the race for mayor, challenging her former ally Karen Bass. Her candidacy will be Bass’ most serious threat.

— DEFUND DETOUR: Shortly after, Raman staked out her position on cops, saying she doesn’t want the LAPD to lose more police. Raman called for department downsizing when she first ran for city council in 2020.

— LOYAL LABOR: The head of the AFL-CIO, the county’s powerful labor federation, blasted Raman as an “opportunist.” Federation president Yvonne Wheeler said her organization will “use every tool” at its disposal to get Bass reelected.

— PETITION PUSH: Scores of candidates for L.A. city offices picked up their petitions Feb. 7, launching their effort to collect the signatures they need to qualify for the ballot. The first to turn in a petition was Councilmember Traci Park, who is facing two challengers while running for reelection in a coastal district.

— EYES ON ICE: Los Angeles police officers must turn on their body cameras if they’re at the scene of federal immigration enforcement operations, according to a new executive directive issued by Bass. LAPD officers also must document the name and badge number of the agents’ on-scene supervisor.

— CONTESTING CLEANUPS: A federal judge ruled this week that the city of L.A. violated the constitutional rights of homeless people by seizing and destroying their personal property during encampment cleanups. Lawyers for the plaintiffs want U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer to issue an injunction requiring the city to give homeless people the opportunity to contest the seizure of their property.

— HOTEL HIKE: Voters in the June 2 election will be asked to hike the city’s tax on nightly hotel stays — increasing it to 16% from 14% — for the next three years. The tax would then drop to 15% in 2029.

— PAYDAY POLITICS: The county is considering a proposal that would remove supervisors’ final decision-making power in contract disputes involving sheriff’s deputies and firefighters. Supporters say it’ll take politics out of labor negotiations while opponents warn of bloated labor costs.

QUICK HITS

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s signature homelessness program went to Los Angeles City Council District 13, bringing 50 unhoused Angelenos indoors from an encampment.
• On the docket next week: The county’s back to its marathon budget briefings. Tune in Tuesday for presentations from the sheriff, district attorney and probation department.

Stay in touch

That’s it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to LAontheRecord@latimes.com. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.

WHEN people ask me about city breaks, the question they ask has changed over the years.

It used to be about nightlife, food scenes or ticking off landmarks.

Now, more often than not, it’s parents asking a much more practical version of the same thing. Where is a good place to go with kids?

I’m Rob. I work in travel, I look at holiday pricing and trends every day, and I’ve stayed in more hotels than I can count.

I’m also 32, with a two-year-old and an eight-month-old. That combination has completely reshaped how I think about city breaks.

For me, the right family city break is about timing as much as place.

Sensible weather. Walkable centres. Enough going on without it feeling overwhelming. Somewhere forgiving if the day doesn’t go to plan.

This is my month-by-month guide to where I’d go on a city break with kids, based on value, weather, popularity and what’s actually on.

They’re all places I’d genuinely feel comfortable taking my own family.

January – Budapest, Hungary

January is a month where calm matters. After Christmas, families tend to want somewhere affordable, predictable and easy to manage, and Budapest fits that bill perfectly.

It is cold, usually around 3 to 5C, but that brings real advantages.

The city is quiet, hotel prices drop significantly, and the city moves at a slower pace. That makes it far less stressful with buggies and tired legs.

Budapest is compact, flat and well-connected by trams, which makes getting around simple.

Indoor attractions like cafés and historic bathhouses give you plenty of warm places to dip into throughout the day.

I’ve found January breaks from around £114pp for a family of four, which is exceptional value for a European capital.

February – Venice, Italy

February works for families because it offers spectacle without the chaos you get later in the year.

Venice Carnival brings colour, parades and street performers, particularly during the daytime when it feels surprisingly family-friendly.

Children get the magic of masks and costumes, while parents avoid the summer (and summer prices).

Temperatures hover around 7 to 9C, which keeps days comfortable for walking.

Vaporetto boats also turn everyday transport into part of the experience, which is always a win with younger travellers.

I’ve found February stays from around £130pp for a family of four, especially when staying just outside the historic centre.

March – Amsterdam, Netherlands

March is one of the most reliable months for a family city break, and Amsterdam is one of the easiest cities to do with children.

The weather sits around 10 to 12C, the city starts to feel brighter, and peak tourism is still a few weeks away.

It is flat, organised and designed for everyday life, which makes navigating it with kids feel intuitive rather than stressful.

March is also when parks, canal walks and museums like NEMO Science Museum really come into their own, giving you options that work whether the day is high energy or low key.

I’ve found March breaks from around £140pp for a family of four, before spring demand pushes prices up.

April – Athens, Greece

April is a sweet spot for Athens, especially for families who want warmth without exhaustion.

Temperatures typically range between 18 and 22C, which makes sightseeing genuinely enjoyable.

You can explore historic sites without battling summer heat or shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, and there is more space to take things at a slower pace.

Easter often falls in April, bringing local celebrations, food and atmosphere that make the city feel lived in rather than purely touristic.

It is a good month for mixing big sights with relaxed neighbourhood wandering.

I’ve found April city breaks from around £140pp for a family of four, which is strong value for such a bucket list destination.

May – Istanbul, Turkey

May works brilliantly for families because Istanbul becomes warm and lively without tipping into intense heat.

Temperatures sit around 22C to 25C, which is comfortable for walking, ferry rides and outdoor meals.

The city naturally breaks days into short, varied experiences, which is ideal with children. A boat ride, a park stop, some street food, then a rest.

Public transport is efficient, parks like Gülhane provide breathing space, and the sheer variety of sights keeps everyone engaged without needing a rigid plan.

I’ve found May breaks from around £130pp for a family of four, making it one of the best-value big cities in Europe at that time of year.

June – Stockholm, Sweden

June is when Stockholm really makes sense for families.

Long daylight hours, mild temperatures around 18 to 22C, and a strong outdoor culture mean days feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Parks, islands and waterfront walks are everywhere, and ferries turn getting around into part of the fun.

The city feels calm, clean and safe, with lots of space to pause when needed. Museums are interactive, and many attractions are designed with families in mind.

I’ve found June breaks from around £147pp for a family of four, which is good value considering how expensive Stockholm can be later in the summer.

July – Krakow, Poland

July is peak summer, but Krakow works for families because it combines warmth with value and a very manageable city layout.

Temperatures can reach 25 to 30°C, but the city centre is compact and full of shaded squares where you can slow things down when needed.

Summer festivals and outdoor cafés give the city energy without it feeling overwhelming, and everything is close enough that you are never committing to long days out.

Food prices are low, accommodation is good value, and it is an easy city to dip in and out of at your own pace.

I’ve found July breaks from around £144pp for a family of four, which is strong value for a European city in the heart of the school holidays.

August – Edinburgh, UK

August is Edinburgh at full tilt, but it is one of the rare cities where busyness actually works for families.

The Fringe Festival fills the city with daytime street performers, pop-up shows and family-friendly entertainment that you can stumble across without planning ahead.

That makes it ideal if you want flexibility rather than rigid itineraries.

Temperatures usually sit between 18 and 21C, which is perfect for walking without fatigue, and green spaces are never far away if you need a break.

I’ve found August flight and hotel breaks from around £217pp for a family of four. You could do it cheaper with hotel-only and driving or getting the train, but flights are often so reasonably priced that it still makes sense to fly.

September – Munich, Germany

September is a great time to visit Munich with kids.

Early autumn brings warm but comfortable days around 18 to 22C, and the city feels open and easy to navigate.

Oktoberfest adds colour and atmosphere during the day, with fairground rides and music that children enjoy, while the rest of the city remains calm and spacious.

It is easy to sample the buzz without being consumed by it, which is exactly what families need.

I’ve found September breaks from around £180pp for a family of four, particularly when travelling outside the busiest Oktoberfest weekends.

October – Seville

October is the month Seville really starts to shine for families.

The extreme summer heat has gone, leaving warm, comfortable days that suit walking and exploring.

Crowds thin out significantly, which makes the city feel calmer and easier to enjoy with children.

Public squares, parks and shaded streets give you natural places to pause, and the pace of life slows after peak season.

I’ve found October breaks from around £204pp for a family of four, which is good value for southern Spain at its most comfortable.

November – Naples, Italy

November is ideal for families who want a more relaxed, authentic city break.

Temperatures stay mild, usually between 15 and 18C, and tourist numbers drop sharply. That brings better prices and a much more local feel, with everyday life taking centre stage.

Naples is lively and unapologetically real, which many children find fascinating.

Simple pleasures like waterfront walks and excellent, inexpensive food carry the experience.

I’ve found November breaks from around £140pp for a family of four, making it one of the best-value Italian city breaks of the year.

December – Cologne, Germany

December works for families because everything is concentrated and atmospheric.

Christmas markets cluster around the cathedral and surrounding squares, making the city easy to explore on foot.

Lights, music, hot chocolate and gentle fairground rides deliver festive payoff without long days or complicated planning.

Short days actually suit the experience, as you do not need to do much to feel like you have seen plenty.

I’ve found December breaks from around £180pp for a family of four, outside the busiest Christmas market weekends.

City breaks with kids are not about doing more – they’re about choosing the right place at the right time.

Get the month right, and suddenly the weather cooperates, prices feel fair, crowds ease off, and cities become enjoyable rather than exhausting.

These are the places I would confidently take my own family. Thought-through, well-timed choices that work in real life.

Faced with numerous complaints about broken streetlights that have plunged neighborhoods into darkness, two Los Angeles City Council members unveiled a plan Friday to spend $65 million on installing solar-powered lights.

With 1 in 10 streetlights out of service because of disrepair or copper wire theft, Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Eunisses Hernandez launched an effort to convert at least 12% of the city’s lights to solar power — or about 500 in each council district.

Broken streetlights emerged as an hot-button issue in this year’s election, with council members scrambling to find ways to restore them. Councilmember Nithya Raman, now running against Mayor Karen Bass, cited the broken lights as an example of how city agencies “can’t seem to manage the basics.”

By switching to solar, the streetlights will be less vulnerable to theft, said Yaroslavsky, who represents part of the Westside.

“We can’t keep rebuilding the same vulnerable systems while copper theft continues to knock out lights across Los Angeles,” she said.

Three other council members — Traci Park, Monica Rodriguez and Hugo Soto-Martínez — signed on to the proposal. All five are running for reelection.

Miguel Sangalang, director of the Bureau of Street Lighting, said there are 33,000 open service requests to fix streetlights across L.A., although some may be duplicates. The average time to fix a streetlight is 12 months, he said.

Repair times have increased because of a rise in vandalism, the department’s stagnant budget and a staff of only 185 people to service the city’s 225,000 streetlights, he said.

About 60,000 street lights are eligible to be converted to solar, according to Yaroslavsky.

Council members also are looking to increase the amount the city charges property owners for streetlight maintenance. Yaroslavsky said the assessment has been unchanged since 1996, forcing city leaders to rely on other sources of money to cover the cost.

Last month, Soto-Martínez announced he put $1 million into a streetlight repair team in his district, which stretches from Echo Park to Hollywood and north to Atwater Village. Those workers will focus on repairing broken lights, hardening lights to prevent copper wire theft and clearing the backlog of deferred cases.

On Monday, city crews also began converting 91 streetlights to solar power in Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park. Hernandez tapped $500,000 from her office budget to pay for the work. The shift to solar power should save money, she said, by breaking the cycle of constantly fixing and replacing lights.

“This is going to bring more public safety and more lights to neighborhoods that so desperately need it and that are waiting a long time,” she said.

In recent years, neighborhoods ranging from Hancock Park and Lincoln Heights to Mar Vista and Pico Union have been plagued by copper wire theft that darkens the streets. On the 6th Street Bridge, thieves stole seven miles’ worth of wire.

Yaroslavsky and Park spoke about the problem Friday at a press conference in the driveway of a Mar Vista home. Andrew Marton, the homeowner, pointed to streetlights around the block that have been targeted by thieves.

Many surrounding streets have been dark since shortly after Christmas, Marton said. He has changed his daily routines, trying not to walk his dog late at night and worrying for the safety of his family.

He said he reported the problem to the city and was told it would take 270 days to fix. He then reached out to Park, who contacted the police department, he said.

A couple of neighboring streets had their lights restored, he said, but his street remains dark at night.

Park said she and Yaroslavsky identified $500,000 in discretionary funds to pay for a dedicated repair team to fix streetlights, either by adding solar or by reinforcing the existing copper wire, in their respective Westside districts.

It’s time to pay tribute to Birmingham High senior Henry Aslikyan, who makes his bid for a fourth consecutive City Section wrestling championship on Saturday night at Roybal. No Birmingham athlete has won four individual titles.

He has continued to get stronger, bigger and better from the time he arrived as a freshman. He’s been dominating the City lower weight classes while becoming a two-time state champion.

He’ll be competing in perhaps the toughest weight class in the state — 120 pounds. He’s a Michigan commit. There’s likely to be three state champions in that weight class in two weeks in Bakersfield.

Birmingham has already won City titles in boys’ and girls’ duals competition. This time he is qualifying for the state championships in Bakersfield and individual titles.

Adelaida Fernandez of Birmingham is trying for her third straight City title in girls’ wrestling. Greg Torosian and Arno Vardanyan are also seeking third titles for the Patriots in boys.

In the heavyweight division, Monroe’s Abraham Datte is a two-time City champion.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

ONE popular city in Croatia is preparing to ban the sale of alcohol after 8PM this summer.

The reason for the ban is to stop rowdy tourists from disturbing locals after exhibiting bad, drunken behaviour.

The mayor of Split, Tomislav Šuta, announced this week that a strict ban of the sale of alcohol at shops in the city centre could be put in place as soon as this summer.

A proposal has been submitted to the Trade and Hospitality Act, to regulate the working hours for the sale of alcohol at shops and liquor stores within the city.

The mayor said: “We are moving towards limiting nighttime work in accordance with the new law, with the aim of introducing order.

“The City of Split will participate in the discussion and public consultation so that we can reach a decision that is important for our residents by consensus.”

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

SIGHT SEA

£9.50 holidaymakers’ favourite Skegness activities… away from the beach

There’s a high concentration of clubs, bars, and shops that are open all night in the city centre.

According to the mayor, the late night openings result in “situations” that “impair the safety and quality of life of tenants”.

He continued to say that the that scenes of drunken tourists in the heart of the city are unacceptable.

The mayor then added that extending the rules to other parts of Split has not been “ruled out” either.

The restrictions will apply to grocery and liquor shops between the hours of 8PM and 6AM, but not to clubs and restaurants.

So visitors can still enjoy drinks in licensed venues after 8PM.

Split is popular with Brits and is known for its high concentration of bars and clubs – it’s even been said to have some of the most diverse nightlife in Croatia.

Some of the most popular spots for drinking are around the Diocletian’s Palace and the Riva seafront promenade.

There are already bans on tourists drinking in public spaces within 100 metres of schools, kindergartens, and in the historic city centre – which can result in a fine of up to €300 (£261).

Other bans in Split that affect tourists include the ban on walking shirtless or in swimwear in places other than the beach.

If found sleeping in public places like parks and squares, there’s an on-the-spot fine between €150–€300 (£130 – £261).

There are other bans in Croatia in place. On Hvar, which is one of the country’s most famous “party islands”, there is a noise restriction.

During the summer, noise must be limited to 85 decibels – which is the equivalent of a food blender, a noisy restaurant or the cinema.

The hope is to make Hvar less of a party island and more attractive as a tourist destination for families.

Similarly, one of Europe’s prettiest cities is set to ban restaurants and bars from having outdoor tables.

For travelling this summer, here’s everything you need to know before you travel in 2026.

The new measure, proposed by Mayor Tomislav Šuta, will restrict some late-night alcohol sales in problematic parts of the city from 8pm to 6am starting this summer

A sun-soaked European city beloved by Brits is introducing a strict alcohol ban.

Split has become the first city in Croatia to ban the sale of alcohol in shops and liquor stores after 8pm, in a direct response to what the mayor describes as “unacceptable” scenes of intoxicated visitors in the historic centre.

The new measure, proposed by Mayor Tomislav Šuta, will restrict late-night alcohol sales in problematic parts of the city from 8pm to 6am starting this summer. The city centre, with its high concentration of clubs, bars, and all-night shops, has been singled out as a particular problem point.

“It is precisely here that situations arise that impair the safety and quality of life of tenants,” Šuta explained, adding that the possibility of extending the rules to other parts of Split has not been ruled out. The restrictions will apply to grocery stores and liquor shops, and not to clubs and restaurants, meaning visitors can still enjoy drinks in licensed venues after 8pm.

OPINION

READ MORE: I met the King of Benidorm – he knows where to find 87p pints and best beaches

Darijo Šarić, CEO of luxury villa rental agency VIP Holiday Booker, welcomed the ban, seeing the move as part of a broader rebranding of Croatian tourism:

“In previous years, Split may have leaned into a ‘party destination’ image, sometimes encouraging partying among visitors. However, Croatian tourism is now actively rebranding to move away from that reputation, focusing instead on our rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and family-friendly environment,” Šarić said.

“These measures are designed to encourage responsible drinking rather than to stop the fun.

“Ultimately, it’s all about balance. Everyone wants visitors to Split to have an unforgettable experience, but we also don’t want residents to feel like the city is a 24-hour party zone. By drinking responsibly and respecting local customs, you help us keep Croatia a cherished, safe, and welcoming destination for everyone.”

This isn’t the only recent attempt to curb the effects of overtourism and antisocial behaviour in Croatia.

Last year, Hvar – one of the country’s most famous “party islands” – voted to maintain strict summer noise restrictions, limiting noise to 85 decibels (the equivalent of a noisy restaurant), despite pushback from local businesses.

READ MORE: Beautiful Game of Thrones city brought back from the brink of ‘death by tourism’

OPINION

Milo Boyd

Split is not the only place in Croatia where locals are growing tired of tourists. Last year, the Mirror visited Dubrovnik, where work is currently underway to save the 1,400-year-old Old Town from becoming even more of an unbearable, sweaty mess than it was in the summer of 2017, when CNN condemned it as one of 12 global destinations to avoid.

Cruise ship numbers have been cut, and their arrivals have been staggered. Now, passengers must stay for eight hours, meaning the 600,000 who turned up last year spend more despite being 400,000 fewer than seven years ago.

Street vendor numbers in the Old Town are down 70%, while coach arrivals have been halved. Now a camera system counts visitors in and out of the Old Town. The “maximum comfortable limit” (according to a University of Dubrovnik study) of 11,297 a day is 800 higher than last year’s busiest day.

A day after federal prosecutors announced that the catastrophic Palisades fire was caused by the rekindling of a smaller arson fire days earlier, Los Angeles city officials were in damage control mode.

The ultimate authority on how to handle the deluge of media inquiries was Mayor Karen Bass, according to an internal email reviewed by The Times.

The carefully coordinated approach led by Bass also involved the release of the highly anticipated Palisades fire after-action report, hours after the prosecutors’ announcement and as the Los Angeles Fire Department was facing criticism for not putting out the earlier blaze.

“Any additional interviews with the Fire Chief would likely depend on the Mayor’s guidance,” LAFD spokesperson Capt. Erik Scott wrote in an Oct. 9 email to a Bass aide, then-interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva and others. “Regarding a press conference, I would be cautious as it could invite a high volume of challenging questions, and this would also be contingent on the Mayor’s direction.”

The behind-the-scenes perspective into the city’s media strategy comes as Bass has denied a story published in The Times last week in which unnamed sources said she directed changes to the after-action report over concerns about legal liabilities. Revisions that downplayed failures by the city and the LAFD in handling the disaster were first revealed in a Times investigation published in December.

In one instance, LAFD officials removed language from the “failures” section saying that the decision not to fully staff up and pre-deploy all available crews and engines ahead of a forecast of dangerously high winds “did not align” with the department’s policy and procedures during red flag days.

The final report said that the LAFD “balanced fiscal responsibility with proper preparation for predicted weather.” Elsewhere, it said that the number of engine companies rolled out ahead of the fire “went above and beyond the standard LAFD pre-deployment matrix.”

That passage in the “failures” section, which was renamed “primary challenges,” was being revised by LAFD officials up until at least two days before the report was released on Oct. 8, according to emails reviewed by The Times.

“I added Chief Robert’s verbiage to replace CHALLENGES 1 on page 44. I made some other formatting edits,” an LAFD administrative aide wrote in an Oct. 6 email to several people, including an LAFD official named Eric Roberts. Roberts did not respond to an email from The Times requesting comment.

Yusef Robb, an advisor to the mayor, said Thursday that Bass is customarily involved with the decision-making of city departments. She has criticized the LAFD’s pre-deployment decisions and would have no reason to soften the after-action report’s language on that topic, Robb said.

“From Animal Services to the Zoo, the Mayor’s Office is in contact with every city department on issues large and small, and so obviously and appropriately the Mayor’s Office engaged with LAFD about the rollout of the report,” Robb said in an email. “What did not happen is the illogical and false assertion that the Mayor sought to soften critiques in a report that she herself demanded and on issues of which she has been publicly critical for more than a year.”

Scott said Thursday that he did not “have anything further to add beyond what was already shared.”

Two sources with knowledge of Bass’ office said that after reviewing an early draft, the mayor told Villanueva that the report could expose the city to legal liabilities. The sources said Bass wanted key findings about the LAFD’s actions removed or softened before the report was made public.

The sources told The Times that two people close to Bass informed them of the mayor’s role in watering down the report, which was meant to spell out mistakes and to suggest measures to avoid repeating them. One source spoke to both of the people; the other spoke to one of them. The sources requested anonymity to speak frankly about the mayor’s private conversations with Villanueva and others.

Bass last week called the Times story “completely fabricated.”

“There was no cover up on my part,” she said. “There was absolutely no reason or desire that I would want to water down this report.”

She added: “I do not have the technical expertise to make any sort of substantive changes to anything.”

Last summer, LAFD officials formed an internal crisis management team and brought in a public relations firm — paid for by the nonprofit LAFD Foundation — to help shape its messaging about the fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The emails reviewed by The Times show that the firm, the Lede Co., had a role in reviewing and suggesting edits to the after-action report.

Other internal emails reviewed by The Times show that Bass met with Villanueva about the after-action report in mid-July.

“The FC had a meeting with the Mayor this afternoon where she discussed the Palisades internal AAR,” Kairi Brown, Villanueva’s chief of staff, wrote on July 17, referring to the fire chief and the after-action report. “She asked for him to put together … answers to other questions.”

Scott’s Oct. 9 email, whose recipients also included at least one member of the LAFD’s crisis management team and the outside public relations consultants, sought guidance on how to manage the “abundance of requests” from news reporters, referencing a shared Google document where all “current inquiries and notes” were compiled.

He suggested a “three-prong approach” to contextualizing the topic of “holdover” fires. The Palisades fire was a holdover from the Jan. 1 Lachman fire, which continued to smolder and burn underground until kicked up by heavy winds on Jan. 7.

Scott said that the team should outline the LAFD’s efforts to extinguish the Lachman fire, define the “holdover phenomenon” and highlight new policies and procedures to prevent it from happening in the future.

LAFD leaders had already been under intense scrutiny for missteps before the Palisades fire, while commanders had insisted that they did everything they could to put the Lachman fire out.

Weeks after the Oct. 8 announcement about the Lachman fire by federal prosecutors, The Times reported that a battalion chief ordered firefighters to roll up their hoses and leave the burn area on Jan. 2, even though crews warned that the ground was still smoldering. The LAFD also decided not to use thermal imaging technology to detect heat underground.

The author of the after-action report, Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, declined to endorse the final version because of changes that altered his findings and made the report, in his words, “highly unprofessional and inconsistent with our established standards.”

Even with the deletions and changes, the report delivered a harsh critique of the LAFD’s performance during the Palisades fire, pointing to a disorganized response, failures in communication and chiefs who didn’t understand their roles. The report found that top commanders lacked a fundamental knowledge of wildland firefighting tactics, including “basic suppression techniques.”

A paperwork error resulted in the use of only a third of the state-funded resources that were available for pre-positioning in high-risk areas, the report said. And when the fire broke out the morning of Jan. 7, the initial dispatch called for only seven engine companies, when the weather conditions required 27.

There was confusion among firefighters over which radio channel to use. The report said that three L.A. County engines showed up within the first hour, requesting an assignment and receiving no reply. Four other LAFD engines waited 20 minutes without an assignment.

As Scott looked to the mayor for guidance on whether Villanueva would participate in more media interviews, he wrote in the Oct. 9 email that on social media, the LAFD should consider highlighting favorable coverage of interviews with the fire chief.

A day later, the LAFD notified The Times that Villanueva and other top fire officials “are not planning any additional interviews regarding the incident.”

Robb said Thursday that Bass did not restrict Villanueva from doing interviews.

“The Mayor’s Office, as it frequently does with all city departments, made it clear that LAFD needed to make sure the information it provides was accurate and that the personnel providing information were well prepared to provide accurate information,” Robb said. “Ultimately, how they did that was up to them.”

Former Times staff writer Paul Pringle and Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

Conversations about Culver City — the vibrant enclave on Los Angeles’ Westside often called “the Heart of Screenland” — usually include phrases such as “walkable” and “green spaces” and “Erewhon.”

So when U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi insinuated the city of 39,000 residents is a crime haven during a heated exchange with Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) Wednesday, local officials and personalities responded with statistics, memes and wry mockery.

Bondi slipped in the jab near the end of an arduous House hearing largely focused on the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Kamlager-Dove, whose district includes Culver City, hammered Bondi over deleted Department of Justice data linking far-right ideology with political killings, asserting that “there are violent, dangerous people out there with real threats.”

“There are — in your district,” Bondi responded. “Her district includes Culver City, and she’s not talking about any crime in her district. Nothing about helping crime in her district. She’s not even worth getting into the details.”

Hometown names stepped up to defend the burg by posting photos of clean streets, manicured parks and humming community events.

Political commentator and Angeleno Brian Taylor Cohen called the city “one of the most non-controversially safe” places in L.A., while Culver City-based comedian Heather Gardner said: “The worst crime of the century is that this woman had made a mockery of our justice system. Release the un-redacted files. Prosecute the REAL crimes.”

Kamlager-Dove shrugged off Bondi’s comment, saying Culver City was known for “breakfast burritos — not crime.”

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for Bondi to clarify her statements.

Crime in Culver City declined 9.7% in 2024 and was down an additional 6.1% in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same period of 2024, according to the Culver City Police Department. Violent crime declined 3.9% in 2024 — the last full year of available data.

Over that period, murders dropped to zero while aggravated assault, kidnapping and robbery also fell. There were 26 cases of sexual assault in the city in 2024, compared with 25 in 2023. The only violent crime that saw a significant increase were simple assaults, which rose 8.1%.

The California Department of Justice and the FBI reported in 2024 that crime in the state had fallen to “among the lowest levels ever recorded.”

Mayor Freddy Puza, in an interview Thursday, described Culver City as a “strong and vibrant community” of people with no shortage of job opportunities at small businesses and corporations alike, including TikTok, Pinterest and entertainment giants Apple, Amazon and Sony.

He said the local government has been able to lower crime rates through community-based policing and by providing housing and social services to its unsheltered population. The mayor characterized Bondi’s retort as a “knee-jerk reaction” from an attorney general faced with damaging public trust concerns at her department.

“My read of it is that she’s trying to deflect,” he said. “I think she could really spend her time prosecuting the people in the Epstein files and making sure that information from the federal government is transparent.”

The city had seen no ideological violence, he said, adding, “but the potential for it is right around the corner. There’s no doubt that it is on the rise and the president is stoking it. People are becoming further and further polarized.”

At the hearing, Bondi faced sharp criticism over the Justice Department’s Epstein investigation — specifically over redaction errors in the release millions of case files last month. In one instance, the attorney general refused to apologize to Epstein victims in the room, saying she would not “get into the gutter” with partisan requests from Democrats.

Her performance has already prompted a volley of bipartisan demands for her resignation, including from conservative pundits including Megyn Kelly, Nick Fuentes and Kyle Rittenhouse.

Culver City was not Bondi’s only target Wednesday. She called Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) a “washed-up loser lawyer,” accused Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome,” and branded former CNN anchor Don Lemon a “blogger.”

Since the hearing, however, she has stayed silent as locals continue to question her intel and chuckle over images of the pylon-protected war zone of Culver City.

“The worst crime in Culver City,” Gardener joked again on TikTok, “is that they charge $24 for a smoothie at Erewhon.”