Dakota Smith covers City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. She is part of the team that won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news for reporting on a leaked audio recording that upended City Hall politics. She joined the newsroom in 2016 and previously covered City Hall for the Los Angeles Daily News. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College and lives in Los Angeles.
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City Councilmember Traci Park, a political newcomer, has emerged as a government official who feels the pain of those who have lost everything.
The man was shot at the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, home to the busy West Hollywood Gateway mall.
Filipino American’s population is vastly underrepresented in the political leadership of the state Legislature and in local elected offices. That may be changing.
The city of Los Angeles has approved three permits for the rebuilding and repairs of Pacific Palisades homes affected by January’s wildfire.
Should a councilmember raise private donations to pay for basic city services in his district?
Crowley’s bid to get her job back was almost certain to fail, given the fact that she needed 10 votes. Her only support came from Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park.
L.A.’s mayor said she wasn’t told about the wind forecast before flying to Ghana. But the city’s Emergency Management Department sent weather advisories one day earlier.
City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson tried to put the Chief Crowley controversy to rest. His fast-track strategy was halted just as quickly.
The procedural step, which is afforded by the City Charter, is unlikely to succeed. But it could cause more public agita for Mayor Karen Bass.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday.