Good morning! Welcome to the Records LA newsletter. I’m here to share updates on city and county government happenings.

Going back to ancient times, during the Trojan War, Greek soldiers left a massive wooden horse at the gates of Troy, claiming it was a gift. The Trojans, unaware of the Greek soldiers hidden inside, accepted this offering, leading to their downfall—a classic tale, really.

Now, if that was a Trojan horse meant to deceive, what would you name a supposed gift that’s actually an attack? Perhaps, it’s fitting to question the recall attempt against Mayor Karen Bass. It may be a mistake for her to comply with it.

Earlier this March, a significant move came from former philanthropist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with his running mate Nicole Shanahan, who began efforts to recall Bass. At that point, Bass was already facing challenges; she had been criticized for her response to the Palisades fire and was dealing with a frustrated public. It’s often hard to gather enough signatures for a recall, yet Shanahan’s substantial financial backing—thanks to her ex-husband’s success with Google—made it possible. Given the discontent among Angelenos, this recall effort could have posed a real threat to Bass’s reelection chances.

However, it didn’t move forward. Supporters didn’t even fully submit the necessary documents to start the signature collection process. A June tweet indicated a shift away from that approach, encouraging citizens to hold elected officials accountable at the ballot in 2026 instead. Their representatives have not responded to multiple inquiries.

This short-lived recall attempt might have unexpectedly equipped Bass with a useful tool. It enabled her to create an opposition committee free from the usual limits on donation sizes, allowing her to gather support more freely.

The pressure from Shanahan’s group prompted Bass to form her anti-recall campaign committee, which isn’t bound by the same restrictions as a traditional reelection fund that can only accept around $1,800 from each donor. Consequently, she has amassed more substantial contributions from various supporters.

This week, we anticipate the release of the latest campaign finance data, which will determine how much she has spent since the beginning of this year through June. According to records, Bass’s official campaign raised $179,589, but her anti-recall efforts generated more than four times that amount.

Her anti-recall campaign banked nearly $750,000, boosted by two major donations at the end of March: $250,000 from the Sea Change PAC and $200,000 from former Congressional Speaker and Actum Managing Partner Fabian Nuñez. Other contributors included philanthropists John Croel and William Restnick (both at $25,000), Baron Farwell ($25,000), and former city council member Cindy Miscikowski ($15,000), among others.

Mobilizing donations for a perceived imminent threat is easier. Phrases like, “Save the mayor from a right-wing recall!” really resonate. If no serious challengers are in sight yet, it’s easier to coax supporters for financial help. And by bypassing the $1,800 limit, accumulating funds becomes significantly expedited.

Doug Herman commented on the situation, noting that the mayor had to rally support quickly because city citizens didn’t favor being part of a recall amidst more pressing issues.

Shanahan has chosen not to comment on this matter.

After August 4, once the recall effort formally appears, Bass will no longer have the ability to raise unlimited contributions to counter it. She’ll still have her anti-recall committee’s resources at her disposal.

Sometimes, your biggest adversary shows up disguised as a friend.

The State of Play

Who is Caruso? Brentwood resident and former Vice President Kamala Harris has announced she will not run for governor, stirring speculation about former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso possibly jumping into the governor’s race or challenging Bass again for the mayoral seat. Caruso has declined to comment through a spokesperson.

8th Floor Race: City lawyer candidate Marissa Roy has outperformed current candidate Heidefeldsteinsoth in the latest fundraising period, indicating a serious campaign challenge. For now, Feldsteinsot still has more funds but Roy is closing in.

Coastal Cash: In the Westside Council area race, Public Interest lawyer Faiza Malik raised an impressive $127,360, although her total remains less than the incumbent councillor Traci Park, who collected $343,020 during the recent fundraising period, more than any other candidate for the June 2026 election.

Before the Pack: Council Staff member Jose Ugarte is aiming to succeed councillor Karen Price, raising a notable $211,206—well above his competitors.

View from the Valley: Tim Gasper and Barriworth Gilvan have both attracted significant funds in the race to succeed the resigned councillor Bob Blumenfield in West Valley. Gilvan has outperformed Gasper in recent months, although Gaspar maintains a strong fund balance.

Where is Monica? Council member Monica Rodriguez has not reported her funding. Upon inquiry, she expressed plans to run for reelection and is in the middle of sorting out her finances. When pressed about a possible mayoral bid, she did not respond.

How about Kenneth? City Controller Kenneth Meziah has not submitted campaign finance numbers due to qualification of his reelection committee before the June 30 deadline. He’ll need to disclose those numbers in the upcoming filing period.

Lower Layoffs: A report released on Friday found the number of planned employee layoffs for the fiscal year 2025-26 has decreased to 394, down from an earlier proposal of 1,600 by Bass. Much of this reduction stems from personnel shifting into vacant positions rather than layoffs.

Thanks Token: The Bass Reelection Committee reportedly spent over $1,100 on “thank you” gifts, including flowers sent to various lawyers and supporters, with the most lavish bouquet costing $163.17, sourced from OdeALA Rose for Lynda Resnick.

Pizza Intel: While Bass keeps the name of her reelection finance committee under wraps, her document indicates a $198.37 expense for pizza catering during finance committee meetings. The response about whether that means her committee includes all mentioned individuals is still pending.

Family-Friendly Programming? The Los Angeles City Council has decided to prohibit speakers from using certain offensive language, but this decision might face legal challenges as some scholars argue it could infringe on First Amendment rights concerning free speech directed at elected officials.

Zine O’The Times: City Council Member Bob Blumenfield has nominated Dennis Ginn for the city’s charter reform committee. Ginn has served on the council for 12 years representing West Valley, a position also held by Blumenfield. He has a lengthy background with the LAPD and should not be confused with the progressive former Santa Monica mayor Denny Zane.

Quick Hits

• Where is the inside? The mayor’s program aimed at moving homeless individuals indoors continues, with estimated numbers in the 30s. Activists have protested against the administration’s approach, claiming it destroys homeless people’s belongings and creates inhumane conditions. Bass has defended the initiative, insisting that they can’t support keeping people in poor situations.
• At Docket Next Week: The City Council Personnel Committee is scheduled for a special meeting Wednesday regarding plans to lay off numerous urban workers.
• Political Poems Starting Saturday Morning: A reading of “Burning of Books” by Bertolt Brecht, translated from German by Tom Koon and David Constantine.

Let’s Stay in Touch

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