Good morning, and welcome to LA on the Record, City Hall's newsletter. I'm David Zarniser bringing you the latest developments in local government from the past week.

Living in San Pedro Diane Middleton As for the Port of Los Angeles, I'll be the first to say she can be a huge nuisance.

As a member of the Los Angeles Port Commission, she opposed increased automation at the port, arguing it would lead to the elimination of high-paying union jobs, and she scrutinized the proposals, scrutinizing promises the port made to invest in community activities.

Middleton, a former lawyer, said her mission is to represent both the community and longshoremen, which means asking tough questions of Port Authority officials.

“I wasn't going to be the quiet commissioner who said yes to everything that was put in front of me,” said Middleton, who spent his legal career representing longshoremen and shipyard workers, many of whom abstained.

Earlier this month, Middleton's term was terminated by the mayor. Karen BassWho Appointed A former colleague from his time in Sacramento and former Assembly Speaker John Perez He is currently the company's CEO. Double Nickel Advisor.

Strictly speaking, the changes aren't firings — Bass opted not to reappoint Middleton for another five years when his term expires. Either way, the moves have drawn criticism from some port officials who have relied on Middleton to advocate on their behalf and ask tough questions.

“She protected our community.” Gary HerreraAs president of Local 13 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Workers Union, he represents more than 10,000 workers, many of whom live near the country's busiest port.

In Los Angeles, most city commissioners are volunteers who serve at the behest of the mayor. They provide oversight for a variety of agencies, including the LAPD, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Department of Water and Power, and the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest in the nation.

The Port Commission, and the question of who serves on it, has been a source of tension with City Hall for decades. Residents of the port's neighboring cities of San Pedro and Wilmington have long pushed for a multi-member board, arguing that their communities are most directly affected by truck traffic and diesel exhaust generated by port operations.

The mayor's decision to replace Middleton has the potential to reopen old wounds while also complicating other political relationships.

Three of the five port commissioners live in San Pedro or Wilmington when Bass takes office in 2022. Bass's changes, including Middleton's resignation, leave the commission with just one local voice.

Middleton's supporters cited a recent meeting of the Port Commission and Daily Breeze.

Ellis SwansonThe San Pedro Chamber of Commerce president and CEO said the chamber was “deeply saddened” by Middleton's departure. Nanette BarraganThe councillor whose constituency includes the port also spoke out, issuing a statement on Friday expressing concern over the decline in local commissioners.

“The Port of Los Angeles community is [port] “The decision … they deserve and should have multiple seats on the board and a bigger voice,” Barragan said.

The Times asked Bass's reporters why he replaced Middleton and why he chose a replacement from outside the port region. Bass's aides declined to answer either question. Instead, he issued a statement thanking Middleton for his five and a half years of service.

“Nearly 40 percent of imports into the country pass through our port facilities, which are a key economic driver for the entire country,” Bass said. Zach Seidl“The Mayor has been instrumental in establishing a committee with representation from the local community and will continue to work to support the Port's services to the entire region, state and country.”

If the City Council approves Perez's appointment, three of the five members of the Port Commission will reside on the City Council. Kevin de Leon The Downtown/Eastside district is about 25 miles north of the Port of Los Angeles. Perez joins former U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal Allardwho served in Congress with Mr. Bass; Michael Munoza researcher at the nonprofit Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. Both live in de Leon's district.

According to voter registration records, Roybal-Allard and Perez live in the same building in downtown Los Angeles and have the opportunity to carpool to committee meetings.

In an interview, Perez said he didn't want to discuss the mayor's thinking on commissioner appointments, but he promised to be a voice for the community if his nomination is approved.

“Anyone who knows my history in labour, in the community, on boards and committees knows I have always spoken for unrepresented voices, and that the environment and health impacts are at the heart of my thinking,” he said.

Middleton's firing also raises questions about how broad or narrow the powers Bass and his team give to political appointees. Middleton is not the only independent-minded city commissioner to suddenly resign in recent years.

In October, the bus Eric Eisenberg Eisenberg was removed from the Transportation Committee after his colleagues delayed a vote on a new homeless shelter on the West Side that the mayor supported, and he said at the time that he believed Bass's role in delaying the vote was the reason he was fired.

“The message is, 'Do as we say or we'll fire you,'” he told The Times.

after that Helen Leung Bass resigned from the Planning Commission earlier this year. Like Eisenberg, Leon was reappointed by Bass, but then he voted against turning one of the mayor's signature initiatives, Executive Order 1, an emergency affordable housing measure, into a permanent city ordinance.

Leon has expressed concern that the ordinance as it stands won't provide enough protection for families living in rent-controlled apartments — concerns shared by tenant rights groups in Eagle Rock, South Los Angeles and other areas.

Three months after his no vote, Leon quietly left the committee and did not respond to questions from The Times.

Asked about the dissenting commissioners, including Leon and Eisenberg, Seidl said, “The mayor expects all commissions and commissioners to contribute to moving Los Angeles forward.”

The Port Commission shakeup could have other political repercussions. Middleton was a supporter of Bass during her 2022 mayoral campaign, hosting meet-and-greets at her San Pedro home. She's also an ally of the city council member. Tim McCoskerrepresents the port region and has clashed with Bass on multiple occasions.

Last year, Mayor McCosker voted against the mayor's proposal to buy the 15-story Mayfair Hotel west of downtown and turn it into homeless housing. Last month, Mayor Bass vetoed a Nov. 5 ballot measure spearheaded by Mayor McCosker to overhaul the LAPD's disciplinary procedures.

In an interview, McCosker said he had conveyed his disappointment over Middleton's firing to Bass.

“I told the mayor that I thought this was a mistake and that there were very few people available for this position. [harbor commission] “She should have a role like Diane's,” he said.

McCosker said he has a solution to address the concerns of constituents around the port: Charter Amendment HH, which is scheduled for the Nov. 5 ballot. The measure would require the Port Commission to have one member from San Pedro and one from Wilmington, among other things.

For some Los Angeles voters, this may be a minor detail in the context of this election year, but around the port, it could raise serious concerns.

current situation

— Politics and Pastrami: The bus went to MacArthur Park for lunch. Norm LangerBass, the owner of Langer's Delicatessen, commented on the matter shortly after telling LAT's Steve Lopez that he was considering closing the legendary restaurant. Langer said he was frustrated by the crime, drug use and poor condition of the nearby park in the area. Bass said he would address the matter.

— Prison Deferral: Federal judge grants former city council member five-week postponement Jose Huizar Huizar, who was ordered to appear before federal authorities in a corruption case and was sentenced to 13 years in prison, was scheduled to appear by Friday, but his appearance date has been postponed to October 7 after he requested a postponement. The reason remains secret, and the judge is keeping the reason for Huizar's request confidential.

— Find the ChiefThe five-member Police Commission, appointed by the mayor, sent Bass the names of three finalists for LAPD chief, though like much of the search process, the identities of the remaining candidates are being kept secret.

— Burbank strikes back: Remember what the Council President said at the press conference? Paul Krekorian Burbank police have been accused of abandoning homeless people in front of North Hollywood businesses, but the Burbank police chief has offered his own version of the incident, saying none of it is true. Michael Albanese Krekorian said the man in question was not homeless and praised the officers for treating him with dignity. However, he said there are “unanswered questions” and “apparent inconsistencies” in the case.

— Toxins and Tap Water: Bus and the councillors Tim McCosker They called for more testing of the water coming out of Watts' taps. Their call came after a study was released showing that water in a nearby public housing complex was contaminated with lead.

— Towing time: The City Council approved the towing of illegally parked vehicles across large swaths of the city and gave crews the authority to immediately remove RVs and other vehicles in which homeless people sleep.

— Earthquake threat: Los Angeles County's aging Men's Central Jail could become a death trap in a major earthquake, according to a newly reviewed engineering study of the building's structural weaknesses.

A (Not So) Quick Hit

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor's homelessness program was located at 18th and Hope Streets in Downtown Los Angeles, an area the city council member represents. Kevin de LeonBass and his team worked with Mayor de Leon on this operation, which they had not always done in the past, and the mayor's office said more than 20 Angelenos were rescued from the streets, including three children under the age of 8.

• Plans for next week: Bass and some of the city council members, including Katie Yaroslavsky and Imelda Padilla — Heading to Paris for the closing ceremony of the Paralympics. This will be Bass' fourth trip to Paris this year.