Protest downtown los angeles today

UPDATED: The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-3 today to suspend Los Angeles Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas from office. Ridley-Thomas was indicted last week on federal bribery and conspiracy charges stemming from his time on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Responding to the vote, Ridley-Thomas issued a statement saying, “I am humbled by the support of my colleagues who did not rush to judgment and disappointed in those who did. Eleven members of this council have stripped the constituents of the 10th District of their representation, of their voice and of their right to the services that they deserve. They have removed from action a member — and his team — who together are among the most productive and effective advocates on the crisis of homelessness. I will continue fighting to clear my name, and I remain confident that such will be the case. But in the interim, the council has disenfranchised the residents of the 10th District.” PREVIOUSLY on Friday: Los … [Read more...] about L.A. City Council Suspends Mark Ridley-Thomas After Federal Bribery And Conspiracy Indictment – Update

Suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted today of federal bribery and conspiracy charges , along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors and accommodations provided to his son by a then-USC dean. Despite his vehement denials of wrongdoing, the local political giant was found guilty on single counts of bribery and conspiracy, along with one count of honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Jurors, who reached their verdict on Day 5 of deliberations, acquitted him on 12 other fraud counts. U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer set sentencing for August 14. Prosecutors alleged that the longtime local politician, while serving as a county supervisor, “put his hand out” and accepted perks from USC to benefit his son, Sebastian. Federal prosecutors based their case on a long string of emails and letters to bolster allegations that Ridley-Thomas and the former dean … [Read more...] about Suspended L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas Convicted On Federal Bribery & Conspiracy Charges

MLB Network Young Metro Boomin is fired up to play ball -- he's partnered with MLB Network to be its voice of Opening Day!!! The diamond-selling superproducer dropped off a video Thursday morning ... detailing the grueling 162-game regular season with shots of MLB stars like the NY Mets' Justin Verlander, NY Yankees' Aaron Judge , Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and more. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Metro's airtime makes good use of his hit songs "On Time" and "Trance" from his Billboard chart-topping "Heroes & Villains" album ... and also doesn't shy away from his allegiance to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, rocking their ballcap in a recording studio. MLB Network tells TMZ it's "thrilled to partner with Metro Boomin for Opening Day, and we’ll continue to explore opportunities to work with him throughout the season." “You can’t beat this time of year," Metro quips in the … [Read more...] about Metro Boomin Partners with MLB Network for Opening Day

EXCLUSIVE : Steve Small and Gwen Osborne have today announced the launch of Convergence Entertainment Group , their new film production and financing company based in Los Angeles. Convergence will operate as an independent studio, developing, financing and producing features for theatrical, broadcast and streaming markets. The company will utilize private equity funding to acquire top-level material and package projects with respected actors and filmmakers. Convergence plans to produce around half a dozen theatrical features per year for now, with hopes to expand its volume of production and financing as it continues to reach its growth objectives. “Convergence aims to create a filmmaker and talent-friendly studio where artists can create and finance projects that ultimately get distributed to outlets looking for high quality, innovative and unique original content,” Small told Deadline. Osborne added that the company “is well-poised to take advantage of the … [Read more...] about Steve Small & Gwen Osborne Launch Convergence Entertainment Group