Table of Contents
Poll Sunday………………….Los Angeles votes
Sunday Songs…………………Odeal, Eztella, Emanuel Doris, Schoolboy Q
Sunday Poll……………………..Pollception
Sunday Carrier………………….Headlines! Read them and believe them
Studio Jali …………………………Uncredited, table reads, and a trailer!
P.S ……………………………………….The small-sized bills continued to be printed with green ink because, according to the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the ink was plentiful and durable and the color green was associated with stability. Today, there is some $1.2 trillion in coins and paper money in circulation in America.
This is edition #70 of Pen Sunday. Seven editions ago, in #63 “The Wire”, I wrote about how critical acclaimed TV show The Wire, inspired me to be more engaged and knowledgable about local politics and elections in the city of Los Angeles. Well, it’s seven weeks later and this upcoming Tuesday, March 5, is election day in the city. Let’s get into that.
First things first, I will be voting. As a Gen Z’er, the first time I voted in my life was 2020 as before then, I fell into the youthful camp of angsty college kids who really didn’t believe voting matters. And while it’s true games are being played when it comes to districting, corruption, and gerrymandering, I’ve come to realize I do have more faith in the American democracy than I do skepticism. Especially, when it comes to comparing the strength of our democracy compared to others around the world. We’re not the worlds strongest or most equal democracy no, and yes we have a lot to work on yada yada, but still, a vote matters. Being able to use your voice as a citizen, matters. And exercising your power as a voting citizen, is very important. Because no matter what they tell you or try to make you make you believe, the people do have the power.
What’s on the agenda for next term?
Policing: The city council sets the budget for the L.A. Police Department, and funding for law enforcement remains a contentious issue. Some residents continue to call for cutting the LAPD budget, some call for defunding the police altogether, and others want more police hired to combat crime.
Homelessness: The number of people living on the streets continues to climb. The city council is the main check-and-balance to control how money is spent on the homelessness crisis. Under L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ administration, that’s big money. The mayor ushered in unprecedented spending on homelessness during her first year in office. City council members have a lot of control in their districts over how city dollars are spent, what type of housing is allowed where, and how LAPD officers handle enforcement against unhoused people.
Housing: City council members play a big role in where development is allowed in their districts, as well as what types of housing is built. State law requires the city of L.A. to plan for 185,000 new low-income homes by 2029. That means those decisions have urgency. Council members will be working with constituents to update community plans that set rules for housing density and other future development. They’ll also need to cut down on bureaucratic delays that have slowed down housing approvals and made the city vulnerable to lawsuits. The end of COVID protections for renters is likely to mean new challenges as rents rise again and some worry a wave of evictions is coming, which could worsen the homelessness crisis.
Transportation and mobility: The city is falling far short of promises to end traffic deaths by 2025, with the death toll instead rising sharply. The city council recently called for an audit of Vision Zero, the program created to meet that ambitious goal. In the recent past, council members who tried to implement what’s known as “traffic calming” measures to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety have faced sharp pushback from constituents.
Government reform: In the last few years, three former city council members have been convicted of corruption. Two more stand accused of it. In response, the city council has placed on the November ballot a measure to create an independent redistricting commission that would draw council boundaries instead of council members doing it themselves. More reforms are being considered, including the council considering two more measures on the ballot. One would expand the size of the council in an effort to make it more representative of L.A. residents. Another would enact a series of reforms to make the city Ethics Commission more independent and better able to guard against corruption. Candidates who win outright in the March election will be a part of those decisions, and they may still be on the docket by the time the runoffs are concluded in the general election. [Source - Laist]
What seats are up for election?
The following districts are on the March 5 ballot: District 2, District 4, District 6, District 8, District 10, District 12 and District 14.
The top elections/ballots that have my primary interest as a voter are as follows.
Yes on Measure HLA
The initiative would force L.A.’s leaders to enact their own visionary Mobility Plan, which aims to make the city’s car-dominated streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and, yes, even drivers.District 10
“State of the race: Heather Hutt, who was appointed to the District 10 seat, is running for a full elected term.
Number of candidates: 4
Where: Central L.A., including Koreatown, Mid-City and West Adams
Key issues: Homelessness and affordable housing
Notable: Hutt was appointed to the position in September 2022 after the previous District 10 representative, Mark Ridley-Thomas, was indicted on federal corruption charges. Critics of Hutt's appointment say a special election, while costly, should have taken place to uphold the democratic process.
March outcome: If a candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, they’ll win the election outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will make the runoff on your November ballot [Source - Laist]
District 10 is the district I currently live, (please don’t show up at my house, I recognize you all as my loving adoring fans from afar) and I’ve wrote about Heather Hutt in the past, so naturally this is something I’m voting for and paying attention to.
California Prop. 1
Proposition 1 is a measure on the March ballot that would shift much of California’s millionaires tax for mental health services towards housing for people with mental illness.
It approves a nearly $6.4 billion bond to add more beds in psychiatric facilities as well as supportive housing, which is housing for formerly unhoused people that comes with mental health and other government services — also known as wraparound services — onsite.
It would also require counties to spend certain tax money they already collect toward housing programs, especially for those living in encampments or who have experienced homelessness for a long time.
A two-part proposal
The two-part proposal would create a $6.38 billion general obligation bond that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office says would go toward funding thousands of treatment beds and supportive housing. Prop. 1 would also require California’s 58 counties to spend more tax dollars set aside for mental health treatment and prevention on housing.
A portion of Mental Health Services Act funding would be shifted from the counties to the state. [Source - Laist]
So that’s it. There are other council members up for election, and a handful of city, state, and county measures, but those are the 3 that have garnered my attention. That wraps this segment for this week. Thank you and special shout out to Laist for doing the grunt work and carrying the newsletter this week.
Sunday Songs
The thing about listening to A LOT of music is that the songs that excite me become fewer and far between the older I get and the more songs I hear. It’s natural to hear one song and compare it to another, in terms of tone, sound, idea, archetype, etc. So I’ll often go through waves, only ever lasting about a week, where I feel like the music I’m listening to has become dull, motivating me to go on another search to find my next favorite song. The song that makes my ears stand up again, and forces me to hit replay for an entire day, weekend, or even week. Anything longer than that is really rare.
But for now, on this week, I’m back into a nice sonic groove that I’d like to share with you all. So buckle up and tell your friends because I’ve got bops. And I’m giving you full permission to steal these songs, play them to your friends and pretend like you discovered them first. That’s perfectly okay, and part of what the Sunday Songs portion of Pen Sunday is all about. So let’s get into it.
Holdin’ On is an upbeat, outside day party, vibe. Something I will be returning to a lot this summer, and a song that reminds me that the rumors are true, summer will return in 3 months, and one day it will stop raining in Los Angeles.
In a similar vein, and a song that can be added to the same playlist as Holdin On’, is Be Easy. Be Easy is a better song than Holdin On, but they pair well together. This is also a song that has a lot of afro beat influence and again, will be in rotation at the summer day parties. At 26 you’re allowed to get drunk at noon if you are on a beach, rooftop, or outside in a field, and house-esque music is playing. I don’t make the rules. (I love the delivery of the pineapple juice) line. Pineapple juice is also a drink that has a lot of lore as far as juices go, but this isn’t the type of newsletter to really deep dive into that.
To switch the vibe up a bit, is Black Hole Music by Emanuel Doris. This song is one where listening to the first time, felt pretty generic and plain. But something happens after the 1:30 minute mark where it feels like everything just clicks and we arrive at the point the song has been building to, and it delivers successfully. The rhythm and tone of this song is just something I can get behind. Let me know what you all think in the comments.
Charmed, is the song I’ve replayed the most in the last 48hours (Be Easy 2nd place) because I love the squirt of a guitar riff that the song opens with so much. I don’t know another way to describe it, but it’s such a unique, distinct, and fun sound that I haven’t heard other recognizable versions of before. Then the rest of the charming song carries on and it becomes a quality add to the library.
I need to interrupt the regular flow of bops really quickly to talk about rap and Schoolboy Q. First let me say this, I understand fully why, as human beings, artist take years off to live their life and get away from music and just vibe, spend their money, and chill. But as a fan, if you’re going to disappear from music for years on end, it’s critical to come back with some fire. Not mid. Fire.
I’ve never seen a rapper take years away from the game, then return with an album and get hot again. Not saying it never happens, I just can’t think of an example off the top of my head of someone who it has worked for. Getting hot again isn’t the end all be all either, but I don’t know. My point is, I don’t know how to feel about the rappers who take a lot of time away, then come back and drop an okay or mid album. I’m happy to be hearing new music sure, but I shouldn’t only be happy to hear new music BECAUSE you’ve been gone so long. Right?
I don’t want to give up on the SchoolBoy project, but it’s been 5 years!!! Since we last heard Q. And if you were in highschool from 2012-2016, what you probably remember most about Q was the highs of Oxymoron. I liked Crash Talk more than most, but still. Five years and through two listens I only like 4/18 songs.
I want to give it a couple more listens and try again. Updates to come if needed. But here is what I like most as of now.
And last but never least, I’ll close Sunday Songs this week with a freebee.
Sunday Poll
Sunday Poll has been cooking lately! Please continue to vote. It makes the section a lot more fun to write.
Last week, I asked you all if you knew how to play chess. 33% of voters said yes, 67% of voters said no, and zero voters selected the ‘I know how the pieces move’ option. So I appreciate the yes or no, black or white, mentality the readers of this newsletter share and will keep that going this week. With a voting question about voting.
Voting is free and anonymous. All it takes is a subscription. (That’s free too).
You only have one week to vote. Results will be reviewed and discussed in next week’s edition.
Sunday Carrier
Israel-Palestine Human Rights Watch
Voter Game Plan 2024 (Everything You Need to Know) -- Los Angeles Election Day
Uber rolls out teen accounts in California
Audrey Jimenez makes history, winning Arizona HS wrestling title against boys
LeBron James becomes the first NBA player to eclipse 40,000 career points
Caitlin Clark passes Pete Maravich to become all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader
Mom loses $800K disability case after photos emerge of her winning tree-throwing competition
Weekly Announcement:
Pen Sunday subscribers will be first to know about upcoming guest on Uncredited (so subscribe!)
Next Thursdays guest is Branden Taylor, a writer and director based out of North Carolina
Uncredited will be uploaded to, and available to listen through substack/Pen Suday, on Saturdays!
Short film Rob Rabbit, is fully cast and completed first table read. Still on schedule to shoot at end of the month
PS
It’s the end of Pen Sunday, edition #70. If you reached the end, thank you for reading. It means a lot.
Pen Sunday is a newsletter about a writer, a dream, and a studio. With headlines from around the world, music, and maybe a poem. Every Sunday and Sunday only.
Until Sunday,
Solomon Lovejoy