Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look at it closely.
—Seventy dollars. That’s the price concertgoers dropped for a “platter” of “street tacos” at Electric Daisy Carnival this weekend in Las Vegas, according to a TikTok video by @Dareal08_. Platters of taquitos and empanadas went for $50, while a whole pizza cost $96 and six sushi rolls ran $100. [@MikiLovesMusic/Twitter]
—DTLA: The Los Angeles City Council is slated to vote on a twice-delayed proposal to accept the donation of a so-called “robot dog” for use by the LAPD—an issue that has caused protests from critics of the department and concern among some council members. On May 5th, council members moved to push the vote until this morning, citing a need for more time to consider the proposed donation of the more than $275,000 “Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle.” Activists have protested the donation, claiming the robot would become a tool for the LAPD to harass and conduct surveillance of Black and Brown communities. LAPD representatives previously assured that the device would be used only in SWAT situations, hazardous-materials or search-and-rescue operations. Police also insisted the robot will never be equipped with any sort of weapons or facial-recognition technology, nor would it be used in any type of patrol operations. A past episode of the Netflix show Black Mirrortitled “Metalhead,” depicted similar such robot security “dogs” leading to devastating consequences for humanity. [City News Services]
—Native leaders in Northern California are demanding that the California Department of Transportation halt construction on a highway-side project near Inyo, following the unearthing of more than 30 buried ancestor bodies and artifacts they say have gone previously undisturbed for thousands of years. “How many human remains must be unearthed before Caltrans decides it is time to respect our advice and perspective?” Sean Scruggs, tribal historic officer for the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians, told the L.A. Times about long dismissed concerns about disturbing the area. [LAT]
—East Los Angeles: Authorities are searching for a kidnapping victim described as a woman in her 20’s as well as a male suspect. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that the suspect “appeared to coerce the female into the nearby vehicle,” after allegedly breaking a bus window and pointing a gun at a bus driver. The alleged kidnapping happened yesterday on the 3800 block of East 3rd Street. [ABC 7]
—Elysian Park: The Los Angeles Dodgers apologized to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and reinvited them to their annual Pride Night. This comes roughly a week after the Dodgers caved to right wing pressure and rescinded The Sisters’ invitation last week. “We have asked the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to take their place on the field at our 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night on June 16th,” the Dodgers said in a public statement. [The Guardian]
—An “automated trash interceptor”—the only one of it’s kind in the country–prevented nearly 80 tons of trash from entering the Santa Monica Bay and local beaches. [Patch]
—There will be a lane closures on the PCH from Sycamore Canyon up to Calleguas Creek Bridge from now until Thursday. Expect delays if you’re heading that way. [Cal Trans/Twitter]
—Lebron dropped 40 points last night but that still wasn’t enough to prevent the Lakers from being swept by the Nuggets. [LAT]
