L.A. Legal Defense Fund for Undocumented Immigrants; Florida Waits for ‘Active Fire Season’
Holding signs that read "Protect Immigrants" pro-immigration demonstrators stand on the steps of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. Richard Vogel / AP Photo
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Data breach in North Carolina county; Denver airport’s future flashy LED welcome; and a Trump rally tree-cutting controversy in Alabama.
IMMIGRATION | Los Angeles city and county lawmakers are considering a $10 million legal defense fund for undocumented immigrants facing deportation, as they prepare for President-elect Donald Trump to assume office. [Los Angeles Times]
WILDFIRES | Dry conditions have officials in Florida concerned about wildfire risks in the coming year. "If it stays that way like they're predicting it will," Florida Forest Service director Jim Karels said, "then we've got a real potential for an active fire season." [Tampa Bay Times]
LEAK | Nearly 20,000 Social Security numbers of Forsyth County, North Carolina, residents were accidentally released electronically to two parties that had requested other non-confidential tax digest data—an error that went unreported for a month. Both parties reportedly deleted the information, but the county will provide credit monitoring, insurance and other identity theft services to those affected for a year. [Forsyth County News]
PORTS OF ENTRY | Legislation President Obama signed last week will allow private businesses and local governments to pay for additional staff and infrastructure improvements at ports of entry on the U.S. border with Mexico. Texas lawmakers are pleased with the law, dubbed the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act. Understaffing at busy entry points in El Paso and Laredo has led to increased wait times. [The Texas Tribune]
BODY CAMERAS | Recordings from police cars and officer body cameras would be withheld from the public, unless a judge orders them released, under a bill now in play in the Wyoming Legislature. A person or organization seeking the videos would need to convince a judge that there’s a compelling public interest for releasing the footage. [Casper Star Tribune]
PARKS | The chief of staff to the mayor of Mobile, Alabama, apologized after cutting down a tree from a public park to use as a backdrop for a President-elect Trump rally in the city. The apology came after citizen complaints and postings on social media. The rally was to serve as part of the ongoing Trump ‘Thank You’ tour. The chief of staff said “Going forward, I will be more sensitive to the spectrum of concerns regarding trees." [AL.com]
OBITUARY | Former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut died Saturday at the age of 84. An ordained minister, Hudnut became a four-term mayor of Indianapolis, from 1976 to 1992, after serving a single term as a congressman. He is often credited with attracting significant investment in Indianapolis’ infrastructure and downtown, including luring the Indianapolis Colts away from Baltimore with a new stadium. He became mayor a second time for the town of Chevy Chase, Maryland, after moving to the Washington, D.C., area later in his life. [WFYI]
AIRPORTS | The Denver City Council has approved a project to build an $11.5 million, 1,000-foot LED display that is being described as a “ribbon” of moving light—essentially a very pricey welcome mat for travelers heading to and from Denver International Airport. By late summer or early fall, those heading along Peña Boulevard toward the airport will see flashy installations before they lay eyes on the somewhat sinister 32-foot blue mustang that’s currently positioned along the roadway leading to the main terminal. [The Denver Post]
CONTRACTING | Commissioners in Shelby County, Tennessee, approved specific percentages for minority shares of government contracts. Debate mostly centered around a percentage for white women that wasn’t expanded to all women. “This is actually regressive for women,” said Commissioner Heidi Shafer. “This actually hurts women and I know it’s not meant that way.” [Memphis Daily News]
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