Jasmyne Cannickjust now

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is a temporary problem. He’s one person who can be removed from office by recall, election, or in his case, possibly by indictment and a conviction. Death is not entirely off the table either as the late Sheriff Sherman Block found out when he died in office days prior to the election. So why the rush to amend Los Angeles’ charter in a power grab to give the Board of Supervisors the authority to remove him?

For years I have talked about the exclusion of Black immigrants and migrants in the immigrant rights movement. For far too long, immigrants and migrants — especially in Los Angeles — have been synonymous with Mexico and Central America, even though this city has the largest population of Belizeans outside of Belize and enough Ethiopians to warrant the creation of a “Little Ethiopia.” 1 in 5 Blacks in Los Angeles are immigrants or are the descendants of immigrants.

Reactions to mass shootings follow a predictable pattern. Liberal politicians call for gun control, and they have a point. Countries with gun control have less gun violence. The old assault weapons ban did some good. You have to pass a test to get licensed to drive a car or, in most states, to operate a boat—surely the same could be required of those who want to possess firearms. Conservative politicians call attention to America’s worsening epidemic of mental illness. They have a point too.