Deborah Murphy

A heat advisory just went out on the same day 26,000 people are running the LA Marathon. Ran a bit of the route, it is indeed quite hot on our wide, shadeless streets

It's a marathon, not a sprint When you've committed to holding a Summer Olympics, a marathon route becomes a guaranteed death march

With tomorrow's highs in the 80s, the LA Marathon is letting runners bail at mile 18 and still get a finishing medal. But how will LA28 handle the Olympic marathon at the end of July in what will almost certainly be hotter weather?

Plus a 2028 state hearing, and the latest Hot Links headlines 🔥

Here's my story about some of these legislators going out of their way to avoid engaging with reality at a committee last summer — perhaps we'll have a more grounded conversation today

"You can see how the sports events coming up are definitely a risk" There is growing concern around the absence of a cohesive human trafficking prevention strategy for LA's megaevent era

There's no plan to prevent human trafficking during LA's megaevents and the World Cup starts in 100 days.

I talked to survivors, advocates, legal advisors, academics, and elected officials who are all sounding the alarm about how this will put LA's most vulnerable communities in even more danger

If the government gets to decide if you have them, they're not human rights.

I don't think LA28 actually wants to get the word out about these sustainability grants, which are a huge part of its supposed legacy for 2028? Applications close March 24 and I don't see any substantial news coverage about this initiative. Go get that LA28 money!

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Los Angeles needs money. Airbnb says the way to get it is to loosen the rules on short-term rentals (STRs). But what if instead the City enforced those rules? This analysis examines the potential role of STRs in generating revenue for the City of Los Angeles. Under the 2018 Los Angeles Home Sharing Ordinance (HSO), it is a violation for a host to list a noncompliant STR and it is a violation for a platform to book a noncompliant STR. Policy enforcement began in late 2019; the citation amounts today are $625 daily per noncompliant listing and $1,250 per noncompliant booking. Noncompliance under the HSO is widespread. During the program thus far, the City has issued $2.1 million in fines, and through the first five years, collected just $472,000-an annualized revenue for those years of $95,000. We find that since 2019 the City could have issued $5.2 billion in citations. If collected, this would have yielded $850 million on average each year.

HSO Noncompliance Creates a Largely Untapped Revenue Stream Amid the threats noncompliant STRs pose to communities and to the housing market, it is important to acknowledge one of the few opportunities they provide: revenue generation. Consider the parking meter: it is simple to comply with well-understood parking rules, but some percentage of people, some of the time, will flout the rules. We do not need to condone these parking violations to appreciate the $133.5 million in fines they contribute to the city's coffers annually.22 Thus far, the widespread HSO noncompliance has been a woefully untapped resource. The 1,374 citations issued by the City represent 0.17 percent of the total 777,145 noncompliant listings and transactions identified in this BNLA analysis. In December 2025 alone, Granicus reported 5,160 noncompliant STR listings with known addresses; yet that same month, DCP reported the issuance of a total of 15 citations-less than one-third of one percent. As a share of the total potential fines of $5.2 billion, the actual fines of $2.1 million represent a mere 0.04 percent.

The total (actual) fine revenue from the first five years of the program came to $472,434-about $95,000 annually.23 For fines issued in 2025, $195,000 has been collected thus far. BNLA finds that potential fine revenue has been $850 million annually.24 Within that yawning gap lies an opportunity for easy, if unfortunate revenue. For the initial years of the HSO, STRs generated an average TOT income of $34 million per year. Fining program noncompliance might have generated income of $70 million-per month. If the City were to start collecting the potential fines from noncompliant listings and transactions today, in two months the City would generate over $95 million, without any voter referendum or change in policy. If the City were to collect a mere five percent of the potential fines for noncompliance, the annual revenue stream ($42 million) would regularly exceed the annual TOT revenue currently generated by STRs citywide ($34 million).

A new Better Neighbors report says if LA started actually enforcing its short-term rentals, the city would rake in $40 to $50 million each month — "more than any measure the city is currently proposing for the ballot to raise revenue."

Report here: static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc98...

Metro Announces Hat Trick for FIFA World Cup 2026 ™ By Offering Enhanced Service, Affordable Parking, Celebratory Customer Experience LOS ANGELES (March 4, 2026)- When FIFA World Cup 2026 M kicks off in Los Angeles in just 100 days, Metro will be ready to help fútbol fanatics score winning service to all eight matches. As the official public transit provider for the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host City, Metro will ensure fans get to and from these unforgettable matches safely, sustainably and seamlessly. "Metro is the smartest, safest, easiest, and most fun way to get to the World Cup," said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member. "Instead of paying for some of the most expensive stadium parking or sitting in traffic, people can focus on what matters most - celebrating the love of soccer with fellow fans from around the world while going to and from the games." With Angelenos being joined by fans from around the world for the eight matches being played in Los Angeles and limited parking availability at Los Angeles Stadium, Metro and its regional transit partners will provide affordable and direct service from key rail stations and locations throughout the region including:

Crenshaw Station • Downtown Long Beach • El Camino College • Harbor Gateway Transit Center • Hawthorne/Lennox Station • LA Union Station • LAX/Metro Transit Center Station • North Hollywood Station • Pierce College Additional locations will be announced in the coming months. Metro's World Cup Service will get fans to the Los Angeles Stadium up to three hours before kickoff and the last service will depart up to 90 minutes after the match ends. Fares for the enhanced service will be the same as regular Metro fares, $1.75 one-way and $3.50 round-trip. Parking reservations are now available, and pricing will differ by location. Early-bird pricing is currently in effect, ranging from $55 - $95, plus a service fee. Compared to the other parking pricing where rates will be more than two and three times the Metro rates, fans are encouraged to make their plans and book early for discounted Metro parking rates. Visit metro.net/worldcup for additional information.

Metro is announcing Hollywood Bowl-style park-and-ride shuttle service from nine locations (with more to be announced) for LA's World Cup matches. $1.75 each way! But parking will cost a bit more. They're using borrowed buses from other local transit agencies.

Details here: metro.net/worldcup

CNN put together a montage of the regime's incoherent talking points about Trump's war on Iran

With Rep. @crow.house.gov 100% - a combat vet with working class roots.

Caring for infrastructure, affordability, jobs > foreign adventures by draft dodging elites like Trump to enrich oil companies and advance Israeli and Saudi interests!

President of Iran’s soccer federation says World Cup participation in US is in doubt The president of Iran’s soccer federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country.

"What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," said Mehdi Taj.

Reminder that Iran is scheduled to play twice in Los Angeles:

June 15 vs. New Zealand
June 21 vs. Belgium

“Disrespectful” and “infuriating”: L.A.’s progress on making streets safe and accessible for disabled people stalled for decades - Streetsblog Los Angeles Curb ramps have been required when repaving a street since 1992. Why is L.A. only now saying it must follow the law?

“Disrespectful” and “infuriating”: L.A.’s progress on making streets safe and accessible for disabled people stalled for decades - la.streetsblog.org/2026/02/27/d...

Right on about how wrong the LA28 logo is. Hated the thing from day one.

Wow they really did it shop.metro.net/products/rid...

Hearing from employees at LAUSD headquarters. Board members and their staff are also not able to enter their offices.

There are emergency meetings scheduled this morning to figure out how to proceed with committees scheduled to meet later in the day

Grant applications for LA28's "resilience champions fund" opened today, part of the sustainability commitments to the city of LA.

Why is LA28 creating an entirely new grantmaking program from the ground up instead of simply funding existing programs 🤷🏼‍♀️

Details here: la28.org/en/newsroom/...

Hot Links for this week Become a paid subscriber to Torched and get early access to the week's hottest headlines

Looks like we managed to get the Sixth Street Bridge lights on... but just to film the LA28 ad that aired at the end of the Winter Olympics? Plus more news in this week's Hot Links — paid subscribers to Torched get early access now, everyone else will see this in their inbox at the end of the week 🔥

[LIVESTREAM] People's State of the Union · MoveOn At the State of the Union (SOTU), Republicans in Congress are once again bending the knee to Trump and hanging their constituents out to dry. Nobody should participate in Trump’s vanity project, and t...

I'm attending MoveOn's event, “[LIVESTREAM] People's State of the Union” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/moveon/event...

When a brand takes over your park What does our megaevent era mean for public space?

New Balance staged an activation in an LA city park as one of many brand takeovers for the NBA All-Star Game. Is this our new reality?

Plus the latest on LA28 chair Casey Wasserman, who has not stepped down yet, and more megaevent news for you, the people of Los Angeles, in this week's Hot Links 🔥

Losing support from LA's arts institutions is a big bright red flag for LA28 because Casey Wasserman is also in charge of finding money and programming for the Cultural Olympiad now that Maria Arena Bell is out. If he can't headline a performing arts fundraiser how can he recruit performing artists?

Trump created a Board of Peace, which is not part of the U.S. government, and dubbed himself chairman for life. This means he will still be in charge of the board once he’s out of office.

Contributor: City leaders are sabotaging parks and nature spots across L.A. The city's park system has fallen from 49th to 90th place among the top 100 cities in the U.S. in just five years.

"Last year, the city spent nearly $4 million on a park needs assessment that identified a road map for improving this sorry state of affairs... but City Hall is doing little to support a grassroots campaign to put a park funding measure on the November ballot" — @jonchristensen.bsky.social

Dozens of Southern California politicians call on Wasserman to resign as LA28 Olympics chair — Los Angeles Times The state steers money and resources to help the 2028 Olympics and other major events.

Dozens of Southern California politicians call on Wasserman to resign as LA28 Olympics chair
The state steers money and resources to help the 2028 Olympics and other major events.”

Los Angeles Times
apple.news/ATlsbe5KaTRa...

Don't worry I'm sure these corridors that we're surrendering the money to make safer because we can't get our shit together have no flooding issues either

Hey now, you're an All-Star There are basketball-adjacent activations happening all weekend in more places than you might think

LA's golden megaevent era kicks off *this weekend* with the All-Star Game and I found weird and wacky activations all over LA. Also, the latest Casey Wasserman news which I was very annoyed I had to stay awake last night to update.

All of this and more in my weekly news roundup, Hot Links🔥

Spelled “murdered” wrong

Casey Wasserman Will Sell Agency After Epstein Files Controversy: “I Have Become a Distraction” The move comes after Wasserman faced mounting pressure from his roster after suggestive emails he sent to Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced in the Epstein Files

Just so we have this straight. The LA28 board refused to take action — but his clients and agents forced him out of his own company.

And now the taxpayers of the City of Los Angeles *WHICH HOLDS THE CONTRACT WITH LA28* are stuck with him! Great work everyone!

They’re trying to kill us
Climate leaders condemn Trump EPA’s biggest rollback yet: ‘This is corruption’ - The Guardian

“Public trust is essential to the success of the Games. Los Angeles must lead with integrity, and our Olympic leadership must do the same.”

Rodriguez's statement accompanying the resolution seems to hint that these councilmembers are not planning on letting the LA board's decision go unchallenged

@awalkerinla.bsky.social always connecting the dots