Latest news with #SouthernCalifornia
CNN
3 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
The Dodgers had been silent as Trump's immigration crackdown roiled LA. Then federal agents arrived outside their parking lot
As the City of Angels' first major professional sports team, the Dodgers are a cornerstone of Southern California culture. Their interlocking LA logo is as iconic as the Hollywood sign, recognized around the world and worn as a symbol of pride by millions of Angelenos. In times of crisis, teams like the Dodgers are usually a rallying point – a unifying force in moments of struggle. But over the last few weeks, as major protests popped up in Los Angeles in response to increased immigration raids by the Trump administration in the Southern California area, the Dodgers became a target of local ire. It was a tough demotion from being the subject of local adoration just months ago during a World Series championship parade. On June 6, raids outside a Home Depot and an apparel warehouse in Los Angeles set off days of protests and, on some nights, clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. President Donald Trump on June 7 deployed National Guard troops to the city to 'temporarily protect ICE' – the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – 'and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions' and to protect federal property, according to a memo – overriding California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called the move a 'brazen abuse of power.' Families have been split, people were arrested by plain-clothes agents wearing masks and hats and Trump and his administration reveled in the chance to clash with Democratic politicians. As fear spread throughout Los Angeles, many of the city's institutions spoke up to defend the undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers who were being picked up by the federal government. But not the Dodgers. The team – whose stadium itself is part of the long story of the Latino experience in Los Angeles, given that the land on which it sits was once home to a Mexican-American neighborhood that fought for years against being displaced – was publicly quiet about the tension gripping its city. That silence infuriated many members of the fanbase, who felt abandoned by their team. 'I just feel like the organization, as a whole, needed to say something. The fanbase is predominantly Latinos, and we have been supporting them forever,' said Amanda Carrera, a Dodgers fan who was demonstrating outside of Dodger Stadium on Thursday. A few dozen people were also protesting as the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres. They shouted to keep 'ICE out of LA' and 'ICE out of Dodger Stadium.' Many expressed anger toward the Dodger organization for remaining silent on the issue plaguing a core part of their fanbase. 'And so why should we keep supporting them if they don't support us?' Carrera asked. 'And, as heartbreaking as it sounds, it's like we love our team so much and it just feels like they don't love us.' It was against that backdrop that federal law enforcement arrived just outside the vast Dodger Stadium parking lot on Thursday. Reports began to circulate that federal agents were present at the stadium outside downtown LA, sparking concerns that the Trump administration's immigration crackdown was coming to the home of the World Series champions hours before a game against the San Diego Padres. Protesters rushed to the area and began chanting anti-ICE slogans at the federal agents. In the team's telling, agents from ICE arrived at Dodger Stadium and asked for permission to access the parking lots. The Dodgers said no. This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight's game will be played as scheduled. The Trump administration's version of what happened is quite different. US Customs and Border Protection vehicles were in a parking lot on the grounds, and one of them had a car malfunction that caused them to stay longer, according to an official who maintained there were no operations related to the MLB franchise. There has been an influx of CBP agents in the Los Angeles area on the heels of the protests against Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. The Department of Homeland Security surged agency personnel to the region, including border agents, to respond to those protests and many have remained in the area. 'This had nothing to do with the Dodgers. CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement,' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The ICE account on X even called out the Dodgers directly, saying their post was false. 'We were never there,' the post read. No matter the agency or their purpose, the appearance of federal agents at Dodger Stadium is enough to create a high-profile event, given the atmosphere that is gripping Los Angeles. Some businesses have been closing early, with more customers staying home. As the school year wound down, some students wept openly in class, worried about the future of their families. Relatives stayed away from graduation ceremonies, while some nannies chose to stay close to their employers' homes, only taking the children around the block instead of public parks. Rumors of where ICE will be or how they'll be meeting the White House's demands for more arrests have been rife, not just in LA but around the country. With the FIFA Club World Cup attracting soccer fans to stadiums throughout the US, there have been worries that federal agents could target people coming to the games. So, when reports of federal agents being outside Dodger Stadium began to circulate on Thursday, protesters flocked to the team's complex just outside of downtown Los Angeles. Images from the parking lot outside the stadium showed a line of police blocking protesters from being near the large group of unmarked federal law enforcement vehicles that had gathered in the stadium's expansive concrete apron. With the White House expecting ICE to arrest 3,000 people per day and Los Angeles-area officials telling the public that they don't have any idea where federal agents will pop up next, the entire area is on edge. Carerra said she's organizing a protest later this week and she hears mixed things about whether people actually want to be in public. 'The community has voted to protest. They want to come out and do it, but I think that there is the other half that's scared,' she said. 'It's scary when you see images and videos of people being kidnapped. You know, I mean, ICE agents, unmarked vehicles, masks covering their face. … We don't even know who to trust. We don't know, like, are these actually, actual agents or not, you know? So, there's a lot of fear. It's horrible. It's so just heartbreaking.' That tension meant many fans lashed out at the Dodgers for not having done more to express support for their fans, many of whom are Latino. The replies to the Dodgers' X account were full of fans demanding the team say something condemning the federal government's actions or – at the very least – express support for the immigrant community in LA. Al Aguilar, who was standing outside Dodger Stadium with a sign that read 'Los Doyers Silent? Silent' on Thursday afternoon, said the team's history in LA should make it more understanding of the pressure on the community. He said the Dodgers buying the Chavez Ravine land at a discounted price and the eviction of the final families remaining on the land came with the stipulation that the stadium would be used for the community. He said Latinos largely stayed away from the team until Fernandomania – the debut of Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela and his subsequent success – in 1981 made fans for life. That history isn't forgotten today, he said. 'Nothing was said. They were silent about the issues going on, not even taking sides. They could say, 'We believe in equal rights, constitutional rights, due process,' without taking sides, just those things, but they didn't say anything,' Aguilar told CNN. He added, 'With the amount of Latin American players that they have, with the community being behind them all these years, being (forgiven) – if you were thrown out of your houses and dragged out for a sports franchise that interrupted the community, you might have feelings about that.' When singer Nezza performed the National Anthem ahead of a game last weekend, as 'No Kings' protests were taking place around the nation and LA was enduring another weekend of protests, she decided to do so in Spanish. What sparked more outrage against the Dodgers was the fact that she said a Dodgers employee specifically asked her not to. 'I didn't really see an issue with it and I wanted people to know that I'm with them and I'm standing by them,' Nezza told CNN on Tuesday. An unidentified person, who Nezza says is a Dodgers employee, can be heard on a video saying to the singer, 'We are going to do the song in English today, so I'm not sure if that wasn't relayed.' Following her performance, the Dodgers employee – who she would not name – called Nezza's manager almost immediately and told them to never call or email them again, and that their client was not welcome back, according to the singer. The Dodgers have said publicly that there are 'no consequences or hard feelings' regarding her performance and that she is not banned from – and welcome to return to – the stadium. Nezza, whose parents are both immigrants, said she hasn't been contacted by the team and doesn't plan on attending the stadium again. 'I don't feel welcome to come back,' she said. Carerra said that attitude from the team confused and angered many fans. 'That's kind of what's been the confusion because they have spoken out against or regarding other social issues before,' she told CNN. 'They've made statements before about things, and so, you know, the fact that it's taking them this long is just, it's very confusing, and it hurts.' That frustration with the organization could ease among fans after Thursday's confrontation with the Trump administration. The back and forth with the administration came on the same day that the team was expected to release a statement on how it plans to support immigrants in the Los Angeles area affected by the immigration crackdown. Gary Lee, the founder of said silence is the Dodgers' 'default position' on the immigration crackdown, but the plan for an announcement by the team on how it plans to assist immigrants in the area was a relief. 'The Dodgers have arguably been more culturally influential to the city of Los Angeles' than other sports franchises, Lee said, 'so there seems to be more responsibility to the community on their shoulders than any other franchise, including the Lakers.' But after Thursday's incident with federal agents, the planned announcement didn't materialize. For some fans, the damage is done regardless of what the team says. Carerra told CNN that the amount of public pressure on the Dodgers has her questioning the team in ways she never would have before. Even if the Dodgers made a strong statement of support or really threw federal agents off Dodger Stadium property on Thursday, she's now wondering if it's all a public relations move. 'It's like, can we even trust them? Like, can we trust them up to this point that what they're doing isn't just to kind of, you know, protect themselves, and that sucks. I hate that it has to get to this point,' she said.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israeli strikes on Iran stir anxiety in LA's ‘Tehrangeles': ‘We're worried 24 hours a day'
In uncertain times in Persian Square, in the Iranian enclave on the west side of Los Angeles, there is always hope – and ice cream. Farbod 'Freddy' Papen is happy to dole out scoops of cucumber ice cream at Saffron and Rose, just as his grandfather once did in the same neighborhood affectionately known by many nicknames: Little Tehran, Tehrangeles, or Little Persia. But for a week now, the joy of serving colorful Persian dessert has been tempered by a sense of dread over the growing devastation in the Papen family's homeland of Iran. Every morning since Israel launched its attack on Iran, Papen, 38, has been scanning the headlines, anxious for updates on the escalating hostilities between both countries. So far, his family members in Iran are safe. 'Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow?' said Papen. Papen's family established roots in Los Angeles before the 1979 Iranian Revolution led to a significant growth in the Iranian American population, he said. His mother has long dreamed of returning to Iran. 'God forbid something bigger escalates from where we stand now,' he said. 'She might not ever get that chance to see her cousins that she grew up with, and nieces, and nephews.' Southern California is home to the largest Iranian diaspora in the world, and in this West Los Angeles neighborhood, Iranian Americans have built a tight-knit community. One of the main thoroughfares, Westwood Boulevard, is lined with Persian grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants that preserve the tastes and traditions of a faraway homeland. For residents and community members, it's more than a place – it's a cultural hub and a meeting point of diverse identities and histories. The Iranian diaspora in the US is diverse. After the Iranian revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic in 1979, a wave of Iranians fled to the US. They, and the subsequent generations of Iranian Americans, have varying levels of connection to their ancestral homeland, said Kevan Harris, a historical sociologist and author of A Social Revolution: Politics and the Welfare State in Iran. Today, a third of Iranian Americans in the US today are first-generation who grew up under the Islamic Republic, Harris added. A diverse diaspora means a multiplicity of opinions about the escalating conflict – in addition to the anxiety over the threats to their homelands, some Iranian American community members expressed hope for a regime change. Others are worried about potential backlash or scapegoating of their community if the US enters the conflict. 'I think everyone's pretty much glued to their TVs and their news media to figure out what's going to happen next,' said Sean Tabibian, 53. For many of the neighborhood's residents, the uncertainty is amplified by the complexities of intersecting identities – Tabibian has family members living in Iran and in Israel. On Wednesday, while Donald Trump was still undecided on the possibility of the US joining Israel's assault, he said he was hoping for regime change in Iran. One business owner, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisal by the Iranian regime, asked an existential question: 'Who do you root for?' She is Persian and Jewish and has family members who live in Israel, so she worries about the possibility of Iran launching a nuclear attack on Israel – the place that her other family members also call home. 'You're worried about this side. You're worried about that side. We're just worried 24 hours a day,' she said. Harris, the sociologist, said that while many Iranian Americans supported the anti-government protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, the backdrop to the conflict between Israel and Iran is different, and the community is less united in its hopes for the future. 'Israel's air campaign and the possibility of US direct attack on Iran frame not only the government but the national territory [as] a target of foreign attack,' said Harris. 'Some in the diaspora rally around Iran's right to defend its territory – even though they claim to loathe the regime – while others outside dream that foreign coercion will hasten internal regime change.' Amid the heightened anxiety, Rabbi Refael Cohen, the senior rabbi at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, a synagogue in the Westwood neighborhood, said he and his members have been praying for peace and stability for Israel. At the same time, he wants to see Iranian people live freely. 'I think there is a mutual understanding that the same anxiety and the same fear that the civilian people feel in Iran, in this time, is the same feeling that the civilian people feel in Israel in this time,' said Cohen, 53. 'Both of them are suffering.' A few blocks away from the Saffron and Rose ice cream shop, marines are stationed in front of a federal building as part of Trump's order to protect immigration agents. For Papen, it's another signifier of uncertainty. Through all the difficulties, he just opened a new ice cream shop location in Del Mar, California. 'What are the odds of this?' Papen said wryly. 'The timing of our new store opening up right when what looks to be a full-blown war is starting.' But he must keep the ice cream moving, just like his grandfather once did – while keeping vigilance over the rapid developments in the Middle East. 'For me, it doesn't make a difference whether a bomb gets dropped in Tehran or gets dropped in Tel Aviv,' said Papen. 'These are people's lives that are being sacrificed.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5 Things Parents Do at Restaurants That Most Annoy Servers
A restaurant server is sharing the worst ways parents misbehave at restaurants. 'The phrase, 'The customer is always right' is dying out,' Alana Fineman, a comedian and server in Southern California who posts restaurant skits on TikTok, tells Dining out with young kids is draining, between picky eaters, spilled food, whining and restless wanderers. Fortunately, kid-friendly restaurants are equipped with coloring activities, playful decorations and the swift delivery of kids' meals to quell complaints. Sometimes, it's parents — not their children — who misbehave. 'Servers don't want to shame families or discourage them from going out to eat,' says Fineman. 'Parents are usually ... trying their best.' Here are five mistakes families most often make at restaurants, according to this server. Kids make messes and that's part of the experience, according to Fineman. 'It's one thing when a baby throws food from his high chair — it's another when kids rip open sugar packets and dump them on the floor or finger-paint with ketchup on the walls,' says Fineman. 'That usually means that a parent is not paying attention or allowing it to happen,' she adds. Big messes are typically cleaned by bussers, whom Fineman calls one of the 'hardest-working' employees in her field. 'If someone vomits, it's the busser who cleans it up,' she explains. 'Kids shouldn't run through a restaurant — it's not a McDonald's PlayPlace,' says Fineman. Most restaurants lack appropriate spaces for children to cut loose, says Fineman. A high-speed collision with a server can cause broken glass, fallen food, delayed orders and injuries. 'If you're carrying a tray of five martinis or plates of boiling-hot food and a child runs in front of you, you can drop it on the floor or onto a person,' she says. Fineman recalls a hazardous incident at her restaurant. 'Kids in a party of 10 were running around,' she says. 'They climbed over a fence and onto the street, where they threw rocks onto the dining patio.' While no one was struck, the children were lectured by an employee, who Fineman says, 'Did the parenting.' 'Kids get to a certain age when they can order their own food and the parents will say, 'Tell the lady what you want,'' says Fineman. She finds most of this banter 'funny and endearing,' but if the child won't speak up, the server now has a parenting problem. Fineman says gentle prompts from a parent is usually encouraging enough, however, 'Every so often, a parent says, 'We're not moving on until you learn to order.'' 'I can't always be a part of it when I'm really busy,' says Fineman. Picky eaters are usually not a problem for servers — unless parents have big expectations. Fineman says some parents get 'irate' with restricted menus or if chefs cannot produce a specific meal, due to limited ingredients. 'If it's a slow day, they might be able to ... but not every time,' says Fineman. 'There needs to be a contingency plan for what your child can eat.' Fineman proposes that parents plan for kids with dietary preferences by reading the digital menu before coming in. Fineman points to a 'fascinating phenomenon' wherein parents don't necessarily mention when children are included in a reservation. Maybe they hope to sidestep the automatic gratuities that some restaurants apply to larger parties, says Fineman, but most don't realize that children count as guests, even when they require high chairs, which take the same space as a chair. The miscommunication is more of a problem on busier days, when families may have to wait longer for a sizable table. 'There can be an unfortunate domino effect in the restaurant industry,' says Fineman, adding, 'Miscalculating three people can affect the next 45 minutes.' Fineman says parents can rectify this by notifying the restaurant when their party size changes, even by one child. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Dad brain': How becoming a father changes your brain
It's not only mothers who experience profound changes around the birth of a child - fathers also show measurable adjustments in brain structure and hormone balance, according to new research led by psychology professor Darby Saxbe at the University of Southern California. Results from brain scans show: The cortex, the part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, also changes in fathers, Saxbe explains in the American Psychological Association (APA) podcast Speaking of Psychology. The changes are more subtle than in mothers, but nevertheless detectable - and they appear to promote the fathers' ability to care. There are also changes in hormone levels. The testosterone levels of many fathers fall after the birth, something associated with a higher motivation to look after the baby, explains Saxbe. This means that less testosterone can mean more closeness to the child, as well as a better quality of relationship during the transition to parenthood. At the same time, it was shown that partners of fathers with lower testosterone reported fewer depressive symptoms - provided the relationship was good. Poor sleep is a constant companion of young parents. And according to Saxbe's research, lack of sleep is a consequence rather than a cause of brain changes. Those who are particularly involved in caring for the baby often sleep less well - but the brain seems to want to "remodel" itself precisely for this purpose. Her research also suggests that fatherhood is a real "development window" for the brain - comparable to adolescence or childhood. "Every window of change is a window of vulnerability, but it's also a window of opportunity," says the professor. Anyone who initially feels that they are unable to concentrate like they used to need not worry immediately. This is because children boost their parents' memory: they sharpen their cognitive skills and parents have "more ability to remember and retrieve things" that are related to the child. Another key finding: fathers who take parental leave also benefit - but mothers benefit even more. They sleep better, are less stressed and show fewer depressive symptoms, her research showed. "It was really the moms that had the biggest benefit." Parental leave is something that not only benefits fathers, but the whole family. "We know it has benefits for the children. We also know that it's beneficial for the partner. And I think that anything you can do to take the pressure off the family system is also a way of managing stress." - Darby Saxbe is Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. There she directs the Neuroendocrinology of Social Ties (NEST) Lab, where she studies how close relationships affect health, with a particular focus on the transition to parenthood. Her book "Dad Brain" is due to be published next year.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
LSU football loses key support staffer to top management firm
LSU football's support staff took a hit this week with Jordan Arcement moving on. According to On3's Pete Nakos, Arcement accepted a position with agency firm Athletes First. Arcement's exact position with the firm is unclear, but Arcement brings a wealth of knowledge about the recruiting and NIL world as the college sports landscape continues to adapt. Advertisement "Athletes First is a full-service management firm that has been representing elite players, coaches, personnel and broadcasters since its inception in 2001. Based in Southern California, with satellite offices in New York City, NY, Gainesville, FL, Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA, Athletes First is a staple in the sports representation business," AF states on its website. Arcement joined LSU as a recruiting specialist in 2022. He went on to serve as the director of recruiting communication and external relations before taking on the director of player development role. Before his work at LSU, Arcement was a staffer at Virginia. He played college football at Nicholls. Brian Kelly has worked to reshape LSU's support staff over the last year. The remodel continues as Kelly now has another hole to fill. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football loses key support staffer to top management firm
