Los Angeles mayoral candidate wants to abolish the police because 'resourced healthy communities' don't need police



A mayoral candidate in Los Angeles, California, said that she was in favor of abolishing the police department altogether because she believes that healthy communities simply don't need police.

Community activist Gina Viola made the comments in an interview with Elex Michaelson and Marla Tellez of KTTV-TV.

"I say that resourced healthy communities are safe communities, that the reason that there are any communities that aren't safe is because the police has been hoarding the budget," said Viola.

"If you look at the COVID dollars that were put into the city of Los Angeles, Kenneth Mejia, who is running for city controller, put a billboard the other day. The LAPD got over half of that funding that was meant for COVID relief for the city of L.A. And this has been our reality for decades now," she continued.

"So do you want to get rid of the police, abolish the police?" asked Michaelson.

"Yes eventually!" she laughed. "Again healthy communities do not need police. When communities are resourced, there is low crime!"

Viola was challenged on what communities do not need police, but she kept claiming that if communities are fully funded by taking away funding from police that there would be no crime.

"If folks have their needs met, they don't need to steal!" claimed Viola.

She went on to say that where she lives in Hollywood there are plenty of police but crimes still occur, which she takes to mean that police simply do not prevent crime.

Los Angeles is in the middle of a crime wave so bad that even the progressive mayoral candidates are promising to increase funding for the Los Angeles Police Department — except for Viola.

Viola reiterated her anti-police stance in a tweet on her campaign account.

"Cops do not stop crime and they do not solve crime. We must think of solutions beyond policing! We need to reinvest into our communities! Well funded communities don’t need cops!" she tweeted.

Viola is considered a long-shot candidate for the mayoral office. In a poll from March, 40% of Los Angeles residents said they were undecided on the mayoral candidates.

The election will be held on June 7.

Here's the video of her comments:

"Healthy communities do not need police."\n\nL.A. Mayoral candidate @GinaForLA says the city should defund the police & eventually abolish the police. \n\n"Resourced, healthy communities are safe communities."\n\nWatch her @FOXLA interview w me & @MarlaTellez: https://news.yahoo.com/special-report-gina-viola-022440462.html\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/OwDEyFrzHt
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex Michaelson) 1649303576

Video: Hero cops pull bloody pilot from crashed plane just seconds before speeding train smashes into it



Body camera video shows Los Angeles police officers pulling a bloody pilot from a small plane that crashed and came to rest on railroad tracks in Pacoima on Sunday — just seconds before an oncoming train obliterated the Cessna 172, the Associated Press reported.

Foothill Division Officers displayed heroism and quick action by saving the life of a pilot who made an emergency landing on the railroad tracks at San Fernando Rd. and Osborne St., just before an oncoming train collided with the aircraft.pic.twitter.com/DDxtGGIIMo
— LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ) 1641781121

"Foothill Division Officers displayed heroism and quick action by saving the life of a pilot who made an emergency landing on the railroad tracks at San Fernando Rd. and Osborne St., just before an oncoming train collided with the aircraft," the LAPD said in a tweet.

The harrowing incident occurred just blocks away from the LAPD's Foothill station on Osborne Street near the Whiteman Airport, KABC-TV reported. The AP said officers were on the scene "almost immediately."

The plane lost power and crashed on the tracks, according to the LAPD Valley Bureau. The crash occurred around 2:10 p.m. just after takeoff from the airport, the AP reported, citing the Federal Aviation Administration.

The pilot — who was the sole occupant — was taken to a trauma center by paramedics, was treated for cuts and bruises, and was in stable condition, KCBS-TV reported.

Here's video showing another angle of the Metrolink train smashing into the single-engine plane. At least one piece of plane debris flies dangerously close to the individual recording the video:

Train crashes into plane at Whiteman Airport Van Nuys, CA #ABC7Eyewitness #breakingnews @FOXLA @ABC7 @KTLApic.twitter.com/D1eEtvaajF
— Luis Jimenez (@Luis Jimenez) 1641771250

No one on the ground was injured, KNBC-TV reported.

A KCBS video report identified the officers who rescued the pilot as Damien Castro, Christopher Aboyte, Robert Sherock, and Sgt. Joseph Cavestany.

The station said Cavestany saw the plane going down, was one of the first officers on the scene, and tried to get Metrolink to stop rail service: “I had requested Metrolink to cease all train activity, but apparently that didn’t happen," he told KCBS.

“I’m grateful to be alive," Officer Sherock told KCBS. "I’m grateful that the pilot survived as well." He also told the station in regard to his fellow rescuing officers that "without our teamwork, without all of us pitching in and having the same mindset — which I think any officer [in] the department would have felt the same way — [the pilot] might not have made it."

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, KNBC said, citing an FAA statement.

(H/T: The Daily Wire)

'You sound like an idiot': Chris Cuomo throws down with Tony Roman, Italian restaurant owner who posted sign mandating patrons be 'UNvaccinated'



CNN host Chris Cuomo looks to be in rare form this week.

He delivered a highly animated interview Monday trying to bait freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida into a verbal fight, which failed to launch due to Donalds' calm, cool handling of the host's combative tone.

And Cuomo was back for more action Wednesday, going head to head with Tony Roman, owner of Italian restaurant Basilico's Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach, California, who posted a front-door sign requiring that patrons provide "proof of being UNvaccinated."

Basilico’s Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach is requiring diners provide "proof of being unvaccinated," despite the… https://t.co/SItfYm4ORN

— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) 1627322403.0

The smaller print on the sign reads, "We have zero tolerance for treasonous, anti-American stupidity."

What happened?

Cuomo began the segment by introducing Roman and adding that the outspoken restauranteur also engaged in other headline-grabbing ventures such requiring patrons to go maskless inside his establishment — as well as putting up a billboard that played on a famous phrase from "The Godfather":

Image source: YouTube screenshot

As you can see, Cuomo was not thrilled.

"Of course, it has to be an Italian guy, and he's using 'The Godfather,'" Cuomo says before appearing to get flustered and shaking his head before moving on.

It's important to point out that in 2019, Cuomo was infamously caught on video threatening to throw a man down a flight of stairs for daring to refer to him as "Fredo," the weak brother in "The Godfather" — which likely gets under his skin since his older brother is New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

'Now I know you're Italian'

At that point the interview began, and Roman was shown on the right side of the screen inside his restaurant's lively kitchen. After Cuomo uttered the name of the restaurant, Roman replied, "Man, you said the name perfectly ... good job. Now I know you're Italian."

"That's 'cuz I speak the language," Cuomo replied. "Lemme guess, you don't."

And it was on.

"Tony, is this a little bit of a joke? Can you give me some hope that you really don't want people to not get vaccinated so they can come to your restaurant?" Cuomo asked, adding a New York-ish accent on the end of his query.

"That's a good question. You're a smart guy," Roman replied.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

He added, "It's an IQ test. And like I say to people when they ask me, if they're so blinded with their rage and their hate, I tell them, 'You know what, if you still don't understand it, maybe we should put up a sign ... that says you're too stupid to come into the restaurant.' I mean, it's very simple. ... I think you figured it out, am I right?"

For the record, a restaurant employee told the Los Angeles Times earlier this week that there's no way they can check if a patron hasn't been vaccinated, which tells you a lot about the intent of the sign.

The pair then begin questioning each other about their vaccination status, after which Roman tells Cuomo that he's "failing the IQ test .... which I expected. What you're not getting is that this is not an anti-vaccine stand; it's a pro-freedom stand. That's what you're not getting."

After Cuomo asserts the importance of "the science" in regard to COVID-19, Roman shoots back, "So what's next then? Are we all gonna lock ourselves in our homes whenever there's a flu outbreak? Or there's an outbreak of the common cold? ... Wear a moonsuit? I mean, where does it end?"

Cuomo then claimed "the only reason" the spread of COVID-19 variants "is happening is because people don't protect themselves, Tony. I mean, what are you thinkin'?"

'My ass it's been documented'

Roman replied by bringing up Cuomo's much-publicized bout with COVID-19: "Then why did you leave your house when you had COVID? ... It's been documented."

Then as the very old-school instrumental "Theme from a Summer Place" was audible from inside Basilico's Pasta e Vino, Cuomo got even more testy: "First of all ... my ass it's been documented."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The host then briefly ran through his version of events before saying, "I'm trying to help you, Tony."

"You're tryin' to help me? I'm tryin' to help you," Roman responded before adding, "Oh, you care about me all of a sudden, huh?"

Cuomo then told him, "I don't like people making bad decisions for themselves and their family. I was hopin' it was a little bit of a stunt. You have the freedom not to take the vaccine. I just don't know why you don't think it's a good move."

To which Roman responded, "Maybe — maybe we should ask your brother about protecting people, right?" As readers of TheBlaze know, Andrew Cuomo has been deeply criticized for his handling of the pandemic in New York state. And on Wednesday he announced that state employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested weekly — and also urged businesses to admit only vaccinated patrons.

"Hey, look, that's his job," Chris Cuomo replied to Roman, "and if he doesn't do it well, people won't vote for him."

'I don't shy away from much'

As the pair continued to spar, Cuomo threw down: "Look, Tony, I don't know if you know me too well; I don't shy away from much. I'm asking you about you."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

With that Roman shot back, "You talk a lot" and explained to Cuomo that he won't see signs for former President Donald Trump or political slogans at his restaurant and that his stances are not about science but about freedom.

"You're pro-freedom but people can't wear masks," Cuomo replied. "Tony, it doesn't make sense. It really doesn't. I gave you a chance to make the case. I wish you well. I hope your family stays safe."

"I made my case," Roman shot back. "You didn't have much to say. You didn't have much to say."

'You sound like an idiot'

Then Cuomo upped the ante: "I mean, honestly, you sound like an idiot, so there's not much to say. Tony, good luck with it. See ya."

"And so do you," Roman answered, after which Cuomo chirped, "Yeah, only for having you on the show, that was my only mistake."

After the interview, Cuomo spoke directly to his viewers: "Look, it's just stupid. 'I'm pro-freedom' .. what the hell is he talkin' about? ... He doesn't want to know the science. This is my problem with the enablers of guys like this. I hate that he's Italian-American, by the way, 'cause it plays into a stereotype. ... The suggestion that somehow there is a strength in the resistance to the science, to the mandate, to 'being told': 'You don't tell me ... I'll do' ... it just doesn't make any sense. It is such a false sense of strength ... a stupid ethnic stereotype masculine moronic thing to be. You wanna talk about my brother, fine. Fine. I back away from nothing. ... but guys like this? I was hoping it was a stunt. It's not. The joke's on me, but I'll tell you what: Don't be like him."

It's fair to point out that Cuomo, while criticizing "ethnic" machismo, was guilty of it more than once in his own segment. ("I don't know if you know me too well; I don't shy away from much" and "I back away from nothing.")

And let's not forget what Cuomo said in public after he was called "Fredo" just two years ago.

"Any of you Italian? It's a f***ing insult to your people. It's an insult to your f***ing people!" he told his adversary before declaring, "It's like the N-word for us."

Cuomo also told the heckler, "If you want to play then we'll f***ing play."

Here's the clip. (Content warning: Language — as well as that pesky "false sense of strength" and "stupid ethnic stereotype masculine moronic thing"):

CNN host Chris Cuomo has little to no chill when someone calls him “Fredo”. https://t.co/w8pYFfq1Q9

— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) 1565662385.0

Italian restaurant posts sign requiring patrons provide 'proof of being UNvaccinated': 'We have zero tolerance for treasonous, anti-American stupidity'



Basilico's Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach, California, is throwing down in the face of renewed concerns over COVID-19 and its fast-spreading Delta variant.

The establishment just posted a sign on its front door requiring that patrons provide "proof of being UNvaccinated."

Basilico’s Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach is requiring diners provide "proof of being unvaccinated," despite the… https://t.co/SItfYm4ORN

— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) 1627322403.0

"We have zero tolerance for treasonous, anti-American stupidity," the sign reads. "Thank you for pondering."

And the establishment wasn't through.

After the Los Angeles Times ran a story Monday about the sign on the restaurant door, Basilico's ripped its detractors on Facebook.

"Los Angeles Times prints an article about us, and again here come the haters, and with it, the harassing nonstop phone calls, threats, and hundreds of one-star reviews," the post read. "And guess what? We at Basilico's Pasta e Vino wear it all as a badge of honor! Attention: tiny tyrants, wannabe little dictators, pro-lockdown/pro-mask/pro-mandatory vaccine mini-Gestapo American traitors and snitches, and yes especially 'Gavin Pelosi' and 'Stronzo Fauci' ... We feel blessed to go into battle against all of you in defense of American liberty and freedom, so bring it on!"

Turns out an employee confirmed that the restaurant isn't actually checking patrons' vaccine status, the paper said — but the rebellious spirit of Basilico's, and that of its outspoken owner Tony Roman, is coming through loud and clear.

What's the background?

The cheeky display on the restaurant's door wasn't its first shot across the bow.

Back in March 2020 when restaurants across the state stopped indoor dining, the Times said Basilico's continued to welcome patrons. Then when officials ordered face mask enforcement among eateries, the paper said Basilico's declared itself a mask-free zone and required diners to remove them before entering.

More from the Times:

In June, Basilico's began advertising $25 T-shirts with the phrase "Leave the vax, take the cannoli," a play on a line from "The Godfather" film, next to an illustration of a hand controlling a Marionette.

A similar sentiment from the restaurant — "Leave the mask, take the cannoli" — appeared on a billboard along La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles last year.

"Imagine if Americans would have refused mask mandates, or better even banned the masks like we have throughout the lockdowns," Basilico's posted on Instagram, the paper reported. "The tiny tyrants then would have never dared to think they could try and force vaccine mandates."

More from the Times:

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control launched an investigation into the restaurant in July 2020 after receiving a complaint about the business, said John Carr, a spokesman for the department.

The agency declined to elaborate about the nature of the complaint, but it moved forward with an administrative procedure against Basilico's, which could result in a penalty ranging from fines to the revocation of the restaurant's liquor license. Officials declined to comment further, citing pending litigation.

The paper added that state has fined Basilico's to the tune of more than $152,000 for COVID-related violations — but Roman hasn't appealed the citations, instead saying in a video posted to the restaurant's Instagram that he won't pay the fines.

Here's a KTTV-TV report than ran last year when Roman & Co. were deep in battle:

VIDEO: Explosion rocks LA neighborhood; 16 people injured when bomb squad detonates improvised explosives after seizing 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks



At least 16 people were injured, including police officers, when the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad detonated explosives after seizing a massive stockpile of illegal fireworks on Wednesday. The large explosion flipped vehicles and damaged homes in the South Los Angeles neighborhood.

The LAPD seized 5,000 pounds of illegal commercial-grade fireworks from a home in South L.A. following a tip provided to law enforcement. The resident had a "cache of homemade fireworks" and "improvised explosives" at the house, according to the Sacramento Bee. Fireworks are illegal to sell or possess in Los Angeles.

The fireworks were in boxes marked with the words, "Made in China." Authorities said the explosives posed an "imminent and real danger" to the community.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said they planned to move the fireworks to a safe location with three box trucks and a 53-foot trailer, but the "improvised explosives" were too dangerous and "unstable" to transport.

Moore said there were 40 homemade explosive devices, which were the size of Coca-Cola cans, and 200 smaller explosives.

LAPD provided these photos of the homemade fireworks that were seized last night in South LA. They exploded during… https://t.co/kpFVhHMv8w

— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) 1625145040.0

Less than 10 pounds of explosives were placed inside a total containment vessel, an iron compartment on a tractor-trailer designed to safely withstand explosions. The amount of explosives was reportedly far less than the vessel's safety rating.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. local time, the LAPD bomb squad detonated the explosives, which caused a blast so intense that it tore apart the total containment vehicle. The large explosion wrecked cars in the immediate area and caused damage to homes in the residential neighborhood.

Here is the moment the unexpected explosion happened in South LA. At least 9p eople were hurt after a bomb squad tr… https://t.co/D4n9sYF8e5

— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) 1625109816.0

#BREAKINGNEWS: New video shows the moment a large cache of illegal #fireworks detonates inside an #LAPD bomb squad… https://t.co/w7UZyDi5w2

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) 1625112128.0

EXPLOSION! LAPD was disposing of illegal fireworks in South LA when the explosion occurred. At least 5 are injured.… https://t.co/jGSb8u01il

— Ryder Christ (@RyderChristNews) 1625109875.0

Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said nine police officers and a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officer were taken to hospital with minor injuries. There were also six civilians, ranging in ages from 51 to 85, rushed to a local medical center. One person was injured at the scene of the blast, but declined to be taken to a hospital. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, according to authorities.

Prior to the explosion, police reportedly evacuated homes on both sides of the street where the explosives were detonated.

"This vessel should have been able to dispose of that material," Moore said at a press conference. "You saw the resulting damage, and the total catastrophic failure of that containment vehicle."

"Clearly, protocols were followed and pursued. But something happened in that containment vessel that should not have happened and we don't know why," Chief Moore said on Wednesday night. "But we intend to find out why."

Moore said an investigation has been initiated, but could take several days.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) issued a statement on the explosion, "I've directed the LAPD to conduct a full investigation into this incident, so we can better understand why this happened. Illegal fireworks pose a great danger and can cost lives. We will prosecute those who use or possess them to the fullest extent of the law."

CNBC reported that resident Arturo Cejas, 27, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a destructive device. Moore noted that Cejas may also face charges of child endangerment because his 10-year-old brother was in the home.

Large explosion occurs as LAPD attempts to seize illegal fireworkswww.youtube.com

Los Angeles grandma stabbed to death along with her dog in broad daylight



A Los Angeles grandmother was stabbed to death along with her dog while out on a walk in broad daylight Thursday afternoon, and the alleged perpetrator was reportedly stopped from hurting others when another would-be victim chucked a rock at the suspect's face and knocked him out.

What are the details?

Jeanne Edgar, 66, was walking her dog near San Dimas Park at around 1:30 p.m., when a man who appeared to be in his 20s stabbed her and her pet to death.

"The suspect grabbed the female victim's dog by the leash and yanked it free of her grasp," authorities said, according to Fox News. "The suspect then stabbed the dog and then the female victim."

Reporter Bill Melugin of KTTV-TV tweeted, "This was one of the most horrific crime scenes we have ever seen at @FOXLA. Some lunatic w/ a knife savagely stabs to death a 66 year old woman & her dog in a random broad daylight attack in San Dimas. A bystander with a rock knocked him out before he could attack anyone else."

This was one of the most horrific crime scenes we have ever seen at @FOXLA. Some lunatic w/ a knife savagely stabs… https://t.co/COpjeiv2Ak
— Bill Melugin (@Bill Melugin)1616783675.0

KCAL-TV reported that deputies learned that the suspect, Ricardo Saldivar, allegedly tried to attack a man in his 30s just prior to murdering Ms. Edgar — but the would-be victim returned to confront Saldivar and knocked the accused man out.

"From what I gathered from my son-in-law, Joe, [Saldivar] actually came after him, first with the knife," Tony Page told the outlet Thursday. "My son-in-law was able to get to his vehicle safely."

"At that point, the guy started attacking the lady that was walking her dog, started killing the dog with the knife then turned the knife on her and started killing her," Page continued. "[Joe], at that point, got out of his vehicle, found a rock, threw the rock, hit the suspect in the face, knocked him out and right shortly after that the authorities arrived."

Deputies recovered a knife at the scene and took Saldivar into custody. He was treated at a local hospital before being booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. He remains jailed on $2 million bail.