The Death That Shook Iran

Raisi, who was 63 years old, was a deeply divisive figure both at home and abroad. He was reviled by critics for his role in the mass executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 near the end of the Iran-Iraq war. The U.S. and other western nations had sanctioned Raisi over human rights abuses.

His presidency was also marred by the ruthless crackdown on the Mahsa Amini protests that erupted in September 2022 after the young woman died in police custody. Over 500 people were killed and 22,000 arrested in the government’s violent suppression of the nationwide uprising against Iran’s mandatory hijab laws and broader anger at the repressive theocracy.

When the news broke that Raisi had perished in the helicopter crash along with six others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, spontaneous celebrations erupted in Iranian diaspora hubs like Los Angeles, Toronto, London, and Cologne.

Videos circulated on social media showing crowds of cheering expatriates dancing in the streets and waving protest banners. Some saw the president’s shocking death as a hopeful sign of the regime’s vulnerability.

“For me, I wish this guy stayed alive so he can be taken to an international court, to look in the eyes of his victims and reply to them,” said Nazenin Ansari, editor of the Kayhan London news site. “I’m sorry he won’t be able to stand in a court of law and take responsibility for his actions.”

A Glimmer of Hope

For many in the Iranian diaspora, Raisi’s death represents a potential shifting of the political winds that have kept the repressive Islamic regime in power for over 40 years since the 1979 revolution.

“Each member of this regime that goes is a victory for us,” said Guilda Torabi, spokesperson for the Iranian advocacy group Homa Association in France. “It’s one step to vanquishing the regime. We are getting closer to the objective, which gives us hope.”

Maryam Namazie, a UK-based Iranian women’s rights activist, echoed that sentiment of cautious optimism about what Raisi’s demise could mean for the protest movement seeking democratic reform in Iran.

“Any infighting opens up the space for people to be able to push back the regime, to weaken it,” Namazie said. “It opens up the space for protest. That’s what we need – from below, not any kind of regime change from above.”

The Specter of Retaliation

However, the jubilation over Raisi’s passing is tempered by fears that the regime could respond with a fierce new crackdown as it seeks to project strength and unity during a potential succession crisis.

Pouria Zeraati, a journalist with the Persian-language TV channel Iran International who was stabbed near his London home in March, is among those worried about retaliation against high-profile Iranian dissidents and activists abroad.

“The government is always looking for ways to make an example of journalists, activists and encourage self-censorship,” Zeraati said. “With this power vacuum, they may feel emboldened to strike out even more aggressively.”

Even in the Iranian expatriate enclave of Los Angeles, some feared that publicly celebrating could provoke reprisals against friends and family still in Iran. A husband and wife having lunch at a Persian cafe who gave only their first names, Reza and Nahid, said while they were glad Raisi was gone, they weren’t optimistic about meaningful change.

“Everyone knows someone worse is going to come [to replace Raisi],” Nahid said. “The regime has no humanity. They will just double down on oppressing people.”

Succession Uncertainties

Part of the broader unease stems from the uncertainties around Iran’s line of succession. As president, Raisi was widely seen as a potential successor to the ailing 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the true seat of power in Iran’s government.

With Raisi’s sudden death, the regime has called a snap presidential election for June 28th, 2024. In the interim, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken over as caretaker president. However, Mokhber is another hardline figure close to Khamenei and not seen as a moderate force for change.

“Raisi, however much of a pillar he was, is expendable. There are many others to take his place,” Namazie cautioned, highlighting the challenges facing the protest movement’s quest for reforms.

For Iranians at home and abroad hoping for democratic change, the mixed reactions illustrate the combination of optimism about Raisi’s death creating pressure points on the regime, but also ingrained skepticism that any transition will simply reinforce the status quo.

As Aliasghar Ramezanpoor, executive news director of Iran International summed up: “People are talking about the crash as a kind of sign of hope. Everyone sees how losing a president [caused] national celebration – which sends a powerful message to everyone in the government.”

That message from the jubilant Iranian streets may have been one of hope, but it remains to be seen if it will translate into real momentum for reform or simply be met with doubling down of the crackdown on dissent. I sincerely hope you find this “London to Los Angeles Iranians Abroad React with Mixed Emotions to President’s Passing-Find Out Details” article helpful.

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The Public Policy Institute of California defines hate crimes as “crimes with reasonable evidence of motivation based on a victim’s race/ethnicity, gender, or other personal characteristics.” After reaching a low point in 2014, reported hate crime numbers began rising slowly before spiking dramatically in 2019 – Newsom’s first year in office. A troubling trend has continued, with hate crimes more than doubling in California from 2019 to 2022.

Blue Cities See Hate Crime Spikes

This alarming rise in hate crimes cannot simply be dismissed as the byproduct of racist, right-wing ideologies. The data shows liberal cities at the forefront of this disturbing increase in hate-motivated offenses.

In 2022, both Sacramento and Los Angeles reported record levels of hate crimes within their cities. San Francisco, widely regarded as one of the most progressive cities in America, became a hotbed for anti-Asian hate crimes over the same period.

The inescapable reality is that hate has proliferated in deep-blue, Democratic-run cities throughout California – a state with no Republicans holding any statewide elected offices.

Newsom’s Leadership Failures

The surge in hate crimes is just one of many crises that have drastically worsened under Newsom’s leadership as governor. During his tenure, homelessness has increased, drug overdose deaths more than doubled, violent crime rates jumped well above the national average and California even lost population for the first time in its 170-year history.

Rather than focusing on solving the myriad issues gripping his state, Newsom has attempted to build a national political brand by lecturing Republican-led states like Florida and Texas about their governing philosophies and policies.

This posturing rings incredibly hollow when viewing the quantifiable decline California has experienced across nearly every quality of life metric under Newsom’s watch. The governor has presided over a state plagued by soaring rates of hate, homelessness, addiction, violence and lack of affordable housing – the opposite of a shining liberal utopia.

An Unlivable State for Most?

California’s governance under Newsom seems tailored to prioritize the elite liberal class at the expense of working and middle-class families. While the state remains a highly desirable place to live for the ultra-wealthy, it has grown increasingly unlivable for most due to its skyrocketing cost of living, lack of housing availability, rising crime rates and now – unchecked hate.

Until Newsom deals with the multitude of critical issues facing Californians from all walks of life, his constant rhetoric about the superiority of the state’s governance will continue to ring hollow. His focus must urgently shift from building a national political brand to providing basic security, affordability and quality of life for his constituents.

Rather than lecturing others, Newsom needs to display capable leadership at home first. Doubling down on failed policies while overseeing compounding crises is not a promising recipe for future electoral success. Californians – and all Americans – deserve far better from their elected leaders. I sincerely hope you find this “Hate Crimes in California Skyrocket Under Newsom – What’s Behind the Surge?” article helpful.

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The Los Angeles County Rent Relief Program aim to support small “mom-and-pop” landlords who own up to 4 rental units. By providing aid to landlords the program seek to prevent tenant evictions, maintain affordable housing, and ensure the viability of small rental businesses.

During the application period landlords can apply for up to $30,000 per rental unit to cover unpaid rent accrued after April 1, 2022. The funding comes from the county allocation of federal Emergency Rental Assistance resources.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible for the Los Angeles County Rent Relief Program, landlords must:

• Own 4 or fewer rental unit in Los Angeles County
• Have experienced loss of rental income due to COVID-19 hardship faced by their tenants
• Commit to waiving 20% of unpaid rent that has accrued
• Agree not to evict assisted tenants for nonpayment of rent during the period covered by rental assistance

The program prioritizes assisting vulnerable tenants and propertie in high-need areas identified by the County Equity Explorer Tool.

Applying for Rent Relief

Interested landlord can prepare to apply by:

• Reviewing full eligibility details at lacountyrentrelief.com
• Registering online to receive an application link
• Accessing the application at lacountyrentrelief.com when it opens on Monday

Free webinars and multilingual technical support will also be available to help applicants during the process.

Landlords who applied previously but did not receive funding are encouraged to finalize any incomplete application tasks for expedited review.

What Happens After Applying?

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding approval. The County will utilize a priority review process to distribute aid to those with the highest need.

If approved landlords can expect

• Rent relief payments made directly to the landlord
• Funds to cover 80% of tenant rental debt accrued since April 2022
• Aid for up to $30,000 per rental unit

The County will also provide ongoing support to ensure funds appropriately assist both tenants and landlords.

Driving Impact for Landlords Tenants and Communities

Los Angeles County has provided over $68 million in rent relief to date across more than 5,000 rental units.

Reopening application aims to further benefit landlords, tenants, and communities

For Landlords

• Offset rental income losses due to the pandemic
• Avoid possible foreclosure or bankruptcy

For Tenants

• Remain in their current housing
• Avoid eviction or displacement

For Communities

• Maintain affordable housing availability
• Promote housing stability and prevent homelessness

As Rafael Carbajal, Director of the County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs shared

“Launching the second round of rent relief underscores the County’s commitment to supporting the availability of stable housing options.”

The success of the program has relied on public-private partnerships, with nonprofit lender Lendistry administering funds distribution. As Lendistry’s CEO Tunua Thrash-Ntuk explained

“Our commitment remains firm to continue supporting our local landlords and safeguarding affordable housing.”

Apply for Assistance From May 20th-June 2nd

Los Angeles County landlords have one week beginning Monday, May 20th to apply for the Rent Relief Program’s latest round of assistance. Visit lacountyrentrelief.com for full details on eligibility, documentation, and the application process.

With record funding allocated for rental aid, the County aims to efficiently deploy resources to those facing the greatest need. Opening applications is an important step in connecting landlords with essential support, promoting housing stability, and building thriving communities. I sincerely hope you find this “Los Angeles County Accepting Applications For Rent Relief? How Long Will the Opportunity Be Available?” article helpful.

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What defines a hate crime and hate incident?

Hate crimes and incidents target victims on the basis of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, nationality, appearance, age, political views, or handicap. They may entail verbal or physical abuse, vandalism, bullying, or obscene correspondence.

For instance, the pandemic has led to a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Last year, there was a 3% increase in anti-Latino hate crimes, many of which included violent crimes and derogatory remarks towards immigrants.

Why is this issue important?

In LA County, 97 hate crime cases were forwarded to the prosecution in 2022. Still, a great deal more incidents probably go unreported each year. Increasing public knowledge of the issue can aid in its solution.

Residents of Los Angeles can contribute to the reversal of this unsettling trend by being more aware of what hate crimes are, where they are occurring locally, and how to report them. One modest start toward eliminating all forms of discrimination is getting together for polite conversation.

Event Specifics:

Date: 15 May 2024, Wednesday
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City Senior Center

We invite you to attend this educational session on the difficult problem of hate crimes in the Los Angeles area. Together, with empathy and understanding, we can create an inclusive future. I sincerely hope you find this “LA County Hate Crimes Report? A Comprehensive Presentation” article helpful.

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