Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.
—Kevin de León broke his silence yesterday via an interview with Univision's León Krauze. In the video, he pleads for forgiveness and states his reasons why he will not be resigning. Among the questions that Krauze asks León is, "how exactly did you feel when you heard that audio?" Along with, "What would your [deceased] mother say about this leaked audio, and what advice would she give you?" Activist account @UnrigLA on Twitter is already sharing information about what would be needed for a recall election, citing that 21,000 valid signatures would be needed to bring a recall to action. [Univision]
—Downtown: The L.A. Galaxy will be facing off against L.A.F.C. tonight at Banc of California Stadium in the MLS West Conference finals. It will be a win-or-go-home situation, with the winner not only advancing to the finals against the East Coast winning team but earning bragging rights to represent Los Angeles.
—Palmdale: On Wednesday night at about 9:10 pm, an adult male selling balloons at the corner of 25th Street East and Avenue S in Palmdale was hit by a white vehicle that apparently lost control as it traveled eastbound on Avenue S. The victim was transported in critical condition to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. It is unknown if drugs and or alcohol are a factor in this crash. [AV News Crew]
—West L.A.: More than 30 drivers got flat tires along 405 near Mulholland Drive during the morning commute. Officials believe a box of nails or some wooden blocks might've fallen off of a truck, creating the hazard. [ABC]
—L.A.'s Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American to be on U.S. currency. Dubbed Hollywood's first Asian American movie star, Wong championed the need for more representation and less stereotypical roles for Asian Americans. [LAist]