PPOA Week in Review: Aug. 14, 2021

BOS Vaccination Mandates

August 10: At the LA County Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) meeting on Tuesday, two items related to COVID-19 vaccination mandates were on the agenda. The first was the Executive Order mandating COVID-19 vaccines for all County employees, authored by the Board Chair, Supervisor Hilda Solis. The second was a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, also mandating COVID-19 vaccines, but with a testing option for those not desiring to be vaccinated.

During this meeting, PPOA President Tab Rhodes addressed the BOS during public comment and communicated membership’s concerns and objection to the Executive Order and support for additional consideration of the motion authored by Supervisor Hahn. Click here to read President Rhodes' comments.

Following public comments and lengthy conversations amongst the Supervisors, in a surprising move, the BOS both ratified the Executive Order and passed the motion by Supervisor Hahn, seemingly giving two different directions to employees.

For more details on this meeting, including the particularly contentious remarks from one Supervisor, click here to read the email sent to active PPOA members on Thursday. Additional coverage of the meeting, including input from President Rhodes, is available from Spectrum News 1 by clicking here.

Meet and Confer with FSB/LASD

August 10: PPOA took part in a Meet and Confer with Facilities Services Bureau (FSB) representatives and Department executives to discuss reassignments and schedule changes. Meeting participants from PPOA included President Rhodes, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and Labor Representative Teresa O'Neil.

A follow-up meeting will be scheduled after FSB provides additional information to PPOA.

Supporting Health and Fitness for Members

August 10: PPOA staff members delivered a treadmill and sanitizers to the LASD gym at Antelope Valley College on Tuesday. In a continuing effort to support members, PPOA's Star & Shield Foundation teams up with New Life Cardio Equipment (NLCE) each year to secure a limited number of treadmills and ellipticals for employee gyms at units throughout the County. The machines are purchased by the Foundation at discounted pricing and delivered by PPOA to units in need of new exercise equipment. PPOA has also arranged for NLCE to extend special pricing to any PPOA member interested in purchasing cardio equipment for personal use at home. Call New Life Cardio for more info: (323) 345-7216.

PPOA Board of Directors Meeting

August 11: The monthly PPOA Board of Directors meeting took place on Wednesday. Directors present included: President Rhodes, Secretary Tony Coleman, Treasurer Robert Maus, and Directors Joel Barnett, Nancy Escobedo, Henry Jimenez, Joyce Kato, Chris Lee, Jose Rios, Tony Romo and Jim Schallert. Collectively, the PPOA board brings more approximately 300 years of county experience to the table.

Coalition of County Unions Meeting

August 11: PPOA joined fellow Coalition of County Unions (CCU) representatives for a discussion with CCU legal counsel regarding the COVID-19 vaccination mandate impacting LA County employees. The Coalition team is also awaiting the official policy from the County that covers the recent vaccination mandate. Once that policy is made available, a follow-up Meet and Confer will be scheduled. Executive Director Quint represented PPOA at this meeting.

The CCU collectively represents more than 30,000 union members employed by the County of Los Angeles and is their unified voice on County-wide matters such as health insurance, vacation pay, retirement, and more.

Click here for more information about the CCU.

Fringe Benefits Contract Negotiations

August 11: PPOA joined negotiations team members from the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) for a Fringe Benefits bargaining session with County executives on Wednesday. CCU negotiators reviewed the County's proposal and requested additional information. A follow-up negotiations meeting will be scheduled after the County provides additional information to the CCU.

Sheriff Discusses Current Events

August 11: Sheriff Villanueva hosted a Facebook live stream on Wednesday to discuss current events, including homelessness, Governor Newsom, LASD Academy Class 458 and more.

Click here to watch the video.

COVID-19 Legal Meeting

August 12: PPOA hosted its weekly legal meeting on Thursday in order for President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, Sr. Labor Rep. Venise Wallace, Labor Rep. O'Neil, Intake Representative Kevin Thompson and PPOA attorneys to address and analyze COVID-19 issues impacting PPOA members. The meeting was particularly focused on the recent vaccination mandate for LA County employees as well as the Delta variant surge.

California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations

August 12: PPOA representatives joined fellow members of the Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations (CCLEA) for a teleconference to discuss issues impacting public safety personnel locally and statewide, including legislation, proposed regulatory action and statewide census data.

CCLEA is the state's largest law enforcement organization, representing more than 40 police associations and 150,000 peace officers. For more information, visit CCLEA.ORG

Fraternal Order of Police

PPOA is a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, with more than 356,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges nationwide. All active PPOA members are part of California FOP Lodge 1, which represents public safety organizations throughout LA County and operates under the capable leadership of former PPOA President Roger Mayberry. Click here to read the latest biweekly news update from the California Fraternal Order of Police (CAFOP).

We also want to point your attention to the Washington Watch — a weekly update provided by the National FOP. We encourage PPOA members to check out the latest issue to stay up to date on the legislative news and activity impacting public safety personnel nationwide.

Click here to read this week's Washington Watch.

LACERA General Member Election

LASD Captain Shawn Kehoe, a longtime PPOA member who serves as a Trustee for the LACERA Board of Investments and Board of Retirement, encourages all general members to vote for the following incumbents:

3rd Member, Board of Investments

Vote for HERMAN B. SANTOS

3rd Member, Board of Retirement

Vote for VIVIAN H. GRAY

"Both of these incumbents are uniquely qualified to protect the interests of PPOA members," said Captain Kehoe. "Please join me in supporting Herman Santos and Vivian Gray as they seek to continue safeguarding our pensions and healthcare benefits."

Eligible LACERA general members are able to cast votes either online or by telephone, through the closing of the election on August 31, 2021. The online voting and telephone system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.