

Members of the California National Guard detain a protester during a protest against migration policy, in Los Angeles, California, the United States. (Photo by Alexei Alekseyev / Sputnik via AP)
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Trump Deploys Troops in L.A. to Suppress Protests
After days of protest over aggressive federal immigration raids in Los Angeles., the Trump administration deployed 700 marines and 4,000 National Guard members to “liberate” Los Angeles. The deployment was ordered without the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom or L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and at an estimated cost of $134 million.
Following Gov. Newsom’s request for a temporary restraining order, a federal judge directed Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California. But hours later, an appeals court temporarily blocked this order, putting the state’s National Guard back in Trump’s control.
Seemingly driven by a hunger to increase daily deportation numbers rather than address public safety concerns, immigration agents have been arresting undocumented workers en masse and flying surveillance drones above protests.
The protests have been largely peaceful and mostly confined to a small area around downtown federal buildings, but residents say deploying the military is only provoking protesters’ anger. Trump has also threatened to deploy troops to other cities “with greater force” if riots break out. The military activation only ignited further protests, with “No Kings” rallies planned in hundreds of cities for Trump’s birthday on Saturday.
Meanwhile, immigration enforcement is also wreaking havoc in small towns across the country. The Washington Post reports that individuals are showing up in smaller communities wearing masks and tactical gear to detain immigrants, but are often refusing to show IDs or warrants — leading residents to fear that these might be illegal abductions.
Trump Backs a Baby Bonds Proposal
A proposal included in the Trump administration’s “one, big, beautiful” budget bill would provide a one-time deposit of $1,000 to every child born over the next four years through tax-deferred investment accounts dubbed Trump Accounts.
Rather than targeting low-income families, every U.S. citizen born from 2025 to 2028 whose parents have a Social Security number would be eligible for these funds. The federal funds would be worth about $3,500 by the time eligible children withdraw them at 18 years old, assuming a 7% return; families could also contribute up to $5,000 yearly.
But economist Darrick Hamilton, who proposed the concept of baby bonds about 25 years ago as a way to close wealth inequities, told the Associated Press that this proposal would actually “enhance inequality” and that the funds would be insufficient to make a significant difference for an impoverished child. For more economists’ analyses on the GOP proposal, read the Urban Institute’s recent blog post and PBS’s recent expert interview.
California Sues Trump To Protect Its Clean Vehicle Standards
Trump this week signed three measures repealing Environmental Protection Agency waivers that enabled California to set stricter state-level air pollution standards for vehicles, CalMatters reports. California and 10 other states immediately sued Trump and the EPA, challenging the repeal.
Under these Biden-era waivers, California required that 80% or more of new vehicles sold in the state be electric by 2035, with the rest being plug-in hybrids. “If California is prevented from enforcing these vehicle emission standards, it will result in the loss of significant economic and public health benefits, costing California taxpayers an estimated $45 billion in preventable health care costs,” state officials say.
San Francisco Turns to AI To Reduce Policy Bloat
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office has turned to an AI-powered tool to streamline its processes, the San Francisco Examiner reports. Called “Statutory Analysis Research Assistant,” or STARA, the tool was developed by Stanford researchers to sort through massive amounts of legal documents. At the same time, City Attorney David Chiu has introduced legislation that would reduce the amount of reports that city departments are required to produce. To help with this, the office’s staff used STARA to scan through the city’s law books for all reporting requirements — it identify more than 520 ot them.
The moves are in line with decisions related to AI that cities across the country — and the world — have been making in recent years to increase efficiency and improve decisionmaking.
Music Festivals Embrace Harm Reduction
Summer music festivals have long been hotspots for recreational drug use, but the Associated Press reports that harm reduction efforts are also taking the stage. While some organizers are warming up to these efforts, legal hurdles and stigma persist.
At major events like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, grassroots groups like the peer-led collective TACO and Ohio-based nonprofit This Must Be The Place are training festival-goers to reverse overdoses and handing out free naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Last year, This Must Be the Place gave away 46,146 units of the opioid overdose reversal medication at festivals.
MORE NEWS
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For some Black Angelenos, ICE raids reopen the wound of displacement. Capital B
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Dakota-led nonprofit prepares for land restoration, cultural education on Minneapolis riverfront. Sahan Journal
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Why Dyke Day LA has stayed free for 17 years as Pride commercializes. LA Public Press
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How Trump is bypassing Los Angeles’s sanctuary city hurdles. L.A. Times
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This food bank saved big with solar. GOP cuts could crush similar efforts. Canary Media
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An Indigenous collective asked about buying land bank property. Then the price jumped. Bridge Detroit
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Fossil fuel billionaires are bankrolling the anti-trans movement. Atmos
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Atlanta has turned around long wait times for 911 callers. Governing
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Department of Justice gives Trump go-ahead to eliminate national monuments. Inside Climate News
OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
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The St. Louis Fed has majorly updated its Community Investment Explorer tool, which Next City covered at its 2017 launch.
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DEADLINE TODAY: The Black Migrant Power Fund is accepting proposals for its new Intersectional Power Fund, which is focused on supporting and building power with Black trans and gender non-conforming migrants in the United States. Submit your proposal by June 13.
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The Cartier Women’s Initiative, an entrepreneurship program for mission-driven founders around the world, is accepting applications from women-led businesses that aim to create social or environmental impact. Apply by June 24.
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The Walter and Elise Haas Fund is providing general operating support to 25 initiatives rooted in Oakland or San Francisco that promote social cohesion. Submit a letter of interest by June 27.
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The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is funding projects related to stable housing and empowering communities. Submit your proposal by June 30.
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The Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation’s local grant program is accepting applications from nonprofits supporting mental health initiatives in their own community. Apply by July 1.
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Forecast is hiring a research fellow to explore how public art contributes to civic engagement and democratic participation. Apply by July 13.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Evidence for Action has a call for proposals for new research that advances racial and Indigenous health equity. Apply by July 16. (Disclosure: RWJF currently funds Next City.)
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Norfolk Southern’s Thriving Communities Grant and the Safety First Grant are accepting applications for initiatives that drive community resilience and local economic development; public safety and first responder readiness; and sustainability and workforce development. Apply by Sept. 1.
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Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.
EVENTS
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June 25 at 4 p.m. Eastern: Propublica is hosting a virtual conversation about the growing architecture of U.S. Immigration Enforcement.
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June 30 at 1 p.m. Eastern: The Build Healthy Places Network is holding a webinar on how public health and community development practitioners can leverage solidarity to reshape narratives that drive change.
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July 8-17: Next City is hosting its 2nd annual EcoMetropolis film festival, a powerful four-part film series exploring the intersections of environment, race, memory and place through a mix of short and feature-length films.
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Check out events from Next City and our partners here!
This article is part of The Weekly Wrap, a newsletter rounding up stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions bringing us closer to economic, environmental and social justice. Click here to subscribe to The Weekly Wrap newsletter.
This post was originally published on Next City.