Sahra Sulaiman

Sahra is Communities Editor for Streetsblog L.A., covering the intersection of mobility with race, class, history, representation, policing, housing, health, culture, community, and access to the public space in Boyle Heights and South Central Los Angeles.

Recent Posts

Few things unite Angelenos like attacks on beloved transit booster Kenny Uong. The use of his image by the L.A. Police Protective League suggesting he was being menaced by a Black man set off a social media firestorm over the weekend. WeHo Councilmember Chelsea Byers' tweet was one of many expressing anger and concern about the police union's scarepost.

Police Protective League Deletes, Reposts, Apologizes for, then Deletes Apology for Racist Scaremongering Tweet about Crime on Metro

By Joe Linton and Sahra Sulaiman | Feb 28, 2023 | No Comments

The tweet also falsely claimed Metro had defunded LAPD. But no apology was made for that.

In a screengrab from the body cam footage released by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, rapper Feezy Lebron is taunted by deputy Justin Sabatine as he is put in the back of a patrol vehicle. Sabatine had threatened to blow a hole in Feezy's chest just two minutes earlier. Upper right corner: Feezy at the press conference announcing the $10M tort filing.

Deputy’s Traffic Stop Power Trip on Rapper Sheds Light on Department Culture, Leaves Trauma, Upheaval in its Wake

By Sahra Sulaiman | Feb 3, 2023 | No Comments

Feezy Lebron filed a $10M Civil Rights Tort Claim on Jan. 18, but he and his family fear retribution

Rapper Feezy Lebron uploaded audio of L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Sabatine (pictured) threatening to shoot him in the chest to TikTok, where it has over 135,000 views. Feezy had been doing a livestream from inside his parked car when deputies opened his door and pointed their weapons at him. The images of Sabatine were taken at the station, where he mocked Feezy's effort to file a complaint. Inset: Feezy talking to Power 106's DJ Carisma about his first solo project back in 2021.

“You’re Getting One Right to the Chest” – Sheriff’s Deputy Threatens to Shoot L.A. Rapper Feezy Lebron for Sitting in His Parked Car

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jan 3, 2023 | No Comments

LASD eventually ticketed him for a missing front plate.

Scenes from Kevin de León's new video celebrating the Active Transportation grant awarded to his district.

The de León Circus Continues with New Skid Row Video

By Sahra Sulaiman | Dec 22, 2022 | No Comments

Why is he like this?

Disgraced L.A. City Councilmember Kevin de León speaks to CNN's Kate Bolduan. Footage of his assault on protester Jason Reedy is seen in the background.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like KDL?

By Sahra Sulaiman | Dec 20, 2022 | No Comments

KDL's latest defense for not resigning is that “millions of Americans go to work every single day with folks that they don't like.”

On October 12, protesters shouting "No resignation, no meeting!" ended up putting a halt to council proceedings that morning. Council president Nury Martinez resigned that afternoon, but councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo continue to resist calls for their resignations. Screengrab from council broadcast.

The Seething Anti-Blackness of Kevin de León and Other Takeaways from the Fed Recording

By Sahra Sulaiman | Nov 4, 2022 | No Comments

It had been just three days since KNOCK-LA and the L.A. Times published the racist recordings that emotionally ransacked the populace, and things were not going well at City Hall.

In the critical incident briefing video of the July 18 shooting of Jermaine Petit, LAPD juxtaposes the view from inside Sgt. Brett Hayhoe's vehicle with footage from the officers pursuing Petit on foot. Hayhoe opens fire from inside his vehicle, sparking contagious fire from Glover.

LAPD Sergeant Fired at Jermaine Petit from Inside Patrol Vehicle, Sparked Contagious Fire from Officer Who Knew Petit Was Unarmed

By Sahra Sulaiman | Sep 3, 2022 | No Comments

If the shooting had been committed by anyone else, it would have been labeled a drive-by.

The full Rail-to-River project runs approximately 10 miles across South and Southeast L.A. Segment A, currently under construction, runs along the Slauson corridor before heading southwest at Western and paralleling Hyde Park Boulevard. Segment B will run along the length of Randolph to the river. Source: Metro

Metro Re-Approves Randolph as Rail-to-River Route After Dedicated Bike/Walk Path Plan Had to Be Scuttled

By Sahra Sulaiman | Aug 26, 2022 | No Comments

The planned bike/walk infrastructure has been significantly downgraded

Police body cam footage captures Joshua Hatfield yelling that police are shooting at him. The distraught 28-year-old ran into a residence after Officer Justin Freund fired two shots at him. Hatfield never threatened officers and appears to have been unarmed - police were unable to find any weapons on the premises. But LAPD booked him on Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer with a Firearm anyways.

“Y’all shot at me!”: LAPD Shoots at, Misses, then Tries to Charge Unarmed Black Man with Assault with a Deadly Weapon

By Sahra Sulaiman | Aug 6, 2022 | No Comments

LAPD chose not to transcribe the officer's attempt to slow her partner down and keep him from shooting at Joshua Hatfield

In 2019, Jermaine Petit and his mother, Charlotte Blackwell, sat down with ABC7's Carlos Granda to talk about his mental health issues and the many run-ins he'd had with law enforcement before he was able to get help and access to supportive housing. Petit was shot by LAPD at Bronson and King on July 18.

LAPD Describes Car Part as Resembling “Nonfunctioning Firearm” During Contentious Town Hall on Leimert Park Shooting

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jul 29, 2022 | No Comments

Jermaine Petit was unarmed when shot by LAPD, but LAPD remains reluctant to admit that

Renderings of the future of the Slauson corridor show shade trees, improved lighting, and safer crossings. Source: Metro

Rail-to-Rail Bike/Walk Path Breaks Ground on Slauson; Officials Speak to Its Significance for Corridor

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jul 12, 2022 | No Comments

Construction was to have begun in 2018, but the community had been waiting for something to happen there for much longer than that.

LAPD spokesperson Jáder Chávez joined anchor Gabriela Teissier to talk bike/scooter laws on June 24. It was a disaster.

LAPD Peddles Misinformation about Sidewalk Biking to Spanish Speakers

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jun 28, 2022 | No Comments

Chávez reassured Univisión that LAPD wasn't trying to extract money via sidewalk biking tickets. But sidewalk riding is legal.

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