I wanted to share with you major actions my office took this week on such important issues as marriage equality, gun violence prevention, and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Supporting Marriage Equality
Our office is the lead counsel on a brief on behalf of the National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, 225 Mayors and 39 cities (including Los Angeles) urging the United States Supreme Court to uphold the right of Gay and Lesbian couples to marry.

Being able to marry whom you love is a fundamental civil right. I’m proud our office has played a leading role in representing such a diverse coalition in unequivocal support of marriage equality.

Combating Gun Violence
Preventing gun violence has been a major focus throughout my career. My office is taking some key steps on this issue both locally and nationally. On Thursday, we announced the filing of multiple criminal charges against a San Fernando Valley man for allegedly failing to properly store a loaded semi-automatic handgun–which a nine year-old boy took to his elementary school. This is the third safe weapons storage case we have prosecuted involving children in the last five months.

20,000 children and teens are killed or injured in the U.S. by guns each year. This is a public health emergency as well as a public safety issue. In addition to prosecutions, we are joining gun violence prevention groups along with faith-based and community leaders, to educate the public regarding the safe storage of firearms.

Targeting Nuisance Properties
Improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods is a central theme of our work. We all know too well that one crime-ridden problem property can drag down an entire community. This week we filed narcotics abatement lawsuits against the owners of two drug-plagued single family homes in the Venice area. This is part of a sustained effort, which includes two similar lawsuits in Hollywood and South Los Angeles just last month.

The Venice area properties were the sites of multiple arrests, and close to schools, parks and a child care center. We are seeking injunctions to prohibit the unlawful selling, manufacturing or storing of controlled substances on the properties and orders that would preclude key individuals from being present at these sites.