The powerful L.A. nonprofit whose CEO has his wife and kids on payroll

Good morning, it’s Thursday, Aug. 20 and you can expect the same old hot summer temps today.

AltaMed prides itself on a noble mission: providing healthcare to more than 700,000 people in L.A. and Orange counties — regardless of their ability to pay.

What was once a storefront clinic in East L.A. is now a massive nonprofit with more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue, much of it from tax-payer funded health programs.

But a new complaint – exclusively obtained by L.A. Material – raises questions about how the politically powerful nonprofit spends money: its longtime CEO has at least six members of his family, including his wife and five of their children, on AltaMed’s payroll. There is also an art collection. 

Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman parried and jabbed for 90 minutes last night during a strikingly rancorous debate hosted by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. The forum was heavy on personal insults, but also included some substantive policy discussion on homelessness, city spending and policing.

At one point, Fox 11’s Phil Shuman interrupted the sniping to make a point that probably resonated with a lot of Angelenos, saying: “The issue is that the audience doesn't know who to believe, and they don't have a lot of confidence that either of you have the definitive plan.”

More than 60 L.A. Material members joined us after the forum for live post-debate analysis, with editor Jessica Garrison and reporter Matt Hamilton going through some of the big takeaways and providing some on-the-fly fact checking.

It’s week two of our brand-new podcast. Which makes it a great time to subscribe and listen. (Here it is on Apple and Spotify.) This week, we talk about the federal investigation of Mark Walter, who agreed last week to sell the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Might he have to sell the Dodgers next? Then, an update on the LAX “people mover,” and why it’s been stuck at “almost done” for so long. And finally, we explore the chaos and heartbreak of the failed LA Jazz Festival.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: We broke the news that Nithya Raman’s mayoral campaign is working with Morris Katz’s Fight Agency, the political consulting firm that was criticized for its role in the campaign of disgraced Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.

CHARGES REDUCED: An LAPD officer who’s being prosecuted for recording his fellow cops’ racist and sexist remarks will likely avoid jail time after District Attorney Nathan Hochman reduced his charges to misdemeanors. The L.A. Times reported that Hochman softened after facing widespread criticism for the charges.

SLOW DOWN: The City of Malibu said it plans to activate speed cameras along PCH late next month, starting with a warning period before issuing real citations. 

SANDWICH HEAVEN: Chef Arthur Grigoryan’s Yerord Mas Bakery and Deli earned a rave review in the New York Times. The Glendale strip mall joint, the Times wrote, serves “the kind of food that makes Los Angeles special.” (Just know that if you have to use the bathroom, it's a quick trek to the Trader Joe's down the street.)

For today’s peek inside our subscriber-only Discord server, @muhlysssa was impressed with Fanny’s at the Academy Museum.

AND FINALLY… A poem to pair with your morning coffee: “Rain” by Raymond Carver.

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