Issue 1 — June 5, 2026

Hi neighbors,

Welcome to the first issue of Eagle Rock Pop, covering the news, politics, history, culture, and events of Eagle Rock.

I’m a native Eagle Rocker and I love our quirky pocket of the city.  I’m a former Los Angeles Times journalist and, like many of you, I’ve done the mid-career pivot thing. Maybe more than one pivot. So I’m starting out small with this newsletter.  It’s just me, my laptop, some public records, nerd-level curiosity about Eagle Rock history, lots of cold brew coffee, and the belief that Eagle Rock deserves its own outlet with consistent attention to local matters.

Expect to see coverage of City Hall, the Neighborhood Council, State Assembly and State Senate, issues like land use and development, transportation, crime, and small business news. Other weeks, we’ll look at local history, oddities, and the strange civic lore that make our neighborhood what it is. Every week will include a curated list of local events.

Thank you for being here at the beginning.

Kathleen Craughwell
Eagle Rock Pop

As independent as journalism gets.

US House, 34th Congressional District

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, incumbent since 2017, appears to be headed for a run-off with fellow Democrat, Angela Gonzales-Torres. At time of publication, Gomez had 46.52% of the vote to Gonzales-Torres’ 27.44% with 64.25% of the ballots counted.

Gonzales-Torres, who is running to the left of Gomez, is a grass-roots community organizer and an academic counselor at Pasadena City College. She is endorsed by the Justice Democrats, a group that has had impressive success in numerous states backing challengers to more mainstream incumbent Democrats. Gomez has staved off same-party challengers before, but if reports of a House Ethics Committee investigation are accurate (see story below), the 2026 runoff could be his trickiest race yet. 

State Senator, 26th District

With current State Senator María Elena Durazo terming out and headed to the LA County Board of Supervisors, this open seat election will have two relative newcomers facing off in November. Sara Hernandez, a lawyer and former middle school teacher, has so far received 31.78% of the vote, and Sarah Rascón, a former staffer for Mayor Karen Bass, has received 16.65%. Both candidates are Democrats and with more than 50% of the votes going to other candidates in the primary, it looks to be a competitive race. Look for interviews with Durazo and Rascón in future issues. 

The surprise in this race may be that Wendy Carrillo, who served as the area’s State Assemblywoman from 2017-2024, did not advance to the runoff, coming in third with 13.64% of the vote. Carrillo entered the Senate race after a politically difficult period that included a 2023 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence during her campaign challenging Kevin de León for his City Council seat. She went on to lose that race by a wide margin and now falls short in a second consecutive high-profile contest.

Member of the State Assembly, 52nd District

Incumbent Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (D) handily secured her seat for a second term with 82.61% of the vote. 

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 1st District

Current State Senator María Elena Durazo won her seat on the powerful Board of Supervisors with 57.14% of the vote. In a related note, Hilda Solis who currently holds the 1st District seat but who is terming out, will progress to the general in her effort to return to Congress representing parts of the Pomona Valley. 

Eagle Rock Connection in Race for Governor

Democrat Xavier Becerra, who currently leads the gubernatorial field, represented Eagle Rock in Congress from 1993 to 2017 and before that in the State Assembly.

If Becerra comes out on top in November, to my knowledge he would be the first California governor with a direct elected-representation tie to Eagle Rock. 

In a story that has gained traction nationally, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents Eagle Rock in Congress, is reportedly under review by the House Ethics Committee regarding allegations involving personal misconduct.

This is a timeline of how the story has unfolded:

In April of this year the New York Post reported that Gomez, who is married, had been spotted kissing a woman at a party at former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s home in the summer of 2023 and that the woman was a congressional aide to another member of Congress. Through his spokesperson Gomez denied that the incident took place. 

On Tuesday, election day, CNN reported that they had three sources who had knowledge that the House Ethics Committee was investigating the incident reported by the New York Post as well as additional incidents of misconduct of the same nature.  In a reversal of the earlier denial of the NY Post allegations, Gomez’s office released a written statement to CNN in which the congressman admitted to “personal mistakes” outside of his marriage which were hurtful to his family but did not violate any laws or rules of the House Ethics Committee. The statement went on to say that he would cooperate with any House Ethics investigation. The day closed with a lead for Gomez in his bid for reelection but not enough of a lead to avoid a runoff in November against challenger, progressive Angela Gonzales-Torres.

On Wednesday the New York Post identified the woman from their April reporting as Swalwell’s then chief of staff. Since his statement to CNN, Gomez has not responded to any requests for comment from any media outlets including Eagle Rock Pop. 

Why does this matter? Well, the House Ethics Committee has very strict rules regarding relationships between House members and any staff that they supervise. These rules extend to staffers who are employed by committees on which members serve. There have been no reports that any person with whom Gomez had a relationship was under his supervision.

But the timing could not be worse for Gomez who is now headed for the general with an opponent who has already been extremely critical of him and who has shown on social media in the last few days that she is not afraid to add the latest reports to her arsenal of barbs. 

Eagle Rock Pop provided a list of questions and requested comment from Gomez’s spokesperson on Wednesday and had not heard back by deadline. Look for any updates in future newsletters.

This summer, the Eagle Rock Pop will publish the Political Noir Files, a series on the strange, colorful, and sometimes scandalous history of Los Angeles City Council District 14. First up will be William G. Bonelli, an associate professor at Occidental College who became a City Councilman in the late 1920s, and later the state’s post-prohibition “Liquor Czar.” After a decades-long battle with a formidable Los Angeles media dynasty, he spent the rest of his life on the lam from federal authorities. Noir indeed! 

As work continues to buzz at the site formerly known as Pillarhenge, residents are questioning what will happen to the beloved icon atop the scene. In a casual conversation at Found Coffee across from the worksite, a construction worker allayed fears that Pinky would be removed that day when a giant green concrete pourer appeared. Although not the man in charge, he indicated that Pinky would probably remain as long as is feasibly possible (it would seem that there is affection towards Pinky among the crew which is frankly, adorable). He also said that a crane would probably be needed when it is time to remove, er, rehome her and the egg that appeared on the pillar next to her on Memorial Day. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the expectant mother.

[Friday June 5: 

Barton Fink (1991), Vidiots, 7:00 p.m. One of the Coen Brothers’ weirdest and funnest with John Turturro and John Goodman at the top of their games. Being screened in 35 mm. Walk ups only.

By Design (2025), Vidiots, MUBI Microcinema. This surreal take on the body swap genre stars Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, and a truly terrific deep supporting cast including Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, and Betty Buckley. Friday 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday 7:30 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. Sunday 4:30 p.m. Writer-director Amanda Kramer will appear at the Saturday screenings.

Saturday June 6: 

Buy Nothing Free Event, 10:00 a.m.-noon. Eagle Rock Town Hall. 2035 Colorado Blvd.

Sale at Toros Pottery, 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. One of a kind pieces by local artisan and business owner Toros Tngrian. 4962 Eagle Rock Blvd. 

Mulan (1998), Vidiots, 1:00 p.m. Gorgeous Disney animation, family friendly, great songs. Could spur interesting post-movie conversations with the kids. 

The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), Vidiots, 4:00 p.m. Academy Award winning documentary about the short but remarkable political career of one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials through to the assassinations that shook San Francisco. 

Sunday June 7:

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), Vidiots, 3:45 p.m. Director John Huston’s classic tale of greed stars Humphrey Bogart at his nastiest. The famously misquoted line “I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges,” hits different in 2026. 

The Handmaiden (2016) at Vidiots, 7:00 p.m. Park Chan-wook’s stunning psychosexual thriller set in 1930’s Korea. 

Tuesday June 9: 

Eagle Rock High School graduation at Occidental College. This is a ticketed event. 

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