Rising gas prices frustrate voters. Trump says it’s an ‘inexpensive price to pay’ for the Iran war

• September 20, 2026

By STEVE PEOPLES, JESSE BEDAYN and JONATHAN J. COOPER

EDINBURG, Texas (AP) — Quinten Martinez, pumping gas under a hot South Texas sun, remembers a time when fueling up didn’t require difficult decisions.

“Is it going to be groceries this week?” asked the 28-year-old Amazon delivery driver as he watched the numbers tick higher. “Is it gonna be getting gas in our tank to go to work?”

He shook his head when asked about President Donald Trump’s assertion last week that higher gas prices are a small price to pay for the war with Iran.

“I don’t feel like it’s a good trade-off,” Martinez said. “I don’t feel like this is good for anyone.”

Voters across the country, and across the political spectrum, tend to agree.

Interviews with voters in several states, along with a fresh round of national polling, reveal an overwhelming sense of frustration that skyrocketing gas prices — a direct result of Trump’s war — are creating serious and sustained financial hardships for America’s working class.

The acute concerns are adding to a bad political environment that may be worsening for Trump and his Republican Party as early voting gets underway in the November midterm elections.

Historically, the party holding the White House has suffered major losses in midterms. Today, seven weeks before Election Day, Republican candidates at all levels are struggling with the additional burden of Trump’s weak approval ratings, an unpopular foreign conflict and an affordability crisis that Trump and his congressional allies had promised to fix.

But when Trump campaigned in North Carolina on Wednesday, he played down the impact of surging gas prices.

“You have a little higher. It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done,” Trump said of the war, which he describes as critical to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “Remember that. It’s a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more.”

‘Gas prices matter,’ Republican strategist says

Despite what Trump says, there are few things that may matter more this election year than the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to political operatives in both parties.

Gas prices are moving sharply in the wrong direction at a time of year when drivers typically get some relief. The national average for a gallon of gas reached $4.48 on Friday, according to AAA, up roughly 17 cents over the last week, 40 cents in a month and $1.27 from a year ago.

“Gas prices matter because they’re one of the few economic indicators voters experience and see in real time,” said veteran Republican strategist Chris Wilson. “The price is literally staring them in the face several times a week. So I wouldn’t minimize the frustration we’re seeing, particularly among working- and middle-class voters.”

Interviews with voters this week found bipartisan frustration and disappointment.

Democrats and independents were especially motivated to punish Republicans at the ballot box for their economic hardship, while some of Trump’s working-class supporters pledged to support Republicans this fall, even if they weren’t happy with the president’s leadership on the economy.

Some Republicans say they’re disappointed

Dan Lloyd, who voted for Trump, lamented the president’s leadership as the 63-year-old carpenter paid $4.39 a gallon to fill up his pickup truck in Mesa, Arizona.

“He hurt himself stepping into this,” Lloyd said of Trump. “Where’s all this oil from Venezuela? I thought we were flush with gas and everything, but no. The American people eat it every time, whether it’s interest rates, food, gasoline.”

Still, he expects to vote Republican in the midterms.

“I think the Democratic Party has lost its way,” Lloyd said. “I just feel like the whole system’s on the verge of collapse.”

In sweltering Edinburg, Texas, 52-year-old Kristin Jimenez shrugged off the rising price of gas after filling up her Mercedes.

“We’ve paid the same price under Republican presidents, we’ve paid this price under Democrat presidents,” said Jimenez, a mother who runs a small business. She plans to vote for a Republican in because they’re the “lesser of two evils.”

She said gas prices aren’t part of her calculation.

“We don’t mind paying $8 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but we have a problem paying four bucks at the pump?” she said. “Make it make sense.”

More than 1,500 miles to the north in central Michigan, 35-year-old Garth Johnson is trying to make ends meet running a deep-cleaning business with several gas-powered vehicles and one machine fueled by diesel, which was $6.79 a gallon as he filled up his SUV.

Johnson voted for Trump, but doesn’t know what he’s going to do in November. Johnson doesn’t feel qualified to second-guess the president’s evaluation of the war, but he’s feeling financial pressure in his own life.

“I like a lot of the things he’s done,” Johnson said, but added “I’m a little guy and I’ve got to live my life.”

Other voters are not so forgiving

Midterm voting was already underway on Friday in Virginia, where 60-year-old engineer Alan Johnson said Trump seems to have “no empathy” for Americans who are struggling financially.

“With the gas prices being what they are and continuing to grow, we’ve got to do something. Hopefully the Democrats can get into office and turn the ship around,” said Johnson, who cast ballots in the morning for Democrats for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, teacher Brittney Bivins sees surging gas prices as evidence that Trump and his Republican Party aren’t dealing with the issues that matter most to people like her.

“He really doesn’t care about everyday people,” the 45-year-old said. “He can afford the gas, but most of us can’t. So it feels like he’s not even connected to his own people.”

Bivins, who described herself as an independent, said she’s eager to support Democrats this fall — especially the party’s emerging democratic socialist wing.

At a gas station in Lansing, Michigan, Rina Risper spent $50 on 8 gallons of premium gas.

“When I rolled up I was in shock, actually, and said, well, maybe I should drink water instead of having that $4.99 bottle of whatever it was I was gonna get,” Risper said. She thinks Trump’s tariffs will make affordability even worse.

“We’re not in Miami. We’re in Lansing, Michigan,” she said. “It’s really going to impact our people.”

Most voters think Trump’s administration has made economy worse, poll shows

Nationwide, more than three times as many voters say they are falling behind financially as getting ahead, according to a Fox News survey released Wednesday. By a 15 percentage point margin, Democrats are considered the party that would better handle inflation and prices at a time when the cost of living and the economy are voters’ top concerns.

The Fox poll found that 61% of voters say gas prices are a major problem for their household, compared with 48% two years ago, while 52% say the same for healthcare costs, compared with 44% in 2024. Majorities also view housing costs and grocery prices as major problems, although neither has increased.

Overall, nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) say the administration has made the economy worse, compared with 52% in September 2025, including one-quarter of Republicans. Only 46% of Republicans say the administration has improved the economy, while about one-quarter don’t see an impact.

Back in rural South Texas, an area where Trump’s GOP made gains in recent elections, Martinez, the Amazon delivery driver, could not contain his frustration.

Trump “likes to tout that we are the best economy in the world,” said Martinez, but in more rural towns, “you don’t see any of the winning, you don’t see any of the ups that he’s talking about.”

“You just see struggles for day to day life,” he said.

Peoples reported from New York and Cooper from Mesa, Ariz. Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., Jacqueline GaNun in Lansing, Mich., Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., and Nicholas Riccardi in Mason, Mich., contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

As Food Safety Act deadline looms, these additives will be phased out

• September 20, 2026

Since the California Food Safety Act was signed into law in 2023, legislative action on chemical ingredients in foods has grown from a local debate to a national food safety and transparency movement. This legislation became known as the “Skittles ban” when a common ingredient in this popular candy, titanium dioxide, was slated for removal. Skittles will stay on store shelves, as titanium dioxide was ultimately spared from the restricted ingredient list. However, as the January 1, 2027, deadline approaches, there will be other changes you can expect.

The food additives scheduled for phase-out include red dye no. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben. The legislation is meant to encourage food manufacturers to clean up their ingredient lists. After three years of industry preparation, the tangible results of that legislative push are finally arriving. Manufacturers of many ultra-processed snacks, commercial baked goods, candies, sweets, and certain flavored beverages are rolling out reformulated products to stay in compliance. New naturally dyed versions of Skittles and M&M’s are already available with increasing distribution to convenience stores and supermarkets.

These specific ingredients are being phased out due to mounting scientific evidence linking them to serious chronic health issues in adults, including thyroid dysfunction, hormonal disruption, and an increased risk of DNA damage and cancer. Because food manufacturers cannot easily manage two separate supply chains for different states, companies are reformulating their products nationwide. The result is a quiet ingredient overhaul impacting the whole country.

What started as a political debate in California three years ago has gone mainstream to help protect consumers nationwide. This shows that when consumer safety standards are raised, the global food industry can adapt. Once again, California is a leader in food safety and nutrition standards.

These updates are reaching local classrooms as well. The California School Food Safety Act is set to eliminate six synthetic dyes, including the ubiquitous Red 40 and Yellow 5, from all foods served or sold in K-12 public schools. For years, pediatric health research has pointed to an association between these specific synthetic colorings and hyperactivity and behavioral disruptions in sensitive children. Removing these unnecessary chemicals from school breakfasts, sports drinks, and lunchtime snacks is a major victory for student focus and overall well-being.

The good news is that creating vibrant colors without synthetic chemicals is surprisingly straightforward. Food scientists are turning back to nature, utilizing pigments extracted from real foods. Beta-carotene from carrots and turmeric supply brilliant yellows and oranges, beet juice and purple sweet potato create deep reds, and spirulina provides beautiful blues and greens.

While switching to plant-derived pigments eliminates the potential risks associated with synthetic chemicals, naturally dyed candy is still a major source of concentrated sugar. Swapping chemical dyes for fruit and vegetable extracts doesn’t reduce the sugar content or the potential risks of consuming excess sugar, such as tooth decay, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Nor do these naturally dyed treats provide significant amounts of vegetables and fruit to offer meaningful health benefits. They are still meant to be enjoyed mindfully and in moderation.

As we approach the upcoming 2027 implementation, we can rest assured that we are moving in the right direction with food ingredient safety. While expanding access to healthy food, especially fruit and vegetables, remains a top priority to make real strides in public health, eliminating unsafe ingredients in treats simply makes sense. Ultimately, these tighter standards are an important step forward in protecting all families.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

​ Orange County Register 

New York Giants vs. Rams: Who has the edge?

• September 20, 2026

GIANTS (1-0) vs RAMS (0-1)

When: Monday, 5:15 p.m.

Where: SoFi Stadium

TV/Radio: ESPN/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226

Line: Rams by 7 points

Notable injury designations

Rams: OUT: S Kamren Kinchens (hamstring); DOUBTFUL: WR Jordan Whittington (quadriceps); QUESTIONABLE: WR Puka Nacua (hip).

Giants: QUESTIONABLE: DB Tae Banks (calf), LB Micah McFadden (neck).

What’s at stake? It will have been 10 days of narratives and discourse about the Rams’ disappointing season opener in Australia, in which the San Francisco 49ers thoroughly handled them, 27-7. Dropping the home opener would send such conversations into hysterics, considering the star-powered expectations attached to the Rams in 2026. Regardless of the result on Monday, a five-alarm fire of reactions would be guaranteed if the Rams don’t look up to snuff against an improved, but still young, Giants squad.

Who’s better? One week into the season, it’s still too early to look at statistics to decide a question like this, but on paper, the Rams should be the clear favorites. Consistency and talent is the full picture for the Rams on offense, while on defense, even though they lost Myles Garrett to knee surgery earlier this week, Aaron Donald is ready to step up in his return to the NFL. Under new head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants showcased a promising formula with their young duo, quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cameron Skattebo, leading the way. If they can beat the Rams, they’ll have the league on notice.

Matchup to watch: The Rams’ wide receiver corps against the Giants’ secondary. With Whittington listed as doubtful for Monday and a star in Nacua listed as questionable, the Rams will likely be pushed into their depth on Monday. Not to mention, on the opposing side of the equation, the Giants are without cornerback Deonte Banks, the heart of their secondary. The Rams brought back Tutu Atwell in a trade that happened the day before roster day, and they might have to lean on the likes of him, rookie wide receiver CJ Daniels and speed threat Xavier Smith should the pair of wideouts be unable to suit up on Monday night.

Rams win if: They’re able to wash away a bitter afternoon at Melbourne Cricket Ground where they, as Rams coach Sean McVay admitted earlier this week, never found a rhythm. The Rams were always going to be Super Bowl favorites with their impressive roster, but now they’ve got to show quickly that a bounce back is in order.

Fantasy sleeper: Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson. If Nacua is unable to play with his ailing hip, look for quarterback Matthew Stafford to target his lengthy tight end in response. Last season, Stafford and Ferguson built a connection in the tight end’s rookie year, and although Ferguson didn’t have any catches in Week 1, that should change with different circumstances caused by the injury report.

Prediction: Rams 28, Giants 17

​ Orange County Register 

How Rams’ backup edge rushers are stepping up in Myles Garrett’s absence

• September 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Josaiah Stewart watches Myles Garrett’s technique, examining how the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s “second nature” consistency shows itself on every rep in practice, every play in games.

“It’s sound,” Stewart told the Southern California News Group. “Every time, every snap.”

The second-year outside linebacker from Michigan received a new teammate just three weeks ago: future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald. Stewart notices how Donald, 35, who forwent his two-year retirement for another shot at Super Bowl glory, treats every day at the office.

“He treats every day like gameday,” Stewart said.

Stewart, who played in all 17 regular season games for the Rams last season after being their third-round pick in the NFL draft, is now primed for what will likely be his first start on the Rams. Garrett headed to injured reserve earlier this week and will miss at least the next four games after undergoing successful knee surgery on Monday. Garrett opened the door for Stewart, under less-than-ideal circumstances for the Rams, to make his mark on their Week 2 home opener against the New York Giants at 5:15 p.m. on Monday.

“I think he’s a complete player that can really be a positive contributor in both phases, defending the run, rushing the passer,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday. “He’ll be asked to step up, as will everybody in that group.”

The rest of the group, led by fourth-year starting outside linebacker Byron Young, who became a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career last season, includes Desjuan Johnson and undrafted free agent Wesley Bailey.

Young recorded a career-high 82 combined tackles and 12 sacks last season, while Johnson appeared in six games last season and tallied 12 combined tackles and two sacks. Bailey, a 6-foot-5 edge rusher, is a Canadian football player from Ottawa who began his collegiate career at Rutgers and finished it at Louisville, where he recorded 39 tackles and six sacks for the Cardinals a year ago.

“When you talk about ‘Stew,’ when you talk about ‘Des’, when you talk about ‘Wes’ Bailey, those are guys that we trust that are really all-purpose players that can hit the run, do their job, they can drop in coverage, and they can rush,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Friday.

Bailey pushed his way onto the 53-man roster with a stellar preseason showing, one that McVay said Saturday moved the needle to get the brute edge rusher onto the roster.

“I mentioned it to the team when we talked to the 53 (man roster),” McVay said. “He earned the spot based on what he played like in practice and in the preseason games.”

When asked about what he’s learned from joining defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s defense, Bailey pointed to “dictating the terms.”

Bailey broke it down into three facets: Violence. Disruption. Striking first.

“Whether I get zero snaps or 30 snaps, it’s just keep going and working,” Bailey told SCNG. “That’s all it is.”

Bailey called making the 53-man roster a “blessing,” sharing that he’s been picking the brain of the wealth of knowledge around him in the locker room.

Johnson said that the Rams need to find an extra edge to make up for Garrett’s absence, rising above the first-week hiccup to season-long game plans with two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the mix.

“We always have good game plans and, and good opportunities, so it’s just turned up a little bit more,” Johnson told SCNG. “Myles, of course with him (it) was going to be a great opportunity as well. But without him, we got to hold it down until until we can continue with him again.”

There’s the trio of Rams outside linebackers ready to go.

And then, there’s Donald – reintroducing himself to SoFi Stadium for his season debut as well.

“We’re going to be good,” Donald said Friday. “And when (Garrett) gets back, we’ll be even better.”

Week 2: New York Giants (1-0) vs Rams (0-1)

When: Monday, 5:15 p.m. PTWhere: SoFi StadiumTV/Radio: ESPN (Ch. 32)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA’s offense rolled against Purdue but defense failed to complement

• September 20, 2026

A week after questions arose about UCLA’s offense during its win over San Diego State, it was the Bruins’ defense that was raising questions in its 52-38 win over Purdue.

The 38 points are the most UCLA has allowed through its first three games of the season.

Offensively, the Bruins scored their most points against an FBS opponent since 2021 (62). Their 645 yards of total offense was the most for the program since 2019. Safe to say, it was a good day at the office for UCLA’s offense.

If the Bruins put together a complete performance, UCLA could surprise a lot of people in year one under Bob Chesney.

Chesney believes that the Bruins are more than capable of playing complementary football.

“I want to see the offense and defense click at elite levels,” Chesney said. “We haven’t played a perfect game yet. We haven’t played the perfect complementary game yet, but there’s one in there … . I’m looking forward to seeing that day, because it exists … we just need to make sure that we execute and we get a little more consistent with it throughout the whole course of the game.”

Despite allowing a season-high 488 total yards to the Boilermakers, UCLA had some inspired performances from linebacker Sammy Omosigho and defensive back Rodrick Pleasant.

Omosigho finished with 12 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble, meanwhile Pleasant had two tackles and an interception.

“The one play that stood out to me, the ball is bouncing, the running back looked like he was gonna go and get the edge, and Sammy (Omosigho) just put out one arm and just crumbled this kid with one arm. That, to me, was the strength he has, the poise he plays with, the toughness he plays with, and the strength to be able to execute and finish on those tackles,” Chesney said.

Pleasant’s interception inside the red zone with 5:48 left in the game put any hope for a Purdue comeback to rest.

Leading the way for UCLA’s offense was quarterback Nico Iamaleava. He arguably had his best game in a UCLA jersey. The senior threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns, tacking on 55 yards on seven carries.

Most importantly, Iamaleava had no turnovers in a game for the first time this year. He believes the Bruins’ preparation leading up to their third game of the campaign was the best it’s been all season.

“I thought in week one, I thought we performed well. Maybe not to our max potential, but we had a great week of preparation and that was the main thing, going into week three. It was our preparation during the week. I thought that in week two, we took it lightly. We did not prepare well. You guys saw the results. I think that in week three, that was the emphasis, our preparation,” Iamaleava said.

Building on his case for the Doak Walker Award, Wayne Knight undoubtedly had his best game as a Bruin. The James Madison transfer handled 18 carries for a season-high 177 yards and two scores. Additionally, he hauled in three receptions for 23 yards.

As an offense, UCLA ran for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

“The biggest thing for us was to just put it all together. And I think that we stepped up to that challenge – what we did on the ground, in the air,” Knight said. “But the guys up front, no matter who is in there as guys are rotating all the time, whoever is in there is going to put up front. They are working as a team.”

Joining Knight with big days were Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas. Woods had 80 yards on 13 carries and Thomas notched 58 yards on 9 carries. For the second game in a row, all three running backs found the end zone.

“We’re sticking to the code. It’s a good rotation in our running back room. I’m put in a good position. We’re moving the ball on offense and we are getting down in the red zone. I’m able to punch it in. It’s about whatever is best for the team,” Knight said.

The Bruins have their biggest test of the season coming up next Saturday at Maryland (10:30 a.m.). It will be the first time UCLA plays outside of the Pacific time zone after playing their only road game at Cal.

UCLA will need to put together one of those perfect days that Chesney has been looking for if they want to come back to Westwood with a win.

​ Orange County Register 

Los Alamitos consensus picks for Sunday, September 20, 2026

• September 20, 2026

The consensus box of Los Alamitos horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

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​ Orange County Register 

Long Beach police allegedly hid the Atlanta arrest of one of its officers, attorney says

• September 20, 2026

Kevin Lippelt can still hear the words of an intoxicated, off-duty Long Beach police officer pummeling him outside an Atlanta Waffle House: “I’m gonna kill you.”

Lippelt, 31, an Atlanta Braves fan, had just watched the team beat the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park and was ending the night with friends at the nearby restaurant in August 2019.

It was there that he ran into Erik Suarez, a two-year police veteran at the time, wearing a gray Dodgers jersey — Matt Kemp’s No. 27. Words were exchanged and Suarez beat Lippelt in the restaurant parking lot, continuing to punch Lippelt after he lost consciousness. Suarez, 35, was indicted by a Cobb County grand jury on two counts of felony aggravated battery.

However, he received a lenient plea deal and continued working as a Long Beach officer for almost seven years, his misdemeanor conviction in Georgia kept secret from defense attorneys representing the people he took into custody.

“I can’t imagine what he was doing in Long Beach. He’s got a hot head. I’m on the ground and he’s saying, ‘I’m gonna kill you,’ ” Lippelt said in a phone interview.

Suarez did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.

The attack has become center stage in a small-time Long Beach drug case with large ramifications.

Attorney Scott Sanders, representing a man arrested by Suarez, alleges the department violated disclosure laws by withholding Suarez’s own arrest in Georgia. That information could be used to challenge Suarez’s credibility as well as the evidence he collected in this and other cases.

“Defendants were entitled to discovery detailing the officer’s conduct, as an assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury has been considered a crime of moral turpitude for nearly forty years,” said a motion filed Sept. 8 by Sanders. He is seeking a court order for Long Beach to release Suarez’s personnel file. Suarez resigned from the department in June.

Sanders said he learned of the Atlanta conviction only after his investigator tried to track down Suarez to serve him a subpoena.

Long Beach police officials responded in a statement that officer personnel files are released according to “applicable law and department policy.”

“LBPD takes allegations of misconduct and criminal activity seriously,” said the statement. “If the department becomes aware of a criminal investigation or a policy violation involving an employee, an investigation is conducted into the matter. All allegations are thoroughly investigated to ensure our personnel are upholding the values and policies of our department.”

Lippelt said he was told by Georgia prosecutors that Long Beach police officials had been informed of the attack and he believed Suarez would be quickly disciplined. But every year Lippelt checked an internet site listing the salary of public employees, and every year he found the officer was still being paid.

Lippelt said he wasn’t quite sure why Suarez became violently angry that Atlanta night.

“It was very random,” he said. “(The Dodgers) lost that day. Maybe he was mad about that.”

Lippelt said he and his friends were walking out the door of the Waffle House after eating, when Suarez — who was waiting for a table — muttered something to him.

Lippelt said he didn’t hear whatever was said, so he leaned closer to Suarez and asked him to repeat it. Suarez said something again. Lippelt still couldn’t hear it. Suarez said something a third time and balled his fists, Lippelt recalled.

Lippelt said he told Suarez to “f— off” and walked out the door with his friends. Suarez followed with his buddies and the two groups began fighting, Lippelt said. Soon he was on his back, getting beat by Suarez.

Cobb County police arrived and found Suarez walking down the road, his nose bleeding and his jersey stained with blood. He told officers that someone had started a fight with him at the restaurant and punched him in the face. Suarez said he walked away from the scene after a Waffle House employee told him to leave, according to the Cobb County police report.

Lippelt sustained an orbital fracture, a fracture of the maxillary sinus, a traumatic orbital hematoma and a concussion, according to Atlanta court documents. The indictment said Suarez seriously disfigured Lippelt’s right eye, rendering it “useless.”

Originally indicted on two felony counts of aggravated battery — each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years — Suarez pleaded on the eve of trial to misdemeanor battery with no jail time. He received 12 months probation, was ordered to pay Lippelt $500 in restitution and was banned from Cobb County, court records say.

Lippelt said he was disappointed by the plea deal.

“I was kind of mad. This guy and his friends almost killed me and they gave him a slap on the wrist,” Lippelt said. “I feel the eye has trouble focusing and, to this day, I get vertigo, which started from (the beating).”

Attorney Sanders said there are other ramifications from the attack. He said the alleged coverup by Long Beach police officials could affect hundreds of cases in which Suarez was involved.

“The ramifications are immensely consequential: the concealment of Officer Suarez’s arrest and prosecution enabled the agency to hide mandated discovery related to Officer Suarez’s conduct from what have likely been hundreds of defendants,” Sanders wrote in a court motion.

Sanders further accused the Police Department of hiding evidence of other officer misconduct in personnel files instead of reporting them to the District Attorney’s Office as part of the prosecutors’ Brady file, which is discoverable. Brady refers to a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision mandating that prosecutors hand over exculpatory evidence to defendants.

The department responded in an email that it cooperates with the District Attorney’s Office as required by law.

Sanders is representing Lonnie Jacobs, who was arrested by Suarez and another officer in March 2025 for brandishing a firearm against a man attempting to repossess a van. Jacobs also was charged with possessing a bindle of cocaine in his sock at the jail. Jacobs, 47, was only charged with the drug violation.

Sanders alleged that Suarez and the other officer hid evidence that showed they lacked probable cause to arrest Jacobs in the first place. For one thing, the victim said the suspect had braids. Jacobs is bald.

Sanders said there are likely other cases involving other officers in which evidence was withheld from defendants.

“When you withhold Brady, it can affect many, many cases and we are just at the beginning,” Sanders said. “This is infuriating. Long Beach Police Department knew they had to turn it over and they didn’t. The reality is many, many defendants were denied a fair trial.”

​ Orange County Register 

Endorsement: No on Proposition 37, a risky $25 billion housing experiment

• September 20, 2026

Proposition 37 on the November ballot is a peculiar mix of philanthropy, tort reform, housing construction, worker protection and Wall Street bond underwriting fees. Presented to voters as a solution to the lack of affordable homes for willing buyers, Prop. 37 aims to encourage developers to build “middle-class” housing and help “middle-class” families buy them without taxpayer assistance.

For builders, the program offers some protection from construction defect litigation and high attorney fees if they agree to be “qualified builders” (accepting liability for labor violations by contractors and subcontractors) and build “qualified new homes” (new construction or conversion with a price cap on each unit that does not exceed 125% of the conforming loan limit for that county, approximately $1 million to $1.5 million).

For buyers, the program offers fixed-rate second mortgages for 17% of the purchase price, no need for private mortgage insurance (PMI), and alternative “cash-flow underwriting” for buyers who otherwise might not qualify for a second mortgage. Borrowers are required to qualify for a first mortgage, and they must put down 3% of the purchase price from their own funds. To be eligible, borrowers must be California residents for at least one year and have a household income no higher than 200% of the area median income, adjusted for family size.

The program is financed with $25 billion in revenue bonds, issued by the state but repaid by adding the principal, interest and program administration costs to the payments made by the borrowers. Taxpayers have no direct risk.

The deceptive part of Proposition 37 is the representation, as stated in the ballot argument in favor of the measure, that “consumer benefits include below-market, fixed-rate loans.” Nothing in the measure guarantees that the second mortgages offered in the program will be less expensive for borrowers than loans available from private lenders.

The contention that the cost of the loans will be “below-market” rests on the assumption that foundations and non-profits will be willing to buy the bonds at a below-market interest rate of 3%. These are revenue bonds, and the interest is not tax-free. In addition, they are not without risk. In the event of foreclosure, these second mortgages sit behind the first mortgages, with no back-up or guarantee from taxpayers.

That’s the part of the program that depends on philanthropy. The idea is that tax-exempt organizations will buy these bonds out of the goodness of their hearts and forgo the higher interest rates available from other bonds they could buy instead.

If that doesn’t happen, the California Housing Finance Agency will sell the bonds in the market and pay market interest rates, potentially making the Prop. 37 second mortgage loans even more expensive for borrowers than loans offered by commercial lenders who don’t have to recoup the cost of administering this program.

Any developer can build price-capped “qualified new homes” eligible for the down payment assistance loans, but only “qualified builders” who accept the labor rules get the program’s protection from litigation and attorney fees. They lose the protection for an entire building, proponent Bob Hertzberg told our editorial board, if even one unit in it sells for above the capped price.

Home buyers should be aware that if a house or condominium sells for less than its fair market value, the county tax assessor will assess the property based on its fair market value, not on its purchase price.

Proposition 37 attempts to be a path through California’s minefield of regulations and liability in the housing sector, but it’s relying on the hope that non-profits will subsidize second mortgages so income-limited families who don’t have the money for a down payment can have two mortgage payments, not to mention the cost of homeowners insurance, HOA fees, property taxes and utility bills.

It sounds to us like it won’t have a good outcome. Vote no on Proposition 37.

​ Orange County Register