Maven's Morning Coffee: sheriff may be sued, Metro awards rail contract, Villaraigosa talks to Bloomberg TV

Good morning, readers. Welcome to the Maven's Morning Coffee -- a listing of the important headlines, news conferences, public meetings and announcements you need to know to fuel up and tackle your day.

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Today is Tuesday, May 1, and here is what's happening in Los Angeles:

Headlines

Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks spoke to CNN from Florence and Normandie about the state of Los Angeles, 20 years after the riots.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca may be sued for violent acts that occur in county jails, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The sheriff was named in a lawsuit after an inmate was stabbed 23 times by gang members in Men's Central Jail back in 2006.

Metro has awarded an $890 million rail contract to the Japanese company Kinkisharyo International in a break from the region's labor organization, reports the Los Angeles Times. In opposition to the contract, Maria Elena Durazo of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor said, "Common sense and good business practices would dictate that Metro invest in our county and vote against sending jobs overseas."

Where to Find the Politicians

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will be interviewed on Bloomberg TV between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. He is then scheduled to give a speech to the Council on Foundations' annual conference at noon at the JW Marriott Los Angeles.

Meetings

8:30 a.m. Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, City Hall, room 1060 Recommendation to change the hours of operation for the City Hall lawn Recommendation to approve appointment to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Authority

9:30 a.m. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Hall of Administration, board hearing room Status report on new Los Angeles County Medical Center Recommendation to obtain video storage for tapes associated with Men’s Central Jail and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility

10 a.m. Los Angeles City Council, City Hall, Council Chamber Recommendation to prohibit oversize vehicles from parking on parts of Santa Monica Boulevard Recommendation to clarify city's conflict of interest policy and prohibit anyone who works on a city-subsidized housing development from living in said building

1 p.m. Budget and Finance Committee, City Hall, Council Chamber Discussion on the budgets for Public Works

1:30 p.m. Board of Water and Power Commissioners, DWP Headquarters, room 1555-H Recommendation to issue $325 million in bonds for the water system

Announcements

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