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Teachers union withdraws endorsement of LAUSD candidate due to inappropriate social media behavior

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United Teachers Los Angeles made a significant decision on Monday night when it rescinded its endorsement of school board candidate Kahllid Al-Alim. The reason cited for this withdrawal of support was the revelation of offensive social media activity by Al-Alim, including posts that were antisemitic, pro-gun, and pornographic in nature.

In a statement released after the decision, the union expressed its condemnation of all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, antisemitism, anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and homophobia. This move by the union came as a blow to Al-Alim’s campaign to represent District 1, which covers much of South Los Angeles and southwest L.A.

Al-Alim, who had initially declined to comment on the matter, is expected to issue a statement addressing the situation on Tuesday. The decision to withdraw the endorsement was made during an emergency meeting of the union’s 250-member House of Representatives, following the suspension of on-the-ground campaigning on behalf of Al-Alim.

To officially retract the endorsement, the union had to follow a multistep process that lasted about two weeks, involving its endorsement team, Political Action Council of Educators, Board of Directors, and finally the House of Representatives. The union stated that its member leaders acted decisively as new information came to light.

Despite the ongoing process, Al-Alim continued to be promoted in online union endorsements and campaign materials distributed to voters during the final days leading up to the election. The teachers union had invested over $690,000 in an independent campaign supporting Al-Alim, as reported in records filed with the L.A. City Ethics Commission.

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Al-Alim issued a series of apologies in response to the controversy, acknowledging the complex history between Black and Jewish communities and expressing a commitment to learning from the situation. However, during a campaign forum, he took a different stance, stating, “I’m not ashamed of anything.”

The union’s statement reflected a willingness to engage in dialogue and learn from the incident, viewing it as a valuable learning opportunity for both UTLA and the wider community. Al-Alim had secured the union’s endorsement after a lengthy process, based on his track record as an education and community activist aligned with the union’s policy positions.

With six other candidates competing for the vacant seat in District 1, the withdrawal of support from UTLA also reverberated in the decision of the L.A. County Federation of Labor to suspend campaign activities on behalf of Al-Alim. This symbolic action by the county’s union movement underscored the significance of the situation.

One of the contentious social media posts by Al-Alim praised an antisemitic publication by the Nation of Islam and advocated for its inclusion in L.A. schools. Additionally, he had liked posts supporting individuals facing backlash for antisemitic remarks, further intensifying the scrutiny on his online activity.

As the election process continued with voting underway since Feb. 24, Al-Alim’s campaign finances and level of support were scrutinized. While the union had heavily funded his campaign, Al-Alim’s own fundraising efforts tallied $31,736 during the reporting period.

Among the other candidates in the race are Sherlett Hendy Newbill, Christian Flagg, DeWayne Davis, Didi Watts, John Aaron Brasfield, and Rina Tambor. Each candidate brings a unique perspective and background to the election, with varying levels of support and endorsements.

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Outside of UTLA, independent funding efforts have also been significant, with a notable investment of $520,493 on behalf of candidate Didi Watts. This funding, originating from Sacramento-based political action committees and a charter schools PAC, highlights the diverse financial support shaping the competitive race in District 1.

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.