NBA Star Tobias Harris Alongside Brother Plan To Build Affordable Housing in Los Angeles
Elgin Nelson
Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, alongside his brother Terry Harris, is actively engaged in developing affordable housing in Los Angeles, targeting the Echo Park area with plans to construct 270 units across three locations. Tobias, now in his 13th NBA season with the 76ers, and Terry, a former college basketball player and G-League participant, are leveraging their resources to address housing shortages, motivated by Mayor Karen Bass’s executive order which facilitates faster approval processes for such projects. “I saw that real estate was giving me an opportunity to be a driver in my career path. With basketball, we are a part of somebody else’s organization. I wouldn’t say it was a no-brainer, but it was a reason why I made that transition seamlessly to be in control of my destiny and what this business can go into,” said Terry Harris. While Tobias continues to compete in the NBA playoffs, Terry manages their real estate initiatives on-site, aiming to expand their portfolio to 1,000 units citywide by year-end.
Gov. Gavin Newsom Announces Two New L.A. County Superior Judicial Appointments
Elgin Nelson
Victor Avila and Allison Westfahl Kong, both of Los Angeles County, have been appointed as judges in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Avila, a Democrat and senior deputy district attorney in the major crimes division since 2012, fills the seat left vacant by the retirement of Judge Malcolm H. Mackey. His extensive experience in the district attorney’s office dates back to 1999, following his early career in Ventura County and education at Boston College Law School. He steps into this role through an interim appointment by the Governor, ahead of his elected term starting in January 2025. Similarly, Westfahl Kong, also a Democrat, has been named to replace Judge Zaven V. Sinanian following his retirement. She brings a rich background from her tenure as chief of ethics and post-conviction review at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California since 2023, with prior roles including a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and law clerkships under notable judges. She holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.