Box Soap
By Stephen Box
This is the story of the senseless death of a dream … and the hard questions it raises.
Twenty one years ago, Rodrigo "Rod" Armas strapped on his helmet, hopped on his bike and set off on the LA Wheelmen's Grand Tour, an annual cycling event that starts and finishes in Malibu, drawing participants from throughout California as well the surrounding Western States. Grand Tour riders typically have an appetite for distance as is evidenced by the route options which range from the 200 Kilometer, 200 mile, 300 mile and 400 mile routes.
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CityWatcher
By Ken Draper
 There were many grassroots Angelinos who saw the voter uprising that overwhelmingly approved LA’s new Charter in 1999 as a kind of Declaration of Independence. A kind of demand-to-be-heard revolution.
The Charter vote didn’t need the Supreme Court to decide the outcome. It was decisive. Consider this: the new Charter was approved by a greater percentage of the voters than was Antonio Villaraigosa when he defeated James Hahn for Mayor. It was a public shout for a voice in the of-the-people and for-the-people process.
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The Microblogged Revolution
By Kevin Fayle (Posted first at Findlaw.com)
 (Note: We offer this report because it’s about revolution and contemporary communication. We think, on this July 4th weekend, grassroots empowerment participants will find it both important and helpful.)
The events that have unfolded in Iran following the contested presidential election have transfixed the world. Much of the information that has come out of (and into) the country has traveled over social media services as a result of censorship and blocking of communications systems by the government.
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LA Watchdog
By Jack Humphreville
 With great fanfare and a temporary sense of relief, the City Council has approved the balanced budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. However, we have not seen any financial analysis of the plan from the CAO, the mayor, or the City Council.
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LA’s Inaugural Show
By Doug Epperhart
 On Wednesday, an invitation-only audience of civic insiders saw the curtain rise on the second act of Antonio Villaraigosa’s mayoralty. For the most part unhappy with the first act, they didn’t get much promise of a better performance.
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Commentary
By Robert Cruickshank (Posted first at Calitics.com)
 Well over half the California electorate was ineligible to vote (or, like me, wasn't even alive) in the June 1978 election that witnessed the passage of Proposition 13. Anyone under age 50 has never been given an opportunity to vote on its core principle of limiting property tax increases even though property taxes are one of the most effective and fair forms of revenue generation available to government.
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My Turn
By Diana L. Chapman
 It was just another tragedy unfolding last week. The sun was shining. The boys played Wiffle ball happily outside as the June gloom of San Pedro days began to fold away to hazy summer afternoons.
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Empowerment Report
By Greg Nelson
From time-to-time business magazines and websites write about the 10 best or worst companies in America.
I read them to learn about best practices that governmental agencies should follow.
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