Fri01272012

Last update02:00:00 PM GMT

LOS ANGELES Friday, January 27th 2012 1:35

This Is America's Moment, If Washington Doesn't Blow It

Joel Kotkin 01.26.2012
THE ROAD BACK - The vast majority of Americans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, and, according to a 2011 Pew Survey, close to a majority feel that China has already surpassed the U.S. as an economic power.These views echo those of the punditry, right and left, who see the U.S. on the road to inevitable decline.  Yet the reality is quite different. A confluence of largely unnoticed economic, demographic and political trends has put the U.S. in a far more favorable position than its rivals. Rather than the end of preeminence, America may well be entering  a renaissance. Read More....

LA’s Redistricting Jigsaw Puzzle from Hell

Jon McDuffie 01.26.2012
POLITICS - One of my Fire service heroes, Dr. Carl Holmes, [link] has an interesting aphorism: “If it ain’t ‘broke’ let’s break it. With all the brains in this room we can rebuild it better than ever.”That should have been the guiding principle communicated to the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission [link] as it commenced redrawing the political lines of the City. Instead, they have massaged the messy political landscape into a head-scratching, gerrymandered jigsaw puzzle. Read More....

What, Me Worry?

Jack Humphreville 01.26.2012
LA WATCHDOG - To close next year’s projected budget deficit of $200 to $250 million, an amount that is seriously understated because of the funny money games our Elected Elite are playing, the Mayor has instructed all departments to submit two expenditure reduction proposals.The first reduction proposal calls for a cut of 6% of this year’s General Fund appropriation and/or subsidy, but only after including the “obligatory salary increases,” not an insignificant amount.   Read More....

After Redevelopment What? How About Creating Real Investment in Our Cities?

Madeline Janis 01.26.2012
OUT OF FRYNG PAN - On December 29, 2011 the State Supreme Court dealt California’s 400 redevelopment agencies an unanticipated death blow.  This includes the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, where I have served as a commissioner since 2002.  Read More....

Get it in Writing

Stephen Box 01.26.2012
RETHINKING LA - When LA’s City Hall wants something from the residents of LA, it sends a written demand with a threat of fees, fines, and penalties for noncompliance. The next round of nasty communication is also in writing and comes with a notice of potential garnishment, liens, and other legal action. Read More....

In Defense of Bonnie Sheehan … Dog Rescuer Now Accused of Animal Cruelty

Diana L. Chapman 01.26.2012
MY TURN - Hearts For Hounds dog rescuer Bonnie Sheehan – arrested on 128 counts of animal cruelty charges for hauling some 140 dogs in a U-haul -- was released from a Tennessee jail Tuesday evening after her supporters pulled together $10,000 to bail her out.She was expected to arrive in Long Beach via car Thursday and many of her supporters were preparing to greet her with open arms, said Jay Williams, a spokeswoman for Hearts for Hounds. Read More....
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LA'S WATER FUTURE

 

Three Hurdles, Two Big Hits for LA
Ken Alpern / 01.26.2012
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ALPERN AT LARGE - LA has its problems, but also has its assets … there for us and/or our electeds to ignore or to heed.  Inasmuch as we've got hurdles to overcome, we've also got the ability to act [ ... ]


LA’s Train-To-Nowhere
Kay Martin / 01.26.2012
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LA NOTEBOOK - I recently returned from a visit to St. Kitts and a remarkable thing happened while waiting in the airport departure lounge. I was seated within earshot of a group of 7-8 businessmen who [ ... ]


It's Up to Women to Elect Pro-Choice Candidates in 2012
Kirsten Gillibrand / 01.26.2012
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RIGHTS AND POLITICS - Last year, as a result of the 2010 midterm elections, the 112th Congress became the first in a generation to start out with fewer women in its ranks than the Congress before it.  [ ... ]


Stamp Out ‘Early Start’ Now! Avoid More Chaos at LA Unified!
Diana L. Chapman / 01.23.2012
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MY TURN - So let me get this straight: Los Angeles Unified School District allowed so many charters that now it has to woo students back to its own campuses, overhauled its entire lunch menu to make h [ ... ]


The Last Patrician: Romney Falls From Favor as America Loses Faith in Old Money
Joel Kotkin / 01.23.2012
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POLITICS - Mitt Romney’s collapse in South Carolina reflects the larger, long-term decline of the American patrician class he represents. That decline was accelerated by the 2008 financial meltdow [ ... ]


Waffling on Keystone, Ignoring US Reserves has Us Over a Barrel … Oil that Is
Kay Martin / 01.23.2012
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ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - They say you should never look a gift horse in the mouth and they’re not talking about bad breath.


Time to Wake Up … Apathy Not a Political Option
Janet Denise Kelly / 01.23.2012
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URBAN PERSPECTIVE - I am on a mission to encourage people to be less apathetic when it comes to politics. Our economic downturn and California budget crisis is attributed to people’s lack of engagem [ ... ]


Boardwalk Umpire: Deciding Who’s a Venice Artist
Vivian Rothstein / 01.23.2012
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OUT OF FRYING PAN - Whenever a friend visits from out of town I take them for a stroll down Venice Beach where the diversity of Los Angeles is on brilliant display – tattoo diversity, mental health  [ ... ]


Middle Class Under Attack by Political Bullies
Janet Denise Kelly / 01.26.2012
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URBAN PERSPECTIVE - You never know when the next assault against the middle class or those on fringes is lurking around the corner. The American people are on the playground; and a small group of peop [ ... ]


China Fast Forward?
Joel Epstein / 01.26.2012
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TRANSPO LA - A recent article in the Los Angeles Times reports that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and a representative from Metro had a “very preliminary” discussion with Chinese officials about the  [ ... ]


Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.
David Macaray / 01.26.2012
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LABOR POLITICS - After lengthy negotiations, Hollywood's two biggest actors unions have agreed to a merger. The parties reached a tentative pact on Monday, January 16, after being holed up for nine da [ ... ]


Top 10 Ways to "Keep It Real" for LA Mobility
Ken Alpern / 01.23.2012
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GETTING THERE FROM HERE - I admit to having been on both sides of the "get real" argument with respect to enhancing mobility in the City and County of LA over this past decade.  Some have told me to  [ ... ]


Catch An Early Bird Ride On The Expo Line

Fixing Neighborhood Council Elections Once and for All
Bob Gelfand / 01.23.2012
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NEIGHBORHOODS LA - The question of neighborhood council elections has been a political hot potato, but we now have an opportunity to bring some order out of the chaos. The Neighborhood Council Electio [ ... ]


I Will Get LA Back to Work
Austin Beutner / 01.23.2012
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THE RUN FOR MAYOR - I'm not sure if anyone caught the Golden Globes recently, but I noted with interest a silent film called The Artist was a winner.

That's certainly encouraging for me as I'm never th [ ... ]


Exposing City Hall's Abusive Relationship with LA’s Residents
Stephen Box / 01.23.2012
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RETHINKING LA - City Hall’s habit of sending demanding letters alleging unpaid fees and taxes that quickly accumulate late fees, penalties, and fines that result in bills that double, triple and qua [ ... ]


Valley Plaza on Ice
Paul Hatfield / 01.23.2012
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PERSPECTIVE-A recent article in the Toluca Lake-North Hollywood Patch brought back fond memories of a local neighborhood shopping center that once attracted the middle class of the San Fernando Valley [ ... ]


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