LA WATCHDOG--The City of Los Angeles has very ambitious plans for the Civic Center, the area surrounding City Hall. According to the City’s Information Statement, the City is “considering major improvements to its Civic Center, with estimates ranging from $730 million to $760 million for the first of multiple phases of its Civic Center Master Development Plan.” 

DC DISPATCH--General Michael C. Hayden begins his book, The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies, surveying the flattened streets of Sarajevo.

DEEGAN ON LA-Just like Angelenos who whiz around the city in their vehicles, our hillside-dwelling wildlife also have transportation needs.

EXPLAINING THE DENSITY PROGRAM-In 2005 the California State Legislature passed SB 1818 which requires local governments to offer density bonuses for developers in exchange for their setting aside a percentage of the units they construct for very low, low or moderate-income housing.

VOICES-Three separate juries have now confirmed what we in the VyBe chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union have long known: Lisa Ehrlich has allowed her properties to deteriorate to slum-like conditions.

PERSPECTIVE-In April of this year, the Los Angeles City Council declared an emergency shelter crisis, and Mayor Eric Garcetti followed up by announcing “A Bridge Home,” a new initiative intended to fast-track the construction of temporary homeless shelters.

WORKING TOGETHER WORKS-“I love when people that have been through hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire.” ~ Stephanie Sparkle 

ANIMAL WATCH-As the result of very persistent and persuasive phone calls from a prominent activist that an LA Animal Services' Commissioner was claiming his electronic communications were "hacked," a California Public Records Act request (CPRA) was sent to General Manager Brenda Barnette and certain members of the Los Angeles Animal Services Commission. 

@THE GUSS REPORT-Kudos to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong for his stated purpose in buying the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Spanish language Hoyand several small community newspapers: to not only save local journalism but allow it to thrive.

ALL ABOUT RACE--Trump critics argued on Monday that the debate over President Donald Trump's policy of prosecuting asylum seekers and separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border should be centered on the driving force behind the practice—the racism and xenophobia of top Trump officials and those who constitute his political base. (Photo above right: ‘proud racist’ Stephen Miller.) 

EDUCATION POLITICS--Since the 1990s, California’s leaders have promised to make preschool universal for every child.

CORRUPTION WATCH-The Hebrew phrase, “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof" (Deut. 16:20), is usually translated as "Justice, Justice you shall pursue.”