## GUEST WORDS

   ##  [ Pastor Who Said Floods are God’s Punishment for Homosexuality Arrested on Tarmac](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22682-pastor-who-said-floods-are-god-s-punishment-for-homosexuality-arrested-on-tarmac "Pastor Who Said Floods are God’s Punishment for Homosexuality Arrested on Tarmac")

      Details    Alex Bollinger    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     September 30 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2021/078l.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22682-pastor-who-said-floods-are-god-s-punishment-for-homosexuality-arrested-on-tarmac)

LGBTG NATION - A viciously anti-LGBTQ pastor was arrested on the tarmac as he exited a plane in Canada after touring the U.S. to spread COVID-19 misinformation on a contempt of court charge.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22682-pastor-who-said-floods-are-god-s-punishment-for-homosexuality-arrested-on-tarmac)

   ##  [ Walmartland: How US Stores Colonizing Mexico Are Displacing Local Culture](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22441-walmartland-how-us-stores-colonizing-mexico-are-displacing-local-culture "Walmartland: How US Stores Colonizing Mexico Are Displacing Local Culture")

      Details    Tamara Pearson    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 30 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/069f.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22441-walmartland-how-us-stores-colonizing-mexico-are-displacing-local-culture)

COMMENTARY - The historic center of Puebla city, where I live, is a World Heritage [**site**](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/416/).

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22441-walmartland-how-us-stores-colonizing-mexico-are-displacing-local-culture)

   ##  [ The American Fool: How Provincialism, Arrogance, and Greed Make American Foreign Policy an Exercise in Idiocy](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22435-the-american-fool-how-provincialism-arrogance-and-greed-make-american-foreign-policy-an-exercise-in-idiocy "The American Fool: How Provincialism, Arrogance, and Greed Make American Foreign Policy an Exercise in Idiocy")

      Details    David Masciotra    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 30 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/069z2.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22435-the-american-fool-how-provincialism-arrogance-and-greed-make-american-foreign-policy-an-exercise-in-idiocy)

U.S. UNINTELLIGENCE - The jokes regarding the “I” in “CIA” are familiar and predictable. The middle letter in the initialism might stand for imbecility, ignorance, or incompetence – essentially anything other than “intelligence.”

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22435-the-american-fool-how-provincialism-arrogance-and-greed-make-american-foreign-policy-an-exercise-in-idiocy)

   ##  [ It’s Not Just the Taliban: We in the West are Embracing Medievalism, Too](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22425-it-s-not-just-the-taliban-we-in-the-west-are-embracing-medievalism-too "It’s Not Just the Taliban: We in the West are Embracing Medievalism, Too")

      Details    Joel Kotkin    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 29 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/069i.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22425-it-s-not-just-the-taliban-we-in-the-west-are-embracing-medievalism-too)

NEW GEOGRAPHY-Many of us have spent the last week glued to our televisions watching the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22425-it-s-not-just-the-taliban-we-in-the-west-are-embracing-medievalism-too)

   ##  [ We Fact-Checked Fox News' Racist Lie. It Turns Out, the Pandemic Is Worse in Republican States](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22372-we-fact-checked-fox-news-racist-lie-it-turns-out-the-pandemic-is-worse-in-republican-states "We Fact-Checked Fox News' Racist Lie. It Turns Out, the Pandemic Is Worse in Republican States")

      Details    Michael Harriot    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 23 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/067g.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22372-we-fact-checked-fox-news-racist-lie-it-turns-out-the-pandemic-is-worse-in-republican-states)

COMMENTARY - We know Republicans lie. We know they are racist.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22372-we-fact-checked-fox-news-racist-lie-it-turns-out-the-pandemic-is-worse-in-republican-states)

   ##  [ Will we ever learn the mistakes of empire?](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22367-will-we-ever-learn-the-mistakes-of-empire "Will we ever learn the mistakes of empire?")

      Details    James Preston Allen    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 23 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/067m.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22367-will-we-ever-learn-the-mistakes-of-empire)

RANDOM LENGTH NEWS - Several years ago I was standing in front of the art deco Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris, France and was admiring the block-long park across the street with lush palm trees and cascading water feature.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22367-will-we-ever-learn-the-mistakes-of-empire)

   ##  [ Another Reason Why Leaving CA for Texas May Not be Such a Great Idea](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22321-another-reason-why-leaving-ca-for-texas-may-not-be-such-a-great-idea "Another Reason Why Leaving CA for Texas May Not be Such a Great Idea")

      Details    Alex Bollinger    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 16 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/065c.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22321-another-reason-why-leaving-ca-for-texas-may-not-be-such-a-great-idea)

LGBTQ POLITICS - The state of Texas just declared that gender affirmation surgery for minors is child abuse and that teachers, doctors, and other mandatory reporters in the state are legally required to tell the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) if they have “cause to believe” that a child has undergone the procedure under the threat of jail time.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22321-another-reason-why-leaving-ca-for-texas-may-not-be-such-a-great-idea)

   ##  [ Ukraine: the Key to Unlocking the Russian-American Stalemate](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22261-ukraine-the-key-to-unlocking-the-russian-american-stalemate "Ukraine: the Key to Unlocking the Russian-American Stalemate")

      Details    Melvin Goodman    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     August 09 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2021/063w.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22261-ukraine-the-key-to-unlocking-the-russian-american-stalemate)

Alexander Vindman, the former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, provided testimony to the Congress in 2019 that framed the charge of abuse of power in the impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22261-ukraine-the-key-to-unlocking-the-russian-american-stalemate)

   ##  [ Wiener’s housing bill could encourage even more sprawl](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22136-wiener-s-housing-bill-could-encourage-even-more-sprawl "Wiener’s housing bill could encourage even more sprawl")

      Details    Zelda Bronstein    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     July 22 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2021/058l.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22136-wiener-s-housing-bill-could-encourage-even-more-sprawl)

SB10 WATCH-Scott Wiener styles himself an environmental legislator. In February 2017, the then-rookie state senator [averred](https://cal.streetsblog.org/2017/02/03/new-senator-scott-wiener-on-transit-housing-and-complete-streets/) that “having good, well-planned, transit-oriented, compact housing…\[is\] one of the most critical things we can be doing to meet our climate goals.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22136-wiener-s-housing-bill-could-encourage-even-more-sprawl)

   ##  [ The Billionaire Space Race is a Wake-Up Call](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22129-the-billionaire-space-race-is-a-wake-up-call "The Billionaire Space Race is a Wake-Up Call")

      Details    Sam Pizzigati    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     July 22 2021       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2021/058y.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22129-the-billionaire-space-race-is-a-wake-up-call)

SPACE TRAVEL-Three of the richest billionaires on Earth are now spending billions to exit Earth’s atmosphere and enter into space. The world is watching — and reflecting.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/22129-the-billionaire-space-race-is-a-wake-up-call)

   ##  [ The Sad Saga of RecycLA and Why We Need Competition](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14984-the-sad-saga-of-recycla-and-why-we-need-competition "The Sad Saga of RecycLA and Why We Need Competition")

      Details    Leron Gubler    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     February 26 2018       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2018/017g.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14984-the-sad-saga-of-recycla-and-why-we-need-competition)

GUEST WORDS-In the 38 years that I have worked in the City of Los Angeles (at two chambers of commerce), I have never seen anything quite like the rollout of RecycLA. It is fair to say that it has been nothing short of a disaster.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14984-the-sad-saga-of-recycla-and-why-we-need-competition)

   ##  [ The Putin I Know](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14906-the-putin-i-know "The Putin I Know")

      Details    Franz J. Sedelmayer    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     February 15 2018       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2018/014h.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14906-the-putin-i-know)

GUEST WORDS—*(This Insider look at Vladimir Putin was made available to CityWatch through the auspices of our Washington DC Bureau Chief, Sara Corcoran.)* When I look at coverage of Vladimir Putin in the American media, I’m regularly shocked and puzzled by what I see. Russia’s authoritarian, mobbed-up president is commonly portrayed as an authoritarian superman: Putin the uber-politician; Putin, the commanding figure of power and puissance on the world stage; Putin, the Machiavellian master schemer whose tentacles stretch from the Kremlin to the Trump White House, where he has skillfully managed to collude with, if not the president, then almost certainly those around him.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14906-the-putin-i-know)

   ##  [ The Economy: Trump Talk vs. Trump Walk](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14905-the-economy-trump-talk-vs-trump-walk "The Economy: Trump Talk vs. Trump Walk")

      Details    Doug Epperhart    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     February 15 2018       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2018/014j.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14905-the-economy-trump-talk-vs-trump-walk)

VIEW FROM HERE--According to Donald Trump, the American economy is bigger and better and more beautiful than it has ever been. So why did the stock market take a tumble, losing more than 10 percent of its value in the space of a couple of weeks? It continues to bounce up and down by a few points, not moving decisively in one direction or another. Clearly, traders are not heeding the Donald’s warning about letting the Dow Jones decline.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14905-the-economy-trump-talk-vs-trump-walk)

   ##  [ Terror Becomes the New Normal](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14903-terror-becomes-the-new-normal "Terror Becomes the New Normal")

      Details    Bob Gelfand    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     February 15 2018       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2018/014l.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14903-terror-becomes-the-new-normal)

GELFAND’S WORLD--One or two mass shootings ago, the Commander in Chief responded to a reporter's question by stating that it wasn't the time to talk about gun control. Well, he's had weeks and weeks to talk about it since then and doesn't seem to have gotten around to it. I guess it just slipped his mind. What will the Republican congress do in light of yesterday's massacre? Do we even need to ask?

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14903-terror-becomes-the-new-normal)

   ##  [ Righting the Wrongs of the War on Drugs](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14900-righting-the-wrongs-of-the-war-on-drugs "Righting the Wrongs of the War on Drugs")

      Details    Mark Ridley-Thomas    [GUEST WORDS](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words)     February 15 2018       [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2018/014p.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14900-righting-the-wrongs-of-the-war-on-drugs)

GUEST COMMENTARY-I am, and will remain, concerned that legalizing the sale of marijuana could be detrimental to the health and safety of vulnerable neighborhoods, leading to unintended consequences that cannot be offset by overblown estimates of the profit that commercialization might bring. Still, I recognize that Prop. 64 offers an opportunity to address at least some of the profound injustices perpetrated by the War on Drugs, especially against people of color.

     [  Read more …  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words/14900-righting-the-wrongs-of-the-war-on-drugs)

 Page 14 of 14

- [Start](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words "Start")
- [Prev](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=252 "Prev")
- [5](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=84 "5")
- [6](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=105 "6")
- [7](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=126 "7")
- [8](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=147 "8")
- [9](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=168 "9")
- [10](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=189 "10")
- [11](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=210 "11")
- [12](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=231 "12")
- [13](https://www.citywatchla.com/guest-words?start=252 "13")
- <a>14</a>
- <a>Next</a>
- <a>End</a>
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>