# LOS ANGELES ## [ PPIC Poll: Is Feinstein in Trouble? Not Likely](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14096-ppic-poll-is-feinstein-in-trouble-not-likely "PPIC Poll: Is Feinstein in Trouble? Not Likely") Details Jerry Roberts & Phil Trounstine [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078i.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14096-ppic-poll-is-feinstein-in-trouble-not-likely) CALBUZZ REPORT—We interrupt our hiatus to file this breaking news report: [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14096-ppic-poll-is-feinstein-in-trouble-not-likely) ## [ Senator Kevin de Leon: California’s Bigot Pro Tem](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14093-senator-kevin-de-leon-california-s-bigot-pro-tem "Senator Kevin de Leon: California’s Bigot Pro Tem") Details Kenneth S. Alpern [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078m.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14093-senator-kevin-de-leon-california-s-bigot-pro-tem) POLITICS--A funny thing happened after State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon shot off his mouth and attacked neighborhood councils, and all those volunteers strangling and handcuffing the Los Angeles City Council by their ["NIMBYism"](http://2preservela.org/kevin-de-leon-dubbed-bigoted-after-attacking-los-angeles-neighborhood-councils/): [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14093-senator-kevin-de-leon-california-s-bigot-pro-tem) ## [ Social Change: Enough with ‘Taking-a-Knee’, Now It’s Time for Some Real Work](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14092-social-change-enough-with-taking-a-knee-now-it-s-time-for-some-real-work "Social Change: Enough with ‘Taking-a-Knee’, Now It’s Time for Some Real Work") Details Denyse Selesnick [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078n.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14092-social-change-enough-with-taking-a-knee-now-it-s-time-for-some-real-work) MY TURN--Two diametrically opposite events caught my attention recently and yet they shared an underlining theme: Freedom of speech. What does the first amendment to the Constitution really mean? I'm sure the Founding Fathers (FF) saw it differently than we do today. Just like many other issues in our contemporary life we interpret differently. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14092-social-change-enough-with-taking-a-knee-now-it-s-time-for-some-real-work) ## [ Time to Take a Knee](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14088-time-to-take-a-knee "Time to Take a Knee") Details David Bell [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078u.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14088-time-to-take-a-knee) BELL VIEW-So, taking a knee disrespects the flag, the anthem, the troops and the Country? But waiving the Confederate Battle flag is your heritage? The essence of taking a knee, of silent protest, is respect. Respect for yourself and respect for the object of your protest. The players taking a knee are not burning the flag; they’re not spitting on the flag. They are engaged in silent, respectful protest. Just listen to Eric Reid, the 49’ers player who took a knee with Colin Kaepernick [explain](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/colin-kaepernick-football-protests.html?action=click&contentCollection=Art%20%26%20Design&module=Trending&version=Full®ion=Marginalia&pgtype=article) why he did it: [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14088-time-to-take-a-knee) ## [ Top 5 City Council Members Most Likely to Despise Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14087-top-5-city-council-members-most-likely-to-despise-los-angeles-neighborhood-councils "Top 5 City Council Members Most Likely to Despise Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils") Details Jill Stewart [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078w.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14087-top-5-city-council-members-most-likely-to-despise-los-angeles-neighborhood-councils) “BEHIND THE SCENES, WINK WINK”--A firestorm erupted in LA neighborhoods this week after State Sen. Kevin de Leon *(photo above an NBC press conference),* the second-most powerful man in Sacramento, told KNBC that elected volunteers on LA’s Neighborhood Councils have “strangled” and “handcuffed” and issued “threats” against the Los Angeles City Council over housing development. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14087-top-5-city-council-members-most-likely-to-despise-los-angeles-neighborhood-councils) ## [ Unions, Greens Send CA Utilities Commission a Message: Road to Zero Emissions Is Paved with Urgency](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14084-unions-greens-send-ca-utilities-commission-a-message-road-to-zero-emissions-is-paved-with-urgency "Unions, Greens Send CA Utilities Commission a Message: Road to Zero Emissions Is Paved with Urgency") Details Larry Buhl [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078z5.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14084-unions-greens-send-ca-utilities-commission-a-message-road-to-zero-emissions-is-paved-with-urgency) ENVIRONMENT POLITICS--Union members, environmental justice advocates and green transportation activists packed a meeting room Tuesday evening in Downtown Los Angeles to send a loud and clear message to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): the city and state should make electric transportation in the city and at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports a priority. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14084-unions-greens-send-ca-utilities-commission-a-message-road-to-zero-emissions-is-paved-with-urgency) ## [ When Gavin Newsom Came to Town - To the East Area Progressive Democrats Meeting, No Less](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14082-when-gavin-newsom-came-to-town-to-the-east-area-progressive-democrats-meeting-no-less "When Gavin Newsom Came to Town - To the East Area Progressive Democrats Meeting, No Less") Details Tony Butka [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 28 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/078z3.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14082-when-gavin-newsom-came-to-town-to-the-east-area-progressive-democrats-meeting-no-less) EASTSIDER-Outside of being the former Mayor of San Francisco, and (also) formerly being married to *Fox News* Contributor Kimberly Guilfoyle, what do most of Southern Californians know about Gavin Newsom, who is running hard to be the next Governor of California? Not much. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14082-when-gavin-newsom-came-to-town-to-the-east-area-progressive-democrats-meeting-no-less) ## [ A Word to CA Political Philanthropists: Watch What Politicians Do not What They Say](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14077-a-word-to-ca-political-philanthropists-watch-what-politicians-do-not-what-they-say "A Word to CA Political Philanthropists: Watch What Politicians Do not What They Say") Details David Crane [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077v.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14077-a-word-to-ca-political-philanthropists-watch-what-politicians-do-not-what-they-say) GUEST COMMENTARY-Imagine the following: A candidate for elected office in California *says* to donors and voters that, if elected, he will innovate state services so they are as consumer-friendly and digitally-available as, say, Apple’s services. But the candidate *also* seeks the political support of government employees (e.g. school district and DMV employees) for whom such innovation would likely mean fewer jobs and stricter performance measures. Given that government employees are the largest contributors to political campaigns in California, what do you think the candidate, if elected, will actually *do*? The answer: Not innovate. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14077-a-word-to-ca-political-philanthropists-watch-what-politicians-do-not-what-they-say) ## [ After all the Promises … Homelessness is Still Growing in LA](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14073-after-all-the-promises-homelessness-is-still-growing-in-la "After all the Promises … Homelessness is Still Growing in LA") Details Tim Deegan [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077c.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14073-after-all-the-promises-homelessness-is-still-growing-in-la) DEEGAN ON LA-Now that we’ve had two years of announcements, promises, photo-ops, budget proposals, ballot measures and votes all aimed at improving the plight of people with homelessness, have you noticed less homeless people on the streets? Or does it look like more of the same…or worse? The answer may be a little bit of both: there’s been some looks-good-on-paper progress, but not much visual progress. And since visuals track more closely with the truth, this is not very encouraging. Let’s start with the sobering statistic that the city’s homeless count of just over 34,000 was up 20% from 2016, according to a May 30, 2017 [Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Report](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-homeless-count-20170530-story.html)**.** If you add in the county’s numbers, the homeless population rose 23% in the year. Once a cheerleader for progress on the homeless issue, Mayor Eric Garcetti could only say, “There's no sugarcoating the bad news.” That’s a huge turnaround for a civic leader who promised from the steps of City Hall two years ago that there would be $100 million dedicated to solving the homeless crisis. As things turned out, that was a press release, not a fact. Garcetti’s next announcement was a $138 million allocation for the homeless in his recent budget, but that also [under-delivered](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-city-homeless-budget-20170602-story.html) with lots of finger-pointing as to why. So, what are the facts? Ultimately, Bond Measure HHH providing $1.2 billion for housing the homeless was placed on the November 2016 ballot and was approved by 77% of the voters, a strong indication that people want a solution and are willing to pay for it. Property owners will pay an annual tax of around $33 per year for ten years. This will help finance the construction of 10,000 units of affordable permanent-supportive housing over the next ten years. That’s where the paperwork part of the problem looks good -- which is a great start -- but the upstream to completion will take years. Who knows how many more homeless will appear on our streets in the meantime? Will that negate the effects of a billion-dollar housing program designed to house only 10,000 homeless people? It’s possible that this effort will become part of Los Angeles’ mythology: our version of the Greek myth of Sisyphus who was forced by the gods to roll a huge boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down over and over again each time he neared completing his never-ending task. Like him, we may be pushing the homeless rock up the hill forever. Our enviable climate and easygoing lifestyle make Los Angeles a magnet for many, including the homeless. It’s not only about the City of Los Angeles: the homeless problem is evident in other cities like West Hollywood where plans are driven less by economics -- they show no signs of throwing lots of money at the problem -- and more by solutions provided by city government, particularly the public safety component. Their strategies are reminiscent of how the British defeated the Spanish Armada which sent its wind-driven warships into the English Channel in 1588 to invade Britain. The British responded with smaller craft, often oar-powered for mobility, so they could maneuver around the bigger ships without relying on wind strength and direction, eventually defeating the Spanish. The moral of that war story was “be nimble.” Perhaps our WEHO neighbors have something to offer for helping the homeless. Online news source *WEHOville.com* had a [four-part series on the homeless](http://www.wehoville.com/2017/09/20/homelessness-city-west-hollywood-part-3/) last week about how they are tackling the homeless problem. The WeHo plan includes contracted-out substance abuse treatment, information sharing on outreach efforts and homeless services by the Sheriffs who attend homeless-related meetings with everyone from the Chamber of Commerce to Neighborhood Watch meetings. In addition, there are public speaking appearances by City staff members, the Mayor and Sheriff’s Captain; block captain training, including how to deal with the homeless, is provided by the Sheriff’s department. None of this required a bond issue. Is LA “too big” to succeed at solving its homeless problem? Are we the “Spanish Armada” versus the “British Small Boats” of West Hollywood? Adding some urgency to the problem is the announcement a few days ago by Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Public Health Director, at the weekly meeting of the LA County Board of Supervisors that LA is experiencing an outbreak of Hepatitis A. Recently the same outbreak occurred in San Diego, hitting the homeless population hard; a similar outbreak was also reported in Santa Cruz. Michael Weinstein, president of AHF (Aids Healthcare Foundation), responded, “This declaration must be followed with immediate and forceful actions: portable toilets and hand-washing stations should be deployed immediately and the City of Los Angeles should put an immediate halt to rousting homeless encampments and concentrate instead on improving overall sanitary conditions…This outbreak is a result of, and is likely to be further fueled by the deplorable living conditions of homeless populations in Los Angeles.” So, now a potential public health hazard has been added into the mix of the overall homelessness issue. Something more tangible and immediate than the prospect of a billion-dollar housing plan over ten years reminds us that microbes, not money, may be where the attention should go. Will bleaching the sidewalks of homeless tent encampments be next? The homeless do not even have the dignity of public restrooms yet, but the looming Hepatitis A problem -- a hazard for everyone -- may accelerate the decision to provide them. What do you think: are we on the right track for finding solutions for people with homelessness? Please take a moment and share your opinion about these issues by taking the brief poll below and press “view” to see how your responses compare with others. \[sexypolling id="23"\] \[sexypolling id="24"\] \[sexypolling id="25"\] *(Tim Deegan is a long-time resident and community leader in the Miracle Mile, who has served as board chair at the Mid City West Community Council and on the board of the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition. Tim can be reached at* *.) Photo credit: [WEHOville.com](http://WEHOville.com)* *Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.* ## [ CA Auto Insurers Ordered to Adjust Rates … Guess Who Gets Screwed](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14071-ca-auto-insurers-ordered-to-adjust-rates-guess-who-gets-screwed "CA Auto Insurers Ordered to Adjust Rates … Guess Who Gets Screwed") Details Julia Angwin and Jeff Larson [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077e.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14071-ca-auto-insurers-ordered-to-adjust-rates-guess-who-gets-screwed) PROPUBLICA REPORT-California regulators said they have required Nationwide and USAA to adjust their auto insurance rates as a result of [a report by ProPublica and Consumer Reports](https://www.propublica.org/article/minority-neighborhoods-higher-car-insurance-premiums-white-areas-same-risk) that many minority neighborhoods were paying more than white areas with the same risk. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14071-ca-auto-insurers-ordered-to-adjust-rates-guess-who-gets-screwed) ## [ Earthquake Safety is Coming to LA, But It's Not What You Think](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14070-earthquake-safety-is-coming-to-la-but-it-s-not-what-you-think "Earthquake Safety is Coming to LA, But It's Not What You Think") Details Bob Gelfand [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077g.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14070-earthquake-safety-is-coming-to-la-but-it-s-not-what-you-think) GELFAND’S WORLD--It will be a fine spring day in the year 2023 when Los Angeles achieves earthquake survivability. That's because the owners of approximately 13,500 properties were given 7 years (starting March 3, 2016) to upgrade buildings that are the most dangerous in earthquakes. We're talking mostly about those apartment buildings in which the first level of apartments are [built above garage spaces](https://dudo6el28sqqp.cloudfront.net/gothamistgallery/2016/3/17/7b89cb5ec-square.jpeg) which are only held up by thin poles or other inadequate support. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14070-earthquake-safety-is-coming-to-la-but-it-s-not-what-you-think) ## [ LA District Attorney Accountability: MIA](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14066-la-district-attorney-accountability-mia "LA District Attorney Accountability: MIA") Details Eric Preven & Joshua Preven [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077m.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14066-la-district-attorney-accountability-mia) THE PREVEN REPORT--It's against the law not to pay fuel excise taxes, but that’s exactly what the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office did for years, according to the LA County Auditor-Controller's January 2016 [report on the](http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/auditor/audit_reports/239356_2016-01-29DistrictAttorney%27sOffice-VoyagerCardReview.pdf)[ "Voyager" Charge Card ](http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/auditor/audit_reports/239356_2016-01-29DistrictAttorney%27sOffice-VoyagerCardReview.pdf)program. To date there’s been not a single disciplinary action taken over the matter, even though everyday residents of Los Angeles are prosecuted all the time for less serious violations of the law. The Auditor-Controller writes: [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14066-la-district-attorney-accountability-mia) ## [ Under the Radar! New Alcohol Center in West LA is Business as Usual for County … More Secrets and Lies!](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14060-under-the-radar-new-alcohol-center-in-west-la-is-business-as-usual-for-county-more-secrets-and-lies "Under the Radar! New Alcohol Center in West LA is Business as Usual for County …  More Secrets and Lies!") Details Jay Handal [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 25 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/077s.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14060-under-the-radar-new-alcohol-center-in-west-la-is-business-as-usual-for-county-more-secrets-and-lies) JUST ASKIN’-County Supervisor Kuehl has decided unilaterally that an alcohol center should be opened in West LA – something that both Culver City and Venice rejected for their communities. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14060-under-the-radar-new-alcohol-center-in-west-la-is-business-as-usual-for-county-more-secrets-and-lies) ## [ Hot Damn! An Old Fashioned Down ‘n Dirty Board Election for CalPERS](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14050-hot-damn-an-old-fashioned-down-n-dirty-board-election-for-calpers "Hot Damn! An Old Fashioned Down ‘n Dirty Board Election for CalPERS") Details Tony Butka [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076d.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14050-hot-damn-an-old-fashioned-down-n-dirty-board-election-for-calpers) EASTSIDER-Whatever happened to staid old CalPERS and its ho-hum “under the radar” elections? Evidently a lot. The contested election currently underway is exposing some serious fracture lines in the way they run those elections! [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14050-hot-damn-an-old-fashioned-down-n-dirty-board-election-for-calpers) ## [ L'Shanah Tovah! (Happy New Year!) Same as the Old Year... or Is It?](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14049-l-shanah-tovah-happy-new-year-same-as-the-old-year-or-is-it "L'Shanah Tovah! (Happy New Year!) Same as the Old Year... or Is It?") Details Kenneth S. Alpern [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076e.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14049-l-shanah-tovah-happy-new-year-same-as-the-old-year-or-is-it) ALPERN AT LARGE--Whether you're Jewish or not, I wish you all a Happy, Healthy New Year. Always a time to reflect, review and restore our goals and outlook with respect our lives, our community, our nation, and our world. So much has changed, and so much remains the same...so why do I get the idea that things are about to undergo some serious Change? [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14049-l-shanah-tovah-happy-new-year-same-as-the-old-year-or-is-it) ## [ Shocking New Study: ‘Half of Us Who Drink, Drink Excessively’ … LA Needs the Tools to Protect Its Neighborhoods](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14046-shocking-new-study-half-of-us-who-drink-drink-excessively-la-needs-the-tools-to-protect-its-neighborhoods "Shocking New Study: ‘Half of Us Who Drink, Drink Excessively’ … LA Needs the Tools to Protect Its Neighborhoods") Details Oren Katz [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076i.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14046-shocking-new-study-half-of-us-who-drink-drink-excessively-la-needs-the-tools-to-protect-its-neighborhoods) VOICES--Okay, maybe it’s not so surprising that half of us drink alcohol, and the half of us that do, drink excessively. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14046-shocking-new-study-half-of-us-who-drink-drink-excessively-la-needs-the-tools-to-protect-its-neighborhoods) ## [ Elusive Population Growth in the City Angels](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14042-elusive-population-growth-in-the-city-angels "Elusive Population Growth in the City Angels") Details Wendell Cox [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076o.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14042-elusive-population-growth-in-the-city-angels) GETTING THE NUMBERS RIGHT-How many times can a city reach four million population for the first time? I submit that Los Angeles (my birthplace), now near its *fourth* such celebration, is the undisputed champion, with each of the first three having not actually been reached. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14042-elusive-population-growth-in-the-city-angels) ## [ The Spirit of Rev. Barber Brings Moral Mondays to LA](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14041-the-spirit-of-rev-barber-brings-moral-mondays-to-la "The Spirit of Rev. Barber Brings Moral Mondays to LA") Details Leonard Isenberg [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076q.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14041-the-spirit-of-rev-barber-brings-moral-mondays-to-la) THE ISENBERG FILE-*-"When you see something that's wrong, eventually you have to do something about it."* -- Rosa Parks, quoted from Reverend Barber's book, *“The Third Reconstruction.”* [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14041-the-spirit-of-rev-barber-brings-moral-mondays-to-la) ## [ LA: Just Another Talk In the Park](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14040-la-just-another-talk-in-the-park "LA: Just Another Talk In the Park") Details David Bell [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076w.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14040-la-just-another-talk-in-the-park) BELL VIEW--Yesterday, a memory popped up on my Facebook feed from eight years ago. In 2009, the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council took part in a citywide event known as ["Parking Day LA."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-CsfHHwYU) The event began in 2005 in San Francisco as an effort to draw attention to the lack of public space in major cities. Admittedly, the event is a bit precious. A bunch of hipsters get together and make a temporary “park” out of a metered parking space. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14040-la-just-another-talk-in-the-park) ## [ Waiting for the Other Pension Shoe to Drop: LA County is $25 Billion in OPEB Debt](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14039-waiting-for-the-other-pension-shoe-to-drop-la-county-is-25-billion-in-opeb-debt "Waiting for the Other Pension Shoe to Drop: LA County is $25 Billion in OPEB Debt") Details Marc Joffe [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076r.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14039-waiting-for-the-other-pension-shoe-to-drop-la-county-is-25-billion-in-opeb-debt) UNDERFUNDED LIABILITY-A recently completed [actuarial report](https://www.dropbox.com/s/e4jpgp9emheqmgr/CountyLosAngeles%20ERS%20OPEB%20Valuation%202016.pdf?dl=0) shows that Los Angeles County has over $25 billion in unfunded retiree healthcare liabilities — and this constitutes the greatest threat to the county’s long term fiscal sustainability. LA County’s Other Postemployment Benefit (OPEB) unfunded liability turns out to be greater than its unfunded pension liability. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14039-waiting-for-the-other-pension-shoe-to-drop-la-county-is-25-billion-in-opeb-debt) ## [ What if Angelenos Stopped Paying the Wall Street Tax?](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14037-what-if-angelenos-stopped-paying-the-wall-street-tax "What if Angelenos Stopped Paying the Wall Street Tax?") Details Richard Lee Abrams [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles) September 21 2017 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Sept-2017/076t.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14037-what-if-angelenos-stopped-paying-the-wall-street-tax) CORRUPTION WATCH-Unlike many taxes, the Wall Street tax gets us taxpayers nothing in return. We do not get sewers or streets or parks or police or paramedics. Each month, millions of Angelenos cough up anywhere from $500 to $4,000 for the Wall Street tax. No one has taken the time to calculate the exact amount of it, but we know that newcomers pay a higher tax than Angelenos who are long-time residents. The Wall Street tax is the extra rent or mortgage Angelenos pay each month for housing costs over and above the fair market value. One way or another, our rent and mortgage payments end up on Wall Street. [ Read more … ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14037-what-if-angelenos-stopped-paying-the-wall-street-tax) 1. [ Women of Color are Again Creating the Culture … This Time It's for Cannabis](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14035-women-of-color-are-again-creating-the-culture-this-time-it-s-for-cannabis) 2. [ LA Demolition Derby: The Westside is Winning the Race to Make Room for New Housing](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14032-la-demolition-derby-the-westside-is-winning-the-demolition-derby-in-the-race-to-make-room-for-new-housing) 3. [ Disaster Preparedness in LA: Will Government Agency Turf Wars Get Some of Us Killed?](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14031-disaster-preparedness-in-la-will-government-agency-turf-wars-get-some-of-us-killed) 4. [ Did New California State Bar Boss Cheat on Bar Rules?](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14030-did-new-california-state-bar-boss-cheat-on-bar-rules) 5. [ Eastside CA Assembly Race: Foul Smell of Money from Big Oil has Set Off Some Alarms](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14029-eastside-ca-assembly-race-foul-smell-of-money-from-big-oil-has-set-off-some-alarms) 6. [ Fool's Gold: In the Golden State, We're NOT So Educated ... or Open-Minded!](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14027-fool-s-gold-in-the-golden-state-we-re-not-so-educated-or-open-minded) 7. [ How to Deal with an Age of Disasters …California has Some Lessons to Teach](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14026-how-to-deal-with-an-age-of-disasters-california-has-some-lessons-to-teach) 8. [ LAUSD Prez Ref Rodriguez Charged with Money Laundering … Here’s the Complete Story](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14024-lausd-prez-ref-rodriguez-charged-with-money-laundering-here-s-the-complete-story) 9. [ Los Angeles: De-Densify or Die](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14023-los-angeles-de-densify-or-die) 10. [ NC Congress Report: ‘Developers have City Council’s Ear,’ ‘Nobody at City Hall is Listening to the People’](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14022-nc-congress-report-developers-have-city-council-s-ear-nobody-at-city-hall-is-listening-to-the-people) 11. [ New Law Eliminating Lifelong Registration for Convicted Sex Offenders Heads for Brown’s OK](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14021-new-law-eliminating-lifelong-registration-for-convicted-sex-offenders-heads-for-brown-s-ok) 12. [ Pulling the Plug on CA’s Community College Baccalaureate Program is Short-Sighted](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14020-pulling-the-plug-on-ca-s-community-college-baccalaureate-program-is-short-sighted) 13. [ The 3 Americans Who Should Pay for Medicare-for-All](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14018-the-3-americans-who-should-pay-for-medicare-for-all) 14. [ Another Big Real Estate ‘Big Bamboozle’: ‘Infill Development Halts Climate Change’](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14012-another-big-real-estate-big-bamboozle-infill-development-halts-climate-change) 15. [ How LA’s Skid Row Got Screwed: Neighborhood Council Grievance Panels are a Fraud!](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14010-how-la-s-skid-row-got-screwed-neighborhood-council-grievance-panels-are-a-fraud) 16. [ LA’s Loyal Donkey Taxpayers](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14008-la-s-loyal-donkey-taxpayers) 17. [ Mar Vista: Different Views on Traffic but In Agreement on Transparency](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14006-mar-vista-different-views-on-traffic-but-in-agreement-on-transparency) 18. [ Mariachis Struggle Under Gentrification - LA Times Drops the Ball](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14005-mariachis-struggle-under-gentrification-la-times-drops-the-ball) 19. [ People of Color have been Training for Donald Trump Their Whole Lives](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14003-people-of-color-have-been-training-for-donald-trump-their-whole-lives) 20. [ Shocker! LA Pension Gap Spirals Past $10 Billion](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/14001-shocker-la-pension-gap-spirals-past-10-billion) Page 258 of 355 - [Start](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles "Start") - [Prev](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5376 "Prev") - [253](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5292 "253") - [254](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5313 "254") - [255](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5334 "255") - [256](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5355 "256") - [257](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5376 "257") - 258 - [259](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5418 "259") - [260](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5439 "260") - [261](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5460 "261") - [262](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5481 "262") - [Next](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=5418 "Next") - [End](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles?start=7434 "End")