LOS ANGELES

NEW NORMAL-In many ways, American life is returning to normalcy: Masks are no longer required in many locations, schools and universities are slated to re-open, and the days of social distancing begin to fade as concerts and sporting events bring spectators back.

VOICES - Governing a city as magnificent, complex and diverse as Los Angeles is no easy feat, and Mayor Garcetti has done a remarkable tour of duty. For more than two decades of service, he has led with head and heart.

As a California community organizer in touch with the issues on the ground, my focus has been to educate the community on practical solutions on the issues that affect Californians:

Whether you're freaked out about the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 Virus or not, we're coming out of the pandemic.  

GELFAND’S WORLD-In my previous column, I discussed the legal wrangling going on between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Daily Kos website.

RANTZ & RAVEZ-I will begin with the most recent and amazing statement made by LAPD Chief Michel Moore in supporting and in fact defending LA County District Attorney George Gascón who is facing a Recall after a short time as the elected District Attorney. 

THE CITY-For nearly a decade, Heather Holt (photo above) had been in charge of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, which serves as a watchdog over LA’s politicians, lobbyists, and others.

PLANNING WATCH-LA’s draft Housing Element, updated Community Plans, and other up-zoning guidelines and ordinances double-down on LA’s (and other cities) ongoing efforts to solve the housing crisis by promoting the construction of private sector housing.

CAPITAL & MAIN-The last two decades have seen the downsizing or demise of countless American print media outlets, leaving many of us resigned at reports of the latest corporate consolidation or private equity takeover of a beloved publication.  

EASTSIDER-The more I try to look into the insides of the NoHo to Pasadena BRT Project, the weirder things get. 

VIEW FROM HERE-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously wrote in 1913, “If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.”

GELFAND'S WORLD-I find myself disagreeing with the strongly liberal website Daily Kos over its right to avoid obeying a subpoena.

VIEW FROM HERE-The California judiciary has become a criminal enterprise and has caused grievous harm to individuals and to society.

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA - Why do Californians celebrate Independence Day when we’ve given up on our independence? 

THE CITY-The most interesting and provocative conversations happen around a shared table. On June 29, 2021, YouTube premiered a video entitled, A Star-Studded Dinner | Recipe For Change. 

RECALL ELECTION-California voters will decide on Sept. 14 whether to throw Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office, making him the second governor in state history — and just the fourth nationwide — to face a recall.  

ALPERN AT LARGE-We just had another Independence Day -- and yet the definition of "independence" is as nebulous as ever. Perhaps the greatest form of "independence" is the freedom to safety discuss and debate the past, present, and ongoing issues surrounding "independence" or "dependence," so let's go: 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT-Above is a map of Los Angeles County with the dates of the Los Angeles County Redistricting Committee meetings by area.

DIGITAL FINANCE-The world of cryptocurrency is considered to be one of the most innovative segments that allow you to deal with the financial aspect of your life.

VIEW FROM HERE-Sheriff Alex Villanueva played no role in creating the homeless crisis.

COMMENTARY-In the weeks leading up to Independence Day, independence has been much on my mind.