LOS ANGELES

THE CITY--Homelessness in LA has run rampant. The blight has moved way beyond Skid Row to neighborhoods in every council district, affecting the quality of life for hard-working, tax-paying Angelenos in a sad and profound way.

@THE GUSS REPORT-The next time that someone – regardless of race, gender, identity and sexual orientation – sues the City of Los Angeles over a hostile workplace environment, sexual harassment or whistleblower claim, today’s column may wind up in the lawsuit’s discovery process. 

PERSPECTIVE--Valley Glen and NoHo, along with parts of Van Nuys, could be in for a rude awakening. Valley Village, would also be in the mix. 

TRANSIT LA-In the glossy Metro pamphlet, there is the lead article: “Metro Board’s New Maverick Leader / Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Brings a Practical Vision to Transit Agency.”

GELFAND’S WORLD--Considering that it's going to be next to impossible to remove Trump from the presidency through an impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, people are entitled to ask why the Democrats in the House are even bothering.

VIEW FROM HERE-I am the whistleblower. Here, Mr. President, take me. I am the one who sounded the alarm.

CLIMATE POLITICS--The planet is coming apart at the seams right before the eyes of scientists at work in remote fringe areas of the North where permafrost crumbles and collapses.

VOICES-Natan “Rami” Avraham, a Los Angeles resident of over 30 years who is a plumber by trade, continues his hunger strike, which began in 2017 to protest bias, unconstitutional actions and defamatory statements by then Los Angeles Commissioner / Judge Matthew St. George. Mr. Avraham filed a civil suit for damages in 2018, based on the defamatory statements by St. George, which included comments that Mr. Avraham was a potential terrorist and threat to society.

VIEW FROM HERE--Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was a monster who deserved to be brought to justice.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-Exactly what is a coven of evil when applied to the judiciary?

NEW GEOGRAPHY--Gov. Gavin Newsom has committed himself to look for ways of “unlocking the enormous potential” of the Central Valley, but in reality he seems more interested in slamming the door to its prosperity behind him.

TRANSIT LA--An insert into my recent home delivery of Los Angeles Times was the Fall 2019 issue of Mobility Road | Rail |Transit, from the folks we entrust for our mobility around Southern California: Metro. It is a large sheet, folded, glossy paper, full color, two-sided, twenty-four-page pamphlet telling, what?

ALPERN AT LARGE--Every once in a while, the denizens of Planet Stupid show up on Planet Earth to bless us with their willful ignorance, false narratives, and racist/classist sentiments. 

RANTZ & RAVEZ-It wasn’t long ago that California -- especially Southern California -- had a great reputation as the place to live, work and play. We were a state with a moderate climate, a great educational system and many quiet residential communities with affordable housing and plenty of places to shop at local retail centers. 

EASTSIDER-During our recent fires that seemed to consume most of California, one utility company stood out. LA City’s Department of Water & Power kept our lights on. 

GUEST WORDS--Over the past few months President Trump has unilaterally by Tweet and telephone begun to dismantle the U.S. military’s involvement in the Middle East.

2020-Republicans are less likely to win elections when voter turnout is high. It’s true: Four of the five states with the highest voter turnout voted blue in the last presidential and midterm elections. All are crucial swing states. 

VETERANS DAY-If you’re looking for a way to honor veterans, here’s one: protect the U.S. Postal Service.

CAL MATTERS-Legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom primarily aimed at requiring Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns before being placed on the March 3 primary ballot appears to be in jeopardy. 

PLANNING WATCH-An old joke describes LA’s four seasons as fires, floods, earthquakes, and civil disturbances.

POLITICS LOS ANGELES--As the race to replace Councilman Jose Huizar in CD 14 heats up, rumblings about possible candidate residency fraud are circulating.