In the News
DWP Reform: ‘A Rose by Any Other Name’
RATEPAYERS BEWARE-DWP Charter Reform will be on the November 8th ballot. Voters will do themselves a favor by viewing this initiative with a healthy dose of skepticism. As Shakespeare reminds us, “a rose by any other name….” Just so happen…
Developer vs. Residents Battle Turns to War
THIS IS WHAT I KNOW--If you’ve ever taken Las Virgenes Road to the beach, you’ve probably noticed the golden hills of the California landsc…
City Destroys Homes of the Poor to Fatten METRO’s Bottom Line
DANCE OF DENSITY-We have heard that one reason the Garcetti Administration has been demolishing the homes of poor people is to construct mo…
Church and Big Business Noticeably Absent from Homeless Solutions
DEEGAN ON LA-There’s been no shortage of ideas, proposals, concepts, wishes and dreams for how to provide housing for our city’s homeless p…
California Power and Influence MIA at GOP Convention
POLITICS--There is one place that the influence and power of California–the home of the sixth largest economy in the world, cultural icons…
Beverly Hills Developer Is Trump's Biggest Donor (Well, After Trump)
POLITICS--As if there weren't enough reasons for people to hate on notorious L.A. developer Geoff Palmer (photo above), who's brought the c…
Baca’s Punishment Should Match the Level of Responsibility
GUEST COMMENTARY—(George Hofstetter’s column was written prior to former Sheriff Baca’s Monday appearance before Judge Percy Anderson … and…
Hispanics Least Prepared For a Major Disaster In LA
LATINO PERSPECTIVE--In Los Angeles County the question is not whether a major disaster will happen, but when. Experts expect an earthquake…
Watts: Why I Don’t Care About My Neighborhood’s Bad Reputation
VOICES FROM THE SQUARE--Is there really something wrong with Watts? Or have we just taught ourselves to think that way? I grew up in Watts…
Vote Early and Often for LA Metro
TRANSIT TALK-I’m home again, for a few minutes at least. Hey, cut me some slack; have you ever heard of snow and ice? It’s summer and to fu…
The American Death Ritual, LA Style
THE CITY-All cultures have death rituals. America’s is familiar to all. We are shocked when people are killed. Yes, shocked! It hasn’t happ…
Show Me the Money! Who’s Behind California’s 17 Ballot Initiatives
EXPOSED—Want to know who has the most to gain/lose in politics? Follow the money. MapLight has done that for us on California’s ballot meas…
Sanchez has Uphill Climb for Senate Even after Encouraging Poll, Endorsements
CALWATCHDOG--New polling and a surprise endorsement light up Loretta Sanchez’s quest for the U.S. Senate — but both also illustrate the cha…
One More ‘Last Stand’ against Mansionization in Los Angeles!
PLATKIN ON PLANNING-The City Planning Commission hearing on amendments to the two citywide mansionization ordinances – the Baseline Mansion…
Nominating Conventions Ready to Open … California Still Trying to Clean Up Its June Election Mess
THIS IS WHAT I KNOW-Just days before the delegates arrive in Cleveland for the GOP convention and less than two weeks before the Democrats…
Message is Simple: ‘No’ to Taxes, Yes to Your Police Officers
JUST THE FACTS--I have been ranting and raving about the deteriorating conditions of our once proud City of Los Angeles neighborhoods for a…
Let’s Get Real, Coyotes are the New Urban Terrorist!
CO-EXISTENCE ALERT--I have 56 years’ experience with coyotes first hand. I am a college-educated, retired USDA Wildlife Specialist. I have…
Does Refilling the Silver Lake Reservoir Make Sense?
EDITOR’S PICK--In Los Angeles, resistance to change at the neighborhood level has never been at more of a fever pitch than it is today. We…
Developer’s Hired Guns Put $124,046 into Seven LA Politicians Pockets in First Quarter of 2016
VOX POP--Powerful City Hall lobbyists, who are popular hired guns among developers, raised a whopping $124,046 in the first quarter of 2016…
City’s ‘Brilliant’ Strategy to Gain Support for November Tax Initiatives: Attack the Taxpayers!
TAX TSUNAMI--The overburdening of taxpayers in the City of the Angels is a very, very real thing--except, of course, to the privileged, the…
