Tue07292014
Last updateMon, 28 Jul 2014 8pm
LOS ANGELES Tuesday, July 29th 2014 7:45
HOLLYWOOD UNDER ATTACK
And, Simply Put: Hollywood’s Battle is Our Battle!
July 28, 2014
WHO WE ARE-Hollywood’s neighborhoods and residents are under attack by big time real estate developers who are investing billions in too many to count high rise residential and commercial buildings along the three mile stretch of Hollywood, Sunset, and Santa Monica Boulevards between Western Avenue and the border with West Hollywood. This massive densification will overwhelm the area’s aging infrastructure (streets, water, power, sewer, gas) and the City’s ability to provide police and fire protection. It will also turn Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards into unsightly canyons, destroying the existing character and culture of these thoroughfares and the surrounding residential areas. Read More...
We Are Not White
Jul 28, 2014
DIVERSITY POLITICS-Politically speaking, the high level of social acceptance and privilege that comes with being Asian-American is ultimately dangerous because it sets up a false notion of who we really are. For starters, we are not white. The word "minority" and the entire concept of "modeling" is in itself disempowering and diminishing. Read More...
Los Angeles and the Gulen Archipelago
Jul 28, 2014
EDUCATION POLITICS-The largest chain of Charter Schools in this countryis run from the Poconos by a reclusive, self-exiled Turk named Fethullah Gülen. From its website, this self-proclaimed “faith-inspired initiative to improve educational opportunities for a local community” inspires instead a wide range of interpretation and suspicion. And this is how the volatile and complex politics of a middle eastern country halfway around the globe, Turkey, overlaps with the convoluted and complicated politics of modern Education Reform in one of the world’s most diverse cities, Los Angeles. Read More...
Why Black-owned Newspapers are Afraid to Take On Super Mark Ridley-Thomas
Jul 28, 2014
INSIDE INGLEWOOD-In the last two weeks, a curious pattern appears to have emerged: Black-owned newspapers appear to have taken steps to omit LA County’s District 2 supervisor, Mark Ridley-Thomas, from being mentioned in relation to the special election for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) District 1 race. The election is the result of the former board member, Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, having passed away on December 5, 2013. Read More...
LA Transportation: Fixing the Civil Rights Connection
Jul 28, 2014
ALPERN AT LARGE-On vacation with my family again (this time in the Midwest), we were awestruck by the Memphis Civil Rights Museum, which is a stunning, gripping and moving learning center. Merged into the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, the Museum documents how our nation could not truly be free unless all human beings are free ... and the freedom and liberty of all Americans faces new challenges in this new century. Read More...
DWP Ratepayers Getting Soaked … The Union, the Utility, City Council at Fault
Jul 28, 2014
CORRUPTION WATCH-At a time where rates are increasing and the availability of water is decreasing the ratepayers of The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) are being forced to contribute to a nonprofit union organization that supposedly is working on safety issues on behalf of their workers. The issue has become contentious because the union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has refused to explain how the funds taken from the ratepayers are actually being used. Read More...
Orange is the New Orange
Jul 28, 2014
PERSPECTIVE-The Orange Line busway has been a huge success, especially when you consider the comparatively low construction costs versus what was incurred for light rail systems serving the region. Ridership tripled to 22,000 per weekday in its first year of operation in 2005. Weekday boardings are currently at 25,873, down about 2,000 from a year ago, but still impressive. Read More...
Negotiating Our Streets, Saving Our Planet
Jul 28, 2014
JUST SAYIN’-People are reticent to change. We feel secure in our comfort zones. Status quo is less threatening. But we must accept the fact that change must come as we face a variety of issues we never thought we would have to confront. Read More...
Iraq Fiasco Erases Memory of Vietnam
Jul 28, 2014
RETROSPECTIVE-Some years ago in a New York subway train I witnessed a scene that will always serve, for me, as an important marker of sorts about the fate of this nation. A man in ruffled clothes walked up and down the aisle and panhandled in a loud voice. "Can you help a Vietnam Vet? I've got issues and I've been out of work. Folks, can you help?" A young man who had been watching suddenly stood up and exploded. "Want to know issues? I've got issues. I just came back from Iraq." Read More...
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What Whistleblower Kathleen Carroll Believes
What The New Populists Believe
1- DONALD STERLING LOSES IN COURT ... CLIPPER SALE CAN GO FORWARD
2 - SHOCKER: LABOR BOARD REVERSES LA COUNCIL PENSION CUTS FOR WORKERS
3 -JUDGE: LA'S PARKING TICKET APPEAL SYSTEM ILLEGAL
4 - LA: MUSEUM WARS HEATING UP
5 - FORBES: LA ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST CREATIVE CITIES
6 - CITY HALL GETS BEHIND HIT-AND-RUN AMBER ALERTS
7 - CALIF OFFICIALS FAIL WATER TEST: ACCUSE USERS BASED ON FAULTY INFO
8 - CHARGERS, RAIDERS INTEREST IN LA HEATS UP ... AGAIN
Why Should Convicted Richard Alarcon Get a Full Pension?
Jul 28, 2014
GUEST COMMENTARY-Why should former Councilman Richard Alarcon collect his full pension when he was illegally holding office? Someone who is illegally… Read More...
Prop 30 Proof: Taxes Don’t Kill Jobs
Jul 28, 2014
CALBUZZ-You’ll recall that in the fall of 2012, as Jerry Brown campaigned for Prop. 30, his tax-hike plan to balance California’s budget and boost… Read More...
Would LA be the Capital of West California?
Jul 28, 2014
CONNCECTING CALIFORNIA-Yes, yes, it won’t happen. But Six Californias is so much fun that it’s become the summer story of 2014. Proponent Tim Draper… Read More...
Put Your Dog to Work!
Jul 24, 2014
JUST SAYIN’-If you have ever been to a hospital, you have probably seen a dog or two (of various sizes and types) walking down the aisles or hanging… Read More...
The State of Corruption
Jul 24, 2014
CALIFORNIA WATCH-California is quickly becoming a leader for disenfranchising voters. Recently a third elected California State Senator was suspended… READ MORE...
Solving the 1% vs. the 99% Problem is Simple, but the Fight will be Ferocious
Jul 24, 2014
GELFAND’S WORLD-The evidence that American big box stores and fast food employers continue to abuse their workers mounts. Now the New York Times has… READ MORE...
Koreatown: El Basurero
Jul 24, 2014
WHO’S IN CHARGE OF GARBAGE?-You might say this is a throwaway piece. Just a little moral indignation about something I'm pretty obsessed about. It's… READ MORE...
Villaraigosa on Teachers Unions
Jul 24, 2014
POLITICS-Former Los Angeles mayor, California Assembly Speaker, and importantly, teacher union organizer, Antonio Villaraigosa had some sharp words… READ MORE...
NC Looking for Parking Lots for Homeless Sleepers
Jul 21, 2014
HOLLYWOOD-The Hollywood United Neighborhood Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee on Monday discussed the possibility of identifying parking lots that homeless individuals could use to sleep in their cars. Erik Sanjurjo, (photo) who chairs the committee, said the council is simply… READ MORE...
Guest Editorial: LA Should Prioritize Citywide Sidewalk Repair
Jul 21, 2014
CITYWIDE-Contrary to what Angelenos have grown accustomed to, deep fractures and deterioration are not typical characteristics of sidewalks. Sidewalks are actually supposed to be usable and walking on them should not result in injury. Yet, the city estimates that about 40 percent of its sidewalks… READ MORE...
Drought Buster Patrols Streets of LA
Jul 17, 2014
CITYWIDE-A day after state water regulators voted to get tougher on water restrictions, the Los Angeles water police Wednesday were out in force — with a full-time water cop of one. But until he gets three more water enforcement deputies next month, Rick Silva has the herculean task of patrolling… READ MORE...
Life on LA’s Streets is About to Change
Jul 10, 2014
NEIGHBORHOODS LA-The City Council confirmed Seleta Reynolds as general manager of LA Department of Transportation. Reynolds said she wants to make Los Angeles streets safer by making traffic slower, better organized and therefore, more predictable. “We want them to (travel) at human speed so that… READ MORE...
Neighbors Helping Turn Melrose and Highland into Hot Corner
Jun 26, 2014
PARK LABREA NEWS-The intersection of Highland and Melrose avenues is a hot, up-and-coming area of Los Angeles, but some sections of the sidewalks have literally been a downer for customers and business owners. Walking the sidewalks on Melrose Avenue near Highland was a balancing act before the… READ MORE...
On the Case of the Peacock Killers
Jun 23, 2014
PALOS VERDES-People can be jerks – absolutely selfish, unrelenting, brutish, thinking-only-of-themselves jerks. I would rant a little more, but you get the idea. It is why I drove the other day to Buckskin Lane in Rolling Hills Estates to see for myself why anyone would kill Indian peafowl – some… READ MORE...
Court House Closed for Business … Trek to Court Now Longer
Jun 19, 2014
SAN PEDRO-Tino, the Cambodian-Texan bar owner of Crimsin, stood across the street as the state maintenance workers unbolted the letters which once read, “San Pedro Superior Court.” It was just two Latino guys with a ladder and some tools. By the time we noticed what was occurring, the letters were… READ MORE...
Can North Fig Rise Again?
Jun 19, 2014
HIGHLAND PARK-Mayor Eric Garcetti a few weeks back designated 15 L.A. “Great Streets.” I so want to believe this is a good thing. Under the Great Streets program, one street in each of the City Council’s 15 districts has been singled out. And the mayor has found about $800,000 to make improvements… READ MORE...
War Journalism Leads the Bleeding in Gaza
Jul 28, 2014
PEACE VOICE-As Israel’s boots hit the ground in Gaza, Operation War Journalism rages on. Both Arab and Israeli war journalists weaponize rhetoric:… READ MORE...
Videos of Cops Beating Citizens Disrupts All Cops Relationships with the Community
Jul 28, 2014
PARK’S PLACE-These past few weeks, graphic, videotaped incidents of unarmed civilians being beaten and killed has put law enforcement agencies again,… READ MORE...
Broken Sidewalks: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Jul 28, 2014
VOICES-(Ed Note: Jack Humphreville’s column on 4,000-plus miles of broken LA sidewalks prompted considerable response. This is a copy of Christine… READ MORE...
Not Much Better than Bush
Jul 24, 2014
OTHERWORDS-President Barack Obama got it right when he declared: “There’s no military solution inside of Iraq, certainly not one that is led by the… READ MORE...
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Did IUSD Principal Embezzle Girls’ Basketball Team Funds?
Jul 24, 2014
INSIDE INGLEWOOD-The Inglewood High girls’ basketball team funds are in the red for $8,000. The money, which was raised by the girls performing car… READ MORE...
LA Sidewalks: A Disturbing Case Study
Jul 24, 2014
LA WATCHDOG-How does a homeowner manage to fix his sidewalks for $5,000 when the City told him it would cost $38,000? And what does this imply about… READ MORE...
Angry School Board Race: The Difference Between Johnson and McKenna
Jul 24, 2014
EDUCATION POLITICS-Did you know there’s an election in three weeks? If you do not live in LAUSD’s first district, you might be excused from awareness… READ MORE...
The Civil Rights Act Is Broken … Law Now Source of Discrimination
Jul 24, 2014
VOICES FROM THE SQUARE-Californians, like other Americans, like to think that race should never be a qualification for a job, that everyone deserves… READ MORE...
From CityWatch
- Throughout History, An Ungrateful Nation
- California Bullying Controversies Go National
- ‘Black Kid in a Hoodie’: Mark Cuban Got it Right
- Death by Metrics
- Koch Brothers, Fracking Interests and Convicted Felons for Autumn Burke
- LA County Supervisor Candidate Scoops Up Billboard Company Cash
- Here We Go Again: What Do Americans Look Like?
- LAUSD Wants Rigor? Well, Maybe…
- America At War: Who’s to Blame?
- LA Wins! LA Wins! The Most Shocking Voter Apathy Award!
- Rec and Parks Is Not LA’s Ugly Step Daughter
- Confession: Why I’m Working to Help Elect Autumn Burke
- Everyday Corruption in LA Government and How to Solve It
- An Odd Telephone Call … There Oughta be a Law
- Donald Sterling - The Billionaire is a Billionaire
- Bowe Bergdahl is Released by the Taliban, Now he Faces Another Challenge … the Dysfunctional VA
- Neighborhood Councils: New Proposed Code of Civility and More Mandatory Trainings
- Our Public Investment is Just That: Public!
- Mission Impossible: Judging Judges on Election Day
- Will the Trickle Become the LA River? And for Whom?
- Bilderberg Vs. Putin
- LA City Council Appears to be Listening: Moves to Ban Booze Ads On Street Furniture
- Education Equality: Solution is Not to Pit Students Against Teachers
- Post Election Notes: Some Surprises and Some Collapses
- Don’t Dis Those Fast Food Fans
- The Senate Fiddles While the VA Burns
- The Race for the Hottest Job in Congress
- Immigration Reform: Stalled at the Starting Line
- From U-6 to Utah, Smug California Needs to Confront Its Shortcomings
- The Dirty Politics That Saved the Santa Monica Mountains
- Watch What You Say, The New Liberal Power Elite Won’t Tolerate Dissent
- Council Pulls the Plug … Street Tax Hits too Many Pot Holes
- Inland Empire is State’s Appalachia … Sinking the California Dream
- Teacher Tenure Decision Major Civil Rights Victory
- Dems Tone-Deaf on Veterans' Asbestos Issue
- Education Overturned
- Black on Black Racism Acceptable?
- The Battle for the Stanley Cup Is a Tossup but When It Comes to Quality of Life Today, It’s No Contest
- Bergdahl, Afghanistan, and the Darkening of the American Soul
- Time for Congress to Investigate Bill Gates’ Role in Common Core
| Fri Aug 01, 2014 @ 8:00AM - 12:30PM Stormwater Quality Compliance meeting |
| Sat Aug 02, 2014 @ 8:00AM - 12:00PM Reseda Neighborhood Pride Day |
| Sat Aug 02, 2014 @11:00AM - Free Family Shakespeare in the Park |
| Wed Aug 06, 2014 @ 6:00PM - National Night Out |
| Sat Aug 16, 2014 @ 7:30AM - 02:00PM NC BUDGET DAY |
View: See Downtown LA as you’ve never seen it before
President Obama does some kibitzing at Cantors on Fairfax
Kristen Bell’s Mary Poppins lives below the poverty line
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