EASTSIDER-If the President is going to shut down the entire government over a Wall, he faces two problems. First the wall isn’t big enough, and second, he is a provably incompetent negotiator. As for the Wuss part... 

LA WATCHDOG--United Teachers Los Angeles and its President, Alex Caputo-Pearl, are asking the Los Angeles Unified School District for salary increases for its members, smaller class sizes, and fully staffed schools.

@TheGussReport – (This is the first of a series of in-depth reports on the current investigation into the possibility of corruption at Los Angeles City Hall.) On Sunday, the LA Times published a story on how the FBI’s recent raid on the City Hall offices of City Councilmember Jose Huizar as well as on the home he shares with his politically crafty wife Richelle, are part of a broader investigation on Southern California political corruption. 

DC DISPATCH-I had a conversation with a former Republican Senior military officer yesterday about allegations that Trump was looking into withdrawing the United States from NATO.

WORLD WATCH--Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to call for an early election, scheduled to take place on April 9, was really nothing short of another political stunt that Netanyahu has masterfully learned to employ when the time is right and he is reasonably assured of another victory.

MY TURN-There have always been diverse differences between liberals and conservatives. However, in the past, conservatives had an agenda that seemed to be more fiscally-driven, with a hint of religious undertones.

ALPERN AT LARGE--The other shoe has dropped. After more than a year of Mar Vistans asking, begging, and sending motion after motion for data, open houses, the ability to address the issues, it was announced in a very private meeting with the leaders of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) and a few key CD11 staffers that the Venice Blvd. Reconfiguration is FINAL. 

CORRUPTION WATCH--Before the FBI's widening corruption probe of L.A. leaders erupted, Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu tried two years ago to cripple the undue influence of developers at City Hall -- by banning campaign cash developers give to the City Council. 

LA WATCHDOG--The Los Angeles Unified School District is closed for business because United Teachers Los Angeles and its over 30,000 members are striking for higher wages, fully staffed schools, and the curtailment, if not the elimination, of charter and magnet schools.

RANTZ & RAVEZ-2019 is finally here and we begin the new year with lots of emerging situations including a new Governor with an interesting political history, an expanding FBI investigation into suspected corruption at Los Angeles City Hall, a teachers’ strike at the LAUSD and lots of rain and snow and traffic collisions on LA roadways.

FIRST PERSON--While class sizes are too large at LAUSD, which is problematic to say the least, this is not the biggest factor as to what makes it impossible for teachers to be effective.

DEAR MR. BEUTNER--You don’t know my two children who attend LAUSD schools or me.

ANIMAL WATCH-In the midst of #MeToo Movement controversy, LA Animal Services' employees received a City of Los Angeles Inter-departmental Correspondence form recently with the subject line: "Notification of Close Personal Association," issued April 1, 2009.

DISABILITY PERSPECTIVE-Preparing for a new baby takes a lot of work and planning, and it often comes with lots of stress and a little anxiety, as well.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-If the FBI were standing on the Santa Monica pier, it couldn’t find the Pacific Ocean.