LOS ANGELES

BCK FILE--When the new legislation session opened last week in Sacramento, legislators introduced bills for the 2019-2020 session. Two of those bills address a California Supreme Court decision that made a strong statement about the “gig economy.” 

FIRST PERSON-Probably the greatest advantage the United States has had over most other countries up until now has been its pragmatic and ever evolving definition of what it means to be an American.

MY TURN-I was born on a military base and raised in a military family. The concept of patriotism was something that was ingrained and yet also very personal.

CORRUPTION WATCH-With the passing of former President George H. W. Bush (Bush 41), the nation pauses. The country unites in remembering 41's decency and humanity.

CAL MATTERS--Six years ago, as California strained to emerge from the Great Recession, Gov. Jerry Brown worked a minor political miracle—a rebalancing of the massive state pension systems for public employees.

WORLD WATCH--To dramatically slow the flow of illegal immigration and even end it does not rest on building walls or sending troops to the border, or by heartlessly snatching children from their mothers’ arms, or by incarceration, deportation, or prosecution.

ALPERN AT LARGE--It's NOT a secret that Donald J. Trump does not see eye to eye with many environmentalists, including the Sierra Club.

PLATKIN ON PLANNING-Note to CityWatchLA readers: United Neighborhoods for LA (UN4LA) recently sent this letter outlining an alternative to the proposed Purple Line Extension Transit Neighborhood (Up-zoning) Plan to the three-members of the City Council whose Districts include this potential Specific Plan.

COST OF LIVING, EXPLAINED--Following a much hotter late summer and early fall, LADWP received calls from customers who felt their bills were higher than in prior years. 

@THE GUSS REPORT-Aye yai yai! How do these people keep getting elected? On Tuesday, LA City Council moved toward banning plastic straws that, while a promising ecological goal, exposed its preference for hyperbole misrepresented as the truth. 

EASTSIDER-A few weeks ago, I wrote a column that clearly demonstrates DONE has destroyed public records in violation of State law.

AT LENGTH-Clearly there was some tension in the air as people gathered at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club Nov. 27 for the Bridge Home Information Fair hosted by LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino.

CORRUPTION WATCH-A Passion for Ignorance, Corruptionism and Group Rights act like three riptides at Venice beach to drag the American Republic out to sea and drown it. 

MY TURN-First, I must identify that I am a life-long liberal and Democrat and I don’t identify myself as a “Democratic Socialist.”

TRANSIT TALK-The oceans of the world, the water which cools the air, the major source of food for people on earth, is becoming more acidic because too much carbon dioxide from humans burning coal, petroleum products and gas are released into the atmosphere and is also being absorbed by the oceans.  

CAL MATTERS-- The resignation of California Democratic Party chairman Eric Bauman comes at a particularly emotional moment in California politics—on the heels of historic wins for Democrats and after a year of bipartisan reckoning over the apparent culture of sexual bullying within the political class.

VOICES--In Erik Erikson’s “Age/Task Development” (Psychosocial Systems) model, certain tasks or jobs and “roles” (parts played in society) are associated with an age.  For example, persons in their mid-twenties as the present millennial generation would have completed educational levels, secured employment, and lived alone or with partners. 

DEEGAN ON LA-Malibu, already famous, captured attention a couple of weeks ago when it came perilously close to being torched and ruined by the horrific Woolsey Fire that forced a total evacuation by residents of the seaside enclave, as fire ravaged the hillsides and threatened the community.

VIEW FROM HERE--Surprised and disappointed to read the grossly inaccurate and offensive post from Dennis Zine regarding my involvement and that of my hardworking staff in response to the devastating Woolsey fire.

@THE GUSS REPORT-Between Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles Times and this column, only one of us has ever told the truth about John Vidovich, (photo above, right) the now-retired 36-year Deputy Chief, Fire Marshall of the Los Angeles Fire Department. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--Although we've survived two years, now is not the time to become complacent.