PLANNING WATCH - Large cities in the US, especially Los Angeles, are now filled with squalor, with tens of thousands of people sleeping on the streets, in tents, or in cars.
LOS ANGELES
The Grove's Rick Caruso Declares As Dem; Moving Closer to Announcing Run for Mayor
DEEGAN ON LA—-Tightening his grip on a final decision about a prospective mayoral run, businessman Rick Caruso, longtime registered as “no party preference,” made it official today with his announcement that “Today I am registering as a Democrat so that I can stand firmly on the side of the fundamental values that we will all need to invoke and enforce to thwart the coming attacks on our democracy.”
Covid Criminality Is Popping Up in LA. Beware.
COVID WATCH - Unauthorized pop-up testing sites have been reported in northeast Los Angeles, along the Wilshire corridor and across LA County.
No Bail vs the Public’s Safety
CRIME WATCH - In December 2021 Los Angeles City Council member Joe Buscaino made a resolution to reinstate cash bail for those individuals arrested for low level, non-violent criminal offenses throughout the whole of the county of Los Angeles.
The Persuadables
COMMENTARY - No less than the Editorial Board of the venerable Los Angeles Times has come out to castigate SoCal leaders for opposing the developer rip-off perpetrated in the name of California’s desperate need for affordable housing.
The Other Pandemic: Destroying Kids' Childhood By Adults Acting Like Children
THE DOCTOR IS IN - I very much prefer the company of children to that of adults, because only children act their age.
Will LA’s New Candidates Follow the Laws, Rules and Regs?
LA RACE - Across LA groups are getting together to interview candidates for local races.
Mayor Garcetti: Great Expectations, Many Disappointments.
RantZ and RaveZ - While Mayor Eric Michael Garcetti waits for confirmation by Elected Representatives in Washington, D.C., to the distinguished position of United States Ambassador to India, his record as Mayor and 8 year leader of the City of Los Angeles can be described by some as an embarrassment to his Legacy as the 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles.
LA City Council Supports Ellis Act Eviction Restrictions
NEIGHBORHOOD POLITICS - The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday called for the state to pass legislation requiring a minimum of five years of ownership before a homeowner can invoke the Ellis Act to evict tenants and take the property off the rental market.
Farewell to "The Flash" of CD11: Mike Bonin Makes His Exit.
THE DOCTOR IS IN - Contrary to all the vitriol building up against Mike Bonin over the past several years (particularly after he was re-elected overwhelmingly 4-5 years ago), Mike Bonin was for most of his political career a champion and a friend to the Westside.
What California’s Most Celebrated Writer Got Wrong About Capitalism Today and The Middle Classes
LAKEWOOD STAKEHOLDERS - When Joan Didion passed away on December 23 of last year at the age of 87, Governor Gavin Newsom praised her as “easily the best living writer in California.”
School Choice: Educational Freedom Act Gives Rights to Parents
EDUCATION COMMENTARY - If “zoom schooling” has taught us anything, it’s that we’re locked in and our kids are learning things that shock us.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva: Reforms Are Needed To ‘Democratize’ LA County Government Starting NOW
2URBANGIRLS - The Citizens Redistricting Commission for LA County did what few other “citizen redistricting” bodies have done – stay independent.
Housing Crisis Burns While City Council Fiddles
PLANNING WATCH - Public opinion polls consistently report that Angelinos consider the homeless crisis to be the city’s most pressing problem.
Do The Math - SB9 + SB10 Equals More Unaffordable Homes
HOUSING WATCH - For as long as California has been a state, local governments have decided where housing will and won’t go and how much to allow.
Why Someone Must Be Held Responsible for the LAPD Shooting of 14-Year Old Valentina Orellana
JUSTICE WATCH - Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy at the funeral for 14-year-old Valentina Orellana Peralta, who was killed by a Los Angeles police officer December 23 while shopping at a North Hollywood store.
Questions Surround the January 10, 2022 Death of LAPD Officer Fernando Arroyos
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Because early news reports always have errors, one should not accept early news reports at face value.
Is It Time To Sell Your Single-Family House In California?
HOUSING WATCH - New laws that took effect on January 1 end single-family home zoning in California.
Recalling Bill Rosendahl, Recalling Mike Bonin's Recall, and CD11's Call for Traci Park
THE DOCTOR IS IN - Perhaps all who closely follow L.A. City and local politics are well aware that--despite 25,965 legitimate CD11 signatures supporting Mike Bonin's recall--the City threshold of 27,317 signatures to qualify for a recall ballot measure was not met.
LA Has Ignored Its Urban Forest. Who Will Pay The Price For This Negligence?
PLANNING WATCH - In last week’s Planning Watch column, I pointed out that LA’s underwhelming urban forest is a key indicator that the city’s planning glass is mostly empty.
LA Housing Element: If The City Prevails in First Legal Challenge, Will It Make A Difference?
PLANNING WATCH - From the Dog Bites Man Department: The recently adopted Los Angeles 2021-2029 Housing Element met its first legal challenge, with the likelihood of more to come.