LOS ANGELES

EDUCATION WATCH - Poverty has increased in LAUSD post-covid. And in two board districts the late Eli Broad’s plan to transfer half of LAUSD into “charter school seats” is nearly fulfilled.

THE VIEW FROM HERE - This involves the old adage, “figures don’t lie but liars can figure.” 

THE VIEW FROM HERE - In the 1950's game show, To Tell The Truth, three contestants tried to fool a celebrity panel as to who had done something unusual or had a strange occupation.   

LA GOVERNMENT - Does the City of LA need to update its Municipal Lobbying Ordinance (MLO)?  The Ethics Commission thinks so, and they’re proposing a number of amendments to the LA Municipal Code.

ACCORDING TO LIZ - There are seven candidates vying to fill some pretty big boots in the Office of the City Controller when Ron Galperin leaves later this year. 

LABOR WATCH - When William Dudley “Big Bill” Haywood — future secretary-treasurer of the Western Federation of Miners and thorn in the side of mine owners west of the American Rockies —

DEEGAN ON LA - Alex Gruenenfelder Smith is a big-tent, practical, Progressive running for Mayor, staking out room on the left-leaning spectrum for thoughtful reforms; preaching progress through supportable change, not by radically retooling how the city is managed. 

RantZ and RaveZ - The Los Angeles Police Departments COMPSTAT (Crime Statistics) continue to show increases in major crimes as the number of LAPD Officers shrink to lower numbers month after month.  

JAIL TIME - Just before I started graduate school, I was arrested and spent a night in jail.

LA POLITICS - You can always count on Buscaino to take advantage of somebody else’s misery.

DEEGAN ON LA—A one and done election on June 7 will guarantee three councilmanic candidates a council seat.

ENTERTAINMENT WATCH - If ever there were steps of power that need storming by an angry mob, they are those of the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard on Oscars Night.

THE EASTSIDER – Just turn on the TV, or go online, it doesn’t make much difference. 

THE VIEW FROM HERE - They all falsely claim that Los Angeles has a housing shortage, when in reality we have tens of thousands more vacant units than homeless people.

RantZ and RaveZ - Mayor Garcetti implemented “Vision Zero “ in 2015 to ELIMINATE traffic deaths on Los Angeles streets by 2025. 

LA MAYORAL RACE - Why does Los Angeles trust Sacramento and Washington more than it trusts itself?

CHARITY - As one of the nation’s most comprehensive providers of mental health and support programs for children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and transgender/gender diverse youth, The Laurel Foundation is thrilled to host its inaugural international online art auction, “The Art Of _,” from May 2 to May 13, 2022. 

PLANNING WATCH - Sometimes a cure is worse than the disease, especially supply-side/trickle-down solutions to the housing crisis,

PLANNING WATCH - In last week’s Planning Watch column I explained why LA’s mayoral candidates are mum on the climate crisis. 

PLANNING WATCH -  Even though the local evidence for the climate crisis is overwhelming: a 12 month wildfire season, a megadrought, a water shortage, heat storms, and sea level rise - 

GUEST COMMENTARY - Watch out when our elected officials stump for affordable housing. The results so far have been the reverse.