In the News
Lies and Myths: How LA’s ‘Smart Planning’ Big Wigs Rule our World
People dislike data. Facts can be complicated and can often contradict beliefs. But people love propaganda. It’s simple and always supports belief.
A friend illustrated this point to me when I was still in grade school. She said that…
LAUSD Still Believes that Minority Students Can’t Learn
EDUCATION POLITICS--While it remains politically correct to say Black and Latino students can learn, there's a little problem. Those runnin…
Is Adelanto California’s Guantanamo?
PERSPECTIVE--If you take Interstate 15 about two hours north from Los Angeles, heading into the high desert of San Bernardino County, you’l…
CalPERS: Investments Up, Governance Down … for the Count
EASTSIDER-CalPERS recently trumpeted that they got an 11.2% return on investments this year, which should make everyone feel good about the…
California: Amid the Blaring Headlines, Routine Reports of Hate-Fueled Violence
PROPUBLICA REPORT--Last Wednesday, July 19, was something of a busy news day. There was word North Korea was making preparations for yet an…
Biker Lives Matter
THE PREVEN PAPER--At its Vision Zero community update this coming Saturday at Loyola Marymount University, the Los Angeles City Department…
California Needs to Cap the Growth of Runaway Pensions
REFORM ROUND ROBIN-California’s previous attempts at pension reform have had a negligible impact. We should look to solutions from other s…
Do HOA’s and Neighborhood Councils Guarantee Level Freedom-of-Speech Playing Fields?
GELFAND’S WORLD--People often divide themselves into two broadly defined camps, the first of which insists on obedience to all rules, while…
Does the California Veterinary Medical Board Protect Bad Veterinarians?
@THE GUSS REPORT-This article is a bell that the California Department of Consumer Affairs doesn’t want to be rung about one of its 42 Boar…
Going Coastal, Using the Pledge of Allegiance as a Wedge
AT RANDOM-Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council’s July 10 agenda-setting meeting turned out to be a rowdy affair. Some 20 stakeholders got…
Living in a Black Lung Loft? How LA Politics and ‘Smart Planning’ Ignore Medical Science
CORRUPTION WATCH-Should politics invalidate medical science? Politicos readily allow interests of a tiny segment of society to dictate medi…
Paramount Gets Paid While Best and Brightest Leave California
POLICY--Last week, my friend Ethan announced that he is moving to Ohio. Ethan is an extremely bright entrepreneur in his mid-thirties, who…
Rabid Bobcat Attacks Spiral … Cat with Rabies Alarms Health Experts
ANIMAL WATCH-A surge in attacks on humans and pets by bobcats testing positive for rabies across the U.S. in 2017 is getting the attention…
To Be a Leader on National Issues, California Must Leave It’s Smug, Protective Cocoon
CONNECTION CALIFORNIA--California, do you want to be an incubator for great ideas—or a bubble that shuts out the world?
Too Risky! LA County Takes SoCal Gas to Court … Opposes Reopening of Aliso Canyon
THIS IS WHAT I KNOW--Back in October of 2015, SoCal Gas employees discovered a massive natural gas leak from a well within the Aliso Canyon…
A Seat at the Table
BELL VIEW-One of the many privileges of my middle class life is health insurance. As far as I can tell, it’s decent coverage. At least I th…
Exposed: LA is Pursuing Plan for Never-Ending Traffic Gridlock
CORRUPTION WATCH-Starting in 2014, Judge Alan Goodman and Judge James Chalfant warned us that Super Gridlock was being planned for Los Ange…
Gas Taxes! Vehicle Fees! Crime! Dennis is Steamed!
RANTZ & RAVEZ-First of all, a Big RaveZ for LA City Councilman Bob Blumenfield and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks…
Hollywood Sign: The Battle for Beachwood Drive Access Headed to Court
THIS IS WHAT I KNOW--Hiking Runyon Canyon is one of LA’s most popular outdoor workouts – in a city where Angelenos drive to Flywheel or hot…
Hotel Complex: A Dream for Hollywood Jobs
LIVING THE DREAM-When one thinks about the visionaries who made Hollywood what it is today, there are a lot of candidates to consider: Sid…
