LOS ANGELES

THE CITY-Lost in Space? One possibility is Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson -- who are both heading up to space this month, Branson EIGHT days ahead of the richest man in the world, at press time – could establish an $800 a month housing program on a purchase and decree basis.

GUEST COMMENTARY-Dear Friends and Neighbors: Are we going to stand idly by and let the Big Developers convince the state legislature to destroy our single-family neighborhoods, create parking nightmares, and make it even harder to solve the homelessness crisis than it already is? 

NEW NORMAL-In many ways, American life is returning to normalcy: Masks are no longer required in many locations, schools and universities are slated to re-open, and the days of social distancing begin to fade as concerts and sporting events bring spectators back.

Whether you're freaked out about the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 Virus or not, we're coming out of the pandemic.  

DEEGAN ON LA-(Number 4 in a series about Councilperson Raman (CD4) A mad rush to enact a new city ordinance regulating homeless encampments in public spaces has been delayed until the end of the month by Councilmember Nithya Raman (CD4), who failed to go along with her council colleagues.

AT LENGTH-Over the past four decades, I’ve had every kind of person enter my offices, including, paupers, politicians, procrastinators, princes, pickpockets and plutocrats.

As a California community organizer in touch with the issues on the ground, my focus has been to educate the community on practical solutions on the issues that affect Californians:

GELFAND’S WORLD-In my previous column, I discussed the legal wrangling going on between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Daily Kos website.

CLIMATE VIEW-In San Francisco, we’re finally starting to put away our masks. With 74% of the city’s residents over 12 fully vaccinated, for the first time in more than a year we’re enjoying walking, shopping, and eating out, our faces naked.

GELFAND'S WORLD-I called CVS. I wanted to complain about how frustrating it is to contact the CVS pharmacy, but when I asked for the telephone number of the corporate headquarters, I was given the number "One eight hundred shop CVS." My experience in calling that number inspires these comments. 

PLANNING WATCH-LA’s draft Housing Element, updated Community Plans, and other up-zoning guidelines and ordinances double-down on LA’s (and other cities) ongoing efforts to solve the housing crisis by promoting the construction of private sector housing.

RANTZ & RAVEZ-I will begin with the most recent and amazing statement made by LAPD Chief Michel Moore in supporting and in fact defending LA County District Attorney George Gascón who is facing a Recall after a short time as the elected District Attorney.