LOS ANGELES

PLANNING WATCH-To be clear, the drive to maximize profits is not based on an alleged personality trait called greed, as put forth by Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film Wall Street. It comes from our economic system’s DNA, regardless of our personality types.  

THE CITY--Spring is in the air, and though the Antelope Valley Poppies were a disappointment this year, the local finger pointers are certainly popping in Los Angeles! 

EASTSIDER-Under President Trump there was a very partisan fight over the tax cut plan for the already richest Americans. Four years later there was an equally partisan food fight in Congress over the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, with virtually no Republican support.  

OTHER WORDS-The Idaho legislature just cracked down on colleges teaching “social justice ideology.”

RANTZ & RAVEZ-I have known Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell for a number of years. I first met him when he was a deputy for then-Councilmember Eric Garcetti.

HEALTH POLITICS-- Let me be blunt: I think that Dr. Fauci is an attention-whore. Ditto with the non-doctor in LA County directing Angelenos to give up their livelihoods when she was extraordinarily well paid. 

VOICES-The Community Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination distribution site at the Los Angeles Police Museum located in Highland Park reached an all-time milestone.  

MY TURN--The obscene orgy of intergroup hatred is destroying the nation.  America’s history has been a relentless series of hideous group rights agitation to provide the welfare of one group above that of another group. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--This note is written to people who still call themselves Republicans. 

ANIMAL WATCH-On March 27, just days after the announcement by Best Friends Animal Society that Los Angeles had reached the organization’s mythical “No Kill” goal, a post appeared on LA Animal Services GM Brenda Barnette’s Facebook page, announcing that she is retiring from her position with the City. 

@THE GUSS REPORT-Only a tightly wrapped OCD would look at the chaotic dismantling last week of the massive Echo Park lake homeless camp and attempt to brand it as "a success." 

BAIL FOR THE POOR--On Thursday, California’s Supreme Court struck a major blow to the cash bail system in a ruling that should honestly be adopted across the nation

CLOSING--The County Board of Supervisors will virtually slink into an audio-only Special closed session in place of their regular open board meeting Tuesday March 30, but City Hall will be on recess to commemorate the 3rd day of Passover.   

HEALTH POLITICS-I have personal experience with single-payer health care, directly contrasting treatment for the same medical diagnosis under America’s for-profit private insurance formula, with Canada’s single-payer paradigm.

MASS KILLINGS POLITICS-When a lost soul attempts to reclaim himself in the American way, it becomes, far too often. . .we all know this. . .another mass murder. 

IMMIGRATION POLITICS--Hundreds of thousands of Central Americans wouldn’t flood the U.S. border if things weren’t pretty bad back home.

LEANING RIGHT--Something very bad just happened by a great man who could have, and should have, done much better addressing the ills of our nation. 

WHO’S IN CHARGE? On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the Canoga Park Neighborhood Council (CPNC) held their regularly scheduled Board meeting via the ZOOM platform. On their agenda:

MY TURN--The common element of predatory abusers is their power over their victims. 

GUEST COMMENTARY-Louis Mirante, legislative director for the Big Tech/developer funded organization “California YIMBY (“Yes in my back-yard”)” gets paid to tweet.

GELFAND’S WORLD--I sometimes think about writing a series of 49 cent books to explore the thought -- or lack of thought -- that goes on in public discourse.