In the News
‘Wealthfare’ is Alive and Well in LA – It Goes by the Name of Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Density Bonuses
This was fully documented by Pro Publica, which this week published the first chapter of its wealthfare series, “The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax.”
Wealthfare schemes tak…
Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas Furthers "Right to Housing" Initiative through Support for Federal Rental Assistance
LOS ANGELES - On the heels of a successful vote by the City Council to develop a Right to Housing framework, Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thom…
Board of Supervisors approves motions to establish permanent options for outdoor dining
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved two motions authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and coauthored by Superv…
Another parody of liberalism from the City Council
GELFAND'S WORLD-Back in February, while we were trying to get past the peak of Covid-19 infections and deaths, the LA City Council snuck on…
Watching Nithya Raman - Part 1
DEEGAN ON LA—-Six months ago, Nithya Raman was elected to represent Council District 4. Today, she’s facing a public, grass roots recall as…
Equity is Bunk
VIEW FROM HERE-Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936) is the patron saint of both the Dem and GOP parties. Just as Pavlov taught his dogs to sal…
Solis Village. . .
THE CITY-“Care first” is not just a mantra but one that requires action. I don't get it. Aren't we getting $50 million from FEMA for her vi…
Nithya Raman Releases Positions on California Senate Bills 9 & 10
Up-zoning and densification of single-family neighborhoods could be coming under state-level bills SB 9 and SB 10.
Field Guide to identify Fauxgressives concerned about homelessness. Can you spot the crocodile tears?
Planning Watch: In municipal politics it has become harder to distinguish real progressives from fauxgressives (market fundamentalists posi…
Will Partisan Politics Squelch the Strongest Water Advocate?
WATER WATCH-So now you’re double-vaccinated, and have hugged your parents or grandkids following a year and a half home alone.
Capping Public Comment at the LA County Board of Supervisors
THE CITY-Tuesday, the LA County Board of Supervisors, which has been working tirelessly to beat back the sense that the public comment can…
The Net Zero Mirage
CLIMATE POLITICS--“Net Zero by 2050” is the rallying cry of scientists and policymakers throughout the world.
The Problem with Democracy Today
POLITICS-Democrats today appear to vote irrationally and contradictory to what they claim to uphold.
Racism Is Not the Problem
VIEW FROM HERE--The human species has the remarkable ability to believe anything no matter how ludicrous.
Whenever in Doubt ... Cut a Ribbon.
THE CITY--The scene was the newest west wing of the Tom Bradley International terminal, the West Gates, and the boys (Mike Bonin and Mayor…
Our Fallen Heroes Vs. Our Faux-Heroes...A Pictorial Of What Memorial Day Is All About
ALPERN AT LARGE--In short, there are those who died for us to live, to debate, to do noble things at home, or even to screw up our lives, b…
The Port of Los Angeles, ‘Is not in the Homeless Business’
AT LENGTH-Frequent readers of this column will remember Port Executive Director Gene Seroka’s rejection of the neighborhood council proposa…
California vs. the Supremes: Time Has Come to Challenge This Court's Bias Against Our State
CONNECTING CALIFORNIA--Maybe the U.S. Supreme Court should recuse itself from cases involving the Golden State.
What Some Media Doesn’t Understand about Freedom of the Press
GELFAND’S WORLD--There were a couple of breaches of freedom of the press this week. One involved air piracy and the beating of one of the c…
Is ‘Sanctimonious Dirtbag’ Too Strong?
THE CITY-An interesting question arose at the LA City Council meeting on Tuesday. A member of the public accused Mr. Ridley-Thomas of pimpi…
