Monthly Archives: September 2008

The Last Straw: Higher taxes, rates and fees — and 6 percent raises for DWP workers

Posted on September 19, 2008 by

What is there to say? You’re living in fear of losing your job. You can’t afford the soaring costs of gas or food. Your neighbor just lost his house and you wonder how much longer you can keep up with … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | 3 Comments

Does it cost too much for DWP to hire a ratepayers’ advocate?

Posted on September 18, 2008 by

Out of the blue at Tuesday’s Department of Water and Power Commission meeting, Board President Nick Patsaouras threw out a revolutionary idea: What if the ratepayers had an advocate for their interests inside the utility they own? Patsaouras who has … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | 3 Comments

NAKED CITY, a daily news report

Posted on September 18, 2008 by

UPDATE: A reliable source close to what’s going on as officials deal with the Chatsworth train collision informs me that situation over the weekend got so out of hand that the PR agency on retainer for crisis communications for Metrolink … Continue reading →

Posted in Los Angeles, Naked City | 7 Comments

NAKED CITY, a daily news report

Posted on September 17, 2008 by

Phil Anschutz’ AEG has bought L.A.’s politicians but he’ll have to cough up more to buy the state legislature What do you know: State legislators don’t sell out quite as cheaply as City Hall — not even for the $2.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Naked City | 6 Comments

Public Enemy No. 1 — Stop Jack Weiss

Posted on September 16, 2008 by

With the irony and mean-spiritness of a grizzled newsman, I often would declare that long-time Northwest Valley Councilman Hal Bernson lived under a rock — and developer Ted Stein owned the rock. That truly was unkind of me because for … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Los Angeles | 11 Comments

NAKED CITY, a daily news report

Posted on September 16, 2008 by

DWP raises rates and then spends your money to deliver 2.4 million CFL bulbs to your home so they can light up the townThat’s right, you pay more and conserve power so City Hall can sell the rights to put … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Naked City | 8 Comments

What I believe

Posted on September 15, 2008 by

It all seems a terrible dream even by my standards jaded by too many years as a newsman. Another hurricane causes death and destruction. Another major financial firm faces bankruptcy. The state legislature cuts a budget deal 11 weeks after … Continue reading →

Posted in Hot Topics | 11 Comments

City Hall’s political machine gives the public lip service — not respect

Posted on September 12, 2008 by

Editor’s note: This column was published in the current issue of Wayne Adelstein’s North Valley Community News. Back in 1985 when I came to the Daily News and the San Fernando Valley, the No. 1 issue I saw was respect, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

NAKED CITY, a daily news report

Posted on September 12, 2008 by

MTA wants to raise fares and taxes — more than legally allowed — so why not spend $4.1 million of your money to get what it wants Even as the mayor and his pals are raising millions from contractors, developers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Naked City | 1 Comment

Who owns L.A.: Judge for yourself from the great Convention Center billboard farce

Posted on September 11, 2008 by

If I had the time, technology and knowhow, I could make an Oscar winning movie out of the council’s amazing performance Wednesday as it sold off another chunk of the city to the man who already owns so much of … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Los Angeles | 9 Comments