Monthly Archives: January 2010

The Wizard of LA Will Solve Our Problems — Somewhere over the Rainbow

Posted on January 12, 2010 by

After decades of a failed experiment in municipal socialism, Austin Beutner looks like just the right man for the job of reviving LA’s sagging economy from the tornado of mismanagement and poor leadership that has hit it, a steal at … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Jack Weiss vs. Ron Kaye on Channel 4

Posted on January 12, 2010 by

“The Filter with Fred Roggin” is being broadcast for the first time on Channel 4 today at 11:30 a.m. (after a six-month test on digital cable) and as luck would have it Jack Weiss and I wound up as facing … Continue reading →

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

Talk Turns to Action — The Fight Is On

Posted on January 10, 2010 by

What, Me Worry?! from Michael Cohen on Vimeo. While most of America tuned into football and the “Simpsons” 20th anniversary special on Sunday, the lines were being drawn for the political battle that will determine the future of Los Angeles. … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Antonio’s Job Creation Plan: DWP as the Economic Engine to Subsidize Development, New Business

Posted on January 10, 2010 by

made last Tuesday and hardly anybody noticed, which was City Hall’s goal. Having fiddled the last three years while a couple of hundred thousand people lost their jobs and city treasury fell deep in the red, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Los Angeles, Solar Energy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Green LA or DWP? Parfrey Makes His Choice

Posted on January 7, 2010 by

Nearly a month after the Environmental Working Group issued a disturbing report on the quality of America’s drinking water, the DWP got around to defending itself publicly against being ranked 83rd among the 100 largest cities. Leading the charge was … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Is the DWP Illegal Paying for Other City Services?

Posted on January 6, 2010 by

City Hall’s policy of burdening the municipal utility with costs that are the responsibility of the general fund are improper and probably illegal under Proposition 218 protections requiring voter approval of rate and tax increases, the County Grand Jury reported … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Reinventing Journalism: The Emerging New World Order of News

Posted on January 6, 2010 by

A few months after I happily, if involuntarily, left the newspaper business, TV sportscaster Fred Roggin pitched a wacky idea to me for a new type of fast-paced news commentary show he was trying to develop called “The Filter.” Roggin … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Parents Win Power over Kids’ Education — Assembly Passes ‘Race to the Top’ Package by One Vote

Posted on January 5, 2010 by

After weeks of negotiations and a day-long drama in the state Assembly, supporters of parent rights to have a direct say in their children’s education by a single vote shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. The action, subject to agreement of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

They Saved Hollywood, Built the Subway, Created 1000s of Jobs — All in a Council Day

Posted on January 5, 2010 by

Just back from its latest vacation, the City Council looked as naked today as if they were being broadcast through the lens of a full-body scan camera. They were done with the city’s monkey business thanks to Council President Eric … Continue reading →

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Talk, Talk, Talk — When WIll We Decide to Act?

Posted on January 4, 2010 by

The 21st century got off to a terrible start in its first decade what with unending wars and economic meltdown and I can’t say the opening acts of the second decade are all that promising. On Sunday, the National Football … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments