Monthly Archives: February 2012

Sellout Herb Wesson and the Special Interest Feeding Frenzy at City Hall

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

Renovated at a cost to taxpayers of more than $300 million just a few years ago, City Hall is an LA landmark that would bring a handsome price on the open market with all its gold leaf adornments and self-cleaning … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Election, 2013 LA Elections, City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

My Sunday Column: A partnership based on respect — How a neighborhood lost some battles but won the war

Posted on February 19, 2012 by

Near the end of the latest bitter debate over the closure of Fire Station 39 in west Pasadena, Councilman Terry Tornek lamented: “The neighborhood has lost confidence in us.” But like others on the City Council, he accepted that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Activists, Glendale-Burbank | 6 Comments

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire — Who Put Wesson Oil on the Fires of the Anti-Democratic Redistricting Process?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

The answer is simple enough: Andrew Westall, for six years assistant chief deputy aide to City Council President Herb Wesson before being anointed as executive director of the puppet City Redistricting Commission despite the objection of Councilman Bernard Parks. Parks’ … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 LA Elections, City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

The Resurrection of Antonio Villaraigosa

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

The stench of City Hall’s corruption grows fouler by the day even as the mayor who has contributed so greatly to it becomes an ever more visible and important national political figure. It’s enough to give you a laugh – … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

D-Day for LA Police Commission: Is the Law Supreme or Politics When It Comes to Impounding Cars?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

UPDATE: Confronted with questions raised by the State Legislative Counsel on whether its proposed policy is legal and where City Attorney Carmen Trutanich stands given his conflicted positions, the Police Commission put off a decision Tuesday on a new car … Continue reading →

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

Why they’ve got it better in LA’s suburbs — My Sunday Column

Posted on February 12, 2012 by

Time flies faster the older you get, so it seems like only yesterday — not a year ago — that I was offered the opportunity to write a Sunday column for the News-Press & Leader and other community newspapers in … Continue reading →

Posted in Glendale-Burbank, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

New Look and Website Upgrade: Feedback Requested

Posted on February 12, 2012 by

Thanks to my son Alfred, I’ve finally been able to get my blog upgraded and moved to Word Press which should eliminate a lot of the problems people have had with posting comments and I’ve had with spam and hacking … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

How Success Spoiled Carmen Trutanich

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

Just a few weeks before Carmen Trutanich took the oath of office as LA City Attorney, I asked this question: “Will Success Spoil Carmen Trutanich?” “Some people are worried his election will go to Carmen Trutanich’s head. Others are asking, … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 34 Comments

Why Your DWP Bills Keeping Going Up and Up — IBEW Salaries Keep Going Up and Up and Away

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

Carpenters: DWP $102,732; General Services 65,201; Airport  $82,999; National Average $43,890. Auto Painters: DWP $109,192; Fire Dept. $59,901. Cabinet Makers: DWP $101,840; LAPD $66,449. Garage Attendants: DWP $74,408; Airport $44,309; National Average $21,250. Land-surveying Assistants; DWP $123,433; Public Works $73,009′ … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, DWP, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

How Dangerous Are Unlicensed Drivers? Are Their IDs and Insurance Really Valid? Nobody Knows

Posted on February 6, 2012 by

About 2:30 a.m. last Friday, a car with six women aboard slammed into a tree at Florence and Halldale avenues in South LA, throwing five women from the vehicle and trapping a sixth, according to a City News Service report, which quoted Sgt. Norma … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments