Tag Archives: la news

The (Self) Betrayal of Antonio Villaraigosa

Posted on January 28, 2010 by

I don’t know if Antonio Villaraigosa is a liar, or even a crook — though I’ve got my suspicions about some of his cronies. But I do know he has a hard time taking responsibility for his actions, living up … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

The Living Wage, Affordable Housing, Subsidies, Public Works and the Myth of Job Creation

Posted on December 23, 2009 by

In his desperation to save himself politically, the mayor has reluctantly reached out to the civic elite — people like former Mayor Richard Riordan, billionaire Eli Broad, LAEDC head Bill Allen — to create jobs, hundreds of thousands of good-paying … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, LAUSD, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , | 53 Comments

ERIP, Final Tally: Over-Subscribed by Nearly One-Third

Posted on December 17, 2009 by

The deadline for applying for the city’s costly Early Retirement Incentive Program passed at 5 p.m. Wednesday with more than 3,100 workers seeking the deal limited to 2,400. Read the full story at OurLA.org — the community-based news and information … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Stop DWP’s Pay Raise Ripoff — Or Make Them Pay

Posted on December 9, 2009 by

The day after Brian D’Arcy squandered another fortune of his members’ money in another losing effort to undermine even the pretense of democracy in Los Angeles, the lackeys who pass for a City Council blinked — temporarily — at approving … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Antonio Strikes Out: Krekorian Trounces Essel

Posted on December 9, 2009 by

Councilman-elect Paul Krekorian: “The voters of CD2 demanded profound change and soundly rejected the domination of this city by Downtown insiders. This victory is the  beginning of a fundamental transformation of the government of Los Angeles, and it sends a … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 40 Comments

Laundering Broidy’s Dirty Money, Looking for Political Cover

Posted on December 8, 2009 by

There is an elegance to a completely corrupt political system that anyone with an artistic sensibility has to admire. The case in point is disgraced LA venture capitalist Elliott Broidy and the nearly $1 million he used to buy influence … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The Failure of Reform, Part I: The LA Commission System

Posted on December 3, 2009 by

“Citizen boards and commissions play a significant role in most city governments. These boards and commissions serve as voices of city residents in local government. Los Angeles goes further than most cities by granting extensive authority to selected commissions as … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Essel’s ‘Lettergate’: Why Is Antonio’s Thank You Note in 2000 a Criminal Matter?

Posted on November 23, 2009 by

As we head into the final two weeks of the Battle for CD2, the campaign between Paul Krekorian and Christine Essel suddenly has escalated into one of the costliest and nastiest ever for the City Council. The City Hall political … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

D’Arcy’s Kiss of Death for Chris Essel

Posted on November 18, 2009 by

The Dec. 8 runoff in Council District 2 between Paul Krekorian and Chris Essel shaped up as a choice between the lesser of two evils, both beholden the same City Hall political machine that for so long has betrayed the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Nuch and the Lemmings: Marijuana and the Selective Enforcement of Laws

Posted on November 18, 2009 by

UPDATE: The City Council delayed a vote for a week and probably longer on a new ordinance implementing the 13-year-old state medical marijuana law. Councilman Ed Reyes and others proposed a long series of amendments intended to gut the City … Continue reading →

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