LOS ANGELES

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA - Ten Octobers ago, my family moved into our San Gabriel Valley home, and people started knocking on the door. Some knockers were neighbors. Some were trick-or-treaters. And some were looking for Steve.

HOUSING WATCH - I spend entirely too much time listening to experts in business, government, and academia explain the economy in general and the property market in particular.

PLANNING WATCH - Because Planning Watch columns present such a grim picture of life and City Hall politics in Los Angeles, I was pleasantly surprised to receive information on a proposed local ballot initiative that addresses some root causes of homelessness. 

NEVER FORGET - It’s hard to tell a city’s story. In many cities, there’s a tension between pointing with pride and bowing in shame.

SOUTH OF THE 10 - Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has dropped $10,000 into Inglewood’s November 2 special election to raise taxes to assist with “easing traffic” related to the numerous sports venues located along Prairie Ave.

DEEGAN ON LA —The prospect that parts of the hard work by the L. A. City Council Redistricting Commission may be headed for the shredder came as no surprise considering the divided 15-6 Commission vote to accept the Final Map version on Thursday, October 21, and the immediate negative reaction to the proposed districts map by Councilmembers Martinez (CD6), Krekorian (CD2) and Raman (CD4). 

THE DOCTOR IS IN - It's no shock to anyone who's paid attention to traffic, housing and American migration patterns, and the overall worsening rich/poor divide that there are dramatic changes in the needs of transportation and infrastructure.

THE VIEW FROM HERE - Eric Garcetti’s Mini-Me, Mitchie 0, practices a bizarre form of cannibalism. 

MARC'S ANGle - There’s a verdict in the end.  Full disclosure. I do not watch reality TV, or TV shows, in general, and basically did research to write this piece due to running into Vicki at a charity event for Fix’n Fidos, the day after a very public press sparring between her and Steve.

COMMENTARY - There is an obvious “disconnect” between this new crop of mayoral candidates looking to succeed the failed administration of lame duck Mayor Eric Garcetti,

LA BUDGET WATCH - At $11.4 billion, this year’s Los Angeles budget puts many nations to shame.

RantZ and RaveZ - On November 17, 1973, Former President Richard M.  Nixon stated the following during a speech, “I am not a Crook.” 

LA BUDGET WATCH - These remarks by Jack Humphreville were made at the Congress of Neighborhoods on Saturday, September 25, 2021 following the presentation of Liz Amsden. 

THE VIEW FROM HERE - Few people, if any, have done more to bring about a fatally polarized America where our very existence as a Republic is at stake than Nancy Pelosi. 

PLANNING WATCH - In California every city and county must have a General Plan, and one of its mandatory elements (i.e., sections) is Housing. 

THE VIEW FROM HERE - Why Would Candidates for Los Angeles Mayor Not Answer Whether the Anti-Bribery Statute, Penal Code, § 86, Applies to the LA City Council? 

SOUTH OF THE 10 - Former County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas might not be the only political figure caught in the crosshairs of federal prosecutors. 

PORTS BACKLOGGED - The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are clogged.

CARSON ENVIRONMENT - Carson residents are sickened by how city officials and the county have handled the repulsive smell caused by hydrogen sulfide in the Dominguez Channel.

JOBS BUT NO WORKERS - Put out of a job when COVID-19 practically shut down the hotel industry in 2020, Ruth Dominguez couldn’t wait to get back to work.

SUPPLY CHAIN PILEUP - For a generation, the Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors in California handled more than 40 percent of all container cargo headed into the US and epitomized the power of a globalizing economy.