LOS ANGELES

@THE GUSS REPORT-A frantic LA City Council president Herb Wesson released a statement a few days ago in the wake of a front-page story in the LA Times on his latest self-dealing, corrupt move involving one of his sons, claiming that the story is a “hit piece” funded by those seeking to derail his shaky campaign to become the next LA County Supervisor from the 2^nd District. 

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT--California State Sen. Scott Wiener continues to roll in campaign cash from Big Real Estate.

SOUTH OF THE 10--The site will be the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams plus Super Bowl LVI in 2022 and the College Football National Championship in 2023 and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic Games.

DC DISPATCH-In the Arab world, there are widespread prejudices against dogs -- for some, because of the belief that they are dirty animals that spread disease and for others because of various sayings allegedly attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (but nowhere in the actual Koran) describing dogs as unclean and unworthy animals.

GUEST WORDS--The U.S. Constitution provides, in Article II, Section 4, three grounds for the impeachment of a president: (1) Treason; (2) Bribery, and (3) other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

RED FLAG CRISIS--With wildfires raging across California on Wednesday—and with portions of the state living under an unprecedented "Extreme Red Flag Warning" issued by the National Weather Service due to the severe conditions—some climate experts are openly wondering if this kind of harrowing "new normal" brought on by the climate crisis could make vast regions of the country entirely uninhabitable.

AT LENGTH-Just the other day I read a story about how the government’s response to the housing crisis isn’t hitting the mark.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-Trump’s craven betrayal of the Kurds will forever stain American honor, as well as have a devastating impact on our ability to form allies forever.

NEW GEOGRAPHY-This early 1900s house, after the neighborhood had been rezoned for apartments, declined in value to $7,000 in the 1970s. Being rezoned single-family brought decades of revitalization that raised the value of neighborhood homes like this one to $700,000. 

@The GUSS REPORT-It isn’t the crime, but the cover-up. Last week, CityWatch published my latest column showing how LA Times’ City Hall reporters allow corrupt-o-crat politicians like LA City Council president Herb Wesson to dodge and screen questions even though they had good reason to explore – but didn’t – the bigger issue of whether the perpetually cash-strapped lawmaker used current and former staffers to pressure businesses for freebies and discounts for the wedding of his son, Justin Wesson, to Alexis Marin, both of whom are LA City Council aides.  

OTHER WORDS-Earlier this month, famed astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson appeared on The Late Show, where host Stephen Colbert asked Tyson about the allegations of sexual misconduct four women had brought against him. 

BCK FILE--Last week 18 pounds of fentanyl were seized in Orange County, enough of the synthetic opioid to create 4 million lethal doses.

ALPERN AT LARGE-The fires are now ablaze in the mountains near the Getty Center, and local schools and highways are now closed.

CAL MATTERS--In the months until a new law takes effect, tenants rights advocates are scrambling to combat what they say is a wave of landlords exploiting a temporary loophole. Could it have been avoided?  

GELFAND’S WORLD--Counting on my fingers, I come up with a total of 6 general managers of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) over its brief lifetime.

GUEST WORDS--“You know why people don't like liberals? … Because they lose.  If liberals are so f*@king smart, how come they lose so goddamn always?” 

    - Jeff Daniels as ‘Will McAvoy’ (HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ 2012).

DEEGAN ON LA-“California Dreaming,” the 1960s Mamas and Papas hit that added an evocative phrase to our vocabulary, could become elevator music for a collection of rock and roll themed hotels on the Sunset Strip – if it ever comes to that. 

BCK FILE--Rep. Katie Hill had so much promise. Representing the 25th District, Hill had defeated Rep. Steve Knight in what had been a conservative stronghold.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-Trump’s mental illness -- narcissistic histrionic personality disorder -- is not a defense to treason. If we allow personality disorders to become legal defenses, then psychopaths who commit war crimes will go free. 

HEALTHCARE ECONOMICS-What if purchasing medical products and services were like buying peanut butter? Grocery stores have several brands and varieties: smooth, chunky, old-fashioned, natural, organic, no added sugar, reduced fat, no-stir, and pre-mixed with jelly with clearly marked prices ranging from $1.75 for the store’s generic brand to $7 for the over-priced Yuppie brand.

WORLD WATCH-A few week ago, I had an opportunity to meet with six members of the Yazidi community, including journalists and activists.