WORLD WATCH--It is sad, appalling, and outrageous that much of what Bernie Sanders is advocating is denigratingly labeled as socialist, as if it were a stigma detached from the day-to-day realities of life that affect every American man, woman, and child.

PLANNING WATCH-We could easily balance our budgets if we were paid each time an official or municipal pundit called for updating LA’s 35 Community Plans, heirlooms from LA’s boom years.

OTHER WORDS--The Supreme Court is considering a case, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, that once again pits LGBTQ rights against so-called religious liberty.

DC DISPATCH--Last night the seven Democratic candidates for President took to the stage in Charleston, SC for a rematch following the brawl and sprawl of the Nevada debate.

ALPERN AT LARGE--The cost of health care can and should remain a high priority for this nation's upcoming election cycle, although those running for higher office too often don't appear to have a grip on how to lower health care costs (and I don't see enough doctors running for positions of power, probably because their calling is too honorable to stoop so low as to be a pandering politician).

VIEW FROM HERE-Today, a memorial marks the spot in Birla House, New Delhi, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at 5:17 p.m. on January 30, 1948.

EASTSIDER-It’s a sad truth. Every year I look at the races for LA County Superior Court and feel guilty, because I have no idea what I’m doing.

VOICES-Shades of the famous quote from the movie “Cool Hand Luke,” the City of Los Angeles is shutting down Wilshire Boulevard from Fairfax to La Brea on the weekend of March 14 and 15 to shoot a television show and they didn’t tell anyone in the Miracle Mile that it was happening. 

NEIGHBORHOOD POLITICS-A previous article touched on the need for the City Attorney’s Office to significantly increase its focus on risk management to reduce liability payouts across the City’s departments.  

RANTZ & RAVEZ-I wrote in a previous column that the Election Commercials on TV were going to bombard you to the point of nausea.

LOS ANGELES-George Gascon is an advocate for Criminal Justice Reform,. But what is criminal justice reform? 

GUEST WORDS--Super Tuesday is just a few days away and I’ve been thinking a lot about the turnout for this election.

ANIMAL WATCH-If you have worked, volunteered or visited a Los Angeles Animal Services' Animal Shelter, or know someone who has, this information is important to you. 

ONE MAN’S OPINION-Socialism is “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.” 

@THE GUSS REPORT-Well, that was quick. The South Coast AQMD, an important agency doing valuable environmental work, was eager to speak with me recently about its scientific endeavors, but went suddenly silent when two top executives were asked to field live questions about its bizarre employment arrangements with, among other politically connected employees, Fabian Wesson, wife of LA City Councilmember Herb Wesson.