##  Writer Bio Pages

 [ ![Abe Gurko](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/abe-gurko.png)

### Abe Gurko

ABE GURKO is a writer and author of Won’t Be Silent—Don’t Stop ’til It Matters, and a producer of the documentary. LOUD…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26556:abe-gurko-abe-won-t-be-silent&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/gelfand-logo.jpg)

### Bob Gelfand

Bob Gelfand writes Gelfand’s World for CityWatch, exploring science, politics, and civic life in Los Angeles. A former…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1641:bob-gelfand&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/84/dennis-zine-v2-84adc64c.jpg)

### Dennis Zine

Dennis P. Zine is a retired LAPD supervisor and former Los Angeles City Councilman who served the 3rd District for 12 y…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9535:dennis-zine&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/dick-platkin.jpg)

### Dick Platkin

Dick Platkin is a former Los Angeles city planner with decades of experience in urban planning, zoning, and housing pol…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9537:dick-platkin&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/alon-ben-meir.jpg)

### Dr. Alon Ben-Meir

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently affiliated with NYU’s Center for Glo…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18536:dr-alon-ben-meir&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/eliot-cohen.jpg)

### Eliot Cohen

Eliot Cohen is a longtime civic advocate who has served on the Neighborhood Council, the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advi…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28349:eliot-cohen&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/10/fred-rosen-109335c8.jpg)

### Fred Rosen

Fredric D. Rosen is a retired businessman and former CEO of Ticketmaster, where he led the company for 16 years and tra…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28964:fred-rosen&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a3/hans-johnson-a31537ff.jpeg)

### Hans Johnson

Hans Johnson is a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and public education. His columns have ap…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29264:hans-johnson&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/70/jack-humphreville-v2-70d727db.jpg)

### Jack Humphreville

Jack Humphreville writes the LA Watchdog column for CityWatch, where he covers city finances, utilities, and accountabi…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1644:jack-humphreville&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/jay-handal.jpg)

### Jay Handal

Jay Handal is a veteran community advocate and contributor to CityWatch. He serves as co-chair of the Neighborhood Coun…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18535:jay-handal&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a6/jeffrey-mausner-a6e2fc78.jpg)

### Jeffrey Mausner

Jeffrey Mausner is a retired attorney and law school professor who served as a U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorne…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25441:jeffrey-mausner&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/a5/jim-hampton-2-a5a7cc6e.jpg)

### Jim Hampton

Jim Hampton is the Publisher and Editor of CityWatchLA.com. With over 40 years of experience in radio broadcasting, mar…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25642:jim-hampton&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/ken-alpern.jpg)

### Ken Alpern

Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D. is a dermatologist and longtime CityWatch columnist focused on transportation, infrastructure…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1630:ken-alpern&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/5a/ken-draper2-5ac0b6e6.png)

### Ken Draper

Ken Draper (1933–2022) was the Founder and Publisher of CityWatch, a pioneering voice in Los Angeles civic journalism…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1638:ken-draper&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/liz-amsden-v2.jpg)

### Liz Amsden

Liz Amsden is a former Angeleno now living in Vermont and a regular CityWatch contributor. She writes on issues she’s p…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25279:liz-amsden&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8d/mark-dutton-8dfc7593.jpg)

### Mark Dutton

Mark Dutton is a lifelong musician, music producer, writer, and investigative journalist. After leaving college in his…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26015:mark-dutton&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/matthew-hetz.jpeg)

### Matthew Hetz

Matthew Hetz is a Los Angeles native and composer whose works have been performed nationally. He is the former Presiden…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10437:matthew-hetz&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/81/michael-bernick-81e0bdcc.jpg)

### Michael Bernick

Michael Bernick is the former Director of California’s Employment Development Department and previously served eight ye…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27156:michael-bernick&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4e/mihran-kalaydjian-4e48b1ff.jpg)

### Mihran Kalaydjian

Mihran Kalaydjian brings over two decades of experience in public affairs, government relations, legislative policy, an…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28810:mihran-kalaydjian&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/3d/nick-antonicello-3db4b96d.jpg)

### Nick Antonicello

Nick Antonicello is a 31-year resident of Venice and a seasoned journalist who covers politics, government, and communi…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28709:nick-antonicello&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/83/nick-patsaouras-v2-831be784.jpg)

### Nick Patsaouras

Nick Patsaouras is a Los Angeles-based electrical engineer and civic leader whose firm has shaped projects across comme…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30843:nick-patsaouras&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/89/patrick-mcdonald-89ad1753.jpg)

### Patrick Range McDonald

Patrick Range McDonald is an award-winning author and journalist, honored by the Los Angeles Press Club as Journalist o…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25650:patrick-range-mcdonald&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/paul-hatfield-1.jpg)

### Paul Hatfield

Paul Hatfield is a longtime community advocate and civic leader. He currently serves as a board member and past preside…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25678:paul-hatfield&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/72/paul-koretz-72df6776.jpg)

### Paul Koretz

Paul Koretz is a veteran public servant with decades of experience in Los Angeles area government. He served three term…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29109:paul-koretz&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/phyliss-daugherty.jpg)

### Phyllis M. Daugherty

Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee and a long-time animal welfare advocate. A contributor to Ci…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18534:phyliss-m-daugherty&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/richard-abrams.jpg)

### Richard Lee Abrams

Richard Lee Abrams is a former Los Angeles-based attorney, an author, and political commentator. A long-time contributo…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1628:richard-lee-abrams&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/tim-campbell.jpg)

### Tim Campbell

Tim Campbell is a longtime Westchester resident and veteran public servant who spent his career managing a municipal pe…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26699:tim-campbell&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/tim-deegan-v2.jpg)

### Tim Deegan

Tim Deegan is a longtime civic activist and columnist whose Deegan on LA feature has been a staple of CityWatchLA for o…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18531:tim-deegan&catid=384)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/FeaturedWriters/tony-butka-v2.jpg)

### Tony Butka

Tony Butka is a veteran Eastside community activist with decades of experience in Los Angeles civic life. He has served…

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9540:tony-butka&catid=384)
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