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 [ IMPORTANT READS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9)

#  The CityWatch Top Stories of 2023

Written by Jim Hampton.

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2024/001f.jpg)

December 31 2023

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MOST READ - As we reflect on the year 2023, CityWatch brings you the 10 most read stories that have shaped our city, from political dramas to societal challenges and heartfelt letters. Here are the standout stories that captured the attention of Angelenos.

They are listed from #10 to #1.

You can review them by clicking on any of these links:

**[\#10 - “Gender Transformation: The Untold Realities” and the Case of Abigail Martinez](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/27100-gender-transformation-the-untold-realities-and-the-case-of-abigail-martinez)**

*Marc Ang*

[\#9 - MWD Governance - How’s Adel Hagekhalil Doing?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/26852-mwd-governance-how-s-adel-hagekhalil-doing)

*Tony Butka*

**[\#8 - San Francisco Is Dying. Is LA Next?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/27405-san-francisco-is-dying-is-la-next)**

*Mark Dutton*

**[\#7 - Pit Bull Attack at L.A. Animal Services Shelter Severely Injures Employee, Volunteer – Will New GM Respond?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/animal-watch/27294-pit-bull-attack-at-l-a-animal-services-shelter-severely-injures-employee-volunteer-will-new-gm-respond)**

*Phyllis M Daugherty*

**[\#6 - Another Media Feeding Frenzy – Judge Cara D. Hutson](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/26213-another-media-feeding-frenzy-judge-cara-d-hutson)**

*Richard Lee Abrams*

**[\#5 - Student Suicides at Harvard-Westlake. No Coverage in a One Newspaper Town](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/26962-student-suicides-at-harvard-westlake-no-coverage-in-a-one-newspaper-town)**

*Yuval Kremer*

**[\#4 - We Know Who Killed Sheriff Deputy Clinkunbroomer, but Who Murdered Him?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/27645-we-know-who-killed-sheriff-deputy-clinkunbroomer-but-who-murdered-him)**

*Richard Lee Abrams*

**[\#3 - Former LA Chief &amp; Councilmember Bernard C. Parks Re. Mark Ridley-Thomas’ Trial and City Hall Corruption](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/27513-former-la-chief-councilmember-bernard-c-parks-re-mark-ridley-thomas-trial-and-city-hall-corruption)**

*Bernard C. Parks*

**[\#2 - Mayor Karen Bass Betrays Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/27628-mayor-karen-bass-betrays-los-angeles)**

*Yuval Kremer*

**[\#1 - Pit Bull Owned by Girlfriend of Detroit Lions’ David Montgomery Attacks Neighbor and Dog](https://mail.citywatchla.com/animal-watch/27815-pit-bull-owned-by-girlfriend-of-detroit-lions-david-montgomery-attacks-neighbor-and-dog)**

*Phyllis M Daugherty*

And there you have the 10 most popular stories on CityWatch according to our readers.

*(Jim Hampton is the Publisher and Editor of CityWatchLA.com. Jim has over 40 years experience in radio broadcasting, marketing and content creation. He helped Ken Draper launch CityWatch on the web nearly 20 years ago.)*

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##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu…

---

##  [ IMPORTANT READS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/064m3.jpeg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33192:should-unsafe-property-conditions-lead-to-injury-claims&catid=9)### [Should Unsafe Property Conditions Lead to Injury Claims?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33192:should-unsafe-property-conditions-lead-to-injury-claims&catid=9)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/061q.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33155:how-electrical-hazards-put-workers-at-risk&catid=9)### [How Electrical Hazards Put Workers at Risk](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33155:how-electrical-hazards-put-workers-at-risk&catid=9)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/058i.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33091:metro-doesnt-have-a-transit-problem-it-has-a-leadership-problem&catid=9)### [Metro Doesn't Have a Transit Problem—It Has a Leadership Problem](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33091:metro-doesnt-have-a-transit-problem-it-has-a-leadership-problem&catid=9)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060o.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33139:wrongful-death-claims-after-a-serious-accident-and-what-families-need-to-know&catid=9)### [Wrongful Death Claims After a Serious Accident and What Families Need to Know](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33139:wrongful-death-claims-after-a-serious-accident-and-what-families-need-to-know&catid=9)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059s.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33123:the-real-downsides-of-heat-pump-water-heaters-nobody-mentions&catid=9)### [The Real Downsides of Heat Pump Water Heaters Nobody Mentions](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33123:the-real-downsides-of-heat-pump-water-heaters-nobody-mentions&catid=9)
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