Shocked, Shocked to Find Corruption in LA
LA WATCHDOG - Corruption permeates the City of Los Angeles.
LA WATCHDOG
2022: Major Storm Warnings for LA's Financial Forecast!
LA WATCHDOG - With so much uncertainty in the world, will the Nury Martinez led City Council and the Mayor (whoever he or she is) be “prudent” in developing next year’s City’s budget?
LA’s Budget “Manageable,” at Least for Now
LA WATCHDOG - The Second Financial Status Report issued by the City Administrative Officer concluded that the City’s fiscal challenges for 2021-22 are “manageable.”
Will LA's Ratepayers Ever Trust the DWP Again?
LA WATCHDOG - On Monday, the United States Attorney’s Office announced that that David Alexander, a former employee of our Department of Water and Power, agreed to plead guilty to one felony charge of making false statements to the FBI.
Restore LA Rec & Parks Funding
LA WATCHDOG - Last week, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued Executive Directive No. 31, Achieving Park Equity, that calls for “improved access to parks for communities with less public green space.”
DWP Bribery Scandal: Who’s Next?
LA WATCHDOG - Now that David Wright, the former General Manager of the Department of Water and Power who was summarily fired in July of 2019, has agreed to plead guilty to bribery in connection with DWP awarding in 2017 a $30 million no-bid contract to a newly formed company controlled by New York City lawyer Paul Paradis, many are wondering who will be the next target(s) of the United States Attorney’s Office?
DWP Bribery Scandal May Tank Garcetti’s Ambassadorship
LA WATCHDOG - The odds that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will be America’s next ambassador to India are getting slimmer by the day as new revelations of corruption and sexual harassment surface, leaving many to speculate what else is hiding in the closet.
LAPD Funding: Can LA Increase Budget When Facing a Deficit?
LA WATCHDOG - The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting a 12% increase in its budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2022.
LA’s Fire & Police Pension Plans Fully Funded, Finally!
LA WATCHDOG - As a result of a return of over 32% on its investment portfolio, the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plans (“LAFPP”) are 109% funded as of June 30, 2021, resulting in a surplus of $2.5 billion based on the market value of its investments.
Why Isn’t California Following LAUSD’s Money Saving Program on Covid Testing?
LA WATCHDOG - In June of 2020, the Los Angeles Unified School District contracted with Menlo Park based SummerBio to perform Covid testing services at a cost of approximately $12 per test.
Expand the City Council
LA WATCHDOG - The Los Angeles Times recommended that the City Council be enlarged to 31 members, an increase from the current level of 15 elected representatives.
LACERS: Great Returns, but Still Billions in the Red
LA WATCHDOG - The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (commonly known as “LACERS”) had a 29% return on its investment portfolio for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
No Wonder Angelenos Do Not Trust LA’s Corrupt City Council
LA WATCHDOG - Former Councilman Jose Huizar is awaiting trial in Federal court. Former Councilman Mitch Englander is in jail.
Is the Zoo a Priority for the City?
LA WATCHDOG - The Los Angeles Zoo is asking the City Council to approve its $650 million Vision Plan that will “transform the Zoo into the environmentally sustainable, world-class destination and wildlife conservation center that Los Angeles deserves.”
Lunar Cratered Streets Paid for Budget Busting Union Raises
LA WATCHDOG - The City of Los Angeles is considering a number of large infrastructure projects that will result in significant tax increases if approved by the voters.
Does LA Need A New City-Owned Public Bank of Los Angeles?
LA WATCHDOG - Public banking advocates are on a roll.
Blockbuster Investment Returns Could Eliminate Underfunded LA Pension Liability! Will City Hall Do the Right Thing?
LA WATCHDOG - The City’s two underfunded pension plans, the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System and the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions, may no longer be underfunded as a result of blockbuster returns on their investment portfolios for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2021.
Garcetti’s Budget Legacy: Long on Rhetoric, Short on Fiscal Responsibility
LA WATCHDOG - The City of Los Angeles budget cycle for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 officially started on September 13 when Mayor Eric Garcetti issued his Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget Policy and Goals.
Kevin de Leon Must Commit to Pay for Special Elections
LA WATCHDOG - Recently elected Councilman Kevin de Leon announced that he is a candidate to be the next mayor of the City of Los Angeles.
Hello LA. Business is Not the Enemy
LA WATCHDOG - The City Council is considering a 2022 ballot measure that would amend the City Charter to limit bid preferences on City contracts to include only business located in the City of Los Angeles.
Jose Huizar: Who Me? Just an Evangelist for Robust Development
LA WATCHDOG - Former City Councilman Jose Huizar has been indicted on federal racketeering charges in connection with his shakedown of real estate developers in a $1.5 million pay-to-play scheme.
The Governor's Possible Recall Not the Only Critical Vote Facing Californians
LA WATCHDOG - While Californians are awaiting the outcome of the vote to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, others are already focusing on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
DWP Is Not Curren Price’s Piggy Bank
LA WATCHDOG-Everybody loves trees and green space, especially in crowded, disadvantaged neighborhoods of the City where there is a scarcity of parks, recreational opportunities, and open space.
Alternatives Needed for Sanitation’s Clean Water Campus
LA WATCHDOG - The Bureau of Sanitation is considering the development of its Clean Water Campus, a 159,000 square foot facility with a 750 car parking facility, that is expected to cost more than $100 million.
Encino’s Fire Station 83 Is Still an Eyesore
LA WATCHDOG - Seven years after the City entered into a deal for Fire Station 83, you have to wonder what the hell is going on with this facility that is located at 5001 North Balboa Avenue in Encino in Council District 5 represented by wannabe controller Paul Koretz.
LA100: Billions of Your Dollars Undisclosed
LA WATCHDOG - The Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study (“LA100”) explored multiple pathways for the Department of Water and Power to achieve a 100% clean energy future by 2045.
Will the LA City Council Be Held Accountable for Failing to Meet Its Homeless Housing Goals?
LA WATCHDOG - City Councilman and wannabe mayor Kevin de Leon (“KDL”) has been outspoken about holding the members of the City Council accountable for failure to meet the goal of creating 25,000 new housing units by 2025.
Ballot Measure Needed to Protect City’s Budget from the Public Sector Unions
LA WATCHDOG - Every two or three years, the City Council and the Mayor approve new budget busting labor agreements* with the campaign funding leaders of the City’s public sector unions.
LA's Property Values Set a Record Causing Revenue Shortfall
LA WATCHDOG - The 2021 Assessment Roll for the 792,559 properties in the City of Los Angeles rose to a record $724 billion, an increase of $28 billion, or 4%, from 2020.
Newsom Recall Election Is a Referendum on Sacramento
LA WATCHDOG - A recent poll indicates that the September 14 special election to recall Governor Gavin Newsom is essentially a tossup, with 50% of likely voters opposed to the recall while 47% are supportive.
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