LOS ANGELES

FIRST PERSON-I grew up undocumented in America. As a kid, I often saw little hope for the future in the country I considered home.

LEANING RIGHT-It's been a very long year, and one can only presume that things will be better in 2021...

NEW GEOGRAPHY-In the minds of most progressives, as well as some horrified conservatives, California is the harbinger of America’s future.

VIEW FROM HERE--At this stage in Trump’s post-election psychological decompensation, it is hard to gauge whether the madman, who is a narcissistic Histrionic with fits of paranoia, intended the consequences of his call for $2,000.00 to each adult. 

BUSINESS-While these times may be unprecedented, many entrepreneurs in LA will be considering or in the process of starting their own business.

AT LENGTH-I’ve simply had enough of the false patriot, neo-Nazi, Proud Boy militias, their enablers and fellow travelers misusing the American flag.

GELFAND’S WORLD--In this series of year ending reviews, we've hardly veered from the twin themes -- intertwined as they are -- of Donald J Trump and the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are three more related issues that are joined at the deep level. 

@THE GUSS REPORT-Whatever they're spiking the community punch bowl with at the El Segundo Times commissary, its after-effects sound blissful. 

LEANING RIGHT--Contrary to those of us who presume to know better (but really you don't), we're not all stupid, and the balance of rights versus responsibilities is something we're all capable of understanding.

RANTZ & RAVEZ- I am ending the year 2020 with a big and well-deserved “Rave” for LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (photo above) from the 3^rd Council District in the West San Fernando Valley. 

TRANSIT WATCH-Metro is considering fare-free rides for its buses and trains.

VIEW FROM HERE--If Mayor Garcetti were in charge of LA’s weather, we’d be buried under six feet of snow on July 4th. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--It's a CityWatch tradition to do year-end roundups.

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA--Santa, California children need more this Christmas than you can fit in the sleigh.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES-For the second time in seventh months, the Black community has beaten back efforts to purchase the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza by developers connected to Donald Trump’s family members.

@THE GUSS REPORT-There are silver linings to be found in local politics.

EASTSIDER-As the brain trust of DONE feeds top-down trash to BONC in the insanity of their “Proposed Resolution by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Approving the Digital Communication Policy for the Neighborhood Councils,” their illness must be spreading to some of the Neighborhood Councils.

LEANING RIGHT--Everyone knows it (at least if they're from California) that Californians are smarter than Texans. 

PLANNING WATCH-A reader asked me to review Abundant Housing’s Fair LA housing plan.

CAPITAL & MAIN PERSPECTIVE--Long before the pandemic hit, California’s homeless issues were startlingly obvious.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT-Billionaires Stephen Schwarzman and Sam Zell must love Gov. Gavin Newsom, political consultant Ace Smith, and the California Apartment Association right now.