LOS ANGELES

@THE GUSS REPORT-This column has received two unsolicited telephone calls from the same LAPD Detective asking the same question about the same subject. . .a year apart. 

FIRST PERSON-The elephant in the room when it comes to increased density in California is FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE.

GUEST WORDS--We applaud the Los Angeles Police Department for expanding its community policing program known as the Community Safety Partnership and appointing now-Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides to lead it. 

ALPERN AT LARGE--In a year with an impeachment, a pandemic, civil unrest involving the police and minority rights, and a bitterly divisive election season, it isn't hard to conclude there will be fighting.  

GREG PALAST TALKS--Greg Palast does not mince words about the 2020 elections. Only the voter fraud he warns about is not by the voters, as President Trump insists.

ONE MAN’S OPINION--The GOP and the DEM Are United in One Goal – the Destruction of the Republic.

ELECTORAL SATIRE- Mr. Obama's Speech: Eh, hem. . .Ladies and gentlemen, we are at a crossroads in this country. Do we want a divider or a uniter?

GELFAND’S WORLD--The first three days of the Democratic National Convention are telling us some things about the new generation of leaders, but they are unintentionally showing us how the political world – more and more equivalent to the media world – has evolved. 

EASTSIDER-Recent headlines have been detailing the total meltdown at CalPERS. After some secret discipline of the only voice on the Board who lives up to their fiduciary duty (Margaret Brown), we quickly discovered that Chief Investment Officer Ben Meng was out of control, piling up significant investment losses, which were covered up by the Board and key staff. 

PLANNING WATCH-In Los Angeles City Councilmembers Herb Wesson and Paul Koretz have taken a forceful stand against State Senator Scott Wiener’s nine piecemealed housing bills, especially Senate Bill 1120.

PERSPECTIVE--It seems the nation needs a vaccine for bad decisions as much as it does to stop the spread of Covid19. 

RANTZ & RAVEZ-FBI Investigations into LA City Hall corruption involving elected and appointed officials and developers, and the recent arrests of two veteran Councilmembers, suggest there are additional investigations brewing at City Hall. 

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT-On Thursday, July 16, a little before noon, Essex Property Trust executive John Eudy sent an email to his fellow players in the real estate industry, asking them for campaign contributions — $100 per apartment — to stop Proposition 21.

ALPERN AT LARGE--Black Lives Matter. Period.  

CLIMATE POLITICS-Since the turn of the new century, every aspect of climate change has gone ballistic, up, up, and away, not looking back, leaving the 20^th century fairly harmless, but only on a relative basis, especially as compared to the rip-snorting 21^st century. It’s a whole new ballgame, starting with this new century. 

From Latin America to the U.S., a team of Emmy award-winning Latino producers and entrepreneurs are creating humanitarian and entertainment film content to promote ‘The American Dream.’ 

GELFAND’S WORLD--The Constitution allows the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY-When President Franklin Roosevelt signed Social Security into law 85 years ago today, he expressed hope that the program would offer Americans a "measure of protection" from the "hazards and vicissitudes of life."

@THE GUSS REPORT-The ongoing FBI investigation into massive LA City Council corruption during the years when Councilmember Herb Wesson served as the legislative body’s manipulative, retaliatory president is finally pressuring the lawmaker to behave properly, which he steadfastly refused to do in the past, like recusing himself when he has a conflict of interest on agenda items. 

HOMELESS STUSAMI --Get it out of your head that American society is set up to be fair. Fair would be a roof over everyone's head.

ALPERN AT LARGE--Fair is fair. If Westside Councilmember Mike Bonin had the LAPD call him, and not the other way around, while he's being berated for demanding police defunding while falsely accused of calling them eight times, then he's owed an apology, by myself and others who mistakenly reported it (although I did report he denied the claim).