LOS ANGELES

PLANNING WATCH-To much of the public “Department of City Planning” brings up images of widespread gentrification, a former Director of Planning paying a $281,000 fine for lobbying his former colleagues on behalf of real estate developers, and hundreds of eyes averted from FBI investigations and indictments of their bosses accepting bribes to approve major projects.

ELECTION POLITICS-Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speak during a press conference following a vote in the U.S. House on ending US military involvement in the war in Yemen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 4, 2019.

GELFAND’S WORLD--We’ve experienced two weeks of protests and marches demanding that American cities and police forces reform the way they treat people.

LA WATCHDOG--The City Council’s fully loaded budget of over $55 million is less than transparent.

@THE GUSS REPORT-On Wednesday morning, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott introduced to a national television audience a proposed plan for police reform.

GUEST WORDS--As we all looked on, in horror over the murder of Mr. Floyd, we, collectively as a nation, thought something must be done; a tipping point was reached.

ALPERN AT LARGE--Some of us go on and on with the questions, while others claim to have all the answers. To most of us who want answers to our questions, but don't see the answers coming any time soon (or who see conflicting answers that drive us crazy), welcome to the Human Condition.

PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES-Recap of the $2.7 Billion Question – Part 1:

PERSPECTIVE–Much has happened since the City of Richmond’s Monument Avenue Commission made its recommendation regarding what to do with the statues of prominent Confederates displayed  along the parklike street.  

DEEGAN ON LA-It’s hard enough dealing with today, let alone worrying about tomorrow, or next month, or November. Or, rent. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--I’ve always been skeptical when liberals (i.e.: my side of the fence) complain about the expense of something.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES--Bowing to community pressure, CIM Group backs out of its agreement to purchase the Crenshaw Mall, the iconic center and economic anchor of Los Angeles' Black community.

MY TURN--” INTERNAL AFFAIRS cover up more than they investigate. Stop with the nepotism and cronyism and be fair and by the book.

@THE GUSS REPORT-What started last week in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) is a voluntary abdication of the local government’s responsibility to maintain law and order,

ALPERN AT LARGE--There has been much ballyhoo about funding more or less for police, for affordable housing, for pensions, and for our parks. 

OTHERWORDS--Dear JK Rowling,

AT LENGTH-For most of my life racism was something people just didn’t talk about.

ONE MAN’S OPINION--The sadistic murder of George Floyd outrages the world. Let me re-phrase that, “The world, other than Donald Trump, Attorney William P. Barr and their coterie of predatory racists, is outraged.”  

FIRST PERSON--We shouldn’t have to protest for humans to be treated like humans.

PLANNING WATCH-Like Woodie Allen’s imaginary character, Zelig, who could change his physical appearance to ingratiate himself to those around him, Eric Garcetti skillfully changes his political exterior to placate those who contest his policies.