LOS ANGELES

CITY BUDGET WATCH--I released the City’s revenue forecast today, highlighting projected growth in crucial revenue sources, but also warning of increased government spending and the impact of economic uncertainty on the City’s coffers.

PERSPECTIVE-I occasionally watch Shark Tank. Some of the concepts the contestants pitch are novel. The panel of experts dispense their advice with confidence, which is occasionally laced with a little arrogance. 

CLIMATE POLITICS-Throughout the history of Western Civilization there are times, but only on rare occasions, when people en masse feel compelled to run into the streets, similar to the storming of the Bastille in 1789, screaming at the top of their lungs: “Stop the Madness!” 

CLASS CONFLICT IN THE HOUSING ARENA-In an age of worsening income and wealth inequality, a supply of affordable shelter for workers and their families is low while demand for it is high, the conditions for price-gouging.

@THE GUSS REPORT-Wikipedia says “he was the prototype of the modern era marquee quarterback, with a strong passing game, media fanfare, and widespread popularity. He has been consistently listed as one of the greatest NFL players of all time.” 

NEW GEOGRAPHY-Politicians across the Western world like to speak fondly of the “middle class” as if it is one large constituency with common interests and aspirations.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-With a certified crazy man in the White House, one would think that the Dems’ taking over in 2020 would be a no-brainer. Not so fast there. Right now, Trump is more likely than not to be re-elected. 

WORLD WATCH--It is sad, appalling, and outrageous that much of what Bernie Sanders is advocating is denigratingly labeled as socialist, as if it were a stigma detached from the day-to-day realities of life that affect every American man, woman, and child.

PLANNING WATCH-We could easily balance our budgets if we were paid each time an official or municipal pundit called for updating LA’s 35 Community Plans, heirlooms from LA’s boom years.

OTHER WORDS--The Supreme Court is considering a case, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, that once again pits LGBTQ rights against so-called religious liberty.

ALPERN AT LARGE--The cost of health care can and should remain a high priority for this nation's upcoming election cycle, although those running for higher office too often don't appear to have a grip on how to lower health care costs (and I don't see enough doctors running for positions of power, probably because their calling is too honorable to stoop so low as to be a pandering politician).

EASTSIDER-It’s a sad truth. Every year I look at the races for LA County Superior Court and feel guilty, because I have no idea what I’m doing.

VOICES-Shades of the famous quote from the movie “Cool Hand Luke,” the City of Los Angeles is shutting down Wilshire Boulevard from Fairfax to La Brea on the weekend of March 14 and 15 to shoot a television show and they didn’t tell anyone in the Miracle Mile that it was happening. 

RANTZ & RAVEZ-I wrote in a previous column that the Election Commercials on TV were going to bombard you to the point of nausea.

@THE GUSS REPORT-Well, that was quick. The South Coast AQMD, an important agency doing valuable environmental work, was eager to speak with me recently about its scientific endeavors, but went suddenly silent when two top executives were asked to field live questions about its bizarre employment arrangements with, among other politically connected employees, Fabian Wesson, wife of LA City Councilmember Herb Wesson. 

LOS ANGELES-George Gascon is an advocate for Criminal Justice Reform,. But what is criminal justice reform? 

GUEST WORDS--Super Tuesday is just a few days away and I’ve been thinking a lot about the turnout for this election.

ONE MAN’S OPINION-Socialism is “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.” 

WOMEN’S RIGHTS--Reproductive rights advocates criticized a federal court's ruling on Monday upholding the Trump administration's Title X rule, which bans health clinics from counseling patients on abortion care

DEEGAN ON LA-A recent state-sanctioned murder of a mountain lion known as P-56 (photo above), in the Santa Monica Mountains, has sparked community and politico outrage. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--It’s hard to know whether to join the people of Costa Mesa in panicking over the new version of coronavirus or whether to treat it as the newest Ebola – that is, something that kills a few thousand people but is put under control before the rest of us seven billion folks are bothered – something that will come back from time to time, but be put under control with each event.