LOS ANGELES

CAL MATTERS--Between the end of last year’s deadly wildfires and the start of this summer’s fatal blazes, utilities and insurers with a huge stake in the aftermath have poured more than $3.2 million into California campaign donations and another $5.2 million into state lobbying—a big spike.

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA--How can Californians rise from horrific local circumstances to national influence?

GUEST WORDS--Expect to hear about folks in the Los Angeles area taking stands on the app-based, pay-by-the-mile electric scooters that seem to be scattered about the City of Angels in greater numbers by the day.

CORRUPTION WATCH-All three of these men have a grandiose sense of entitlement. Whatever they say or do is, by definition, correct. All three appear to suffer from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder as opposed to momentary lapses in judgment. 

@THE GUSS REPORT-We had some fun with the toadies at the Los Angeles Times last week to see whether an embarrassed politician can be prompted to run to the newspaper’s servile reporters for some TLC (Tender Loving Cover) and damage control PR. 

SOUTH OF THE TEN-Has Inglewood Mayor James Butts’ bullying encroached on neighboring city boundaries?

WATER POLITICS-Californians have approved two water bonds in recent years, with another facing voters this November.

FIGHTING FOR TENANTS’ RIGHTS-Since March of this year, a bitter battle that can only be described as a modern-day David and Goliath, has been unfolding in the Westlake Community of Los Angeles.

NEW GEOGRAPHY--One of the last regions settled en masse by Europeans, California’s trajectory long has been linked to its partners across the Pacific.

DEEGAN ON LA-You know the feeling-- that things just aren’t like they used to be, whether it’s housing, zoning, civility or politics, but you may not appreciate the dynamic that is interfering so successfully with a change in the status quo.

GELFAND’S WORLD--Yes We (Still) Canis a recent book that has much to teach us about what it will take to win back the presidency in 2020.

WORLD WATCH--The nearly three months of demonstrations by Palestinians along the Israel-Gaza border under the banner of the “March of Return”, which turned violent and has remained as such as of this writing.

ALPERN AT LARGE--It's easy to lionize or demonize the YIMBY's, as either pure-hearted volunteers or paid mercenaries by disgusting and greedy developers and wealthy landowners.

EASTSIDER-I’ve been watching all the news channels like the political junkie that I am, and even with the headache this caused, it suddenly occurred to me that they really are to blame for a lot of our current political mess. 

BELL VIEW--So I took a little break for the Summer, but can any of us really get a break these days?

AFFORDABLE NO MORE-In cities like San Francisco, where housing crises rage, a new movement of rich and upper-middle class liberals has arisen

BACK TALK--Eric Brooks has authored a diatribe about a “mind blowing” western power grid conspiracy so riddled with fallacies that it is in itself mind-blowing.

CORRUPTION WATCH-Way back in the 1960s when I was toying with the idea of becoming a screenwriter, a friend said that I could widen my experience by driving a cab.

THE GENTRIFIERS--The Miami-based developer that owns Wyvernwood Apartments has secured a $155 million loan to refinance the 1,175-unit complex it plans to raze and rebuild in Boyle Heights. 

CAL BUZZ--Democratic State Sen. Kevin de León, 51, has one argument in his race to unseat U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 85: she’s too old.

PLATKIN ON PLANNING- Mayor Quimby shows us how City Hall collusion works.