LOS ANGELES

EASTSIDER-I know, it sounds like some crazed lefty conspiracy theory, but hear me out before you rush to judgment. I have a theory ... about that Military.

BALLOT CHANGE--The California Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to block a ballot initiative to split the state into three parts after the measure had gathered enough signatures to put it before the voters in November.

@THE GUSS REPORT-The devil is in the details at the new era Los Angeles / El Segundo Times, as it stumbles to prove it has a journalistic pulse.

HUFF POST--Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday did not deny that the Russian government may have “compromising material” about President Donald Trump and his family.

GUEST COMMENTARY--Many residents in the 13th Council District were affected by a loss of power in last week’s extreme heatwave coupled with inadequate communication from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

BCK FILE--During the first few months of Eric Garcetti’s second term last year, the mayor had spent an average of one in three days outside the state and the country.

AT LENGTH-When I heard the news that Councilman Joe Buscaino had gotten a large portion of downtown San Pedro designated as “Little Italy” it was like — “Say what?”

CONNECTING CALIFORNIA--This should be the summer when the population of California finally surpasses 40 million. 

GELFAND’S WORLD--Here we are, approaching one of the most important elections in this country's history, and the California Democratic Party just did everything but moon the state's voters.

CAL MATTERS-Asked this spring to identify the most important issue facing California lawmakers, the leader of the state Senate didn’t hesitate: wildfires. 

CORRUPTION WATCH-Society’s passions are like submerged currents of molten lava.

CAL MATTERS-Far more millionaires move into California than leave, despite the state’s highest-in-the-nation income-tax rate, a new study shows.  

RANTZ & RAVEZ-Taxes and more taxes are in the immediate future for residents and business owners in Los Angeles and most regions of California.

EASTSIDER-No sooner was my recent article, “The City Ponders Neighborhood Council Reform…” 

PERSPECTIVE-Let’s be clear, the separation of families at the border did not begin with the Trump Administration.

THE CITY--According to DWP estimates, more than 80,000 people were affected by power outages during last weekend’s record-breaking high temperatures. 

EDUCATION POLITICS--“The appearance of law must be upheld, especiallywhile it's being broken.” – Boss Tweed from the film, “Gangs of New York.” 

ALPERN AT  LARGE--From red, white, and blue to orange and green, the colors still are associated with independence ... independence from cars, or at least providing another option.

PLATKIN ON PLANNING-As an officer in a neighborhood association, USC adjunct who taught courses of sustainable city planning, and a CityWatchLA columnist, I remain skeptical about market-driven transit oriented development (TOD).

EXCLUSIVE TO CITYWATCH—-DEEGAN ON LA--A very controversial development project that would have sent housing units twenty-six stories into the sky in the Fairfax neighborhood was grounded today

PARIS AGREEMENT AT RISK--On Thursday, over two dozen climate scientists sent a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown, urging him to phase out oil and gas production in the state before the start of the Global Climate Action Summit,