Articles

Recent News Reports About Your City

Friday, Jul 30, 2010

July 29, 2010 – LA Weekly – L. A. City Council Approves Hollywood’s Massive Columbia Square Project – “massive high-density project . . . [activists say that it] serves to enrich the current owners of the property by granting massive land use entitlements while severely impacting the surrounding residents and businesses with gridlocked traffic, increased pollution, and literally overshadowing the delicate Selma La Baig Historic District area . . . three "venues" where there will be "live entertainment" and "dancing" as well as the serving of alcohol at nine "establishments” [near residential properties]”

July 27, 2010 – Daily News – City Council Seeking to Expand Film Incentives – “to help stem the flow of runaway production in Los Angeles. . . raising the business cap exemption to $5 million and refunding sales taxes to firms filming in Los Angeles.” [We assume this means more jobs in the movie industry-an industry that employs many union workers.]

July 27, 2010 – Daily News – Mayor Villaraigosa Nominates Michael LoGrande – “to serve as the new planning director. . . nomination still has to be approved by the City Council.” [We all must wait and see about this appointment.]

July 20, 2010 – Los Angeles Times – CRA Chairman Urges Media Filter for L. A. Redevelopment Commissioners – [Just what we need – less transparency.  Aren’t Commissioners supposed to be the most proficient and well-versed on their subject?] “should refuse to talk to the news media unless coached . . . City Hall activist voiced fears that Ackerman was trying to rein in opposing views”

July 19, 2010 – Daily News – For Villaraigosa, is it Business as Usual? – “went to work Monday with a sling on one arm and a familiar brunette on the other. . . city budget issues were boiling over in a protest of library closures and staff layoffs. . . "If we (all) took a cut, even a 5 percent cut, we could avoid shutting the library down two days a week," the mayor said.” [Once again, he proposes solutions on the backs of those with a lot less income than himself.]

July 19, 2010 – Los Angeles Times – Los Angeles’ Plan to Outsource Fire Departments Billing Draws Heat – “opposition from organized labor and some City Council members . . . bundled with a popular initiative to move to electronic collection” [While Zine and Perry question the outsourcing, Smith endorses it.  Time after time after time, ad infinitum, outsourcing initially seems attractive financially, but once the City is dependent on a contractor, the price goes up to way beyond what City employees cost.  Keep the work in-house where you can control it!]