Email Author Gene Maddaus

Awards

• 2012 - Best of the West/First Amendment Funding, Inc., published September 15, 2011

  "Secrets & Lies"

• 2011 - Southern California Journalism Awards/LA Press Club, published December 2, 2010

  "L.A.'s Light Rail Fiasco"

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2010 Stories by Gene Maddaus

• Dennis Zine's Fling With Lobbyist Forces Recusal On LAX Contract

  published Dec 30, 2010

  Councilman Dennis Zine has decided to recuse himself from the debate over a $271 million contract for a utility plant at LAX, after it was reported that he is dating the lobbyist for a losing bidder.I... More >>

• Special Elections Won't Offer Much Of A Test Of Open Primary Law

  published Dec 29, 2010

  As the Schwarzenegger era draws to a close, two major experiments that will form much of his legacy have yet to begin.Non-partisan redistricting gets most of the attention, but the new "jungle primary... More >>

• Christmas Miracle: Garry South Admits He Was Wrong

  published Dec 23, 2010

  During the governor's race, few Democrats were as pessimistic about Jerry Brown as Garry South was. South, who built his reputation on Gray Davis' campaign in 1998, repeatedly disparaged the Brown cam... More >>

• Dana Rohrabacher, Freelance Diplomat, To Investigate Obama State Department

  published Dec 22, 2010

  With Republicans sweeping to power in the House of Representatives, local counter-revolutionary hero Dana Rohrabacher has been put in charge of investigating President Obama's foreign policy. Should b... More >>

• Expo Line Phase 2 Gets Judge's Blessing, But Neighbors Vow To Appeal

  published Dec 21, 2010

  A judge gave a go-ahead today to the second phase of the Expo Line, ruling against neighbors who have argued the project will snarl traffic on surface streets.In a tentative ruling, Judge Thomas McKne... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dennis Zine Dating Lobbyist For Losing LAX Bidder [Updated]

  published Dec 20, 2010

  Councilman Dennis Zine is dating a lobbyist for a firm that is protesting a $271 million contract before the City Council.In an interview, Veronica Becerra confirmed that she is working for Tutor-Peri... More >>

• Kudos To Rex Olliff, The City's Revenue Estimator, On Hitting The Target

  published Dec 17, 2010

  It should come as no surprise that Los Angeles is facing yet another giant deficit -- $350 million for next year. Pretty soon there will be another round of drama and finger-pointing about how to solv... More >>

• Dodger Divorce: Despite What Bill Plaschke Says, It's Too Soon To Celebrate

  published Dec 16, 2010

  There was much rejoicing over last week's ruling in the McCourt divorce case, which made it more likely that the Dodgers will be put up for sale. Bill Plaschke started rounding the bases. T.J. Simers ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Three Visions For Proposed NFL Stadium In Downtown L.A. Unleashed Today

  published Dec 15, 2010

  By Dennis Romero and Gene Maddaus Updated with sketches and remarks from the unveiling at 6:05 p.m. As the owners of Staples Center were poised to unleash three architectural firms' distinct visions... More >>

• Phil Angelides' Financial Crisis Panel Is In Crisis

  published Dec 15, 2010

  Remember Phil Angelidesr He ran a "Revenge of the Nerds" campaign for governor in 2006 and got shellacked by a then-still-popular Arnold Schwarzenegger.You'd think that experience might have soured hi... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown Brings Gloomy Budget Forecast To UCLA

  published Dec 14, 2010

  Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown brought his traveling budget seminar to UCLA today, sharing the stark realities that await him when he takes office on Jan. 3.Brown seems to have done some thinking about how to... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  MTA Approves $28.5 Million Expo Increase, As Gloria Molina Fumes

  published Dec 09, 2010

  The MTA board today agreed to pay $28.5 million to compensate the Expo Line contractor for delays, boosting the project's budget to $927.4 million.The board discussed the settlement in closed session ... More >>

• Unwinding The Spin From The Dodger Divorce Ruling

  published Dec 07, 2010

  Last March, Frank McCourt gave USA Today a rare interview about his divorce. He reassured fans that everything was business as usual with the Dodgers, and he rejected comparisons to the divorce of Joh... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Jamie McCourt Wins, Starts Putting Together A Team To Buy The Dodgers From Frank McCourt

  published Dec 07, 2010

  Fresh from today's legal victory, Jamie McCourt has hired a banker to help her assemble a team of local investors to buy out her ex-husband's stake in the Dodgers.A source familiar with the matter say... More >>

• Tim Donnelly, Tea Party Republican, Introduces Arizona-Style Immigration Law

  published Dec 07, 2010

  Making good on a campaign promise, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly introduced an Arizona-style immigration law in the California Legislature yesterday.Donnelly's bill would make it a crime to shelter an ille... More >>

• Jack Kyser, Every L.A. Reporter's Favorite Economist, Dies

  published Dec 06, 2010

  Jack Kyser, the founding economist of the L.A. Economic Development Corp., has died, according to a story on the Times' website.Kyser was every L.A. reporter's go-to source for a quote on the local ec... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Alan Jackson Announces Campaign For District Attorney

  published Dec 06, 2010

  Alan Jackson made it official today, announcing his campaign for district attorney. As we've said before, Jackson is a career prosecutor who's best known for putting Phil Spector behind bars.The elect... More >>

• Expo Line Contractor Awarded $25-30 Million For Delays

  published Dec 03, 2010

  Meeting in closed session on Thursday, the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority board agreed to pay a settlement to resolve a long-running dispute with the rail project's contractor.Sources sa... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Jackie Lacey Could Be L.A.'s First Non-White, Non-Male District Attorney

  published Dec 03, 2010

  Had D.A. Steve Cooley been elected attorney general, the odds-on favorite to replace him would have been his third-ranking administrator, Jacquelyn P. Lacey.Lacey, 53, was considered most likely to ge... More >>

• LAX Concession Aftermath: Alan Rothenberg Resigns From L.A. Airport Commission

  published Dec 02, 2010

  Alan Rothenberg resigned today from the Los Angeles Airport Commission, in a move that should make it easier for the commission to award airport concession contracts.Rothenberg was the source of a con... More >>

• Steve Cooley Wants To Have A Big Role In Picking His Successor

  published Dec 01, 2010

  At a press conference in his office this afternoon, Steve Cooley all but ruled out running for a fourth term as district attorney.But Cooley, fresh off a narrow defeat to Kamala Harris in the race for... More >>

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  COVER STORY

  L.A.'s Light-Rail Fiasco

  published December 2, 2010

  Over the last year, a series of train bridges has risen at La Brea Avenue, La Cienega Boulevard and the corner of Venice and... More >>

• Frank McCourt Accepts Dodger Divorce Deal, But Jamie Refuses [Updated]

  published Nov 30, 2010

  Settlement talks between Frank and Jamie McCourt are at an impasse, clearing the way for Judge Scott Gordon to issue a ruling in the contentious Dodger divorce case.In a statement to the media, Frank'... More >>

• Kamala Harris Declares Victory, Announces Transition Team

  published Nov 30, 2010

  Kamala Harris declared victory this morning in the razor-close race for attorney general. With almost all the ballots counted, Harris is leading L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley by 73,102 votes.Pro... More >>

• Steve Cooley Not As Non-Partisan As He Thinks

  published Nov 24, 2010

  L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley lamented the rise of partisanship in his concession message today, echoing a complaint that his consultants have been making since Election Day.In their view, Coole... More >>