Maria Elena Durazo

Unions Rally to Block Koch Brothers' L.A. Times Purchase

By Nanette Gonzalez and Sarah Fenske In just two short months, Charles and David Koch's dreams of purchasing the L.A. Times have gone from a well-sourced rumor, first reported on this blog, to the catalyst for outraged essays in newspapers across the country to a protest song by none less than Ry C ... More >>

Do Endorsements for John Choi and Mitch O'Farrell Reveal Answers for Tri-Hipster Area Voters?

Is L.A. City Council District 13 candidate John Choi a pawn of downtown City Hall interests? Does rival Mitch O'Farrell really have the support of CD 13's community activists? Will residents be screwed no matter who gets elected? All important questions as the contentious CD 13 race heads into the ... More >>

Most Hilarious Tweets from L.A. Council District 13 Candidate John Choi's 'Parody' Twitter Account

At least someone's having fun with this year's L.A. municipal elections, even though it's at the expense of City Council District 13 candidate John Choi. Choi moved into CD 13 in 2012 and has the major backing of Los Angeles County Federation of Labor boss and political kingmaker Maria Elena Durazo ... More >>

Council District 13 Race: Antonio Villaraigosa Backs Newcomer and Favorite Son John Choi

There's no question about it now. With Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's endorsement of Los Angeles City Council District 13 candidate John Choi today, City Hall's political establishment is squarely behind a man who's had little to no ties with the communities -- such as Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Echo ... More >>

L.A. County Labor Fed Backs Wendy Greuel, Asks Eric Garcetti To Lay Off Anti-Union Remarks

The L.A. County Federation of Labor today officially threw its support behind Controller Wendy Greuel in the race for L.A. mayor. The Fed's endorsement -- a foregone conclusion since last week's political committee vote -- should provide Greuel a strong get-out-the-vote operation, which could b ... More >>

Who is Mystery Man John Choi?

To represent Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park, it pays to be chosen by Maria Elena Durazo

Los Angeles City Council Members Take Time Off For Conferences, Then Don't Go

By now it's common knowledge that Los Angeles City Council members love their perks and holidays. Just read the L.A. Weekly cover story "Los Angeles on $300,00 a Year." But now they're taking time off from dealing with important city business -- it's officially called a "recess" -- for a major confe ... More >>

Rusty Hicks, L.A. Labor Official, Trades Political Battles For War In Afghanistan

The L.A. County Federation of Labor has some major election battles coming up. There's the mayor's race in March, but even more important is the November campaign against Prop. 32, the "paycheck protection" initiative that threatens labor's ability to fund elections.But the Fed will be fighting thos ... More >>

Mitt Romney: America's First Mexican President?

We always knew that, with Barack Obama blazing the trail for African Americans, someday Latinos would get their first president too. What we didn't know is that it could actually be ... Mitt Romney!? Ay, dios mio. Turns out that sometime Southern Californian Mitt has deeper Mexican roots than a ca ... More >>

Gas Company Workers Enlist Occupy L.A. For Demonstration Downtown Today

Ed CarrascoOccupying L.A.​Updated at the bottom with a statement from the Gas Company. First posted at 12:18 p.m. The rightblogosphere has been alight with conspiracy theories about who's behind the Occupy movement that has swept the nation. And there have been some accusations here that if ... More >>

L.A. County Federation Of Labor To Require Democratic Politicians to Clean Toilets And Change Bedpans

​The L.A. County Federation of Labor can make or break a politician's career. The Fed's endorsement brings an army of precinct walkers and door knockers, which can turn the tide in a local race. But now that endorsement is becoming harder to get. Under new requirements rolled out at Fed headquarte ... More >>

Expo Line Will Have A Bridge Over Sepulveda Blvd., Union Labor

Expo Phase 2​The second phase of the Expo light-rail line took a big leap forward today, as the Expo Construction Authority awarded a $541 million contract to Skanska/Rados.The authority also voted to approve a bridge over Sepulveda Boulevard, which could go some way toward mollifying homeowners w ... More >>

Bernard Parks Was Targeted as Union Object Lesson

$1.2 million buys a lot of fear at L.A. City Hall if that's your aim

Rudy Martinez Versus Los Angeles City Hall

Flip This House reality TV star hopes to push out Councilman Jose Huizar

Welcome Home, Jerry Brown

But really, what were you thinking? This state is a mess

Mayor Antonion Villaraigosa, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Richard Trumka At Downtown Labor Rally; Will Tie Up Traffic

Great labor union mustache on Richard Trumka​The economy sucks. Let's have a rally. Labor unions and Democratic politicians will gather at noon on the south lawn of City Hall. Organizers say they'll draw 2,000 with the help of 50 buses, so unless you want to help the economy by listening to ... More >>

Several Thousand Union Members Rally in Downtown L.A. To Bring Jobs Back To California

Steve La​At least 1,000 people gathered at Los Angeles City Hall Friday to rally for job growth in California. Among the masses were members of several labor unions from L.A. and from across the country. "We're here because presence has power," said Steven Pasillas, 31 of the International B ... More >>

Parts Of Arizona Immigration SB 1070 Law Blocked; L.A. City Council Won't Remove Boycott Yet

Steve La​ Updated with reaction from labor leaders and the mayor. Local labor leader Maria Elena Durazo declared victory in response to today's decision by a federal judge to stay the more controversial aspects of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration measure. Durazo, head of the county labor fede ... More >>

The Chosen One

How the labor-Latino political machine decides who serves in Sacramento

Cultural Wars, Debacles

Esteban Nunez Case: Bad Little Suburban Boys

The son of Fabian Nunez, and his friends, face the music in Lu Santos’ killing

Three Dems Square Off for Money in Race to Replace Hilda Solis

"It does not take a lot of money in these low turnout races, but that doesn't mean a lot of money isn't going to be spent." This wonderful quote comes courtesy of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and, while these words could serve as a judgment on all small elections gone wild, they specifically desc ... More >>

Mark Ridley-Thomas' Blowout Win for L.A. County Supervisor

Unpainted walls and a shared TV? Or chandeliers and movie stars?

The Night the World Began: The View From L.A. Union Rooms

Phone bankers in East L.A., bus drivers in Echo Park celebrate Obama's victory

Ron Burkle: Poor Little Rich Grocer

L.A.'s billionaire confronts life without the Clintons or instant White House access

Latino Leaders' Clinton and Obama Endorsements: California's Wannabe Kingmakers

Deciphering the payback, ambition and backbiting behind it all

The Final Hours of Miguel Contreras

The 911 call said he went in for a card reading. But the death of the labor leader prompted a prostitution raid. What really went down at the botanica?

Arrest This Woman . . . Pretty Please

Immigration Rites

Requiem for a movement. The real aliens are in Congress

Critical Condition

Will the NLRB deny nurses union cards?

Journey From the Center of the World

Picket Fences: From Dream to Fantasy

Hotel workers seek to beat poverty

Life of Labor

Miguel, Martin and Maria Elena

The Comeback Kids

Labor’s moment of victory

The Amazing Adventures of Super Mayor

Antonio’s heroics have suddenly inspired the citizens of Metropolis, but will he be brought down by his own brand of Kryptonite?

Beggars’ Banquets

One labor struggle ends, another begins

Strike Supplies

L.A. stocks up for hotel workers

Strike Talk in the Suites

Rooms of Dissent

Police pull welcome mat on hotel workers’ protest

Tense Times at the Inn

L.A. hotel workers get no vacation from labor strife

Sí, Se Puede!

L.A.’s new Freedom Riders take their quest for immigrant equality on the road

Overcoming in Texas

INS delays freedom ride

Running With Dennis

When war goes well, what else can a peace candidate do but hit up his L.A. fans for money?

Harsh Holidays

Addressing the plight of laid-off workers

Free To Protest

Thanks to Judge Feess, you can say more things in more places

The New Unionism Finds a Home

Once the nation’s most anti-union big city, L.A. has now become America’s most dynamic labor town

With Blessings

Religion on the (picket) line

Sterling Silver

B.S. on Campus

USC food workers fast for new contract

No Justice, No Growth

A new labor-left alliance scrambles L.A.'s growth politics - and creates middle-income jobs in a city where they're vanishing