Ron Kaye

Tiny Glendale Water & Power Shows L.A. How To Tame DWP Union Boss Brian D'Arcy

Scott Ochoa had never met Brian D'Arcy, the head of the powerful electrical workers' union, when D'Arcy called him up in a rage last year. Ochoa, the Glendale city manager, was trying to work out an agreement on behalf of Glendale Water & Power, the city utility. D'Arcy didn't like how the negot ... More >>

Kevin James Joins A Growing List of Conservatives Who Back Liberal Eric Garcetti in L.A. Mayor's Race

Former mayoral candidate Kevin James endorsed Eric Garcetti today, making him the latest conservative to side with the liberal councilman out of concern that Controller Wendy Greuel is too beholden to unions.James, a former conservative radio host, joins bloggers Michael Higby, of Mayor Sam, and Pau ... More >>

Jack Humphreville Fights Lone-Wolf Campaign Against City Hall Power Brokers and Los Angeles' Proposition A Sale Tax Measure

Read L.A. Weekly's news story on Proposition A: "L.A. Sales Tax Hike: Will $211 Million Increase Fix City's Problems?" While nearly all of L.A.'s political establishment -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Herb Wesson, and deep-pocketed special interests -- are lining up behind Pr ... More >>

L.A. City Council District 13 March Election

Hollywood and Tri-Hipster Area Produces Power Players

Why Antonio Villaraigosa, Barack Obama's Top Cheerleader, Has Been Deemed a 'Failure' in Los Angeles

With the Democratic National Convention now over, it's clear that President Barack Obama has chosen, of all people, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be a high-profile cheerleader for his 2012 re-election campaign. That decision has caused a lot of head scratching in Los Angeles. He was, a ... More >>

Buckley School, Sherman Oaks Campus for Super Rich Kids, Granted $40M Charity Loan by L.A. City Hall

Of all disintegrating LAUSD campuses that need a tax-exempt loan to build new facilities, the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks for isn't even in the top 700. This place attracts the richest of the rich. It's like Candyland meets Secret Garden meets Enchanted Forest: Buckley describes itself as "a bea ... More >>

Governor Jerry Brown Can't Seem to Get the Hang of the 'Brown Act'

Without the pressure of another campaign in his future (or at least we hope not), Jerry Brown was looking like a real hero in his first few months as governor. It was the Schwarzenegger cleanse -- economy-class flights on Southwest, sensible cuts to the state S.W.A.G. budget. But in the year-and-a- ... More >>

Unlicensed Driver Tenina Calhoun Crashes SUV Into Palm Tree; 3 L.A. Sisters Dead

The three fatalities in Friday's tragic collision between an Infiniti SUV and a Hyde Park palm tree have been identified as a trio of sisters from the South L.A. area, according to City News Service. The youngest, 19-year-old Jeshai Chanae Jones, was declared dead just hours after the 2:45 a.m. cra ... More >>

The Five Most Furious Reactions to the Redistricting of Los Angeles

As insanely boring -- and incomprehensible to the average voter -- as the redistricting of Los Angeles may be, it's kind of a big deal. We understand the apathy. In a city where only a little over 10 percent of eligible voters turn out for municipal elections at all, they can hardly be expected to ... More >>

Hollywood Is About to Become a Sea of Skyscrapers: Here's Your Last Chance to Fight L.A. City Hall's 'Community Plan'

LA CurbedTwo towering 'scrapers adjacent to Capitol Records will only be the beginning.​Tomorrow morning, at the ungodly hour of 8:30 a.m., the L.A. Planning Commission will vote on a new "community plan" for Hollywood that could change our city as we know it. It's not as glamorous, PR-friend ... More >>

Gabriel Carrillo, Who Claims Deputies Beat Him While Visiting the Jail, is Free After D.A. Drops Charges

Gabriel Carrillo days after being beaten​This morning, the LA Times published a story about Gabriel Carrillo, a young man who claimed he went to Men's Central Jail in February to visit his brother when he was brutally beaten by sheriff's deputies, and then charged with assaulting the officers. As ... More >>

City Council Unanimously Passes Occupy L.A. Resolution -- Protesters Struggle to Distance Themselves From Democrats, Unions

Los Angeles TimesCity Council President Eric Garcetti shows his support.​Just now, the L.A. City Council unanimously approved a joint resolution to officially "support" the Occupy L.A. demonstration and "demand accountability and results from the banks we invest taxpayer dollars in." (Full tex ... More >>

NFL Stadium Hearing at L.A. City Hall Draws Hundreds of Football, AEG Lovers; Answers Few Questions

AEG​When LA Weekly reporter David Futch showed up at L.A. City Hall this morning for a hearing on Anschutz Entertainment Group's proposed L.A. football stadium, he thought he was in for just another L.A. City Council meeting. What Futch failed to realize is that, when one attends a meeting on ... More >>

Talk Radio Host Kevin James Is Running For Mayor

Kevin James​The insurgent candidates for L.A. City Hall took a shellacking at the polls last week. But if you thought they'd retreat to lick their wounds, think again.Today, Kevin James is declaring his candidacy for mayor.No, not Paul Blart, mall cop -- the other Kevin James.The talk radio host. ... More >>

Fight for Council District 12

Valley citizens try to crack open L.A. City Hall

CRA Cherry-Tops Billionaire Eli Broad's $130 Million Museum With $52 Million More, Before Governor Brown Can Have at It

New YorkerAnything for you, Mr. Broad​Now that the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency is on the chopping block, all eyes (including the governor's) are on the final moves of CEO Chris Essel and the Board of Commissioners. Their latest allocation is business as usual for the rich-get-r ... More >>

One 'Gate' Too Many: L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar Devoured Alive by Opponent Rudy Martinez, LA Times, Gleeful Citywatchers

Jose y Rudy, muy amigos​Updated after the jump: Huizar's gossip-girly "power analysis" lists in full! We'd call this a lynching -- if it weren't so based in fact. Over the last few weeks, the L.A. media hounds have gotten their paws on a series of embarrassing documents tied to L.A. City Coun ... More >>

Eight L.A. City Councilmembers Give Up Potential Control Of DWP -- Bowing To Mayor Villaraigosa, Powerful DWP Union

City Councilman Paul Krekorian changed his position on DWP power play since last week​Updated throughout. Originally posted at 2:34 p.m. Jesus, guys -- we thought the vote would at least be close. Then again, we should have known. Caving to a long history of bullish pressure from the Departm ... More >>

Reform At Corrupt L.A. Department Of Water And Power Takes Another Step Backward, With Help Of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

PHOTO BY TED SOQUIThe mayor is in Chicago today -- a fitting host for his Chicago politics​Updated after the jump: Will there be enough council strength to override the mayor's veto next Wednesday? Originally posted on Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. Given the amount of time and talk devoted to the Los ... More >>

L.A. Has a Jammed 2011 Ballot

Residents will be asked to rein in DWP, save libraries from Villaraigosa's pen

Rudy Martinez, Reality-TV Star Up For City Council, Bashes Incumbent Jose Huizar For His Watered-Down DWP Vote

A&ERudy Martinez at his day job​Exclusive: Fiery response from Camp Huizar after the jump! Originally posted at 11:30 a.m. To be an L.A. City Councilmember last Tuesday, voting on the creation of an Office of Public Accountability for the Department of Water and Power, was a lose-lose situati ... More >>

DWP Oversight Office Watered Down, Barely Moved Toward Ballot After L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti And Seven Other Councilmembers Crumble To DWP Intimidation

Could that be the DWP in Garcetti's ear?​Yes, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is as bad as you've heard. 1) Its overpaid suits proposed unwarranted 28-percent rate hikes on residents last spring while guarding a $73.5 million surplus like territorial dogs. 2) They only show up t ... More >>

City Activists Push For Locally Elected Seat On Each Of Villaraigosa's Incestual, Downtown-Heavy Commissions

S.C. Asher via FlickrOnce again, the Valley feels left out​Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's downtown-centric frame of vision -- one that certainly sticks to City Hall tradition -- is (once again) pissing off the people. The mayor currently selects all five members on each of 51 City C ... More >>

Patch, the WalMart of News?

AOL takes on longtime local bloggers with its hyperlocal news sites in Los Angeles

L.A. Weekly Readers Sound Off on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Dismantling of Public Libraries

Ted SoquiA demonstrator at a recent rally where budget cuts to the L.A. Public Library system were denounced ​L.A. Weekly readers certainly aren't happy with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's decision to dismantle the city's public library system, which is examined in our in-depth feat ... More >>

L.A. City Council To Again Consider Fate of 1601 N. Vine

​Having at least twice pushed off final approval for sale of 1601 N. Vine to developer Hal Katersky, the City Council will again consider today what to do with the prime spot, though at this point their desire to slow walk it is understandable. As the Times noted in a brutal profile that ran ... More >>

L.A. Times badly muffs its coverage of Villaraigosa free ticket scandal

Wow, Los Angeles Times digger Phil Willon got hammered coming and going in his effort to expose the scandal in which Antonio Villaraigosa has failed to report what could amount to tens of thousands of dollars in freebies so he could attend sport, concert and awards events. First, the inimitable John ... More >>

Incarcerated Attorney Richard Fine Gets a Following

Little known, incarcerated attorney Richard Fine is starting to get a following, with a "Free Richard Fine" rally taking place this morning between 9 and 11:30 a.m. at the Los Angeles County Courthouse in downtown L.A.Full Disclosure NetworkAttorney Richard Fine​Fine's supporters are peeved that t ... More >>

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck's Poodle/Political Problem

Today's City Council Agenda: Cigarettes and Water

​Fans of smoking and showering -- not necessarily at the same time -- should be nervous today, as the L.A. City Council considers a ban on outdoor smoking and a DWP funding request tied to a plan that will increase our water rates. If passed, the ordinance drafted by the City Attorney's office wou ... More >>

Attention DWP Watchdogs: Mayor Appoints Anti-Reform Pal to Executive Position

​Advocates of reforming the Department of Water and Power have new reasons to worry. That's because Mayor Villaraigosa today appointed Wally Knox to a top executive position at the department. An old chum of the mayor, Knox has loudly fought efforts to create a ratepayer advocate that would make t ... More >>

Cirque Du DWP

Nahai gets $82K via immaculate conception as Freeman tries not to step in it

Long Knives Slice Up Bratton

As it overspends by $1 million daily, the City Council goes after the departing chief

Bratton and Villaraigosa Stare Down City Council Over LAPD Hiring Freeze

Resembling a farewell tour of your favorite rock band, only this time there won't be any reunion gigs, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Bill Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are together again for one last stare down of the L.A. City Council, which is mulling over a plan to place a "tempora ... More >>

"Weather" — or Not?

Carpetbagging for Cash in L.A. Council District 2

Eight committed San Fernando Valley activists try to stop two monied outsiders

Steve Bing Hits Vegas With Bill Clinton, Cancels on Jane Fonda

Super secretive rich guy Steve Bing seems to be really getting around these days ... and in a very public way. Probably too public for his own liking.This thought struck us when we read Jane Fonda's blog yesterday -- yes, everybody has one.Rich guy Steve Bing​"Then, we all went to dinner at Craft ... More >>

Early Release Candidate No. 1: Prisoner Najee Ali

The L.A. activist says cut him loose, help the state budget

Villaraigosa Staff Shakeup: Now His Chief of Staff, Robin Kramer, Is Bolting

This cannot be good news for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As reported in extensive detail this morning by Ron Kaye, former editor of the Daily News, Villaraigosa's Chief of Staff Robin Kramer, the woman some view as the most rational adult at City Hall, is jumping ship amidst a series of resignation ... More >>

Villaraigosa Video Spoof Takes Top Billing in Mayor's 'Community Clips'

In city halls and state houses across the country, politicians often have a thing called "clipping" services. It's something that culls all of the headlines from print and digital media -- newspapers and blogs -- in a neat package so, say, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa can quickly get a beat of what's ... More >>

Bye-Bye, Bill Bratton

Top five reasons the chief is really leaving Los Angeles

Villaraigosa Gets Cheech Marin Hitched

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has long been known to run with the glamour crowd in Los Angeles, and this past Sunday was no different.According to news reports, Villaraigosa officiated the marriage of comedian Cheech Marin and classical pianist Natasha Rubin yesterday. The wedding was reportedly a suns ... More >>

Envirowimps: L.A.'s Big Green Groups Get Comfy

Activists leave the street-fighting to the little guys

The Joker Is Wild: Alan Mittelstaedt's Tax Proposals

The sardonic Alan Mittelstaedt has been letting off steam this past week as he guest-hosts Celeste Fremon's Witness L.A. blog. His latest blast is in the form of fancifully proposed state taxes and, while ostensibly showing how easy it really is to balance the budget, Mr. Sardonicus manages to take ... More >>

Measure B fine print: DWP's scooter and wind power debacles

By Daniel HeimpelThe battle over Measure B, City Hall's solar plan that sped through Los Angeles City Council at the speed of light, is heating up like a photo-voltaic panel under summer sun. During a special hearing at City Hall early this week, Council member Tony Cardenas pressed DWP bureaucrats ... More >>

Los Angeles City Planning Commission Adopts Preliminary Motion to Ban all New Electronic Billboards

Taking aim at digital billboards in the wake of intense opposition from community groups in Hollywood, Venice, Encino, Silver Lake and other areas, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission adopted a preliminary motion to ban all new electronic billboards for a year. The Interim Control Ordinance w ... More >>

Opposing Views on "The All-About-Me Mayor"

Also, defending Obama, community spirit and Igor's makers

The Wages of Fear

Sherman Austin gets a year

My Secession Confession

Ex-Times columnist looks back on his days covering Valleyistas

The Scalpel Squad

The people, forces and money behind the latest plan to cut up L.A.