Tom LaBonge

Wilshire Grand Los Angeles, Tallest Skyscraper on West Coast at 1,100 Feet, Will Have a Wicked Sky Lobby for Views Across the City

By Hillel Aron Secret designs were just released of the Wilshire Grand, a 73-story, 1,100-foot-tall hotel/office tower/retail/phallic image that will be the tallest skyscraper on the West Coast and in Los Angeles, pushing out Library Tower (officially, U.S. Bank Tower) as the 10th-tallest building ... More >>

L.A. Public Libraries Restore Hours After Voters Rose Against Villaraigosa Budget Cuts

While Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. City Council continue to deal with lingering budget deficits, there's one bright spot amid the darkness -- L.A. public libraries are now open longer. Starting today, the added hours at the city's 73 libraries is the second phase of returning the public ... More >>

'Farmers Field' Plans Pushed Forward by L.A. City Council, Despite AEG Sale

See also: "Farmers Field or Blade Runner Stadium?" and "Farmers Field's Fanciful Green Promise." There was never a doubt in anyone's mind that the L.A. City Council, completely obsessed with the idea of integrating an NFL stadium into the L.A. Live complex downtown, would approve the Anshcutz Enter ... 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 >>

L.A. Redistricting: Herb Wesson's District 10 Looks Like a Fat Turkey

Simone Wilson​This is the fifth chapter in a (badly Photoshopped) series on the L.A. Redistricting Commission's gerrymandered new voting districts. Previously: "Eric Garcetti's District 13 Looks Like an Evil Squirrel" "Bernard Parks' District 8 Looks Like a U.S. Army Tank" "Tom LaBonge's Distr ... More >>

L.A. Redistricting: Ed Reyes' District 1 Looks Like a Ridiculous Poodle

Simone Wilson​This is the third chapter in a (badly Photoshopped) series on the L.A. Redistricting Commission's gerrymandered new voting districts. Previously: "Eric Garcetti's District 13 Looks Like an Evil Squirrel" "Bernard Parks' District 8 Looks Like a U.S. Army Tank" "Tom LaBonge's Distr ... 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 >>

'Drop Dead CRA Day' Will Celebrate L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency's Demise (With Special Kool-Aid)

A pack of veteran L.A. City Hall gadflies will have a little fun, this Wednesday, with Governor Jerry Brown's big bloody butchering of California's redevelopment agencies (RDAs) -- and the notorious L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency, in particular. Miki Jackson (No. 1 enemy of the slimy Community ... More >>

Dressing for an Earthquake

Put on your red vest for the big one

Rave Ban at Convention Center Proposed by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn

Caesar SebastianRavers get up at EDC.​The city of L.A. is considering a ban on raves at the downtown Convention Center, which it runs. Interesting, because the Convention Center doesn't host raves. And it could come under the control of Anschutz Entertainment Group, the LA Live-owning company ... More >>

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's 2011 'State of the City' Message: Rip Up the Teacher Union Contract if You Want School Reform

zap2itMayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a father with several grandchildren.​Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gets major credit for two seldom-seen qualities tonight in his 2011 State of the City address: 1) He's got an attention span, focused on LAUSD's awful schools -- which constitute the ... More >>

YJ Draiman, Dad to Disturbed's Lead Singer: Top 5 Reasons Unknown Underdog 2013 L.A. Mayoral Candidate Is Freaking Interesting

YJ Draiman​So far, four candidates have announced they will be running for mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. When you announce, it gives the green legal light to start raising funds to campaign. YJ Draiman, one of the four, is not a widely known name, but he is certainly interesting. Here are the ... More >>

L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti Claims Library Cuts Went 'Under the Radar' -- Despite 10,000 Postcards to His Office, Billboard in His District

Maybe Eric Garcetti just forgot to put his glasses on​At L.A. City Hall, a new mantra is emerging: When in doubt, plead ignorant. That's how City Council President Eric Garcetti chose to handle a February 18 KPCC radio question about his role in cutting the Los Angeles Public Library system d ... More >>

Blogger Field Day in Huizar vs. Martinez

The fur-flying Council District 14 race is influenced by citizen journos

Future Shock

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 >>

[Updated] The Fate of the Hollywood Farmers Market: The Battle for Ivar

Photo: Lesley Balla​ Update: On Monday, Hollywood Farmers' Market organizers met with city officials, reps from the L.A. Film School, and other community development groups to discuss the Sunday market's permitting issues. According to Pompea Smith, market manager and CEO of SEE-LA, there was ... 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 >>

Q & A With Evan Kleiman, Part 2: L.A.'s Italian Scene, Food Trucks The Radio Hell of Swedish Cookbook Authors

In the first part of our interview with Evan Kleiman, chef-owner of Angeli Caffé and host of KCRW's Good Food, she was considering the somewhat disconcerting fact that her Melrose Avenue restaurant recently celebrated its quarter century anniversary. In the second part of the interview, Kleiman dis ... More >>

Ratepayer Advocate For L.A. 'Water And Power' Customers One Step Closer To Reality

​Nearly half of the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday expressed support for putting a measure on the March ballot that would ask voters to create Department of Water and Power ratepayer advocate. The move comes in the wake of the council's tug of war with the powerful DWP over transparency, ... More >>

Mayor Villaraigosa To Unveil New Bradley Terminal At LAX

​Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa planned to unveil the new, $737 million Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX Wednesday morning. The list of those planning to join him for a ribbon-cutting included City Council members Bill Rosendahl, Janice Hahn and Tom LaBonge. While the cash-strapped city ... More >>

Big Job Openings, Record Pay, At L.A. City Hall

Ron Kaye, former editor of the Daily News.​At $178,789 a year, they're some of the highest paid elected city officials in the nation, and seven openings are coming up. San Fernando Valley political activist Ron Kaye is looking for a few good men and women to fill those gigs and he's promising ... More >>

City Hall's 2010 DWP Debacle

How Beutner, Carr, Carson, D'Arcy, Freeman, Greuel, Raj, Santana, Szabo, Villaraigosa & Co. pushed L.A. to the cliff edge

L.A. mystery: Fountain of Youth natural spring in Griffith Park?

By Donna BarstowDid Fern Dell residents living along the southern edge of Griffith Park find a Fountain of Youth? The neighborhood's mysterious water problem could turn out to be a relatively rare natural spring that no amount of Los Angeles development and urbanity can kill.The mystery surfaced in ... More >>

L.A. City Council Clings to Stunning Perks and Pay

They can't bear to give up those record-high $178,898 salaries

Anti-Clutter Activists Enraged By Councilman Reyes' Plan for More Sign Districts

Anti-clutter activists are fuming over City Councilman Ed Reyes' potential plan to "grandfather" eight additional sign districts into the city's proposed sign ordinance. The move could potentially allow massive supergraphic signs and digital billboards in North Hollywood, Koreatown, City West and Pa ... More >>

Jack Weiss Took Dough from Outdoor Ad Pushers

The Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight reports that outgoing Los Angeles City Council Member  Jack Weiss, who is the leading candidate for City Attorney, received a $1,000 campaign contribution in 2007 from Barry Rush, the president of Worldwide Rush. Rush is the owner of the huge, controversial ... More >>

Another Piano for LACMA: $45 Million Donation from Stewart and Lynda Resnick

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced this morning (well, if you don't count the New York Times and L.A. Times, both of which got the story last week for publication today) a $45 million donation from Stewart and Lynda Resnick. The gift will fund the building of a large new Renzo Piano exh ... More >>

Mural Capital of the World or the City of Blights?

Letters: Courting the Reporter

Our readers write

Do As We Say, Not As We Do

Smart growth’s biggest boosters still love suburban living

A Methane-charged Lawsuit

Playa foes urge a judge to rule permits invalid for massive development

to the Rescue . . . Not

What does your council member say about Bill’s plan to save Lincoln Place?

Homeless Blessed

Hollywood church sells part of its soul for a shelter

The Subway Mayor

How a bus-only politician — and a car-obsessed city — are learning to love the underground

Council Bliss

L.A. unites on gay marriage

Springtime in Hollywood

Letters

Winners and Losers

Rebel With a Plan

Ed Reyes is angry. He wants the "zombies" in L.A.’s Planning Department out. He wants affordable-housing supporters in. And he wants his more polite colleagues on the City Council to help him pull it off.

The Siren’s Song

A Hollywood landmark comes under fire

Out of the Darkness

Some city leaders call for DWP to shed light on secret settlements. . . some don’t

The Ethics Dilemma

Will Gil Garcetti usher in a new era of campaign lenience?

Yet More Lists

Battling Segregation

L.A. opens debate on affordable housing

Parks and Recreation

Sweet Smell of Secession

A River Should Run Through It

Repairing downtown, riparianly