U.S. National Economy

Arizona Congresswoman Urges L.A., Other Cities To Back Off Boycotts Of Her State

​An Arizona congresswoman has asked the city of Los Angeles and other governments and organizations to back off their boycotts of Arizona, arguing that the actions only "punish the wrong people," including hotel workers (translation: "Latino immigrants") in an already bad economy. In a letter ... More >>

The Chosen One

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

COREY HAIM'S FINEST WORK?

Number Of Illegal Immigrants Decreased By One Million Since 2007

​The number of illegal immigrants in the United States was down about 800,000 last year compared to 2008, reportedly as a result of the recession and fewer job opportunities. The decrease from 11.6 million undocumented workers in 2008 to 10.8 million in 2009 was reported by the U.S. Department ... More >>

U.S. Terror Attempt Certain: LAX Police Leader Urges Vigilance

The flag of Al-Qaeda.​As Obama administration intelligence officials this week told the Senate intelligence committee that they were certain Al-Qaeda would again attempt to attack the United States within six months, the leader of the LAX police association urged vigilance at the airport that ... More >>

Don't Call La Migra Just Yet: Legalizing Undocumented Worth $16 Billion To State

​A USC Center 
for 
the 
Study 
of 
Immigrant
 Integration study released Tuesday argues that legalizing California's Latino undocumented workers could be a $16 billion boon to the state and suggests that this windfall could help Sacramento overcome its $20 billion deficit. The r ... More >>

Legalizing Illegal Immigrants Would Goose Economy, Professor Argues

UCLARaul Hinojosa-Ojeda.​There's perennial talk of how illegal immigrants take jobs from American citizens and burden taxpayer-funded institutions like public hospitals and schools. But one UCLA professor says that's all wrong: Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda, UCLA associate professor of Chicano studies, ... More >>

The John Birch Society Is Back!

Scrolling down a list of things to possibly do today, I came across an announcement for an appearance by John Birch Society president John McManus, who'll be in North Hollywood tonight talking about "America's Economic Meltdown." The John Friggin' Birch Society! A wave of heady nostalgia swept over ... More >>

Is SoCal Aerospace Crashing -- Again?

In an ominous sign that Southern California's aerospace industry might be repeating the massive downsizing of the 1990s, Northrop Grumman today announced 750 layoffs, to occur within the next few months. According to the Daily Breeze, most of the terminations are expected to fall at the company's El ... More >>

Know This, America: Watching Obama With a Plate of Grits

The L.A. County Federation of Labor, to which I belong as a union delegate, threw an Inauguration Day viewing breakfast this morning. Like the Fed's annual Labor Day breakfast and other early morning rallies, this one showed some health-consciousness in the chicken sausage cakes and turkey bacon off ... More >>

Los Angeles Median Home Value: $380,000

Amazing story in this week's Los Angeles Business Journal, which has been beating the hell out of the Los Angeles Times in reporting on all the billionaires in L.A. who have lost vast sums — including Kirk Kerkorian, Sumner Restore, Eli Broad — or those whose companies have vanished or might get ... More >>

Major Mud

With Bush providing nothing for his party to run on, 2006 shapes up as the year of the slimeball

The Architect

Miguel Contreras, 1952 – 2005

The Godfather

Miguel Contreras and the New Los Angeles

Anyone Seen an Economic Policy?

The GOP has a new team and the same old bad ideas. The Democrats are still pondering.

The Economic Divide

Enter the Janitors

Transforming L.A.

Street vs. Suite

Why L.A.’s janitors will win their strike

Bore and Gush

America’s nominees

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

Richard Riordan, Pol

How the mayor got his charter and his school board

Five Big Ideas