Category Archives: Uncategorized

Olympics Ad Hoc Committee Meeting: Tension Grows between City Council and LA28

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Ad Hoc Olympics Committee Meeting at LA City Hall on April 14, 2026.

There’s been a growing sense of frustration at LA City Hall over the lack of concrete information the City Council is getting from the Olympic Organizing Committee, LA28. At the last meeting of the City’s Ad Hoc Olympics Committee in January, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez made it clear that she was not happy about LA28’s refusal to turn over detailed information about financial issues. At today’s meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee, almost every one of the members present aired their complaints about the way things were unfolding. I wouldn’t say the anger was boiling over, but it seemed to be seething beneath the surface.

Stephanie Richard of Loyola Law School at the microphone, and LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover in background.

And it wasn’t just the councilmembers who were frustrated. A group from the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School showed up to speak about their frustration with LA28’s Human Rights Strategy for the Games. They had been asking for months to see the document, and now that it’s finally been made available they shared a number of criticisms. Human trafficking is closely associated with major sporting events, with construction and hospitality being the two sectors where it’s most common. Businesses often hire undocumented workers to cut costs, and in many cases the workers are subjected to awful conditions, which they’re not likely to complain about because they’re undocumented. The group from Loyola had submitted their own report last year, but apparently LA28 ignored many of their recommendations. Speakers cited the fact that LA28’s plan included no funding for non-profits that address human trafficking, and complained that the plan emphasized law enforcement rather than assistance for victims. Another concern is that the Federal government will be in charge of security for the event. Since the Olympics will undoubtedly bring a surge of undocumented workers, there are fears that ICE will play a large role. It would be very convenient for businesses that hire undocumented workers to have their employees whisked off to detention centers when the Games are over. No need to cut a final paycheck for those folks.

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez talks about her frustration with LA28’s procurement plan.

But the Council’s focus today was the lack of detail in LA28’s procurement plan. Obviously, one of the benefits of hosting the Olympics is that local businesses will get contracts tied to the Games. But what qualifies as “local” was a point of contention. The members of the Council had counted on businesses located in the City of LA to be the primary beneficiaries, but LA28’s procurement plan allows almost any business in Southern California to get a contract. This was not acceptable to the Council, since revenue for businesses also translates into tax dollars which the City badly needs. LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover told the committee that, all things being equal, LA28 would favor businesses in the City of LA. But as Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez pointed out, there are naturally going to be huge differences in bids from businesses located in the City of LA as opposed to businesses located in more remote areas. Salaries, rent and taxes are all going to be higher in the City of LA than in cities on the periphery of the county. Businesses in the City of LA will naturally charge more than businesses in outlying areas. If they have to compete with businesses all over Southern California, they’ll likely lose out on the basis of cost. The members of the Council tried to get LA28 to narrow the focus for the procurement plan. Hoover did not say no, but he wouldn’t say yes.

Hoover is a retired Lieutenant General who’s also served in civilian roles at FEMA and the CIA. He started his remarks today by reading a lengthy opening statement where he talked about how great the Olympics were going to be. It was all worthless marketing-speak. My guess is that he knew the committee members were angry and he was trying to set a positive tone. It didn’t work. The frustration of the committee members was palpable. They’re not buying it.

Looks like it’s going to be a rocky road to 2028.

Vigil in Altadena One Year after the Fires

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People gather at Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena one year after the fires.

It’s been a year since the fires. As bad as that catastrophe was, with blazes erupting in locations all over the LA area, and the two most devastating conflagrations in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the year since then has been an ordeal for the thousands of survivors who are trying to rebuild their lives. Some have left LA. Some are working through the arduous process of constructing new homes. Many are still trying to figure out how to move on.

Tonight several hundred people gathered at Fair Oaks Burger in Altadena for a vigil, both to remember those who were lost and to celebrate the community’s resilience as it works to rebuild. Located in the middle of the neighborhoods that were ravaged by the Eaton Fire, Fair Oaks Burger miraculously survived unscathed. As the community struggled to recover, the restaurant partnered with a non-profit to provide free meals to those who needed them.

Before the vigil began, the crowd gathered in the parking lot.
A memorial was created to remember those who perished in the fire.
Hundreds gathered around the stage as musicians played.
Speakers talked about the losses the community had suffered, but also about its tremendous strength.


The mood was both somber and celebratory. Many of those attending lost their homes in the fire. Speakers talked about the losses they had suffered. But they also spoke of the joy they felt as the community came together to support them. It was a cold night, but the vibe was very warm. You could feel the love.

Scott Wiener Celebrates Passage of SB 79, but His Claims about Environmental Benefits Are False

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Traffic on Highland in Hollywood.

California Sen. Scott Wiener is celebrating the passage of SB 79, which requires local governments to approve qualifying housing projects if they’re located near transit. Wiener says in an analysis of the bill:

“SB 79 tackles the root causes of California’s affordability crisis by allowing more homes to be built near major public transportation stops and on land owned by transit agencies – bolstering transit use, slashing climate emissions, and supporting public transportation in the process.”

Unfortunately, Sen. Wiener hasn’t bothered to check the facts. Los Angeles and San Francisco have built thousands of new units near transit over the past decade, but transit ridership in both cities has been in steady decline.

Transit Ridership Is Growing but Still Down from a Decade Ago

He also obviously hasn’t seen the California Air Resources Board’s 2022 report on the Sustainable Communities Act. The Executive Summary says,

“Californians are driving more than ever – leading to more pollution, higher costs, more roadway fatalities [….]”

Sustainable Communities Act Report, California Air Resources Board, 2022


It’s maddening that Wiener continues to jam legislation like this through the legislature when he clearly doesn’t understand the facts. And it seems most of the members of the California Legislature haven’t bothered to check the facts, either.

North Hollywood Church Wants Permits for Full Line of Alcohol and Live Entertainment

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Architectural drawing for church expansion.

It seems like the City of LA is ready to hand a liquor permit to anybody who asks for one. It used to be City Planning would just approve liquor permits for bars, restaurants and clubs. Recently they took the unusual step of granting a permit to serve alcohol in an apartment building. But now they’re going even farther. It looks like they’re ready to allow a church to serve a full line of alcohol in their new banquet facility. On top of that, the church will offer live entertainment, and they can keep the party going until 2:00 am.

Holy Trinity Armenian Church, located at 11960 Victory Blvd. in North Hollywood, has filed an application to expand their campus, adding a few new buildings. One of the new structures will be a 14,000 sq. ft. accessory use building with a sports gym/banquet hall on the second floor. The banquet hall will provide for the sale of a full-line of alcohol for on-site consumption, with live entertainment and dancing during events associated with the church.

The report prepared for the City Planning Commission recommends approval of the project. They’re claiming it will have no significant impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. This is interesting, because the church is immediately adjacent to a residential neighborhood. It’s hard to believe that a banquet hall serving a full line of alcohol and offering live entertainment, with events lasting until 2:00 am, will have no significant impacts on the folks who live a few hundred feet away. Noise is the first thing that comes to mind, but it also seems likely that people who have been consuming alcohol will be driving down residential streets in the small hours.

If you’d like to submit comments on this project, you can send them to Stephanie Escobar at LA City Planning.

stephanie.escobar@lacity.org

You should include the project address and case numbers in the subject line.

11960 Victory Boulevard, CPC-2023-891-GPA-ZC-BLCUB-CUX, ENV-2023-892-ND

You can also make comments to the City Planning Commission when they meet on December 19. Here’s the agenda.

City Planning Commission Agenda, Thursday, December 19, 8:30 AM

Summer Is Almost Over

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The entrance to the Santa Monica Pier.

Over the past few months, I kept saying to myself, “You really need to go to the beach.”  But I kept putting it off.  This last weekend I was like, “It’s September already!  Just go!” 

So I took the train out to Santa Monica, and it felt so good to walk on the sand and hear the sound of the surf.  It was crowded, but not too crowded, and it was cool to see people just hanging out and having a good time.

Lots of colorful umbrellas at the beach.
A lot of people took the train to Santa Monica, but many others drove.

There were lots of families, and I enjoyed seeing the kids playing.  One group of little kids was having so much fun just running down to the water, and then running back each time a wave came in.  It’s amazing how children can find so much joy in something so simple.

Kids loved watching this guy make huge soap bubbles.
The lifeguards were keeping an eye out for anyone who got in trouble.

The weather was mild.  A gentle breeze was blowing.  After wandering around for a while I just sat down on the sand and watched the surf roll in.  I know I don’t have to explain this to anyone else who loves the beach.  I felt so calm.  It was just beautiful.

Hollywood Loses another Hangout: The Bourgeois Pig Closes

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Another depressing loss for the Hollywood community. After 32 years, the Bourgeois Pig closed its doors on June 17.  Located at the corner of Franklin and Tamarind, the Pig was a cozy space where writers worked on their novels, actors chatted about auditions, and an assortment of locals just lounged on the sofas and sipped their espresso.  I was never a regular, but used to drop in once or twice a year.  It was a really comfortable place to chill.  I loved the twilight atmosphere and the low key vibe. 

Apparently the owners are trying to keep the Pig alive, so hopefully they’ll find a new location.  They’ve started a GoFundMe page, if you want to make a donation.

Go Fund Me Link

Or, if you’d like to share a memory, visit the Pig’s Facebook page.

Bourgeois Pig Facebook Page

Rack outside the Bourgeois Pig where people left cards, flyers, etc.
Close-up of the rack.

It’s depressing to see another neighborhood coffee house close down.  Corporate chains have taken over more and more of our communities with their oppressive sameness and lousy coffee.  The people who ran the Pig had imagination and heart.  I’ll miss them.

Garcetti to Leave for India: Goodbye and Good Riddance

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The Biden administration just announced that it’s nominating LA Mayor Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India.  Thank god he’s finally going.  Garcetti’s term in office has been a disaster for LA.  He’s spent the last eight years on a campaign of relentless self-promotion, while letting the city go to hell.  I only hope the Senate approves him quickly. 

Garcetti’s term in office has been marked by rampant corruption and dishonesty.  There was the brazen pitch for Turf Terminators in his 2015 State of the City speech.  The Mayor lauded the company for helping residents save water by replacing their lawns with drought-tolerant plants.  He neglected to mention that Turf Terminators had helped round up tens of thousands of dollars for his campaign coffers and the Mayor’s Fund.  Then, after sucking up millions of dollars from turf-replacement rebates and facing withering criticism for doing substandard work, the company quickly folded. 

Another ugly episode was the Sea Breeze scandal.  Developer Samuel Leung’s massive residential project was rejected outright by the City Planning Commission, but Garcetti stepped in and rescued the project, which was eventually approved by the City Council.  Later Leung confessed to money laundering, having funnelled over $600,000 to various officials through associates and employees.  Of that total, $60,000 went to a committee that supported Garcetti in the 2013 mayoral election. 

And let’s not forget that Ray Chan, who worked for Garcetti as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, has been charged by the Department of Justice with conspiracy, bribery and lying to federal agents.  The US Attorney’s office alleges that Chan was part of a wide-ranging pay-to-play scheme, where developers received favors in return for funnelling money to city officials.  Five of those charged by the DOJ have already entered guilty pleas.  Chan’s trial may begin later this year. 

If the City of LA was thriving, then maybe you could overlook a certain amount of corruption.  But Los Angeles is falling apart.  In 2013, the year Garcetti was elected, there were 29,682 homeless people within the city’s boundaries.  By 2020 that number had risen to 41,290. While the Mayor will now tell you that solving homelessness is his highest priority, he basically ignored the problem during his first term in office, focussing instead on jetting all over the country in an effort to position himself for a presidential run.  And at the same time as the homeless numbers were rising, Garcetti turned the Department of City Planning into a rubber stamp for high-end housing projects, driving gentrification and displacement in neighborhoods across LA.  

While he claims to be fighting for the environment, his record in this area is decidedly mixed.  It’s true that the he played a role in reducing the City’s dependence on fossil fuels to generate power, but he’s failed miserably in cutting emissions from transportation.  Garcetti has been claiming for years that his policies are getting people out of cars and onto transit.  Unfortunately, the facts show the complete opposite.  LA’s DASH system has suffered a huge loss in ridership, from 26,619,776 unlinked trips in 2013 to 19,292,677 unlinked trips in 2019, a 27% decline.  Having also served on the board of LA Metro during his term in office, Garcetti must take some of the blame for the fact that the countywide agency has seen an approximate 20% loss in ridership since 2014.  Metro ridership is now actually lower than it was in 1985, even though the County has added more than a million residents since then.  And while transit ridership has been declining, per capita car ownership has been rising steadily. 

The Mayor’s lack of concern for LA’s urban forest has allowed its continued decline during his term in office.  Under Garcetti, City Planning and Public Works have consistently been willing to let developers and others cut trees down whenever they feel like it.  While there are always promises of replacement trees, in fact there’s no real oversight, and the City doesn’t seem to actually verify whether replacement trees ever get planted.  Solid waste is also a huge issue.  It’s true that cities all over California are struggling to deal with refuse since the recycling market collapsed, but Garcetti seems perfectly happy to just ignore the problem.  The Department of City Planning approves huge new projects, claiming that 50% to 75% of the waste produced will go to recycling.  In fact, the City is recycling less than 35% of the solid waste it collects.  The rest is going to landfills, which produce significant greenhouse gas emissions.

I actually feel bad dumping Garcetti on India, since I know that country is facing huge challenges right now.  Hopefully he’ll just be following instructions from the State Department.  In some ways, his talents may be a good fit for a diplomatic post.  He dresses nicely, speaks well, and he’s good at reading from a teleprompter.  He’s also great at schmoozing, which I understand is something ambassadors do a fair amount of. 

But during his time as Mayor of LA, Garcetti has shown himself to be a soulless, spineless, shameless hack.  I can’t call him a public servant, because he has no interest in serving anyone except himself.  I’m praying that the Senate confirms him quickly, though it’s hard to believe Republicans won’t rake him over the coals with questions about the sexual harassment scandal he’s embroiled in.  They’d also be perfectly justified in grilling him over the fact that his former Deputy Mayor will soon be facing trial on charges of conspiracy and bribery. 

But hopefully they’ll approve him.  Hopefully he’ll leave LA quickly.  Hopefully we’ll soon be rid of this worthless parasite.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed. 

LAPD Turns to Media Suppression

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Photo by Brian Feinzimer for LAist.

More bad news.  There were early reports that members of the media were held by the LAPD during the protests over the removal of the Echo Park Lake homeless encampment.  It’s now clear that at least four reporters and an unknown number of legal observers were detained by the LAPD.  Two reporters were actually taken to jail before being released.  The journalists who were detained identified themselves as members of the press when they were taken into custody.  Actually, it seems like that’s the reason they were taken into custody.  The LA Times offered this account by reporter James Queally….

Eventually the two officers detaining him called over a sergeant, and Queally again said that he was a working reporter. The sergeant told him that it didn’t matter, Queally said.

“He was less than interested with the fact that I was press,” Queally said. “I said, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? We really doing this?’ And he said, ‘Yes, this is the policy tonight.’”

So the sergeant knew that Queally was a reporter, and stated that his detention was in line with the “policy” the LAPD was following that night.  It would be really interesting to know who established this “policy”.  Was it LAPD Chief Michel Moore?  Was it Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, in whose district the police were operating?  Was it Mayor Eric Garcetti?  The LAPD’s actions were clearly restricting free speech, preventing the press from doing their job.  We need to know who formulated this policy, which is clearly an effort to suppress the media.

It is interesting that two Councilmembers, Kevin De Leon and Mike Bonin, both criticized the LAPD’s detention of journalists.  Nithya Raman posted a statement on Twitter decrying the use of force in ejecting the Echo Park homeless community, but didn’t mention the treatment of the press.  I couldn’t find any other comments by Councilmembers on this issue. 

A link to Saturday’s LA Times’ story is below.  Apparently the National Lawyers Guild and the ACLU have both come out with strong statements. 

We shouldn’t let this slide.  This week’s meeting of the LA Police Commission has been cancelled, but this needs to come up at the next meeting.  When journalists who are clearly identified as journalists are detained by law enforcement without having committed a crime, it means the government is trying to shut the media down. 

Reporters, Legal Observers Cry Foul after Being Caught Up in LAPD’s Mass Arrests at Echo Park Protest

Should Bank of America Share the Blame for California’s EDD Payment Scandal?

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Graph showing California unemployment numbers from CalMatters

There’s been widespread reporting on the thousands of fraudulent unemployment claims filed with California’s Employment Development Department (EDD).  Less has been written about Bank of America’s (BofA) role in the scandal.  For years the State has contracted with BofA to handle payments via debit cards.  Now questions are being asked about whether the bank failed to implement adequate security measures. 

Unemployed Californians with legitimate claims are facing severe hardships because they haven’t been able to access unemployment payments.  In this story CalMatters asks what went wrong, and why wasn’t fraud detected sooner.

How Bank of America Helped Fuel California’s Unemployment Meltdown

Happy New Year?

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Artists painting murals during the protests in Hollywood this year.

Seems like everyone agrees that 2020 was the year from hell. We had a deadly pandemic spreading like wildifre across the globe. In the US we had the incredibly weird and stressful presidential election.

And here in LA? Where do I start?

While the homeless population has been growing for years, the number of people experiencing homelessness in LA County shot up by 12% in 2020. The City of LA saw an even larger increase of 16%. There were months of protests in the streets against police violence. Though not many people seem to have noticed, it’s been an unusually dry year, which should be cause for alarm since our water resources are continuing to decline.

And then there were the numerous indictments filed by the Department of Justice against current and former LA City officials. The charges included bribery, extortion and money laundering. I count five guilty pleas so far, but it’s hard to keep track. Then there are former Councilmember Jose Huizar and former Deputy Mayor Ray Chan who claim innocence. They’ll go on trial later this year. The saddest aspect of all this is that these prosecutions come as no surprise to thousands of Angelenos who have been following local politics. The acts described in the indictments sound like business as usual at City Hall. And don’t get me started on what’s been happening at the City Attorney’s office under Mike Feuer.

All of us are hoping that 2021 will be better than 2020, and really that’s setting the bar pretty low. Yeah, it would be great if Covid-19 went away and we could get back to some kind of normal. But other than that, how much will change? Most of the problems I listed above have been with us a long time in one form or another. Will the new leadership in Washington bring about a new era of peace and equality? Don’t bet on it. Will our elected officials finally agree on a way to successfully address homelessness? Nothing they’ve done so far inspires much confidence. Will LA City Hall become more transparent, open and honest? Don’t make me laugh.

But in spite of my extreme cynicism, I’m not giving up, and neither should you. This year we’ve seen legions of healthcare workers and others make huge sacrifices to care for people infected with Covid-19. In LA we saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets to protest injustice. And even if the culture at LA City Hall is hopelessly corrupt, there are numerous community groups working hard to address homelessness, hunger and poverty.

LA will never be perfect, but it could be a lot better. We can make it better. We can give our time as volunteers. We can give our money to non-profits with a proven track record of helping people. Even just staying informed and staying engaged can make a difference. If you’re not registered to vote, then get registered. And then next time we have an election, take the time to vote. Find a news source you trust, and then subscribe to it, because supporting journalism, especially local journalism, is crucial.

The new year will not be any better than the old year unless we make it better. We can’t just sit back passively and hope everything will turn out all right. We have to get involved and stay involved.