Recently in Commentary
Commentary:
Unwinding the state's 400 redevelopment agencies is underway while at the same time some in the legislature want to turn back the clock, but just a little.
Commentary:
Last week when Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivered his state of the city address he largely avoided the main topic facing the city: the budget. Instead, it focused on transportation.
Commentary:
L.A. County Board of Supervisors have little need to persuade voters to vote for them, they have no challengers. Yet three of them are amassing large campaign war chests.
Commentary:
Politics and unaccountable regional governments are a costly mixture for water consumers.
Commentary:
It's not just the city of Los Angeles with revenue problems. A "clueless" County Tax Assessor is getting the blame.
Commentary:
The city currently has a $222 million budget deficit. That number is only expected to rise in the next few years. Something will have to give.
Commentary:
Better get used to reading corporate spreadsheets, L.A. sports fans, before turning to the box scores.
Commentary:
Women now equal at least half of the population in most institutions of higher learning. We should ask why women have not come close to comprising half of the members of most elected government bodies.
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In a seeming paradox, the Los Angeles region has been near the top in urbanization for a long time.
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With so little good news, but so much of it feeling predictable, some members of the electorate may feel less than motivated to go to the polls.
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Under Hahn and Villaraigosa, reform of the city's political culture went nowhere. One change might get reform started again.
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In the 1920s, when the size of the city council increased from 9 to 15 members, L.A.'s population was 576,000, less than the size of two of today's 15 city council districts.
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Transit and in-fill development contend with conflicting values, technical limitations, and costs.
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The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state's political watchdog, is now investigating incidents involving former Bell officials.
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Some in the national media see Mayor Villaraigosa's political "resurrection." In Los Angeles, the signs are less clear.
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Last week the city of Compton agreed to put a measure on the ballot, which would institute voting by district in city council races. Currently, Compton's city council members are elected based on at-large city-wide voting.
Commentary:
In a conversation formidably learned and profound in its ethical depth, making a place for the moral purpose of cities
Commentary:
On Wednesday there was a naturalization ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, so here's a big welcome to our city!
![Film Crews Regain Right to Park Abut Downtown's Green Bike Lanes [Updated]](http://www.kcet.org/news/1st_and_spring/assets_c/2012/02/bikelanespring-thumb-600x400-24174-thumb-100x100-24175.jpg)
Commentary:
Those bright green bike lanes meant to increase safety for cyclists on downtown's Spring Street are a bright red flag for the film industry, which uses it as "Any City, USA."
Commentary:
You might think that local elected officials are responsible for your city's future. A state report on redevelopment's end shows how much you're wrong.
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