Politics & Governnment

Saturday: Ribbon-Cutting and Tours at New LAPD Headquarters

By Eric Richardson — October 23, 2009
2 Comments

New LAPD Headquarters

The Los Angeles Police Department will officially open its new 500,000 square foot headquarters across the street from City Hall on Saturday, just days before Chief William Bratton leaves the department for the private sector. A ribbon-cutting for the Police Administration Building will take place at 10am, after which the public will be invited to tour the building...


Council Chastizes City Attorney, Supports Signage for L.A. Live's Regal Cinemas

By Eric Richardson — October 23, 2009 — 18 Comments

City Hall Ed Fuentes

Members of the Los Angeles City Council berated the office of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich on Friday during a three hour hearing over signage proposed for the exterior of the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live.

Council voted 12-0 to direct Building and Safety to issue the signage permits, and AEG CEO Tim Leiweke said that he expects to see the permits issued today. He also said that his company is moving forward on plans for other approved signage on the project, including a 10,000 square foot LED sign on the side of the L.A. Live hotel tower. — Continued Inside...


LAPD Holds First COMPSTAT Meeting in New Headquarters

By Eric Richardson — October 20, 2009

COMPSTAT Meeting Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| Outgoing LAPD Chief William Bratton presided over his first and only COMPSTAT meeting inside the new Police Administration Building on Tuesday afternoon, praising the data and analysis effort for the impact it has made on the department's operations.

The system, which Bratton brought with him from New York City, uses computer mapping to drive crime trends and drive the deployment of officers. — Continued Inside...


Around the Halls: October 19 - 21

By Eric Richardson — October 19, 2009

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Today is Monday, October 19, and it's a slow week for Downtown items. The City's proposed contract with Google for email hosting is a big ticket item, and Saturday's grand opening for the Police Administration Building will bring street closures.


Fight Over L.A. Live Ads Headed to City Council

By Eric Richardson — October 17, 2009 — 27 Comments

Regal Signage Eric Richardson

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is adamant that no permits be issued for signs planned as part of L.A. Live's Regal Cinemas, opening on October 27. The L.A. Times reported last night that Trutanich has threatened jail time for city building officials and Councilwoman Jan Perry if the signs went up.

At the center of the dispute is Los Angeles' hastily-passed August ban on supergraphics and how it applies to projects already underway. — Continued Inside...


DLANC Board Recap: October 2009

By Ed Fuentes — October 14, 2009
2 Comments

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October's meeting of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) Board of Directors was shifted across the street from the Los Angeles Theater to the Palace. Arts funding was the meeting's most debated topic, with the Board voting to shift funding from the Downtown Art Walk's Hippodrome shuttle to marketing materials for galleries.


Around the Halls: October 12 - 14

By Eric Richardson — October 12, 2009

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Today is Monday, October 12, and City Council has the day off in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. It's a slow week, but LAPD hiring will dominate Tuesday's conversation. On Wednesday, LADOT will present a proposed budget for Local Return funds generated by Measure R, the recently passed half-cent sales tax.


Agencies Gang Up on L.A. River "MTA" Tag

By Ed Fuentes — October 08, 2009 — 19 Comments

MTA White Out Ed Fuentes

|VIDEO| At 2,000 feet long by 60 feet tall, the MTA tag near the 4th street bridge was said to be one of the largest graffiti tags in the United States.

On Thursday it proved plenty large enough for a press conference that included the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, a pair of City Councilmembers and the L.A. Sheriff's department. — Continued Inside...


Around the Halls: October 5 - 7

By Eric Richardson — October 05, 2009

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Today is Monday, October 5, and it is the beginning of a relatively light week of agendas. Funding for police officers is a big-ticket item on Monday, while the laundry list of filming items comes back to Council on Wednesday.


LAPD Chief Bratton Kicks Off Farewell Tour With Pair of Downtown Stops

By Ed Fuentes — September 30, 2009 — 2 Comments

IMGP2726_2 Ed Fuentes

|Photo Gallery| There may still be a month before William Bratton officially departs Los Angeles for the private sector, but the Police Chief's farewell tour is well underway.

On Tuesday afternoon, back-to-back stops at Inner City Arts and Parker Center gave Bratton a chance to speak about what he views as two of his primary accomplishments in seven years leading LAPD: making the streets of Skid Row safer and turning the police force into a community partner. — Continued Inside...