Politics & Governnment

Jan Perry Sworn In for Third Term on City Council

By Ed Fuentes — June 05, 2009 — 2 Comments

IMGP8100 Ed Fuentes

|Photo Gallery| Gloomy weather and an even gloomier city budget weren't enough to keep a supportive crowd from making its way to Vibiana on Thursday morning to witness Jan Perry's third swearing-in as the City Council representative for the 9th District.

After walking down the center aisle and greeting developers, LAPD officers, fellow councilmembers, Perry stopped near the podium to hug her daughter and mother. — Continued Inside...


Around the Halls: June 1 - 3

By Eric Richardson — June 01, 2009
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Today is Monday, June 1, and the beginning of the week is rather light at City Hall. The city's defunct bicycle licensing program looks to be repealed, the hardship exemption for marijuana dispensaries comes up for debate and the CAO and CRA present a report on negotiations for a rail car plant.


Council Holds Off on Signage Decision

By Eric Richardson — May 26, 2009

Manny Supergraphic

City Council this afternoon chose to defer any decision on a new signage ordinance. The body heard comment from more than fifty speakers before engaging in its own discussion of the issue. While speakers came with concerns from across the opinion spectrum, most were unhappy with the process by which the new ordinance had been put together. In the meantime...


Around the Halls: May 26 - 27

By Eric Richardson — May 25, 2009
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Today is Monday, May 25, and city government is off today for the Memorial Day holiday. Tomorrow the wheels of government hit the ground running, as the rewritten signage ordinance comes to City Council. Also on the calendar is a residential hotel appeal fee and work on a mixed-income housing ordinance.


Outside Budget Debates, Union Workers Rally

By Eric Richardson — May 18, 2009

City Employees Unions Protest Layoffs

As City Council debated how to solve Los Angeles' estimated $500 million budget deficit today, several hundred unionized city workers rallied outside to criticize Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for backing away from a plan that would have called for early retirement instead of layoffs.


Around the Halls: May 18 - 21

By Eric Richardson — May 18, 2009

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Today is Monday, May 18, and it is going to be a busy week at City Hall. Council's in session on a Monday to discuss the budget, and Tuesday a citywide mixed-income housing ordinance comes to committee.


Monday: Conversation with Jan Perry at The Exchange

By Eric Richardson — May 17, 2009
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Abbey Courtyard

On Monday evening, The Exchange hosts Councilwoman Jan Perry for the first in a series of conversations with those involved in shaping Downtown. Titled 'CONVERSE in 3D' the topics "will include discussions of the present environment of downtown, the past history of how we got here and where we are headed (3D)."


Around the Halls: May 11 - 13

By Eric Richardson — May 11, 2009

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Today is Monday, May 11, and the Council calendar is slowly returning to normalcy after two weeks of Budget & Finance hearings. After a Monday break, Councilmembers return Tuesday for a big day that includes the proposed signage ordinance's second trip to Planning and Land Use and a status report on privatizing city parking resources.


Budget Cuts Mean Delays for Downtown Community Plans

By Eric Richardson — May 08, 2009 — 5 Comments

Arts District Eric Richardson

Buried in the middle of a five hour budget hearing last Friday was news that updates to Downtown's two major community plans will be delayed unless the Planning department receives more funding and can hire additional planners.

The impact of those delays would be felt quite differently in the two plan areas. While development in the bulk of Downtown would be largely unaffected, the Arts and Industrial districts would remain in a development no-mans-land. — Continued Inside...


No Sign of Supergraphics Moratorium on Downtown Streets

By Eric Richardson — May 07, 2009 — 12 Comments

Manny Supergraphic Eric Richardson

Violate Major League Baseball's drug testing policy? You'll receive a tough suspension. Violate the city's moratorium on supergraphics? Those consequences seem much less intimidating.

Despite the fact that new supergraphics have been forbidden in the city of Los Angeles since January, new billboards continue to spring up Downtown, including several featuring Dodgers' slugger Manny Ramirez, who this morning was suspended fifty games for a drug violation. — Continued Inside...