Police Shootings, Shooting Police—Broken Trust
The only Californian on President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing said we know exactly what to do to confront and correct the dire situation brought on by shootings in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and Dallas. Acclaimed Los Angeles civil rights attorney Connie Rice said, “You have to completely reform police culture so that they […]
Relief from Private Attorney General Act Lawsuits Could Be On Its Way
Last week, Governor Jerry Brown signed a budget that included more state oversight over the thousands of frivolous Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) lawsuits being filed against California businesses. Both Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assembly Leader Anthony Rendon also indicated to Assemblywoman Shannon Grove that they would be helpful to her efforts […]
Local Voices Unwelcome As State Promotes Affordable Housing
From 2011 through the first quarter of 2014, more building permits for single-family homes were issued in the city of Houston than in the entire state of California. That might be one reason that in April, the median selling price of a single-family home in Houston was $217,000 while in California it was $509,100. There […]
How a Local Mom-and-Pop Dry Cleaners Mirrors the Struggles and Triumphs of South L.A.
When the property owners on Historic South Central Avenue (from Washington Boulevard. to Vernon Avenue) started one of the first Business Improvement Districts in South L.A., I was surprised to be elected president of the group’s board of directors. I never thought we’d have a business improvement district here. I never thought I’d be running […]