CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
April 25, 2014 | By David Zahniser
A grass-roots group that has been railing against Los Angeles' parking ticket policies has agreed to team up with Mayor Eric Garcetti to look at changes to the enforcement system. Steven Vincent, founder of the Los Angeles Parking Freedom Initiative, said Garcetti invited members of his organization to participate in an official city working group. The panel, Vincent said, will look at an array of possible changes, such as reducing certain fines, expanding parking hours in key locations, making no-parking signs less confusing and halting the practice of using ticket revenue as a tool to balance the city's budget.
BUSINESS
April 22, 2014 | By Lauren Beale
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and his wife, Amy Wakeland, have put the home they own in Silver Lake up for one-year lease at $8,500 a month. Built in 2010, the boxy contemporary features an open living room, dining room, media room, office/gym, six bedrooms and five bathrooms in 4,000 square feet of living space. The top-level master suite has views of the reservoir. Concrete counters and a walk-in pantry are among amenities in the sleek kitchen. There are multiple decks. The street just got a fresh coat of slurry, so it would appear the place is ready for new occupants.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
April 16, 2014 | By David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and rapper Jay Z are scheduled to appear outside City Hall on Wednesday for what is expected to be an announcement on a two-day music festival for Labor Day weekend in Grand Park. The Budweiser Made in America, which advertises itself as being “curated by Jay Z,” could draw as many as 50,000 people to the heart of downtown, raising red flags for Councilman Jose Huizar, who warned that street closures and beer sales could create "a nightmare.
NATIONAL
April 16, 2014 | By Timothy M. Phelps
WASHINGTON - Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. has been crusading for more lenient treatment for nonviolent drug offenders, making it a top priority before he is expected to leave office this year. Recently, however, he has been forced to confront an epidemic of deaths from heroin and prescription drug abuse, one that his opponents have cited as a reason for not loosening drug sentences. In prepared remarks for a speech Wednesday, Holder cited the "stunning rise in heroin and prescription opiate overdose deaths" and vowed the Justice Department was committed to "rigorous enforcement" of the drug laws and "robust treatment" of drug addicts.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
April 15, 2014 | By David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and rapper Jay Z are set to appear Wednesday outside City Hall for what is expected to be an announcement on the two-day Budweiser Made in America music festival planned for Labor Day weekend in Grand Park. Garcetti sent an advisory saying the news conference will be attended by Budweiser Vice President Brian Perkins, along with county Supervisor Gloria Molina and City Council President Herb Wesson. The prospect of a major concert drawing as many as 50,000 people to the heart of downtown had raised red flags for Councilman Jose Huizar , who warned that street closures and beer sales could create "a nightmare" for downtown residents.
NEWS
April 14, 2014 | By Kerry Cavanaugh
Mayor Eric Garcetti dropped no bombshells when he released his first budget Monday. The $8.1-billion spending plan was in line with the theme of his administration so far: focus on basic city functions, improve customer service, control costs and win back public trust. All in all, it's a modest budget from an administration that takes pride in being prudent. Most modest is his plan to trim the business tax. When the proposal was floated earlier this year, Garcetti was going to eliminate the business tax. Phase it out. Get rid of it. Businesses and entrepreneurs hate the city's business tax because it's significantly higher than almost all surrounding cities, and it's based on gross receipts, not profits, so a company could be hit with a big tax bill even if it made no money that year.