Supervisor Gloria Molina

After more than a decade of passing laws as an assemblywoman, City Council member and county supervisor, Gloria Molina may soon be asked to pass judgment--as a member of a criminal trial jury. After answering the call for jury duty several times in the past, but never being selected to serve on a panel, Molina said she was delighted earlier this week when she made it on a murder trial jury.

Nearly a year after a social worker blew the whistle, Los Angeles County supervisors acknowledged Tuesday that a "crisis" had developed in a Wilshire Boulevard office building used to house difficult-to-place foster children and requested a new plan to house them. Supervisor Gloria Molina said the office near MacArthur Park, where the county's child protection agency has its nighttime, emergency operations, has become a "dumping ground" for hundreds of the county's most troubled children when social workers can't find a suitable foster home.

Seeking to hit graffiti vandals and their parents in the pocketbook, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure that would allow authorities to hold taggers -- and their parents -- liable for civil damages. It takes effect in 30 days. The new county law is part of a broader strategy against blight that aims to step up enforcement by conducting more specialized prosecutions, as well as having the violators pay fines up to $1,000 and having liens issued against their property.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina expressed concerns Tuesday that campaign contributions to sheriff's brass by department employees created potential conflicts of interest in personnel decisions. The board approved a motion by Molina to ask the county's attorneys to gauge the legality of banning county managers from soliciting such donations within their departments, though employees would still be able to contribute on their own. Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who is also mayor of Gardena, have over the years accepted thousands of dollars in contributions from department employees.

After a long and sometimes stormy stewardship of Marina del Rey, County Beaches and Harbors Director Ted Reed confirmed Friday that he will retire next month, ending a 33-year career in Los Angeles County government. Reed said he informed Supervisor Deane Dana the day before Thanksgiving that he is stepping down as overseer of the marina and county beaches because of health considerations.

Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky built a commanding lead in early election returns Tuesday in his bid for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, and Sheriff Sherman Block ran well ahead of his challengers. County Assessor Kenneth P. Hahn also took a comfortable lead over a field of 15 challengers in his bid for reelection.

The political power of Latinos in Los Angeles County kicked into higher gear Tuesday as Latino Democrats won six primary races for the state Assembly and four for Congress, all in districts that make them virtual sure-fire winners in November. At the same time, the endorsement clout of the county's ranking Latino, Supervisor Gloria Molina, was sorely tried. In key races in heavily Latino-influenced districts with large Democratic majorities, only two of the seven candidates she endorsed won.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina expressed concerns Tuesday that campaign contributions to sheriff's brass by department employees created potential conflicts of interest in personnel decisions. The board approved a motion by Molina to ask the county's attorneys to gauge the legality of banning county managers from soliciting such donations within their departments, though employees would still be able to contribute on their own. Sheriff Lee Baca and Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who is also mayor of Gardena, have over the years accepted thousands of dollars in contributions from department employees.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina introduced a motion this week that would authorize the county to boycott Arizona unless it suspends or repeals its controversial immigration law. The motion, co-sponsored by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, would direct county officials to suspend all travel to Arizona and investigate withdrawing investments and canceling contracts. Molina spokeswoman Roxane Marquez said the supervisor realizes that the immigration system is broken but believes that the Arizona law is the wrong way to address the problem.

In response to "Not Such a Hot Flash," editorial, Nov. 22: I respectfully disagree with your editorial unfairly criticizing Supervisor Mike Antonovich for directing his expression term, "someone has a hot flash," to Supervisor Gloria Molina. In my view, the editorial writer appears as an ill-advised opportunist; the writer should be fully aware of the Constitution's First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press. Antonovich's freedom of expression should also be respected and protected by the same rights that protect editorial writers.

After hours of emotional testimony from hundreds of speakers, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a political redistricting map late Tuesday largely preserving the status quo, protecting incumbents and rejecting demands that the board create a second Latino-majority district. Tuesday's 4-to-1 vote sets the stage for a costly legal battle, pitting the county against Latino activists who are expected to accuse the supervisors of protecting white incumbents at the expense of the voting rights of Latinos.

On a blistering day in Huntington Park, I walked into a barbershop and put the owner on the hot seat. I asked if he knew which member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors represents the area. When Benjamin Hernandez said no, I asked if the name Gloria Molina rang a bell. Yes, he said, but he didn't know much about her. How about Zev Yaroslavsky? Never heard of him. There's a slim chance, I told Hernandez, that Yaroslavsky could replace Molina as the rep for the area.

Editor's note : This piece launches Jim Newton's new weekly column examining the policy and politics of Southern California. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's inauguration, on a sunny Los Angeles morning 5 1/2 years ago, was a moment of celebration and promise. Villaraigosa's personal future appeared limitless; the city seemed poised to reap great things. "We need," he said that day to 3,000 adoring supporters, "to start thinking big again. " That feels like a long time ago. Villaraigosa set out to take over Los Angeles schools, but fell short.

The emergency room at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center was "dangerously overcrowded" for more than 10% of the month of May, according to a report submitted Tuesday to the county Board of Supervisors. The overcrowding — up from less than 2% of the time in April — drew a sharp rebuke from Supervisor Gloria Molina. "I think we're having a real problem. This is a serious situation," said Molina, whose district includes County-USC, just east of downtown in Boyle Heights.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina introduced a motion this week that would authorize the county to boycott Arizona unless it suspends or repeals its controversial immigration law. The motion, co-sponsored by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, would direct county officials to suspend all travel to Arizona and investigate withdrawing investments and canceling contracts. Molina spokeswoman Roxane Marquez said the supervisor realizes that the immigration system is broken but believes that the Arizona law is the wrong way to address the problem.

Filling a job that has been vacant for three years, Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday narrowly approved the hiring of an attorney to investigate the cases of children who die while in the county's care. To take the post, Rosemarie Belda will leave the Office of County Counsel, where she has represented the Department of Children and Family Services, the agency that will now be a central target of her reports. In addition to investigating child deaths, she has been asked to recommend reforms that might prevent future fatalities.

In response to Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block's plan to close three county jail facilities (April 28 and 29): I don't want county Supervisor Gloria Molina and Sheriff Block playing with the future of my family. It's not right for the Board of Supervisors to imperil the citizens of this county by releasing thousands of prisoners to terrorize and victimize its citizens again. We taxpayers have already paid the price for justice. Restore the Sheriff's Department budget and keep the criminals where they belong--in jail!

The City Council voted Wednesday to hire a new budget advisor, selecting a man who served 14 years as an aide to county Supervisor Gloria Molina. Miguel Santana will receive $256,803 annually as a city administrative officer, providing financial advice to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the council. He is taking the job amid a budget crisis, with the mayor and the council attempting to cut costs by granting 2,400 workers early retirement. Santana worked for Molina from 1993 to 2007, spending three years as her chief of staff.

When a security firm contracting with Los Angeles County went bankrupt earlier this year, hundreds of workers were not paid for their hours guarding county clinics, Sheriff's Department buildings and Fire Department facilities. On Tuesday, Supervisor Gloria Molina urged county lawyers to find a way to pay them about $200,000 in wages she said they are due, prompting a bitter exchange among her colleagues. International Services Inc., which placed nearly 800 guards in county facilities, filed for bankruptcy after its president and chief executive, Ousama "Sam" Karawia, 45, was charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, grand theft, making false statements and insurance fraud.

A 4-year-old boy killed last month by his mother at their Highland Park home had been the subject of a botched child-abuse investigation, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina said Tuesday. The mother committed suicide after decapitating her young son with a kitchen knife, according to police.