City Watch LA

Hollywood: The Fate of the Film Biz

ACCORDING TO LIZ - On July 13, Attorneys General in thirteen states sued to stop Paramount Skydance’s assimilation of Warner Bros. Discovery and the consequential monopolistic narrowing of news media ...
City Watch LA

LAHSA Is Gone, but the Homeless-Industrial-Complex Lives On

HOMELESSNESS - Los Angeles’s homelessness program is in complete disarray, undermined by systemic gridlock, structural instability, and the diversion of life-saving funds to consultants. Frankly, this ...
City Watch LA

Karen Bass Trails in Reelection Race — Can She Turn It Around?

WESTSIDE - As of September 27, 2026, Karen Bass is in a substantially weaker position than she was entering the June primary. Her message is fragmented, confusing and defensive as it seems her chances ...
City Watch LA

The Settlement Bill Nobody Is Managing — Inside Los Angeles County's Sheriff Litigation Tab

THE NAVARRO REPORT - Last month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $12.5 million settlement over the 2021 fatal shooting of David Ordaz Jr., a 34-year-old father of three killed ...
City Watch LA

Before Los Angeles Gives Street Lighting More Money, Turn On the Lights

STREET LIGHTING - Los Angeles has a city bureau whose fundamental job is literally to keep the lights on. Before City Hall asks the public for more money to do it, perhaps it is time to turn the ...
City Watch LA

Does Anyone Have a Clue Who Would Run CA With Becerra as Governor?

ALPERN AT LARGE - I’m quite aware that many Californians, and perhaps many reading this, just absolutely haaaaaaaaaaaaate Republicans more than they want their state, cities, family, or even personal ...
City Watch LA

How L.A.’s Small Lot Law Sparked Evictions—and How Tenants Fought Back

Written by Larry Gross and Carlos Aguilar. HOUSING - For more than a year, residents of Melrose Bungalows in East Hollywood and the historic Scott Avenue Court Bungalows in Echo Park, with help from ...
City Watch LA

Follow the Money: The Underdog vs. the Bike Path

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY - Years ago, I was shooting ringside as a boxing photographer when I noticed Sylvester Stallone standing beside me, shouting encouragement to a fighter who was getting beaten ...
City Watch LA

Clean Energy Is Coming. How Much More Should Los Angeles Ratepayers Pay to Get There Faster?

CLEAN ENERGY - Los Angeles has committed to an ambitious goal known as LA100: moving the city's electric system to 100 percent clean energy by 2035. California is already moving in the same direction.
City Watch LA

Is Exchange LA Safe in an Earthquake? Building Owner Asks Cal/OSHA to Investigate

PUBLIC SAFETY - On an event night at Exchange LA, hundreds of people may see the lights, screens and spectacle of one of downtown Los Angeles’ best-known nightclubs. What they do not see is the ...
City Watch LA

Reinventing City Hall—Just Need To Wait

DEEGAN ON LA - Political Los Angeles is in desperate need of a makeover. The city and its residents need more than the face-lift offered by Mayor Bass and Councilmember Raman (CD4). They may not be ...
City Watch LA

Sun Valley Cannot Wait for the Next Storm

SUN VALLEY - Los Angeles says it is preparing for a potentially severe El Niño season. But in Sun Valley and adjacent areas in city council district six, where ordinary rain already exposes broken ...