Department of Water and Power might create a ratepayer advocate
September 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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At the public hearing, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry also talked about the creation of a ratepayer advocate. Though generally supportive of the reform, Department of Water and Power customers shared a range of views on how the advocate should function and how the position should be funded.
Police chief says crime rates are down
September 23, 2010 By 1 Comment
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Many people are angry at police officers because of a shooting that involved a Guatemalan immigrant; the shooting occurred several weeks ago. Police Chief Beck said the Los Angeles Police Department should be more open about its actions with the community. He also added that the installation of cameras in police cars will be helpful.
Local park transforms into new playground
September 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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The park’s change came at a good time; Ashwood Park is the only park in the area. KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization that deals with community development, helped sponsor the park’s construction. Home Depot and Inglewood Little League also sponsored the transformation of the park.
Proposition 25 continues debate over state budget
September 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Passing a budget in most states only requires at least a 50 percent approval rate, but California is different. Annenberg Radio News reporter Chris Foy looks into the proposed ballot initiative.
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Read the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s nonpartisan analysis of Proposition 25. There is also an analysis on all other initiatives and measures that will appear on November’s ballot.
Yes on Proposition 25: http://www.endbudgetgridlock.com/
No on Proposition 25: http://www.no25yes26.com/
Judge sentences Tedi Snyder to 32 years in prison
September 22, 2010 By 3 Comments
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The Youth Justice Coalition held a press conference outside the court building Tuesday. A judge sentenced Tedi Snyder, 20, to 32 years in prison. Snyder was 15 years old when he was involved in a gang shooting. No one was killed, but a jury convicted Snyder of attempted murder.
Kim McGill of the Youth Justice Coalition focused on what she called “outrageous” sentences for teens.
“Young people are getting 111 to life, 200 to 250 to life sentences at the ages of 14, 15, 16, 17 years old,” McGill said.
Some argue these types of teens, regardless of their age, should be held accountable for their actions.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions,” McGill said. “In fact, our membership has gone to way more funerals than graduations. And no one wants more death and destruction to stop in the streets more than black and brown people,” McGill said.
Snyder was facing 80 years to life. The judge reduced his sentence, but the Youth Justice Coalition, family and friends still do not think that was the justice they were looking for.
LA Times Festival of Books moves to USC
September 22, 2010 By 2 Comments
By Eddie North-Hager for Leimert Park Beat.
The nation’s largest public literary festival drew 140,000 people and over 400 authors last year.
The April 30 – May 1 weekend celebration is moving to USC University Park in order to draw more people, officials said.
The free Festival of Books brings exhibitors, booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations together with poets, authors of every genre and readers together for readings, book signings, intimate Q&A’s, comedy, children’s activities and more.
Right: USC President C. L. Max Nikias and Los Angeles Times publisher and CEO Eddy Hartenstein. Photo by Steve Cohn.
The Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California made the announcement today.
“After 15 years on the Westside, we are very excited to move the Festival of Books to its beautiful new home and have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with USC to ensure we grow bigger and better in the future,” said Times Publisher Eddy Hartenstein in a press release. “Attendees and exhibitors can expect more to see, do and experience in addition to great access and a refreshing change of scenery.”
“We are thrilled that the Festival has a new home here,” said C. L. Max Nikias, president of USC, in a press release. “The Times Festival of Books is known for sparking just the kind of intellectual curiosity and energy that are at the heart of USC’s mission. The Festival is a great fit for our world-class faculty authors and writing programs, as well as for our literacy work in the community. USC and the Los Angeles Times are two of the oldest institutions in Los Angeles, and it’s fitting that we would be joining together for this event that is so important to the intellectual life of Southern California.”
The move allows for increased attendance due to USC’s central location, proximity to public transportation, abundant parking and newly enhanced campus facilities, the release said. The Festival of Books was previously held on UCLA’s campus in Westwood.
The jazz world mourns Buddy Collette
September 21, 2010 By 3 Comments
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Buddy Collette was born into a family of musicians in Los Angeles. He grew up dreaming of a career in jazz; he got that and much more. Collette played the saxophone, the clarinet and the flute, but he was also a jazz educator.
Collette was a key figure in the thriving Los Angeles music scene on Central Avenue in the 1950s. He helped keep Bebop alive, and he played a key role in the development of the Cool Jazz movement.
He was also a pioneer and a civil rights activist in the fight against segregation in the music industry. Collette was the first African American musician to play live on television.
Frank Potenza performed with Collette. He is now the chair of the studio/guitar jazz program at the University of Southern California. He said Collette is an iconic figure in Los Angeles and in the history of jazz.
Collette will always be remembered for his great music. One of his favorites was Blues for Torrance, a song he wrote as a tribute to California.
Image courtesy of BuddyCollette.com
Change is on the menu for Clifton’s Cafeteria
September 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Some family businesses pass the torch among generations. At Clifton’s Cafeteria, the family hands over the tray.
That tray carries a long legacy. Clifton’s is the last of a chain of themed restaurants founded in the 1930s. During the Great Depression, the cafeteria was both affordable and an escape.
Outside, Clifton’s blends into the surrounding Jewelry District. Inside, it is a whimsical forest wonderland where diners chow down on turkey dinners and Jell-O by an indoor river. Life-sized fake redwood trees and a wall-sized mural line the room.
The kitsch does not seem like a natural fit for Clifton’s new owner. Developer Andrew Meieran is best known for creating trendier venues like downtown’s The Edison.
But the moment he walked into Clifton’s, he fell in love.
“The first thought was, ‘I can’t believe somebody did this,'” Meieran said of his initial visit. “They actually went ahead and did it. I was absolutely in love with the fact that there are people out there who spent their time. They found the artisans, and they’re still doing it. And that it’s still here and survived.”
Meieran has big plans for the cafeteria. He wants to add a lounge on its unused second floor, re-open its bakery and keep the bakery open every hour of every day. To do this, Meieran will hire 100 new staff, many of them through a partnership with a job training program at the Midnight Mission; the Midnight Mission’s main purpose is to help get the homeless off of Skid Row.
That all sounds good to Donald Clinton and his son Robert, the former owners of the cafeteria. They are staying on as landlords on a 40-year lease, but they do not intend to interfere.
“We’ve seen his plans, we’ve listened to him,” Robert Clinton said. “We’re as excited as he is about it. And so when we do come here to the cafeteria, we will be visitors.”
“But we’ll also be eating,” Donald Clinton added.
Louis Hernandez will also still be eating at the cafeteria. He has been a regular since 1956, but he is excited to see the changes.
“When I met my first wife, this is where I brought her to eat as a special treat,” he said. “This was a fantastic, elegant restaurant, and I wish that it would be restored to that level again. I love this place.”
PHOTOS: Crenshaw and Dorsey students visit the White House
September 21, 2010 By 1 Comment
For more on the White House visit and the Crenshaw/Dorsey team, visit the Destination: Change Facebook page.
Students from Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools spoke with Obama’s personal aide, Reggie Love.
Daphne Bradford of the non-profit organization Mother of Many with Reggie Love.
Students took a tour of the White House garden with President Obama’s personal Chef, Sam Kass.
More on the Destination: Change trip to the White House can be found here.
Photos courtesy of Mother of Many.
