Archive for June, 2010
Villaraigosa’s acceptance of tickets raises political issues
Posted in Entertainment, News, Science on June 29th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has argued for weeks that his acceptance of free tickets to concerts, awards shows and athletic events is not subject to state gift disclosure law because his attendance is part of his official duties.
Yet beyond the thorny legal issues, Villaraigosa faces a political question: Can he drive a hard bargain with entities that do millions of dollars in business with the city if they are also giving him access to pricey entertainment?
Villaraigosa has been spotted in a box behind home plate singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with Frank McCourt, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, at one of 15 games he says he attended free of charge since 2005. Yet he and his appointees are also charged with addressing issues involving the stadium and the McCourt-owned Los Angeles Marathon.
Anschutz Entertainment Group confirmed recently that it welcomed the mayor into its own luxury suites at Staples Center and Nokia Theatre — two venues that it owns — during an unknown number of games and concerts. Villaraigosa supported AEG in a recent dustup over billboards and backed its 2005 request for at least $246 million in tax breaks for a hotel at L.A. Live.
More in Southland getting away for the Fourth, but frugally
Posted in News, economy, what on June 29th, 2010 by admin – Comments Off
More than 2 million Southern California residents are expected to pack up the kids and gas up the car for the Fourth of July weekend, but they haven’t returned to their pre-recession spending habits for the holiday.
Although more people are leaving home for the holiday, the average vacationer will be driving instead of flying, traveling a shorter distance and spending less than last year, according to surveys and an economic analysis by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
For the upcoming Independence Day weekend, an estimated 2.57 million Southern California residents plan to leave home, a 19% increase over last year, according to the Auto Club.
Despite the substantial jump, the number still falls short of returning to the pre-recession levels of 2007 when 3.05 million Southern Californians traveled for the holiday. “We’ve still got a ways to go,” Auto Club spokeswoman Marie Montgomery said.
Taking a burger stand
Posted in Entertainment, News, Tech on June 29th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffAs a developer prepares to gobble up Molly’s Burgers, preservationists in Hollywood are taking a stand.
They charge that Los Angeles officials are sacrificing a potential cultural landmark by selling the walk-up burger joint at 1605 N. Vine St. at a discount price to a company they claim is luring jobs out of Hollywood.
Land around the 20-stool eatery is to be sold to Pacifica Ventures, a Santa Monica-based development company that builds and operates out-of-state movie soundstages.
CHP death toll a grim reminder of job’s dangers
Posted in News, what on June 29th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffThe deaths of five officers in the line of duty — including two who died in separate accidents Sunday — have shaken the California Highway Patrol and again raised questions about safety procedures when officers stop cars on the highway.
Officials said they can’t recall this many officers dying in such a time. Three of the officers were killed in accidents on freeway or highway shoulders, where they were struck by cars.
CHP officials and traffic experts said the deaths are the latest reminders of how dangerous the job of a CHP officer is — particularly when they are on the side of a freeway with no barriers or protection against fast-moving cars.
Robert Byrd, longtime Democratic senator, dies at 92
Posted in Health, News, Science, what on June 28th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Washington —
Robert Carlyle Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who was often called this generation’s conscience of the Senate for his devotion to the system of constitutional checks and balances and the prerogatives of power, died Monday. He was 92.
Byrd, who served longer than any member of Congress in U.S. history and cast more congressional votes than anyone since taking office in January 1959, died peacefully at about 3 a.m. at Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Va, a spokesman for the family told the Associated Press.
As president pro tem of the Senate, he was third in line for succession to the presidency. The post of president pro tem now goes to Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii.
After numerous attempts, construction of Ascot Hills Park begins
Posted in News, what on June 28th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffIt wasn’t real for Rudy Torres until the construction trucks and orange-vested surveyors started to roll past the gate at Ascot Hills near El Sereno this week.
The 140 acres of rolling grassland near where the 56-year-old retiree grew up will finally, after decades of setbacks, become a public park. The gates blocking the community from the hilltops will come down, nature trails will be carved out and a stream will be built, along with an amphitheater and picnic areas.
“At least that’s what the city is telling us,” Torres said. “But seeing is believing.”
More than 100 taken to hospitals during Electric Daisy Carnival
Posted in News on June 28th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffMore than 100 people were taken to hospitals and dozens were arrested during a two-day electronic music festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and at Exposition Park, authorities said.
The 14th annual Electric Daisy Carnival, which featured carnival rides, five stages and performances by Moby, Will.i.am, Steve Aoki and Deadmau5, drew a total of 185,000 people on Friday and Saturday, said Alexandra Greenberg, a publicist for the event.
Because of the size of the event, paramedics were stationed at an on-site command post, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales said. Over the two days, 226 injuries were reported, 114 of which required attention at hospitals.
No deaths were reported, and the extent of the injuries was not known.
Panetta says Afghan progress slower than expected
Posted in News on June 28th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Washington —
Days after President Obama installed a new U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, CIA Director Leon E. Panetta acknowledged Sunday that progress in the war has been “harder” and “slower than I think anyone anticipated.”
Top U.S. officials have acknowledged the difficulty the administration could face as it seeks to follow through on Obama’s pledge to begin drawing down troops in July 2011. If progress continues to lag, Obama is likely to face intensified pressure from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander-designate, not to draw down quickly, as well as a countervailing push by Vice President Joe Biden to switch to a smaller military footprint.
G-20 nations reach compromise on economic goal
Posted in Health, News, economy on June 28th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Toronto —
Leaders of the world’s biggest economies acknowledged there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the world’s economic troubles, agreeing in Toronto to halve the budget deficits of most industrialized nations by 2013, while giving each country the leeway to cut spending at its own speed.
The compromise was the result of divisions between the Obama administration, which emphasizes the need to continue stimulating growth and job creation, and some of its principal allies, which have grown alarmed over soaring debt levels.
