Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The biggest story of the morning actually broke last night: David Zahniser's scoop on where Miguel Contreras really died, and perhaps with who, followed by ex-editor Harold Meyerson's disgust at the LA Weekly for running the piece. The morning news also brings stories reported here yesterday, on Mayor Villaraigosa meeting Supt. Brewer and the demise of the MTA consent decree. Plenty of new Buzz though, after you click to venture inside.
Politics
Local twist in Tan Nguyen case
State investigators searched the home of LAPD officer Mark Nhan Nguyen (no relation) looking for evidence connected to the letter warning immigrants not to vote in Orange County.
Windsor Square HPOZ invalidated
For years the residents of Windsor Square have battled with the Times over erroneously lumping their circa-1910 neighborhood in with the 1920s-era Hancock Park. Well, today the paper had to get it right. A judge threw out the city's creation of a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone for Windsor Square, which is where the mayor's residence is located. It violates CEQA by failing to properly study the potential environmental impacts.
Parking tickets are big business in L.A.
The city collected $113 million in parking fines last year and believes there is $164 million out there in unpaid fines and penalties.
LAT endorses Chiang for Controller
While the LA Weekly is no longer making endorsements (New Times doesn't like them), the L.A. Times is playing the game whole hog this year. After endorsing Schwarzenegger, they stand at four Democrats and three Republicans in the state races.
Must be using the helicopter
Mayor Villaraigosa's official schedule has him giving remarks at the AARP convention in Anaheim at 10 am, then attending an MTA board meeting in downtown Los Angeles 45 minutes later.
EAA talking tough
Robert Aquino says this strike will actually affect people, but is anybody listening?
Black on black politics
Rep. Maxine Waters and Najee Ali are at odds again.
Media
Clippers and the magazine
Yes that was Los Angeles Magazine editor Kit Rachlis shaking hands with Corey Maggette on the Fox 11 News Wednesday night. The Clipper had dropped in on the magazine offices as part of a team promotion.
Noted
Death Squad soldier
Immigration and Customs arrested Guevara Cerritos, a janitor at a Westside motel, as a suspected member of the Salvadoran death squads of the 1980s.
Hazards of tree work
Eleven California tree trimmers have died in palm trees since 2002.
How to pronounce Los Angeles
Believe it or not, there has been a lot of disagreement through the years. The Times even used to run its view of the proper pronunciation in the paper every day. L.A. City Nerd reviews the history.