Morning Buzz: Monday 12.12.11

Dozens of Occupy protesters are demonstrating today at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. LAT, Press-Telegram

California's budget-cuts trigger looks like it will kick in and with serious real-world effects. Rough & Tumble

Sheriff Lee Baca proposes to spend at least $1 billion to tear down all or a portion of Men's Central Jail and erect a new jail in its place. If approved, it would be the county government's largest building project in history by far. DN

Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas had a letter to the editor in the L.A. Times responding to the paper's report that he had used his role at the Coliseum Commission to obtain NFL tickets. "Instead of sober reporting that would have informed readers rather than inflaming their suspicions, [the reporters] employed a mix of innuendo and hyperbole to write a slanted story borne of their cynical concoction." Full text

A third independent so-called super PAC, called the Committee to Elect an Effective Valley Congressman, has formed to push for Rep. Howard Berman's reelection over fellow Democrat Brad Sherman. Politico

Some Republican leaders say privately they fear the party could lose up to five of its 19 California congressional seats under the new district maps. LAT

Newly minted candidates: South L.A. community activist Mervin Evans for Congress in CD 37, former San Marino mayor Matthew Lin for Asembly in the 49th, and Silver Lake Neighborhood Council board member Scott Crawford in the 13th City Council district.

Police Protective League president Paul Weber is facing a reelection challenge from union members who want to be more militant. DN/Orlov's Tipoff

Thanks to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, California lobbyists "are now allowed to screw the public as long as they are also screwing the politicians. No, I'm not kidding," says Jonathan Dobrer. Friendly Fire

The city of Los Angeles is doing far more than it ever has to support bike riders, but activists complain the city is not doing enough. DN

The U.S. attorney's civil fraud unit has launched an investigation to determine whether Los Angeles city officials ignored federal laws designed to protect the disabled when building or fixing up housing. LAT

Occupy LA's roots in the city's early 20th century radicals. LAT Op-Ed

Mark Thorpe, director of air service development at Los Angeles World Airports, announced he is leaving the city's employ to join the management team at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Politics and media blogger Ben Smith is quitting Politico to become the editor of BuzzFeed, where he will hire reporters to give the site its own content. NYT, Politico

Kevin Bronson, the music journalist and KCSN deejay who is editor of Buzzbands.com, wrote on Facebook of a good deed he accomplished over the weekend:

Overcame major language barriers today to return a wallet I found on the streets on DTLA last weekend. Was worth it to see the smile on the face of a Guatemalan immigrant when some dude showed up on his doorstep in Van Nuys with cash and cards intact. Memo to self: learn some cursory Spanish.

Steve Lopez writes about his dad's deteriorating condition from a stroke, hip surgery and advancing dementia and the choices faced by his family. LAT

Former L.A. Times columnist Mike Downey has an idea for the Dodgers: "I am submitting a bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers before it is too late. Why? Because I have been seeing all those other potential buyers out there looming just beyond the gates of Stadium Way like Wal-Mart shoppers prepared to pepper-spray any bastard who gets in their way. It is buy or die." Zocalo

A new weekly show from Bill Boyers and American Public Television called “Moyers and Company” debuts on KCET Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. and will air every Friday at the same time.

Gloria Allred answers questions and gets a little testy with Andrew Goldman in the New York Times Magazine. NYT

Former LAT staff writer and foreign correspondent J. Michael Kennedy announced on Facebook he has moved to Istanbul.

How the city of San Fernando went from "model for Latino new urbanism" to national joke. DN

The American Film Institute announced its list of the 10 best American-made films of the year, including "The Descendants," "War Horse" and "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Indiewire

Favorite books of 2011 from the reviewers at The New Yorker.

Air pollution from dust is getting worse across the West, with complex implications for those of us who live here. NYT

Woody Smeck, head of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for 11 years, is leaving March 30 to be deputy superintendent at Yosemite National Park. VC Star

Westwood's Majestic Crest Theater is back on the market. Curbed LA