Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
City departments at the direction of Mayor Villaraigosa are launching major clean-up sweeps of Skid Row's sidewalks this morning. Street people were notified yesterday of the coming sweeps. Downtown News
Delays in the city's tree trimming schedule has resulted in trees so overgrown that fire engines and other large emergency vehicles are unable to drive down some streets to respond to calls. Daily News
Vice President Joe Biden will keynote today's session of the international convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, this morning at the Convention Center.
California has about a half-a-budget, or perhaps more accurately, a half-baked budget, says Dan Walters. Sacto Bee
Santa Monica Superior Court judge Linda Kay Lefkowitz was reported missing from her Pacific Palisades home then called police to say she was lost while driving in Carson. They helped her get home. The judge is undergoing chemo for breast cancer and may have been disoriented. LAT
The family of Abdul Arian, the 19-year-old shot to death by Los Angeles Police Department officers after a chase that ended on the 101 freeway in Woodland Hills, filed a lawsuit against the city, LAPD and Chief Charlie Beck on Monday. The suit seeks $120 million in damages. DN
How Canadian housewife and mother of three Kelly Oxford got from Twitter to be a Hollywood writer. LAT
Long piece by Jesse Katz on the street vendors of MacArthur Park, in the American Prospect: the Geography of Getting By
More coverage, with links to earlier stories, on Michael Gurman, the 18-year-old recent graduate of Milken Community High School whose accurate Apple have become a tech media sensation. Jewish Journal
John Cook of Gawker attempts a takedown of Woodward and Bernstein, saying the pair's reporting methods and ethics "would mortify any of the smug high priests of journalism that flourished in its wake." Gawker
New York Times political reporter Mark Leibovich has been named New York Times Magazine chief national correspondent. Romenesko
Of nearly 350 nationally distributed public radio programs, “half of all national listening is done to 17 shows.” But NPR is looking at opening up to new shows. NYT
A neighbor heard sobbing from Rodney King's backyard before he splashed into the pool. LAT
Urban League president Blair Taylor statement on the passing of Rodney King:
The Los Angeles Urban League extends sincere condolences to family and friends of Rodney King. His untimely death closes a private chapter in the very public and at times very challenging life. Mr. King became the face of those who find themselves helpless against abuses of authority. The videotape of LAPD offices beating Mr. King, their trial resulting in acquittals and the subsequent civil unrest changed the course of Los Angeles history and made an indelible imprint locally and nationwide on police reforms, racial profiling and community relations and development.
The memory of Rodney King will be rooted in his plea for peace at the height of the riots. His statement, “Can’t we all just get along?” still resonates with relevance to this day. On April 29, 2012, a Joint Statement of Unity was issued. The Anti-Defamation League, LA Urban League, SCLC LA and a coalition of organizations joined in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Civil Unrest. LAPD and civil rights leaders, representing the diverse communities of Los Angeles, including the Korean American and African American communities stood in unity against hatred. Location: Robert F. Kennedy School (former Ambassador Hotel site). The Statement read in part: “We pledge that our children will understand that diversity in our community is a strength and a source of pride, not cause for hatred and division.” This is the legacy of Rodney King. May he rest in peace.
Old LAPD bulletins dating back to 1907 are providing a wealth of history about Los Angeles. LAT
How San Antonio winery survived Prohibition to become hip: "If downtown Los Angeles was a logical place to build a winery nearly a century ago, it is certainly not where you would expect to find one now." Amy Scattergood in Smithsonian
Tickets go on sale Saturday for Fiona Apple to perform at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 14.
The Rose Bowl renovation project will top out with a ceremony on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Roger Jongewaard, the baseball scout who signed Daryl Strawberry out of Crenshaw High School — as well as Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Billy Beane of "Moneyball" fame — died at age 75. He played at Long Beach Poly High, was the catcher on TV episodes of "Home Run Derby" at LA's Wrigley Field, and his family had Jongewaard's Bake 'N Broil in Long Beach's Bixby Knolls neighborhood for three decades. LAT
