Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Thursday 3.14.13

Politics and government

An LA Times editorial chided Wendy Greuel for suggesting to union leaders that rival Eric Garcetti is anti-union for supporting a change in city retirement benefits. "Neither Garcetti nor any other participant in this conversation is proposing to strip labor of its rights," said the editorial, titled Greuel's silly slap at Garcetti.

Greg Smith, who finished third in the city attorney primary with 16.9 percent of the vote, said he would not endorse either finalist int he runoff: "I wish both candidates well and look forward to a spirited debate about the issues as they head into a runoff.” DN

More than any City Council candidate in recent memory, John Choi, who will face former Eric Garcetti field deputy Mitch O'Farrell in the May 21 runoff in the 13th council distriict, is "a creation of L.A.'s political king-making system, dominated by Durazo and Villaraigosa." LA Weekly

The Joyce Pearson campaign for city council in the West Valley's 3rd district says the race is not over while provisional votes are counted and with presumed winner Bob Blumenfield still hovering just above 50 percent.

Wednesday was the third and final day of meetings in Washington for more than 150 business and political leaders from Los Angeles. KPCC

The city Building and Safety Department is warning business owners in the Valley for signs that in some cases have been in place for 30 years. DN

The LAFD disclosed yet another try to upgrade to its 911 system: 3-5 years to be able to effectively communicate with neighboring jurisdictions. LAT

Democrats recaptured a supermajority in the state Senate with a win by Democrat Ben Hueso in a special election for a vacant San Diego-area seat on Tuesday. AP

That nearly half a million students are on waiting lists for basic courses in California’s public colleges "is a human tragedy and a policy failure on an enormous scale," said Kevin Carey director of the education-policy program at the New America Foundation. Chronicle of Higher Education

A bill by state Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco would allow cities and counties to petition the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for approval to let bars and clubs serve alcohol until 4 a.m. SF Chronicle

Neighborhood activist Bob Gelfand blames the LA Times for the city election's low voter turnout. Citywatch LA


Media and media people

chris-hayes-msnbc.jpgChris Hayes will take over the 8 p.m. slot on MSNBC currently hosted by Ed Schultz. His show moves to weekends. NYT Media Decoder

Former NBC executive Scott Sassa has resigned as entertainment and syndication president for Hearst after a sexting scandal with an LA stripper who reportedly tried to blackmail the media executive. NY Post

ABC News' '20/20' faces libel lawsuit for Orange County internet-dating story. OC Weekly

Is the Newsweek Rabbis List good for the Jews? Jewish Journal

Five worthy alternatives to Google Reader, which is being turned off. CNET


More

A new earthquake warning system worked and alerted Caltech scientists 30 seconds before Monday's 4.7 magnitude quake in the desert south of Palm Springs. LAT

Amid some shaking out of supermarkets in West LA, a Vons at Santa Monica Boulevard and Barrington might be converted to mixed-use housing. Curbed LA

The 2013-2014 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season will include Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths in “The Sunshine Boys”; Tony Award-winning “Peter and the Starcatcher”; “Harmony” by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman; the 2012 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Musical, “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”; and Queen and Ben Elton’s “We Will Rock You.” Via release

Restoring the freeway murals of Los Angeles. KCRW

Revolution Books has put out call for followers to gather at tonight's Downtown Art Walk to call attention to a new film about Bob Avakian, chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party: "Bring drums, tubas, whistles as part of creating a vibrant, dynamic scene as we snake through the area, calling on everyone to be at the premiere this coming Saturday."

Joe Moller, who runs Art Walk, reveals he expects oral sex on a first date with a woman (or "broad" as he puts it.) LA Weekly

The Los Angeles Marathon is this Sunday, with a number of events in the area between now and then.


More by Kevin Roderick:
'In on merit' at USC
Read the memo: LA Times hires again
Read the memo: LA Times losing big on search traffic
Google taking over LA's deadest shopping mall
Gustavo Arellano, many others join LA Times staff
Recent Morning Buzz stories on LA Observed:
Thursday news and notes
A little bit of mid-week reading
A few links from a few different places
Let's talk about anything but the weather
A few links from here and there
A couple of links from a couple of places
A bit of news from a few places
Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14