Mayor Garcetti decides to return to Los Angeles after all *

File photo by Gary Leonard

Mayor Eric Garcetti's office announced this morning that the boss will be returning to Los Angeles several days early to deal with the Trayvon Martin protests. “The mayor was briefed by Chief (Charlie) Beck and was in constant contact with his staff over the weekend,” spokesman Yusef Robb told Rick Orlov at the Daily News. Garcetti's official schedule did not disclose where he was traveling over the weekend, but Orlov reports that he was in Pittsburgh with family and was scheduled to hold "transition-related meetings" in Maryland and Washington. "Out of an abundance of caution, he decided to return to Los Angeles today,” Robb told Orlov.

I posted a piece early this morning questioning the wisdom of Garcetti being out of the city without telling the public where he was going — while protesters were in the streets.

* Added: Garcetti volunteered via Twitter on Sunday night to help "resolve" a ticket that Hollywood screenwriter Nick Silverman says that he got for honking once to show support for protesters. Poor guy: now the media will almost have to ask whether the mayor intervenes on his behalf on a legal question completely beyond the authority or business of the mayor's office.

@NickySilv send us the info tomorrow and let us help you get it resolved. DM a good phone/email

— Eric Garcetti (@ericgarcetti) July 15, 2013