Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz: Monday 9.30.13

Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.

Politics and government

Gov. Jerry Brown is about to become California's longest serving governor. SF Chronicle

Hours after their labor contract with Los Angeles County expires at midnight Monday, thousands of social workers, janitors, librarians and other municipal employees are expected to take to the streets of downtown L.A. to rally for higher wages and the protection of their benefits. LAT

In a little-noticed meeting last week, Supervisor Gloria Molina and other officials unanimously rejected the conceptual plan for the $650-million Grand Avenue Project, saying developer Related Cos. had failed to create an enticing public space that went beyond expensive shops and restaurants. LAT

Mayor Eric Garcetti launched a petition drive to push the Army Corps of Engineers to choose Alternative 20 as the plan to reform use of the Los Angeles River. LAMayor.org

Garcetti said he voted for many things he didn't understand as a councilman and said it was a mistake to vote to create the DWP nonprofits that are now controversial. DN

Rick Orlov's Tipoff: Councilwoman Nury Martinez versus prostitution, plus Tom LaBonge will hold a 60th birthday celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Thurday at Vibiana: "Unlike most such events, LaBonge is not asking for any contributions. Instead, he urges people to donate to some of his favorite charities. Among them, the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children, Travel Town Museum Foundation or the Hollywood/Wilshire YMCA." DN

A new poll finds that voter support for the California bullet train has sagged appreciably. LAT

Construction on the Expo Line phase 2 is 50 percent completed, says the Exposition Construction Authority.

Porterville in Tulare County is roiled by a proclamation in support of gay rights. NYT

Media and books

An LA Times editorial asks if Los Angeles can ever be a biker's town and proposes a civic discussion of bicycle-related issues: "The Times' editorial page is pro-bike...but we intend to consider in greater depth the particular policy issues that arise from greater bike use." LAT

Thumbnail image for rock-roll-billboards.jpgRobert Landau's book, Rock 'n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip, won the Glenn Goldman Award on Friday night from the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association. "Little Flower: Recipes From the Cafe" by Christine Moore won in adult nonfiction and Marisa Silver won in fiction for "Mary Coin." More winners

The LA Times designed business section editor Pat McMahon to "shape our Obamacare coverage, shepherd stories, avoid duplication and help make The Times an indispensable source of news on the health care overhaul." Per memo via email.

More LA Times Saturday night early deadline pain: Some Sunday papers in Los Angeles did not have the final scores of the Kings, Dodgers or USC &mdfash; or the Trojans' firing of football coach Lane Kiffin.

The Times also posted a recipe and video so readers, and kids too, could make "blue 'meth' candy" for their "Breaking Bad" watch parties. "We're not talking actual drugs. Just some harmless, sweet shards of hard candy." Oh. LAT

Tribune CEO Peter Liguori will hold a company-wide "town hall" from the studios of WGN on Wednesday at noon Pacific time.

Pulitzer and Tony winner Tracy Letts has joined the cast of "Homeland" as Sen. Andrew Lockhart, the chairman of a select committee investigating how the CIA let itself get bombed at the end of the series' previous season.

AOL Patch is closing an unknown number of additional sites. Romenesko

National Review Online reporter Andrew Stiles has registered ElectJoeBiden.com and ElectWendyDavis.com, fake sites that are actually against those Democrats. Politico


Courts and cops

LAPD chief Charlie Beck reluctantly rescinded his Special Order 7 which barred officers from deciding on their own to impound for 30 days the vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers. A judge had ruled the order violated state law. So now individual LAPD officers acting on their own in the field can decide to punish drivers who cross them, while sending some business to the police garages. LAT

Coliseum events manager Todd DeStefano and promoters Pasquale Rotella and Reza Gerami must stand trial on a count of conspiracy to embezzle the use of Coliseum property
and bribery counts. LAT

Dozens of friends and family members of slain Dodgers fan Jonathan Denver came together outside San Francisco's AT&T Park on Sunday to pass out fliers seeking witnesses to the Wednesday night stabbing. LAT

The Justice Department is advertising for lawyers to work for free as special assistant U.S. attorneys. Above the Law


More news, notes and observations

Marcella Hazan, "a chain-smoking, determined former biology scholar who reluctantly moved to America and went on to teach a nation to cook Italian food," died Sunday at in Longboat Key, Fla. She was 89. NYT, LAT

Tweet of the day

Dodgers beat writer:


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
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Morning Buzz: Wednesday 4.16.14