April 15 - April 21, 2012
Friday, Apr. 20
I'm still trying to figure that one out. The total budget weighs on at $7.22 billion, with a deficit of $238 million that Mayor Villaraigosa has managed to close - on paper anyway.
It's a good bet that L.A. County Mike Antonovich is a no vote, but local business leaders seem generally supportive. Editorials in the Daily News and LAT are dubious about the merits of making the half-cent sales tax permanent. In other words, a mixed bag.
April is not looking all that great, according to the state controller's tally. To date, $5.28 billion has been received; the governor's budget estimate is looking for $9.13 billion.
He had been at the post for two-and-half years, but it was never considered a great fit (he even acknowledged as much in his email to staff.) Besides, the studio's track record had not been great.
Pretty strong report - the state added 18,200 jobs to the rolls in March, the eighth straight month of employment growth and the best showing so far this year.
New concerns about the economy slipping, more chatter about an NFL team moving to L.A., Socal bucks down quarter for venture capital, and little action on Variety sale.
Thursday, Apr. 19
Another in a flurry of national surveys to mark the unofficial start of the fall campaign. Throw them all into a blender and Obama has a slight edge. But it's early.
Seems like one of these discrimination suits comes along every few months - and goodness knows what all goes on that never gets to the litigation stage.
Extending Measure R, the half-cent sales tax that's being used to finance future transportation projects, might be even harder than voting in the original plan in 2008. With his own term quickly running out and matters of legacy at stake, Villaraigosa must put on those tap shoes.
What's considered a sleepy county department has been a cesspool of corruption, with some of the most blatant pay-to-play activity to hit L.A. in years (which is saying a lot).
Because jobs are being created and folks are making money. Not lots of jobs and lots of money, but apparently enough for shoppers to be reasonably confident.
With consumer spending on the rise, especially among affluent shoppers, it's little wonder that merchants are starting to compete for...
New worries that hiring has slowed, gas prices have fallen to about what they were a year ago, rising costs for F-35 fighter, and "Saints Row: The Third" helping THQ.
Wednesday, Apr. 18
Mayor pushes for an extension of Measure R, the half-cent county sales tax that will help fund several major transit projects, including the Westside subway. No details on how to close the $222-million budget deficit, but he did say pension reforms would be involved. The L.A. budget will be released on Friday.
Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed are concerned about paying for their housing. One in five mortgage holders say they're underwater. Four in 10 parents say they're altering expectations for the type of college they can afford.
He really set the tone for hucksterism in the music and TV business - the cheery, boy-next-door persona who made big money through tie-ins with record labels, pressing plants, music publishers, artist management firms, and of course the networks.
Shareholders haven't been thrilled by all the red ink - or by the business model. The concept is still hard to get your arms around - smaller than a standard supermarket but larger than a convenience store.
Lenders have moved in on 59 churches since 2008, The problem is especially prevalent in L.A. because of the high concentration of small churches, and because changing demographics have hurt membership.
The lieutenant governor will be keeping his day job (good move). He joins other notable political names, such as former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and former NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who recently replaced Keith Oolbermann.
Pew Research asked Americans a while back who the chief justice of the Supreme Court was. You might be surprised by the answers. You might also be frightened.
Pay divide widens, Villaraigosa pushing for permanent tax hike to fund mass transit, warning on bullet train cost, and Brown expects budget deficit to grow.
Tuesday, Apr. 17
A total of 56 courtrooms will go dark by June 30 and 350 workers will be laid off in a $30 million budget slashing - the biggest in history. "We are already rationing justice," said presiding Judge Lee Smalley Edmon. Lance Ito will lose his courtroom.
Roughly six in 10 Americans believe they're fair, according to Gallup, which is significantly higher than the level a decade or so ago - before the Bush tax cuts were implemented.
The longtime head of Berkshire Hathaway says the disease is in stage-1 and that his doctors have told him it is "not remotely life-threatening or even debilitating."
Triple-digit days - both up and down - are becoming more common over the last few weeks.
A few tried to double down on their ignorance (not a great idea).
"Given the projected deficits that we're facing, we think it's very difficult -- actually, we think it's impossible -- to maintain the same level of service," Miguel Santana told the L.A. City Council this morning.
The Massachusetts congressman says it was a mistake to push for reforms, especially after the Democrats lost Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. More broadly, he says that people want lots of services from government, but they don't want to pay for it.
Homes sales jumped 28.7 percent from February to March, which sounds good. The problem is that Socal sales average 37 percent between the two months. Prices, meanwhile, were mostly flat.
Apple shares back on track, L.A. post offices not open late tonight for tax filers, it's time to start booking flights for Memorial Day weekend, and concerns about seafood mislabeling at local restaurants and groceries.
Monday, Apr. 16
Measured as a share of family income, poor people pay the most. Measured by the percentage of personal income tax, rich people pay the most.
Gallup's tracking poll has Romney over Obama by 2 points. CNN poll has Obama over Romney by 9 points.
Sounds like the same setup that Walmart is planning for Chinatown, and which caused such an uproar among the unions.
The culture of umbrage strikes again - we're SHOCKED, SHOCKED to discover that Secret Service agents were caught hooking up with prostitutes in their off hours.
Strong retail sales help the market, disappointing Barbie sales hurting Mattel, top lawyers raise their average hourly rates to $873, and how decision-making by L.A. officials worsened the budget picture.
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The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
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