Doing right in South L.A.

Good Michael Hiltzik column in the L.A. Times about Francisco Pinedo, who is trying to bring a bunch of new private-sector jobs to South Los Angeles but has run up against the city's desire for an animal shelter.

The question raised by Francisco Pinedo's plans to turn a few square blocks of South-Central L.A. into the leading furniture design mart on the West Coast is this: Can the city of Los Angeles get out of its own way?

Pinedo, 40, is already responsible for one of the more striking real estate transformations the downtrodden community has ever seen. This is the conversion of four derelict brick warehouses and factories on South Western Avenue into the L.A. Design Center, an architectural landmark he opened last December...

The mayor's office, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and councilman Bernard Parks have discovered Pinedo and are saying good things. But the dog pound may still be built in his path.

Speaking of City Hall:

*The L.A. Times fronts a feature by Jessica Garrison on how Parks, Villaraigosa and the other new council members are liking the job.

*The LAT's lead editorial today calls Mayor Jim Hahn's airport expansion plan "half-baked," while the Daily News lead Sunday editorial called on the paper's former friend (pre-secession) to take the lead in fighting political corruption: "Nobody knows just how sleazy City Hall is better than Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn."

*Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, a 30-year veteran of the place, sits for a Q-and-A with Dennis Romero of CityBeat.

*Marc B. Haefele analyzes the lap dance ban snafu in the L.A. Alternative Press.