Politics

Interviews around town

• In the Downtown News, Anschutz Entertainment Group president Tim Leiweke suggests that more upheaval is coming in the local sports scene. With the Clippers' lease to play at Staples Center expiring, he says the arena may not want them back: "We actually would make more money if, instead of having 40 Clippers games, we had five concerts." He also says that 30 to 40 people, not counting part-time arena staff, will lose their jobs because the Kings aren't playing.

• Speaking of Anschutz, Variety's VLife didn't get an interview with the press-shy mogul, but there are some fresh photos with Jonathan Bing's profile. The story examines Anschutz's style in dealing with his Hollywood projects, which includes showing up on sets and, apparently, letting his producers and directors make the movies their way. The exception is Ray: Anschutz reportedly ordered Taylor Hackford to tone down the profanity. Also in VLife: Rob Long conjures up a Republican Hollywood where Oliver Stone does a movie called The Gipper starring DeNiro as Reagan, Barbara Streisand pushes the flat tax and "everyone is about 20 pounds heavier."

• Police commission president David S. Cunningham Jr. sits for a long interview with Leslie Dutton of Full Disclosure.net that touches on the LAPD's handling of immigration laws, pornography and storefront medical scams.


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