⇒ Port commission chief S. David Freeman is profiled by Deborah Schoch in the Times: "Freeman, the brash and innovative former head of the city's Department of Water and Power, has embarked on a campaign to limit pollution and find new technologies — even futuristic monorail-like systems and magnetically levitated trains — to transform the port into an international clean-air showplace. In four months in the unpaid job, he has emerged as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's most assertive appointee to the city's 55 boards and commissions."

⇒ NYT does the Los Angeles homeless count and credits the Steve Lopez Skid Row series in the LAT with making the issue hot again. Also, the NYT's Ira Berkow follows up on last month's death of former NFL player Darrell Russell in a high-speed crash on La Cienega: "He had the promise to be one of the golden few...But after his first couple years in the league, I think he lost the desire, the passion to play football."

⇒ The LAT reports that Gov. Schwarzenegger's top aides get their state salary and an extra $5,000 a month from the governor's campaign account, which is fed by contributions.

⇒ Daily News sports columnist Tom Hoffarth begins his annual rating of the best and worst in local media with radio sports talk hosts. His best is Petros Papadakis, followed by Steve Mason and Dave Smith; his worst is Joe Grande.

Also: Just Above Sunset takes a photographic tour of legit theater exteriors around Los Angeles.