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LAPD plans to map Islamic neighborhoods
"We are looking for communities and enclaves based on risk factors that are likely to become isolated. . . . We want to know where the Pakistanis, Iranians and Chechens are so we can reach out to those communities," says Deputy Chief Michael P. Downing. The communities being mapped, and the ACLU, are looking askance at the whole idea. LAT, NYT
Cutting to the chase on Bell arrests
The New York Daily News comes right out and reports that the drug ring busted this week in Bell and linked to the downtown Fashion District "was actually targeted for funding the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah....'This was a classic case of terrorism financing, and it was pretty sophisticated how they did it, a source close to Operation Bell Bottoms told The News.'"
Mayor, Parks clash over LAPD hiring reaches "power struggle" status
That's the way City Hall reporters Steve Hymon and Duke Helfand characterize the dispute between campaign allies Villaraigosa and Bernard Parks over who gets to set the spending priorities for police. LAT
Writers' havens cleared out
Nicole LaPorte checked at The Office and a few others places where Hollywood writers go to be seen writing, and yep, they're mostly empty now. LAT
Opposition to NBC's move to Universal City
Councilman Tom LaBonge and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky are negotiating with the developer on reducing the development's size. The Studio City Chamber of Commerce board also withdrew its support for the new West Coast headquarters for NBC. DN
L.A. Sheriff's deputy arrested in child predator sting
Joseph Carlos, 31, worked at the Carson station and was busted after allegedly showing up to meet a 13-year-old he met on the Internet. In reality she was an undercover agent. Breeze
Rumbles at the Register
When the new publisher wouldn't reject the idea of new layoffs, staff qualms weren't eased. Editor Ken Brusic's recent talk of new cost-cutting didn't help either, nor did a new security regime:
Starting on Wednesday, November 7, access to the lobby level of the Grand Avenue building from the parking structure will require a badge read on a newly installed badge reader. The badge reader on the lobby side of the entrance will be removed, so that exiting the building on that level will no longer require a badge read....Also, starting on Monday, November 12, associates entering the Grand Avenue property via the Fruit Street gate will use their badge access to control the security gate. No security officer will be present at that location....As part of FOCI's overall expense reduction initiatives, security guard levels will be set at levels appropriate to the needs of the business."
What levels were they set at before?
Caruso gets $74 million in justice
When the owner of the Glendale Galleria pressured the Cheesecake Factory not to move into developer Rick Caruso's adjacent Americana at Brand shopping mall, he sued. The jury awarded Caruso $74 million in compensatory damages for "fraud, malice and oppression." LAT
LeDuff talks about staying home
Former NYT staffer in L.A. Charlie LeDuff likes being a full-time dad and writes in Men's Vogue that it was lonely on the road.
How did I come to raise a baby? My wife was alone for months at a time while I was scampering around Iraq, or Mexico, or working an investigative piece in a North Carolina slaughterhouse. While I was out for the late-night cocktails, accepting prizes, speaking at prestigious universities, she studied and worked small jobs and never complained.Then, a month after our baby was born last November, my wife's dream job came to her. A middle-school counselor, of all things—that's 500 problems of 500 more kids I've never met. At any rate, what were we to do? My job at the Times was wearing thin; during particularly bad moments I thought I was going to break down: deadline pressure, bland hotel rooms; too many cigarettes and too much coffee; newsroom intrigue, ambition, and ego. It's a noxious mix.
Alkon sells a book
Syndicated columnist Amy Alkon of the Advice Goddess blog has sold Revengerella: One Woman's Battle to Beat Some Manners into Impolite Society, called "true stories of the spectacular ways a self-described 'manners psycho' pranks cell phone abusers, telemarketers, spamsters, road hogs, and other bad guys out of being rude," to McGraw-Hill.
About Woody Allen
Author Eric Lax guests on KPCC's "Airtalk" to chat with Larry Mantle about Lax's new book, Conversations With Woody Allen: His Films, the Movies, and Moviemaking
Radar media critic and blog
Charles Kaiser will put up Full Court Press weekly. He writes: "Every Monday morning I will try to point you to some of the best and worst in newspapers, magazines, TV shows, blogs, books, and movies. I have a simple philosophy: Good work in any medium is so rare that whenever I encounter it I want to shout about it to the heavens."
New Getty Museum flack
John Giurini starts Nov. 1 as assistant director for public affairs at the Getty Museum, reporting to museum director Michael Brand. Giurini had been assistant director for communications at the J. Paul Getty Trust.
LA Observed on KCRW
I'll be talking about Orange County's propensity for juicy scandals like Sheriff Mike Carona's indictment today at 4:44 pm on KCRW, FM 89.9, at KCRW.com.