L.A. limits McMansions

Homes in the flats, but not in the hills, would now be limited to around half the square footage of the lot. The City Council also voted to make it harder for SRO hotels to be converted to other uses. LAT, DN

Two LAUSD officials lose jobs over sex case

They were involved in the decision to move an assistant principal to another school after complaints that he was involved with students. The pair has been assigned to the central office pending further action. And this skewer from Steve Lopez: "You can't help but wonder if Supt. David L. Brewer...has brought Cardinal Roger M. Mahony in as a senior advisor." LAT, Lopez column
And in Santa Monica: Prosecutors say they have video of the Lincoln Middle School teacher charged with abuse there. LAT

Lindsey's profile just got a bit messier

Contract deals made in Seattle when LAWA head Gina Marie Lindsey ran the airport agency there are under criminal investigation, the Times' Dan Weikel says. LAT
Also: The City Council wants to review the LAX contract. DN

Silver Lake refill begins

Council President Eric Garcetti and DWP chief David Nahai had a media event out there this morning.

Money talks in L.A., Rutten says

Op-Ed columnist says Pico-Olympic plan was stopped because affluent businesses and residents were heard, while King-Drew was allowed to languish and kill for lack of affluence to get politicians' attention. LAT Op-Ed
Also: Poet Eric Priestly fights to stay in Watts, and Erin Aubry Kaplan takes up his case. Op-Ed

Freeway toll lanes called 'taxpayer ripoff'

Daily News editorial doesn't like the congestion pricing experiment pushed by the feds, MTA and city officials. DN

'Jack Dunphy' and politics in the LAPD

Pseudonymous defender of the old police culture uses Barack Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright to take swipes at John Mack of the police commission and Chief Bratton. National Review Online

Talking initiatives

A new report by Bob Stern's Center for Governmental Studies calls the California initiative process "outmoded, inflexible, confusing, complex, difficult for citizens to use and excessively dominated by money." Stern and professor Raphe Sonenshein are on Larry Mantle at 10:30 to talk about it. KPCC, 89.3 FM.
And: Blogger Donna Barstow is on "Patt Morrison" at 2:40 to talk about the Griffith Park fire aftermath, as is Councilman Tom LaBonge.

McCaw and Santa Barbara Independent settle

Lawsuit over publication of a link to an unpublished News-Press story is dropped, and the Independent says it won't have to divulge any sources or pay attorney's fees. SBI

New WSJ publisher slams the L.A. Times

He cites the LAT as an example of a paper that became too "general" and failed to own its hometown beat. Romenesko
Also: Brian Lowry says the LAT, other media do too much bad predicting. Variety

Co-founder of Baskin-Robbins dies

Irvine Robbins, 90, was another of the Los Angeles food giants. Chocolate Mint was the 31st flavor of ice cream that launched the brand's long-running gimmick. Among the flavors that never left the laboratory were Ketchup and Lox and Bagels. LAT obit