Bill Boyarsky has been absent from LA Observed since February writing a book and taking some vacation. The book hits stores in September — and looks truly gorgeous. "Inventing L.A.: the Chandlers and Their Times" from Angel City Press (also my publisher) is based on the film by Peter Jones that debuts in October on PBS. Bill lived the Otis Chandler era at the Times, knew well the Chandler family's astounding reach in Los Angeles and California history, and had a great time writing the book. Luckily for us, he's back writing about L.A. politics, another subject he knows better than most. Bill directed City Hall coverage at the Times when it was its most highly regarded, served as the paper's city editor and local columnist before the paper's readership crashed, and until a couple of years ago sat as an appointed member (and the vice president) of the City Ethics Commission. In his first post since coming back, he has some questions for Mayor Villaraigosa about charter schools and education reform.