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Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took his first step on the national political stage Monday night when he joined publicly with tech leaders, civil rights activists and undocumented immigrants to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration policies. SF Chronicle, Politico
Consultants hired to manage construction projects at Los Angeles International Airport receive perks such as free housing, cars, furniture allowances and meal reimbursements, in addition to lucrative hourly rates of more than $300 per hour, a Los Angeles News Group analysis shows. DN
There's good news on the ramp closures needed along the 405 freeway project on the Westside. ZevWeb
Mayor Garcetti hosted the mayors of 63 Los Angeles area cities at Getty House and pledged that LA will now be a good neighbor. LAT
Democrats are divided over who to support in the 45th Assembly district special election to replace Councilman Bob Blumenfield. Sausage Factory
Amid rumors of a new syphilis case in the adult film industry, Los Angeles County health officials said Monday they have not received any official reports of a performer testing positive. DN
Jeff Bezos' growing media empire: what else he now owns. The Atlantic
Talks between CBS and Time Warner Cable over a new distribution deal have broken down, and some media analysts predict that the blackout of Showtime, CBS 2 and KCAL for local cable subscribers could last several weeks. LAT
James Greenberg, editor of the DGA Quarterly, is also the author of the forthcoming book, "Roman Polanski: A Retrospective," which the director cooperated in. "Greenberg’s essays on Polanski and his films are as authoritative, perceptive and well-finessed as F.X. Feeney‘s in his 2006 Polanski book, and the photos in this coffee-table hardback are second to none," says Jeffrey Wells. Hollywood Elsewhere
An interview with author Jeff Guinn about his new biography, "Manson: The Life And Times of Charles Manson." NPR
The LA Times catches up to its obit on writer and musician Mick Farren, who died July 27, written by his friend and former boss Steve Appleford. LAT
The California Supreme Court affirmed an appeals court ruling and rejected a challenge to the Expo Line EIR by Neighbors for Smart Rail, the group in Cheviot Hills. The Source, LAT
"Begging" Sheriff Lee Baca not to run again. KCRW
Los Angeles police can now file 91 different law violations as infractions that used to be misdemeanors: from driving without a license to gambling or drinking in public. DN
A call to Mike Bonin and Eric Garcetti: Do something about drugs and violence at Venice Beach. Venice 311
The suspect in the Venice Boardwalk hit-and-run rampage has a history of drug use and arrests, and has been homeless at times. LAT, AP
For anyone looking for a coherent narrative of LA, “Becoming Los Angeles” at the Natural History Museum is a disappointment, writes Joe Mathews: "It offers a familiar litany of events—first the Indians, then the Spanish, then the Mexicans, the Americans, the railroad, the oil, Hollywood, aerospace—without connecting them to today’s city." Zocalo
Los Angeles murals explored and an online gallery. Loyola Marymount Magazine
The Mark Taper Forum will join theaters across the country to stage plays about race relations in the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin case. LAT
The Dodgers won in St. Louis and extended their streak of road victories to 15 games. ESPN
