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Curated news, notes and observations most weekdays from LA Observed.
Mayor Garcetti on why he's into infrastructure: "The basics have been neglected for too long, and it's the foundation I have to lay in the first few years if I'm going to write the next chapter of LA." NPR
Why it stinks to be a Member of Congress — especially one from California. Washington Post
Former Rep. Joe Baca apologized for calling retiring Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod a “bimbo” after she announced she would not seek reelection. Roll Call, KPCC, LAT
Since leaving office in June, former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, 61, has been spending a lot of time in New York with his new girlfriend, Kim Honig, 31, a Manhattan-based sales director for a financial software company. LA Weekly [Thumbnail crop of photo by Rob Rich / SocietyAllure.com]
California billionaire Tom Steyer turned heads in Washington with the news that he plans to spend $100 million to help make climate change a defining issue in this year’s elections. Politico
The Board of Education appointed USC professor Sylvia Rousseau to be the caretaker of the vacant seat from South LA pending an election. LAT
The LA City Council unanimously approved a motion to eliminate any extra fees for property owners and residents who pay out of their own pocket to fix sidewalks. DN
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will pay $13 million to settle 17 clergy abuse lawsuits, including 11 that involve a visiting Mexican priest who fled prosecution and remains a fugitive more than 25 years later, plaintiffs' attorneys said Tuesday. The deal resolves all remaining clergy abuse lawsuits against the nation's largest archdiocese. AP, LAT
For the first time in Dodgers history, no games will be available this season on free, over-the-air television. And SportsNet LA, which is owned by the Dodgers and run by Time Warner Cable, has yet to sign agreements that would make it available in the majority of Los Angeles pay-TV homes. LAT
Losing Rush Limbaugh to another Clear Channel station didn't seem to hurt ratings for KFI-AM (640) in January. LAT
A front-page story by the LA Times added basically nothing to the ongoing conversation about where in LA should be called the Eastside. LAT
Los Cerritos News publisher Brian Hews plagiarized a popular column about the NFL's gay issue and when called on it says he meant to credit the original writer at the end. Romenesko
The Sephardic immigrants who brought flowers to L.A. Jewish Journal
Downtown enthusiasts are happy about rumors that Trader Joe's wants to open a store in DTLA. Brigham Yen
The Derby Dolls are trying to raise money for a new home building after losing their lease on Temple Street. LA Weekly
The remodeled Metropolitan Water District building near Sunset Boulevard and Beaudry Avenue is being reopened in March as The Elysian apartments. Curbed
1963 William H. Doheny Estate in Bel Air Up For Grabs For First Time Asking $45 Million. Curbed
The Angels are trying everything to fix the worst farm system in baseball. ESPN Magazine
From the Economist correspondent in LA:
Water politics so fraught and complex. The brow-furrowing among my (phone) interviewees is almost audible, the sighing certainly is.
— Tom Nuttall (@tom_nuttall) February 18, 2014