May 16 - May 22, 2010
Friday, May. 21
Some minor scuffles broke out after the City Council sent back to committee a proposed moratorium on rent hikes.
The NYT and LAT say it's over, the WSJ says it's "on the rocks," and The Wrap says it's still alive.
It would appear that it can - if the city files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. The courts say so.
If you're still trying to figure out what the legislation is all about, here is a good primer.
It's a decent but unspectacular month, with L.A. County adding just 400 jobs in April.
He tells Bloomberg that he'll have to make a decision sometime next year (Villaraigosa is termed out in 2013).
I've been trying to find a coherent argument on how the Greek debt disaster will spread across the Atlantic. I'm still looking.
It's an eight-acre oceanfront estate known as La Villa Contenta. Price: $250,000 a month.
Financial regulation likely to pass, one in three out-of-work Californians don't have jobless benefits, Toyota's deal with Tesla, and more DWP shenanigans.
April payrolls fell by 14,200, but the state's unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.6 percent.
Thursday, May. 20
Well, it depends on a bunch of factors - employment status, credit standing, size of nest egg - but there is a measurement that can help.
A Manhattan movie theater will be charging 20 smackers for an adult ticket to IMAX showings of "Shrek Forever After."
The electric car company will team up with Toyota to build the cars at the shuttered NUMMI plant in Fremont.
State Assembly Speaker John Pérez isn't buying into the need - so far - to be boycotting Arizona.
After being down around 250 points for most of the session, the Dow took a big tumble in the last 30 minutes or so.
The Senate voted 60-40 to end debate on the reform package, which means that a final vote could happen as early as tonight.
City officials believe their airport has been getting short shrift from LAWA, and they would like the place back.
Stock prices are way down, Treasury prices are way up, and the only reason gold is down is because investors are using it to raise cash.
Deal on extended jobless benefits, oil arrives in Louisiana, developer asks city for loan, and Calpers retreats.
Dow is down 280 or so points after an hour of trading....
Wednesday, May. 19
Vast majority of Americans participating in an online poll say Arizona has the right to pull the plug on L.A.
The big burger chains aren't planning to raise prices because they don't want to lose customers.
Well, it's actually a truck. Ford sold 30,000 of its F-150 pick-ups in April. The Camry and Corolla also did well.
They're the two utility crew workers that Channel 2 found drinking beer and patronizing a strip club while on the job.
The L.A.-based clothing manufacturer reported an operating loss of $17.6 million as it tries to amend its $80-million loan agreement.
Forwarding emails each morning with the latest bargain has become a kind of social networking sport.
Five new series are scheduled, with "Survivor" moving to Wednesday and a block of sitcoms is slated for Thursday.
CA tax hike recommended, Calpers needs more state money, Villaraigosa takes another trip to D.C., and Oprah hires Eli Broad's money manager.
Tuesday, May. 18
If the city wants to cut off ties, why not go all the way by giving up all the power that L.A. gets from the state?
The current plan is to replace some of the movie company's top executives.
BP now says that the leak will have only a "very modest" environmental impact.
The network will be focusing on five new dramas. One of them is about a family that gains superpowers.
The new projections put the number at anywhere from 7.03 percent to 7.7 percent, which could be a big deal for a $205-billion fund.
Don't expect much clarity from the April numbers - there are just too many crosscurrents.
Council approves budget cuts, mixed signals on consumer spending, summer vacation plans picking up, and Estee Lauder buys Smashbox.
Monday, May. 17
A barrel of crude fell to its lowest level since December - $70.08 on the NY Mercantile Exchange.
The financial and administrative overhaul could cut expenses across the 10 campuses by $500 million.
More than one out of 10 makes over $100,000 a year, according to La Opinion. That's 7,100 City Hall employees, or 14 percent of the workforce.
The executive producer of "Law & Order" is seeking "other offers" for the show that NBC canceled after 20 years.
Does anyone believe that if Meg Whitman gets elected she will magically scale back public pension and improve the schools?
More euro jitters, GM posts profit, L.A. Council to vote on layoff plan, and networks announce fall schedules.
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The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
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