November 2008 Archives

Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas is scheduled to take the oath of office at noon Monday at the Hall of Administration to become the first new county supervisor to be elected since 1996.
Ridley-Thomas succeeds Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke in the office.
Aides said the one-hour ceremony will feature performances by the childrens choir of Para Los Ninos, the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Samantha Strachan and the Agape International Spreitual Center Ensemble will perform. In addition, the Korean Drum Troop will perform.
CNN Headlien News anchor Brad Pomerantz will serve as master of ceremonies and San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris will administer the oath of office.

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still has two years left in his term, but the former actor already appears to be preparing for his next role - likely on the world stage.AP in the Daily News.

In January, he will address the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland. That event follows an international summit on reducing greenhouse gas emissions he convened earlier this month in Beverly Hills.

Schwarzenegger also has been asked repeatedly whether he would entertain a position if offered one by President-elect Barack Obama, most likely focused on alternative energy or other environmental initiatives. He's been coy in some of his answers, but has said he will remain in office until the end of his term in January 2011.

In 1959, as California enjoyed the fruits of more than a decade of post-World War II prosperity, state leaders created the Higher Education Master Plan to make sure every Californian had access to college.Connie Llanos in the Daiily News.

The plan guaranteed admission to the University of California system for the top 12 1/2 percent of the state's high school graduates, the top third could get seats in what became the California State University system, and everyone could enroll in community colleges.

Over the past five decades, the master plan has weathered financial crises that have slowly chipped away at its goals. Now, amid the worst economic crisis in decades, some question whether the state's ambitious higher-education promise can be sustained, and others say it's already history.

Democratic lawmakers plan to reintroduce a measure this week to reduce foreclosures, which will closely mirror a proposal from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.Gene Maddaus in the Daily News.

Schwarzenegger has called for a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures, unless banks can come up with a comprehensive plan to modify troubled home loans.

During the November special session, Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-El Segundo, introduced a similar plan that called for a 120-day moratorium.

Even though he takes the oath of office on Monday, Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas announced Friday creation of a transition team to provide him with advice on a variety of issues facing the county.
USC President Steven B. Sample will chair the group, which includes a number of long-time political allies who have been active in city and state politics.
"The voters of the 2nd District voted for change," Ridley-Thomas said. "Key to that change is the involvement and participation of stakeholders and residents throughout the Second District."
Other members include former state Sen.Sheila Kuehl, budget reform; Connie Rice, public safety; California Endowment president Robert Ross, health services, West Los Angeles College President Mark Rocha, workforce development; Labor leader Maria Elena Durazo; commissions and governance; Community of Friends chief Dora Leong Gallo, housing services; Coalition for Clean Air director Martin Schlageter, environmental quality; National Women of Business Owners president Cynthia McLain-HIll. small business development.

From the Daily News:
Thanksgiving 2008 couldn't arrive at a better time. We could use a collective reminder of the importance of gratitude.

It's not that we're ungrateful. It's just that, for most of us, thoughts of Thanksgiving have lately been overwhelmed by pangs of anxiety.

After all, it's hard to give thanks for that dwindling 401(k), the upside-down mortgage, or the pink slip that threatens to land in the in-box any day now. It's hard to muster up much appreciation for the good things in life when it seems like only bad things are proliferating these days.

And it's not just our personal lives that are difficult, as the attacks in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday showed when gunmen targeted Americans and Britons. Even the spirit of America seems tired and torn.

But despite tough times, there's still much to be grateful for.

We need only look at our neighbors whose homes were destroyed in recent wildfires to be reminded of how fortunate we are for the roofs over our heads - and for the firefighters who regularly risk their lives to protect us.

We need only look to the recent election to realize how lucky we are to live in a state and nation in which, even though political differences can get rancorous and ugly, they're ultimately resolved at the ballot box in civil and honest elections. We can also take pride in the election of an African-American president, signaling the demise of racist attitudes that were once so pervasive.

We need only look at the fact that while the war on terrorism still rages worldwide, the United States hasn't had an attack on its own soil since 2001. We are humbled at the service of the men and women who have died, or who risk death, for our national security.

This Thanksgiving, let's be sure to remember those who are spending the holiday away from their families so that we can safely be at home with our own.

And, yes, we can even find reason for gratitude among the current economic struggles.

If there is a silver lining to down times, it is that they can remind us of what matters most - and it's not the big house, the plasma TV, the booming stock portfolio, or even gainful employment. At Thanksgiving, we think back to the nation's early settlers, who were happy merely to have overcome the elements and survived another year, who were delighted just to have food on their plates, reasonably good health and the company of loved ones.

For those of us so fortunate as to have these things, we, too, have an abundance of riches - and much for which to be grateful.

However trying our current financial condition, we also have much to share with those less fortunate, those who are hungry, sick or lonely. This Thanksgiving, it would do us well to reach out to those who are truly needy, not just to put our own situations in perspective, but also in keeping with the spirit of the holiday.

So enjoy the turkey. Enjoy the football. Enjoy the relatives. And let's all give thanks - for we have it much better than we often realize.

Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, who served as both Democratic foil and dealmaker with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has joined the high-powered public relations firm whose California office is currently occupied by Schwarzenegger's former campaign manager and communications director. Sacramento Bee.

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso decided not to challenge Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in his bid for a second term next year, but he did get a plum assignment, courtesy of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The governor announced he was appointing Caruso, 52, to serve as one of the three state appointees on the Coliseum Commission. No word on who he is replacing.
Caruso, best known as the developer of the Grove and the Americana shopping centers, is a Republican. The position does not require confirmation from the state Senate. It is an unpaid post.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ordered all city flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Ethel Bradley.
"Los Angeles mourns the passing of its long-time, revered First Lady, Ethel Bradley.
"She served the City of Los Angeles with dignity and class throughout her life and we will remember her as a woman of grace, with a supreme commitment to her family, a tireless community spirit and the Dodgers' biggest fan."
Mrs. Bradley died Tuesday at the age of 89.

Perturbed that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art contributed $900,000 to the Measure R sales tax campaign, the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday questioned whether the museum needs $6 million it has requested. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

The museum's nonprofit Museum Associates made the donation to the campaign for the half-percent sales-tax increase that voters narrowly approved Nov. 4.

It was the single largest donation to the campaign for the sales-tax hike that will raise $30 billion to $40 billion over 30 years for transportation projects, including a $4.2 billion "subway to the sea" below Wilshire Boulevard that goes right by the museum.

Just a month ago, Southland drivers were buzzing about gasoline prices finally dropping below $3 a gallon, a major milestone after reaching more than $4.50 this summer.Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

But Tuesday, drivers around the San Fernando Valley and the rest of Los Angeles witnessed something they hadn't seen in almost four years.

Gas prices that start with a 1.

That's right, the costs at the pump are sliding below $2 a gallon at some L.A. gas stations as prices for crude oil drop and commuters cut back on car trips to stay afloat during rough economic times.

Home sales soared in October in the San Fernando Valley as prices continued to slide, and a decrease in foreclosures provided a glimmer of hope that the housing market is stabilizing, two reports released Tuesday show.Gregory J. Wilcox in the Daily News.

Foreclosures fell for the third consecutive month in communities from Glendale to Calabasas, with 549 families losing their homes. While that's 33 percent more than a year earlier - when the housing market was beginning to crumble - it's also 41percent below the record high of 923 reported in August by the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at California State University, Northridge.

"That's quite a dramatic drop," said Daniel Blake, the center's director.

And notices of default, the first step in the foreclosure process, fell the annual equivalent of 40 percent for the second consecutive month, said the center's report.

Some victims of the Sayre Fire may get a small piece of a proposed $100,000 emergency fund, City Councilman Richard Alarcón told residents of the burn area at a meeting Tuesday. Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

The money would provide fire victims with clothing and other necessities, Alarcón said.

"The fund will allow us to provide for some of the fire victims' immediate needs, rather than making them wait for an extended period of time - an issue that many fire victims face as they work to rebuild their lives," he told the more than 250 people gathered at Mission College.

The Studio City Neighborhood Council on Tuesday called on developers of NBC Universal to scale back the massive $800 million development, worried that it would add up to 15,000 daily vehicle trips to an area already near gridlock conditions. Daily News.

In its response to a draft environmental study, the neighborhood council offered a 25-page critique that listed errors in the review from such things as an incorrect ZIP code to more serious concerns over the impact of the project on the surrounding neighborhood.

The project, being developed by Thomas Properties Group, will be built on top of the Universal City Red Line station owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Ethel Bradley, the wife of the late Los Angeles
mayor, died today at a Southland hospital. She was 89.
During her husband Tom's 20 years in office, Bradley co-founded the
Black Women's Forum, a group of volunteers who provide public tours of City
Hall, and organized the women's group Las Angelenas.
She was recognized by the city of Los Angeles last year with the Dream
of Los Angeles Award during African American History Month.
``Today all of Los Angeles mourns the passing of its long-time, revered
first lady Ethel Bradley,'' said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. ``She served the
city of Los Angeles with dignity and class throughout her life, and we will
remember her as a woman of grace, with a supreme commitment to her family, a
tireless community spirit and the Dodgers' biggest fan.''
Tom Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993. He died in 1998.
In 2003, The Tom and Ethel Bradley Foundation was created, and in 2006
the Ethel Bradley Early Education and Health Career Center opened in Watts.
Bradley died at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center.
``Ethel Bradley was a pioneer who walked shoulder to shoulder with Tom
Bradley as he broke down barriers in both law enforcement and political
circles,'' City Councilman Bernard Parks said.
``She had many loves, of which her family, the city of L.A., the Dodgers
and her rose garden were all at the top of the list. She set a high standard
as the first lady of the city of L.A. for 20 years.''
Former Mayor Jim Hahn said he ``always enjoyed visiting'' with Bradley
``and seeing her extensive sports memorabilia collection.''
``Whether she was entertaining royalty or visiting kids in school, Ethel
Bradley always displayed warmth and charm,'' Hahn said.
Hahn's sister, City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, praised Bradley as ``a
great first lady she was to the city of Los Angeles.''
``She always stood by her man,'' Janice Hahn said. ``In fact, she was
the wind beneath his wings. Mayor Bradley was able to achieve all that he did
because of Ethel.''
City Council President Eric Garcetti called Bradley ``an incredible
first lady for the city and an important influence in our community.''
Ethel Bradley was ``an ambassador for Los Angeles,'' Los Angeles County
Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas said.
``(She) warmly welcomed kings, princes, prime ministers and presidents
from nations around the world who made official visits to our city during her
husband's time as mayor,'' Ridley-Thomas said.
Survivors include daughters Phyllis and Lorraine.

Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas will step down from his state Senate seat at midnight Sunday, clearing the way for a possible special election on March 3 to be combined with a scheduled city election.
Ridley-Thomas is to be sworn in as supervisor at noon Monday.
"My resignation from the California State Senate ends the chapter of my tenure as a legislative leader in our state Capitol and it turns the page on a new chapter in my life of public service in local government," Ridley-Thomas said.
"I am energized by the challenges that lie ahead. My move to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors comes with a strong voter mandate for change, empowerment and results on important issues, such as health services, public safety, and economic development and jobs. This is as invigorating a homecoming as any public official could ever hope for. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for the people of the 2nd District."
Ridley-Thomas served on the Los Angeles City Council and in the state Assembly before his election to the state Senate. As the newest county supervisor, he succeeds Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who is seeking the 2010 GOP nomination for governor, will be the keynote speaker at the 59th Annual Meeting of Vica next month.
"We are honored to have Commissioner Poizner address our members," VICA Chairman Greg Lippe said. "VICA's Annual Meeting provides a great opportunity for us to celebrate our successes and recognize our members' contributions."
The 59th Annual Meeting will recognize volunteers, corporate leaders and public officials.
Lakeside Community Healthcare will receive the Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award of Excellence and the 15th Annual Harmon Ballin Community Service Award will be presented to Tyree Wieder, former president of Los Angeles Valley College.
The 3rd Annual President's Award will be given to John Bradley, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc. VICA will also install its new board members and officers.
The event will be held Dec. 18 at the Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hill

Already facing massive cuts this year, Los Angeles Unified School District officials have now been told to brace for reductions of up to $140 million next year.

With a projected three-year deficit of nearly $700 million, Senior Deputy Superintendent Ramon Cortines said during a televised budget discussion Monday that he will ask all eight local districts to slash their 2009-10 budgets by 50 percent, down to $4 million each. He will also chop the district headquarters budget by $108 million, or 30 percent.George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

The decreases apply to administrators, support staffers and other resources outside the schools themselves.

Cortines said he knows this will create further turmoil in a district already racked by cuts this year - and expecting possibly more before the 2008-09 fiscal year ends in June.

But he said he has no choice. The state's massive budget deficit, fueled by the slumping economy, is expected to hurt schoo

The Los Angeles Unified School District board will vote this afternoon on whether to allow charter programs to convert three elementary school buildings in Woodland Hills - Collins Street, Oso Avenue and Platt Ranch schools - as well as Highlander Road Elementary in West Hills. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

Three of the schools are currently unoccupied while Platt Ranch is partially occupied by a performing arts program.

Neighborhood groups had hoped the school sites would be converted to nonschool uses such as senior and community centers.

An ambitious plan to expand the use of solar power in the city of Los Angeles was unveiled Monday, with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and city leaders saying their Solar L.A. program has a goal of creating 1.3 gigawatts of power by 2020. Daily News.

While the proposal still needs details and costs to be worked out, Villaraigosa said his goal is to make Los Angeles the leader in solar energy.

"When I became mayor, the Department of Water and Power got only 2 percent of its power from renewable sources," he said. "Today, it's at 10 percent and I have a goal of getting to 30 percent by the year 2020."

In case you're counting, there's only one week left until termed-out lawmakers leave the Capitol. Sacramento Bee.

Many of the more colorful characters are departing, from Bonnie "Hot Blooded" Garcia to Lloyd "Spay and Neuter" Levine to Nicole "My Office Is Across the Street" Parra to Fabian "Louis Vuitton" Núñez to Todd "Doghouse Dwelling" Spitzer to Carole "Car Collision" Migden.

Here at Capitol Alert, we'll miss them all -- and the bounty of content they've provided.

Still, legislative leaders seem determined not to have missing them begin just yet, continuing to hold out hope for some type of budget accord with a tentative Tuesday floor session.

An elaborate Christmas tree graces the courtyard of a new Glendale shopping complex while a going-out-of-business banner hangs above a major tenant in the mall across the street. Gregpry J. Wilcox in the Daily News.

While the scenes are contradictory, the atmosphere is the same inside the Americana at Brand and the Glendale Galleria, where operators worry how they'll cope with the most challenging retail climate in decades.

At the same time, they're encouraged by the foot traffic drawn by the malls' proximity and their central location in a thriving city of nearly 200,000 people.

New Orleans tops the nation for having the highest reported crime in a new ranking that lists Los Angeles No. 158 for violence out of 385 U.S. cities analyzed, according to a 416-page book released today.Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

City Crime Rankings, an annual compilation of crime in cities with at least 75,000 residents, measures the number of 2007 murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and car thefts reported to the FBI.

The FBI released this information from its Uniform Crime Reporting Program in September.

Tipoffs: The mayor and his advisors have close ties to new Obama administration.

VAN NUYS - Retired cartoon animator Marcia Munn faces foreclosure on the Northridge home she has owned for 24 years, so three weeks after she voted for Barack Obama, she made a desperate public plea to the president-elect. Tony Castro in the Daily News.

"Please help me to keep my home," she begged in a tearful interview. "Please make these banks realize what is happening. They don't need to make as much money as they think they need to."

On Saturday, Munn, 61, was among hundreds of Los Angeles-area financially beleaguered homeowners who packed into Van Nuys City Hall in hopes of having IndyMac Federal Bank modify their mortgage loans to avoid foreclosure.

Munn has been so frustrated dealing with the bank that she hoped the nation's incoming president would hear the voices of people like herself who face losing their homes because banks won't modify loan terms.

The Screen Actors Guild said Saturday it will ask its members to authorize a strike after its first contract talks in four months with Hollywood studios failed despite the help of a federal mediator AP in the Daily News..

Federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez adjourned the talks between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers shortly before 1 a.m. after two marathon sessions failed to produce an agreement. No new talks are scheduled.

The SAG, representing more than 120,000 actors in movies, television and other media, said in a statement that it will launch a "full-scale education campaign in support of a strike authorization."

A Sherman Oaks-based charitable foundation has been revealed as the mysterious donor who slipped a $10 million check to the Children's Museum of Los Angeles last year, helping the fledgling operation when things looked bleak. Susan Abram in the Daily News.

The Friedman Charitable Foundation was introduced by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa late Thursday night during a celebration at the completed but yet-to-be opened museum. The foundation was created in 2006 by the Friedman family to help support programs geared toward youth.

The $10 million is the largest single contribution made to the museum, which has been built over 50,000 square feet at Hansen Dam Recreation Area, officials have said.

Billionaire art patron and philanthropist Eli Broad stepped forward Friday to offer to help the Museum of Contemporary Art _ if other step forward. Following is an op-ed Broad wrote for the Los Angeles Times and released last Friday:

With the news this week that the Museum of Contemporary Art on Grand Avenue is in dire financial straits and might have to merge with another institution, or even close, in the not too distant future, the time has again come for this city to step up.

I'd like to make a proposal to the MOCA board and to the civic angels of Los Angeles. I'll step up if you do too. The Broad Art Foundation is prepared to make a significant investment in MOCA -- $30 million -- with the expectation that the museum's board and others join in this effort to solve the institution's financial problems. It is vital that the museum remain on Grand Avenue, keep its collection and continue its tradition of world-class exhibitions.

This is not a one-philanthropist town. MOCA's needs are great and will require the financial assistance of numerous supporters. Already, civic leaders and artists have begun to rally behind the museum to keep its doors open. But with a global recession that has hit every American's pocketbook, charitable giving has declined.

The philanthropic community must not turn its back on MOCA. We must make it one of our civic priorities.

I was the founding chairman of MOCA in 1979, working closely with then-Mayor Tom Bradley to create a contemporary art museum for the city in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Working with city officials, we also opened the "Temporary Contemporary" in Little Tokyo. Since then, MOCA has been enjoyed by millions of Angelenos and by visitors from around the world for nearly three decades.

The two downtown Los Angeles locations -- including the iconic Grand Avenue building designed by Arata Isozaki and the renovation of the Temporary Contemporary (now known as the Geffen Contemporary) by Frank Gehry -- make MOCA the most important contemporary art museum in the world.

The two spaces have been the venue for a host of ambitious and groundbreaking exhibitions, including "Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990s," "Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object, 1949-1979," "WACK!: Art and the Feminist Revolution," "© Murakami," "Andy Warhol Retrospective," "Robert Rauschenberg: Combines" and "Basquiat." I believe that MOCA's exhibitions and engagement with local artists are an important part of the reason that L.A. thrives as a center for artists and art schools.

MOCA also has one of the best and most extensive contemporary art collections in the world. As the board member who negotiated the acquisition of the Abstract Expressionist and Pop Art works in the renowned Panza collection, I know firsthand what a treasure trove of artworks it has. The greatest travesty to come out of MOCA's current financial crisis would be for it to sell any of its artworks to cover operating deficits -- an action that would be anathema for a museum.

While the MOCA board evaluates its options, the overarching priority should be to keep MOCA independent. Being merged into another institution would destroy the fabric of a great museum and would sacrifice the independent curatorial vision that has created an extraordinary collection and many unparalleled exhibitions.

The loss of MOCA's downtown location would be a blow to the Grand Avenue project, the $3-billion development project to go up adjacent to Disney Hall. The project is already delayed because of the economic downturn. We cannot lose sight of the promise of downtown's renaissance as a social, cultural and recreational center for not only those who work and live in the city's heart but also for the entire Southern California region. The shuttering of MOCA's Grand Avenue venue would severely set back the burgeoning downtown revitalization.

MOCA is one of our city's cultural treasures, and it would be tragic both for the cultural health and civic reputation of Los Angeles if this institution ceased to exist. Not since the creation of Disney Hall has a civic issue arisen requiring the bold leadership and collective support of Los Angeles.

We came together to save Disney Hall. We can do it again.

Eli Broad is the founder of KB Home and SunAmerica. He and his wife, Edythe, created the $2.5-billion Broad Foundations to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science and the arts.

The campaign team for Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas said they bellieve they wer able to win their runoff election over Counciman Bernard Parks by concentrating on new voters and portraying him as the candidate who would bring about change.
"All polling reflected that voters of all ages saw Ridley-Thomas as the candidate who would bring change, and as part of the next generation of leaders," consultant Steve Barkan said.
"While Parks had what used to be the dominant endorsements in the African-American community - including Congresswoman Maxine Waters and incumbent Supervisor Yvonne Burke - voters instead wanted a change in representation, and were not swayed by Parks' endorsers.
"Parks - with the support of a majority of the Board of Supervisors - clearly represented the status quo to voters. This is not the right year to be positioned that way, especially with the failure and closure of King-Harbor Hospital on their watch."
Ridley-Thomas, who won bt 17 percent, also was helped by his long career as a community organizer and City Council members, Barkan said.
Ridley-Thomas is to take office on Dec. 1.

Calling for a rare mid-year adjustment to the city budget, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for a new round of cuts to meet a projected $114 million deficit this year.
Among his proposals are to have all city departments prepare new budgets that would reflect a 1 percent cut for police, fire and emergency services and a 3 percent cut in all other city agencies.
In addtion, the mayor said he wants the City Council to look at the possibility of imposing a hiring freeze to reduce the number of city workers as well as call the Coalition of City Unions back to the bargaining table to review this year's agreement.

With the retirement of Tim Sands from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angele Police Protective League this week voted to elect Sgt. Paul M. Weber as its new president.
Weber has been on the League board since 2001, most recently as vice president. He has worked patrol in all four bureaus of the LAPD.
Other board members elected include Officer Corina Lee, Officer Ramon Espinosa; Lieutenant Brian Johnson, Detective Tyler Izen, Officer Peter Repovich, Officer John Mumma, Officer Scott Rate, and Officer Kristi Newton Sandoval.
In taking over as president, Weber praised the work of Sands in broadening the reach of the union and in keeping gains, such as flexible work schedules.
Weber and the Protective League will be facing challenges this year as the contract with police officers is scheduled for negotiation at a time when the city is facing a particularly hard economic situation.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a Fox News interview that aired Thursday that he will remain governor until his term ends in January 2011. Asked whether he would work for President-elect Barack Obama thereafter, he said, "I will help in every way possible the administration to be successful." But he added, "Before I make any move, the next move that I make, I'm going to go to Maria and say, 'Maria, you tell me what to do.' " Sacramento Bee.

SANTA CLARITA - The Santa Clarita Valley housing market should recover by next summer, an economist told local business leaders Thursday.

Mark Schniepp, who heads the Santa Barbara-based California Economic Forecast, delivered that message to a room full of business leaders, Realtors, commercial real estate brokers and developers at the Hyatt Valencia ballroom Thursday morning. Jerry Berrios in the Daily News.

"That housing recovery will start to boost economic growth," Schniepp said before his presentation. "No longer will it be a drag on the Santa Clarita Valley economy and it will start to lead this area as well as the rest of the nation out of recession."

Schniepp spoke at the 2009 Real Estate & Economic Outlook conference, sponsored by First American Title. The Daily News was the event's media sponsor.

It takes 40 minutes on the Orange Line bus, plus a 10-minute walk, to get to the Westfield Topanga mall from North Hollywood just 14 miles away - a time-wasting deal-breaker for Megan More.Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

Seeing light-rail lines pop up around Los Angeles and plans for a subway to the sea, More wonders why other regions benefit from these fast-moving transit routes while the San Fernando Valley relies on a successful but stop-and-go busway as a major alternative to driving.

"We need to drag the city kicking and screaming into the 21st century," said the 56-year-old former teacher from Sunland.

After a three-month stretch in which three major wildfires and the deadliest Metrolink crash in history rocked the San Fernando Valley, the mayor on Thursday announced a plan that would help agencies communicate during disasters. Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's emergency management initiative largely firms up strategies that officials have been using for more than a year - most recently put into practice over the past weekend in the Sayre Fire in Sylmar.

This marks Los Angeles' first emergency-management overhaul since 1988, said James Featherstone, general manager of the city's Emergency Management Department.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo asked a court Thursday to block subpoenas issued by Controller Laura Chick, arguing she was exceeding her powers by trying to conduct a performance audit of the city's workers' compensation program.Daily News.

Delgadillo asked the Superior Court to block the subpoenas Chick had issued this week against six of his aides who oversee the program.

An angry Chick vowed to fight him in court, saying she would seek authority from the City Council to hire an attorney to represent her.

Persistent economic woes have sent Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa back to the cutting board, where he proposed Thursday to chop $35 million from the city's $7.2 billion budget. Daily News.

The latest cuts could include a hiring freeze and a reduction in the city's tree- trimming service.

In recommending the cuts to the City Council, the mayor said the savings would reduce next year's projected shortfall to $55 million.

As Congress debated a bailout of America's auto industry, the head of a Japanese car manufacturer delivered a message of caution and hope during opening day Wednesday of the annual Los Angeles Auto Show.Gregory J. Wilcox in the Daily News.

The event typically is a time for boasts and bravado among the world's automakers, and the opportunity to unveil new models and showcase concept cars. While Nissan did debut its ECube crossover and a redesign of its iconic Z, those moments were clouded by worries about the financial crisis gripping the industry and the future of America's Big Three.

"It's a very serious and worrying situation," Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd and Renault S.A., said during his keynote address to industry executives and journalists.

California's highest court agreed Wednesday to hear several legal challenges to the state's new ban on same-sex marriage but refused to allow gay couples to resume marrying before it rules. AP in the Daily News.

The California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits seeking to nullify Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that overruled the court's decision in May that legalized gay marriage.

All three cases claim the measure abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change.

Nearly 300 people who sued the LAPD for excessive use of force during the 2007 May Day melee in MacArthur Park have reached a tentative $10 million settlement, sources said Wednesday.Daily News.

Worked out by the City Attorney's Office with a team of attorneys representing victims from the disturbance, the settlements would end most of the cases from the immigration-rights rally, during which men, women, children and journalists were shoved, beaten and shot with rubber bullets by Los Angeles police officers.

The settlement amount was confirmed by sources familiar with the deal. Los Angeles City Council members declined to finalize the deal Wednesday, and it's unclear when they might do so.

The fate of a four-mile, $225million Orange Line busway extension from Warner Center to the Chatsworth Metrolink Station heads to the board of the Los Angeles County transit agency in January.Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

During public meetings this week, Metro released new details about the project, which with an expected infusion of $150 million from the recently passed Measure R sales-tax boost could be up and running by 2013.

If Metro's board approves the project's final environmental impact report, a flurry of construction can begin along Canoga Avenue for four bus stops, parking, a shaded bike and walking path, soundwalls next to three mobile-home parks and two concrete bridges.

Those who work and live along Los Angeles' infamous Skid Row have noticed a stronger police presence since the enactment of the 2006 Safer Cities Initiative, but not all are happy about it. Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

While no one argues against cleaning up the area where the mentally ill and homeless sprawl out on filthy sidewalks and drug dealers peddle meth in broad daylight, civil-rights advocates and business leaders argued at a Tuesday police commission hearing whether the officers are being too aggressive.

Business leaders delighted in the stepped-up enforcement, citing the "broken window theory" and saying even the most seemingly harmless crimes diminish the quality of the neighborhood. So in order for Skid Row to improve, the rule of law must be completely restored.

Weighed down by foreclosures, home prices plunged in October to their lowest level in more than five years as sales surged by a record amount, an industry tracker said Tuesday.Gregory J. Wilcox m the Daily News.

The median price tumbled by 33percent last month, to $300,000, across the six-county region, the lowest level in 67 months, said San Diego-based MDA DataQuick.

However, sales soared 67 percent as 21,532 properties - 51 percent of them foreclosures - changed owners in October.

That's the highest sales total of the year and a surprising 5 percent gain from September, DataQuick said. It's also the biggest year-over-year percentage jump in Data- Quick's records, which date back to 1988.

Escalating her feud with City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, City Controller Laura Chick issued subpoenas Tuesday for six of his top aides as part of a performance audit she wants to conduct of the city's workers' compensation program.Daily News.

The dispute started more than six months ago, when Delgadillo balked at allowing Chick to conduct a performance audit of the program, saying it was beyond her powers. Chick threatened to go to court, but held off after the City Council agreed to try to resolve the dispute.

After the City Council rejected a plan to have voters decide on a proposed charter amendment that would spell out her authority, Chick renewed her effort to audit the program. Specifically, she wants to look at the City Attorney's Office's hiring of private attorneys.

A private fundraising effort, coupled with a donation from a city official, was launched Tuesday as a way to clear up the LAPD's backlog of more than 7,000 DNA rape kits that are waiting for processing. Daily News.

Councilman Jack Weiss gave $250,000 from the street furniture revenue fund allocated to his district to the LAPD Crime Lab to send out 250 kits for analysis.

Acting on a promise he made to unite the world in a fight against global warming, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday opened the state's first summit on climate change. More than 800 national and international leaders gathered to exchange ideas on everything from how to reduce emissions to how to increase green businesses. Susan Abram in the Daily News.

The two-day summit ends today when governors from five states, representatives from Brazil, the Republic of Indonesia and the European Commission sign a declaration promising to continue to collaborate on ways to make climate change a global issue.

"This is a historic summit," Schwarzenegger said in his opening remarks at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

More than a decade after Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School West sought to build a 750-student school near Agoura Hills, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the project.Troy Anderson in the Daily News.
The school, which currently operates out of a leased space at 27400 Canwood St., chose a 73-acre site northeast of Palo Comado Canyon Road and east of Chesebro Road for the new school to accommodate a growing demand for a Jewish school.
The school currently has about 210 students and 36 staffers. Under the conditional use permit, the school must comply with numerous requirements to ensure that the project preserves the scenic beauty of the area. It has to include 45 acres of open space, ample parking, traffic and noise reduction efforts and limit the risk of wildfire danger.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Global Climate Summit is being shown on the internet.
Click here to go directly to the site.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and city officials unveiled the next and most public aspect of the modernization of Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, with a $5 billion to $6 billion improvement of the Tom Bradley International Terminal and a new midfield terminal. Daily News.

An archway - similar to the one being repaired around the Theme Restaurant in the center of LAX - straddles the airfield and a skyway bridge that connects the terminal for international flights to the new midfield terminal, designed to accommodate the new A380 jets and the Boeing Dreamliner.

Villaraigosa called the design "a milestone" for the airport and a continued commitment by the city to modernize LAX so it remains competitive with other airports in the West.

In only the second joint effort with a neighboring city, Los Angeles and Glendale officials announced plans Monday to seek an injunction against the Toonerville gang that operates in both areas.Daily News.

The request for an injunction, which will be heard in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Nov. 20, seeks to limit the activities of the gang's members in a 4.5-square-mile area that includes the Northeast Division of Los Angeles and portions of Glendale, as well as 1.5 square miles of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, angered over accounts that some web sites are offering inaugural tickets for sale, called Monday for a measure making it illegal to scalp the tickets.
Feinstein, D-Calif., who chairs the the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), saud the tickets are provided free through
Congressional offices and any sale of them should be banned.
"The Inauguration of the President is one of the most important rituals of our democracy. The chance to witness this event should not be bought and sold like tickets to a football game," Feinstein said.
"This legislation is meant to immediately stop the unscrupulous behavior of those who obtain these tickets for free and then seek to profit by selling them, often at dramatically inflated prices. This bill also would target those duping the public with fraudulent tickets or promises of tickets they don't actually have.
"It is my hope that Congress will pass this legislation during this week's lame-duck session so that we can stop scam artists and profiteers from maligning this historic event," Feinstein added.
Those who violate the law would face fines of up to $100,000 and imprisonment for up to one year.

State Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols on what it will take to make Los Angeles the Silicon Valley of a green economy:

In the race to become the nation's central hub for the "green tech" revolution, Los Angeles maintains a distinct advantage. Beyond the sunshine to generate solar power, Los Angeles displays a number of characteristics that make it ripe to serve as the next Silicon Valley for "green-tech" - from world-class research universities and a large high-tech work force to a government that is incentivizing investment in sustainable energy.

But our position in this new economy will not be established automatically - and our region's political, business and academic leadership have a small window of time to capture this nascent industry and bring it home to Los Angeles.

State and county officials said Sunday they plan to take steps to ensure hospital generators are in working order following the failure of the backup generator at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center during this weekend's firestorm. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

After the power went out at the hospital, the backup generator failed, leaving the hospital without power for 31/2 hours late Friday and early Saturday.

Eleven children in the neo-intensive care unit and five patients on ventilators were taken to other hospitals.

Tipoffs: The mayor and state politics

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has nothing against Lincoln or Columbus. He just thinks state workers don't need their holidays as a paid day off while California faces a mounting budget deficit.AP in the Daily News.

The governor has proposed eliminating them as paid holidays, a move his administration estimates will save California $114 million during this fiscal year and the next one starting in July. Much of that will come from saved overtime costs.

"We think it's not so painful to give up a couple of holidays," said Mike Genest, Schwarzenegger's finance director.

California is one of just a few states considering trimming the number of paid days off given to state employees as a way to save money in lean economic times.

Taking on critics of his politics, policies and style, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa kicked off his re-election campaign Friday with a strong defense of his accomplishments as he left open the door for moving on to higher office. Daily News.

Wrapping up a morning-long Sustainability Summit staged by the Los Angeles Business Council, Villaraigosa called himself "lucky" in the field he has drawn in the March 3 primary election and indicated he planned to campaign on what has been changed in the city since his election in 2005.

"Whether you like me or don't and think I'm in front of a camera or whatever it is, you have to look at what we've done these last three years," he said.

RELATED:
LAUSD Employees Salary Database

Facing a midyear budget cut of up to $300 million, the Los Angeles Unified School District has issued an immediate halt on filling open positions, using district credit cards and spending on a variety of contracts.

While the cost-saving measures are temporary for now, they could lead to closing small schools, combining continuation programs and reducing administrative staff sizes if the budget crisis worsens, said Senior Deputy Superintendent Ramon Cortines. He is also considering "taxing" every department, meaning a percentage of department budgets will be slashed to address looming budget cuts. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

"I've got to find a way to deal with a $200 (million) to $300 million midyear cut, or we won't make payroll," he said.

Cortines announced the purchasing freeze Monday in a memo sent to all schools and district offices. Only purchases for health, safety, legal requirements, school construction and school lunches will be allowed.

E-Bay announced it would ban anyone trying to sell inaugural tickets on any of ts site, drawing praise from Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Feinstein, who is chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, had voiced concern about reports that some web sites were offering the tickets _ which are distributed free by members of Congress.
"I want to thank eBay/StubHub for not allowing the sale of inaugural swearing-in ceremony tickets on any of its websites," Feinstein said. "They have led the way and I hope other Internet companies will follow. "

Now that this year's general election is over, attention is beginning to focus on Sacramento and 2010 with a number of real and potential openings.
The big one, of course, is governor, where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is being termed out.
One of the potential contenders is Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who would be giving up his office to run.
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has announced she will run for the seat if Brown does try for governor. Also in the wings is City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, who is still exploring his options.
Also, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has announced he will be running for the GOP nomination for governor, vacating his job.
Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, announced on Thursday that he will seek the Insurance Commissioner job.
"Californians should have a consumer champion as their Insurance Commissioner - I will use the full authority of the office to protect Californians from unfair insurance practices," said Jones. "Its simply not right for insurers to take your money year and after year and then deny you insurance coverage when you need it most."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seeking to influence a United Nations conference on climate change next month, is convening a global summit on greenhouse-gas emissions next week in Los Angeles. AP in the Daily News.

His conference, announced six weeks ago, itself will be a sizable source of the gases blamed for contributing to global climate change, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

The AP obtained a list of the more than 1,400 invitees through a California Public Records Act request. If all of them made the trip, their round-trip air travel alone would discharge more than 2,554 metric tons of carbon dioxide - a so-called carbon footprint equivalent to that produced from 424 cars driven for a year.

*** Aaron McLear, spokesman for the governor, called this morning to say that only about half of those invited are expected to attend the event. Also, he said, the carbon footprint being caused by the travel and the event is being offset.
The AP story notes: "In addition, attendees will be provided room keys, name badges, lunch boxes and coffee cups made of recycled material. Water bottles will not be provided, and all leftover food will be donated."
Read on for full story:

Los Angeles County supervisors voted Wednesday to join cities and counties in lawsuits against the same-sex marriage ban, a move cheered by gays and lesbians who say they'll step up protests to overturn the divisive measure approved by voters last week. Jistome Agio;a and Troy Andrerson. in the Daily News.

The supervisors voted 3-0 to piggyback on lawsuits filed by Los Angeles, the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County. Two likely dissenters, Supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Don Knabe, were absent.

The lawsuits ask the state Supreme Court to stop the state from enforcing Proposition 8 until its constitutionality can be determined.

Los Angeles County loses more than $12 billion a year when children miss school, adults skip work and hospitals treat asthma attacks because of bad air quality, according to a report released Wednesday. Susan Abram in the Daily News.

The study, which focuses on Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, found that dirty air caused by ozone or tiny particulates contributes to more than 3,800 premature deaths each year.

In fact, the cost to treat sick infants was about 90 percent, or $11 billion, of the total loss.

Following up from last week's meeting with President-elect Barack Obama, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has asked city officials to draw up a list of projects that could be started immediately if federal funds were made available, officials said Wednesday.Daily News.

Villaraigosa was part of the national team of economic advisers assembled by Obama last week that included officials from cities and states who campaigned for him.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, whose district includes some of the major players in Hollywood, was named on Wednesday to the State Film Commission by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
Krekorian, who sponsored a student film festival this past year, said he was pleased with the appointment and that he would undertake efforts to look at runaway productions as well as matters of concern to the industry.
"California's film industry is a treasured and world-renowned part of our state's history, and it also creates good middle class jobs that are a vital part of our economic future," Krekorian said.
"Unfortunately, many foreign countries, and over 40 other states, are going to great lengths to take these jobs away from Californians, and they've been succeeding. I'm looking forward to making... California more competitive so that we can keep these good jobs here at home "

Councilwoman Janice Hahn knows how difficult it is to work through the maze to qualify for the Los Angeles City ballot.
First off, you have to collect between 500 and 1,000 signatures of registered voters in your district an dpay a $300 filing fee or collect between 1,000 and 2,000 signatures if you decide not to pay the fee.
So, to help her get her signatures as she seeks her third term in office this coming March, Hahn is holding a "signature party" at the Omelette and Waffle Shop, 1103 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday to sign her petitions.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan released updated election results Tuesday evening, but the new ballot count still left two measures too close to call. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

Nearly 400,000 ballots are still left to be counted from the Nov. 4 election, which drew what Logan projects will be the county's second-highest turnout in modern history.

If current counting trends hold, Logan said Measure R, a half-percent sales tax increase that would generate $40 billion for transportation projects, will pass, while Measure A, a Los Angeles city parcel tax that would generate $30 million annually to fund gang prevention and intervention programs, will fail.

Nearly all of the top 15 schools serving poor students in California are charter schools, according to an analysis of the California Charter Schools Association. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

While the association says the study bolsters its claims that charters are generally outperforming traditional public schools, union leaders question the findings since the charter association itself did the review.

The analysis is based on gains made in the 2007-08 Academic Performance Index, a state assessment exam whose scores range from 200 to 1,000, over the previous year.

Standing in front of an abandoned four-story steel frame, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center officials made a public plea to the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday to allow the hospital to continue construction. Susan Abram in the Daily News.

"It was just a year ago (the council) agreed to build 136 new patient beds," said Kerry Carmody, chief executive officer at Holy Cross.

But construction has stopped as hospital and city officials have disagreed over the need for an environmental impact report.

California's budget deficit will grow to $28 billion through June 2010 unless lawmakers take bold action to close the shortfall, possibly including a hike in the state income tax, the Legislature's nonpartisan analyst said Tuesday.AP in the Daily News.

The Legislative Analyst's Office urged lawmakers to act immediately on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposals to close the deficit for this fiscal year, projected at $11.2 billion - about 11 percent of the state's general fund. They include a 1 percent sales-tax increase and $4.4 billion in across-the-board spending cuts.

The politician who appears to have the best chance at succeeding Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor in 2010, according to a statewide poll released today, isn't even a candidate in the race.
Mercury News.
Longtime U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, is viewed favorably by 50 percent of California voters -- a commanding 16 points higher than the next-closest contender, Attorney General Jerry Brown, in a field of nine potential candidates.

"She's kind of in a class of her own," said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo, noting that seven in 10 Democrats think highly of Feinstein, as do about half of independent voters.

The Cal State Northridge student arrested in Iran last month during a routine traffic stop while in the country to film a documentary was released on bail Monday from a notorious prison, a friend of the family said. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

Although the news was welcomed by anxious relatives and CSUN colleagues, Esha Momeni, a 28-year-old Iranian-American, faces serious charges that make her swift return home uncertain.

Momeni was working on a film about the women's movement in Iran when she was taken into custody Oct. 15. Authorities stopped her for illegally passing another vehicle and later went to her home and confiscated her computer and films. She was then taken to Section 209 of Tehran's Evin Prison, where she was held until her release.

As he looks ahead to a March 3 election with a crowded field of little-known and underfunded candidates, what's Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to do with the $2.3 million he's raised for his campaign? Daily News.

Throw some wild election night parties? Wine and dine folks interested in backing him for governor in 2010? A prime-time, Obama-like infomercial?

None of the above, his campaign staff says. And political observers said if the mayor were smart, he would raise even more money to make sure the field of 21 announced candidates against him fails to get any traction.

Taking the responsibility into their own hands, groups of residents from around the city have organized to force the city to begin to do something about illegal billboards. Daily News.

Starting in Studio City and spreading to the Westside, the residents have taken to the streets to try to create an inventory of all the signs that are in their area, including which ones have gone digital. They hope to nail down which are illegal and have been allowed to remain in place because nobody is enforcing the law.

"I can tell you we are changing the attitudes today in my district," said Councilman Bill Rosendahl, where constituents in his 11th Council District on the Westside formed their own billboard posse two weeks ago and catalogued 563.

Internationally praised for crime-fighting tactics that have driven violence to historic lows in Los Angeles, globe-trotting LAPD Chief William Bratton is better known among the rank and file simply as "A.L." - absentee landlord.Rachel Uranga in the Daily News.

So far this year, Bratton has been out of town 71 days, including to give a lecture at Harvard University, attend a conference in London and appear at a police graduation in Las Vegas.

A darling of law enforcement circles and a rumored candidate for the head of Scotland Yard or Homeland Security under President-elect Barack Obama's administration, many grumble that the chief is simply not around during major crises in the city and too busy politicking.

"That amount of travel certainly raises eyebrows. If he's getting things done that's good. But a lot of travel is susceptible to abuse. Whether it's occurring at this point we just don't know," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

He had answered prayers that America elect its first African-American president. Dana Bartholomew in the Daily News.

And on Sunday, jubilant African-Americans prayed God would reduce the days until his wisdom would pour out on a President Barack Obama administration.

"This morning we sincerely heed God's prayers," said a beaming Rev. Ira Woodfin Dickason to a congregation of early risers at Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the first Sunday service following the election.

Los Angeles County residents are less likely than other Americans to get involved if someone else's child is being abused, and less likely to know who to call even if they do, according to a report released recently by anti-violence groups.Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

Angelenos also harbor more misconceptions about child abuse than others in the nation, the report says.

"Child abuse has to get into the conversation," said Peter Hermann, a board member for the Joyful Heart Foundation, a New York-based anti-abuse group.

Tipoffs: Rick Caruso moves eases pressure on Bill Bratton; inaugural tickets.

By rehiring a liaison to the Armenian community, the Los Angeles Unified School District set a precedent in creating a job to serve a specific ethnic group. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

Now, some education advocates say, the stage has been set for nearly every ethnic group in one of the nation's most diverse school districts to each demand its own advocate.

"When you talk about parent-community facilitators, you're talking about aid to south Los Angeles, Latinos, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino, to put it into perspective," said Liza Go, a representative for the California School Employees Association.

San Fernando Valley voters backed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in far higher numbers than the rest of the county, state and nation and opposed the gay marriage ban more strongly than many areas of Los Angeles, according to exit polls. Daily News.

About 75 percent of Valley voters supported Obama, according to polling conducted by the Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.

Statewide, 60.9 percent of voters supported Obama, while 69.4 percent of Los Angeles County voters did, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is facing a potentially crowded field of challengers - although none is expected to pose a major threat - as the first filing period for declaring a candidacy for the March 3 election closed on Saturday.Daily News.

Villaraigosa, who lost what many saw as his main potential opposition when developer Rick Caruso decided against running, will face as many as 12 little-known opponents.

The only ones with minor name identification are attorney Walter Moore, who placed sixth four years ago, City Hall gadfly David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg and David R. Hernandez, who has run for several other local offices and filed the suit against the county for dropping the cross from its seal.

Lupe Canales grew up hiding beneath a window in her family's Pacoima apartment when it was dark outside and the gunshots rang out.Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

But when the sun was up, she escaped to the library.

"I grew up in the projects, so the trip to the library for me was a walk - a nice, long walk," she said, "and I always loved to read."

Canales, now the 54-year-old senior librarian at the Sun Valley Library, discovered at an early age that libraries give away pure metaphoric gold - an obvious blessing to a little girl who grew up not having much.

And with a roller-coastering stock market and

More than 10 million Americans in three states voted last week to deny marriage rights to gay people. With the addition of Florida, Arizona and California, 30 states now have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. In Arkansas, voters even approved a ballot measure intended to block adoptions by gay men and lesbians.Mike Swift in the Daily News.

But nowhere did the gay rights movement suffer a more painful defeat than in California, the most populous and culturally influential state, where for the first time voters rescinded previously granted marriage rights. The national attention drawn to Proposition 8 - reflected by the more than $9 million in campaign donations that flooded into California from other states over the past two weeks, a large majority to support the ban - made the ballot measure something of a national test of gay marriage.

After months of study and debate to try to head off a confrontation between City Controller Laura Chick and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, the City Council decided Friday to let them battle it out.
Chick said she was "disheartened" by the council's decision to not ask voters to decide the matter and she feels:"no choice: but to contest the issue.
Delgadillo had objected to Chick;'s; effort to audit the workers compensation program and his hiring of private attorneys and she had threatened to go to court when the council intervened.
Now, she said, she will renew her effort to audit the program and stands ready to bring in her own attorneys to represent her and clarify the issue.
Irwin Chemerinsky, who headed the Elected Charter Reform Commission, agrees with Chick on her power to audit all programs in the city.

"I am disheartened that the City Council did not support letting the
voters clarify the powers of the City Controller to conduct performance
audits of hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer funded programs..
Unfortunately I am left with no other alternative than to reinstate my
audit of the City Attorney's workers compensation program, which will
lead to this issue being settled by a court of law."

Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Gloria Molina Friday announced plans to call for the county to join legal action to challenge the constitutionality of Prop. 8, the ban on same-sex marriage approved by the California electorate this past Tuesday.

Billionaire developter Rick Caruso, saying it would pose too great a hardship on his family, announced this morning he will not challenge Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for mayor in the election next March.
Caruso, a former president of the Los Angeles Police Commission and the Board of Water and Power Commissioner, released a statement saying he had thought about the possible challenge to Villaraigosa for several months. And, in the end, he decided it would be too much of a burden on his familiy.
Villaraigosa was in Chicago and had no immediate comment.
The decision, however, leaves Villaraigosa with challenges from about 10 announced candidates, none expected to be able to mount a major challenge to him.
Here is Caruso's full statement:
"For the last few months I have been considering a potential run for
Mayor because I care a great deal about Los Angeles. I grew up in Los Angeles,
attended school here, started my business here and have invested a great deal
in this community, both in time and resources. I have raised my family here. I
love Los Angeles.
"As I considered a run for mayor, given my experience both in the civic
arena and in private business, I am confident that I have much to offer this
city, both in terms of leadership and a passion for improving our community.
For me personally however, my first consideration had to be whether, for my
family, this was the right time for me to run.
"And, while I am genuinely grateful for all the encouragement I have
received from people all over this city to run for mayor and the confidence
they put in me, I have decided that the obligation of serving as mayor would
put a burden on my family that is too much at this point in their lives and, as
a result, I will not be a candidate in the upcoming campaign for mayor. Having
worked closely with Mayors in the past, I understand the commitment necessary
to properly fill that role, and it is not the right time for me to commit
myself wholly to the City at the expense of my family, particularly my young
children.
"My most enthusiastic cheerleaders encouraging me to jump into this race
hav\e been my four children. However, my wife Tina and I have always put our
children first and I think that it would be better if the two youngest children
were a little older before they make the sacrifices that are required of the
families of elected officials. I hope there will be other opportunities for me
to run for mayor, but my children will only be kids once.
"Having an interest in serving my city is not new to me. I was proud to
serve as President of the LA Department of Water and Power Commission for
nearly 10 years, and to serve as President of the Police Commission during a
very important time for the Department. Serving Mayors Bradley, Riordan, and
Hahn was a great honor for me. Having served in those roles, I saw firsthand
how important City Hall is to the everyday lives of Los Angeles residents. I
have seen how much can be accomplished when the tools available to our leaders
are used in a manner focused on solving problems and making our city more
livable.
"I have also built a business in Los Angeles, and understand from the
private sector side, how government can help and also fail those trying to
start a business, build a career, and raise their family here in our city.
Right now Los Angeles is struggling. The LAPD, despite promises and increased
taxes, remains understaffed. Instead of improved transit systems, we see more
and more red tail lights. And economic redevelopment and improvements to our
most underserved communities continues to lag.
"These are very, very tough economic times. This City needs leaders that
have a singular focus on improving the quality of life for all Los Angeles
residents. There are good people in City Hall, and it is my hope that
collectively, they can refocus their efforts on our City's problems in the
months ahead so we realize Los Angeles' full potential. This was a very
difficult decision for me to reach because of my devotion to this city, but
today my role will remain as an interested and active private citizen and I
will focus for now on my family, my business, and my community-based charitable
activities."

Hammered by the poor economy, California's budget deficit has gotten so bad that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday proposed raising taxes by $4.7 billion and slashing spending by almost the same amount within the next seven months.Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican and for years a steadfast opponent of tax hikes, proposed increasing the state sales tax by 1 and 1/2 percent for the next three years and expanding it to services such as golfing, amusement parks and furniture repair.
In September, Schwarzenegger signed what was supposed to be a balanced budget for 2008-09. But now the 2008-09 deficit is already estimated at $11.2 billion.
"In the six weeks since I signed our last budget, the mortgage crisis has deepened, unemployment has increased and the stock market has lost almost 20 percent of its value," he said.

For Glendale's smokers, Thursday was a real drag.
Following the lead of neighboring Burbank and green trailblazers Calabasas and Santa Monica, Glendale began its ban on smoking in hallways of apartment complexes and in public areas - including parks, parking lots and parking structures, and even standing in line to use the ATM.Susan Abram in the Daily News.
But in a city dotted with European-style cafes that offer outdoor seating and a significant population from countries where smoking is a social custom, the issue has some residents fired up.
"Where should we go to smoke, in the desert?" said Ruben Kesayan, a hot-dog vendor who enjoyed a cigarette with his coffee Thursday in front of Glendale Central Library - and was breaking the new law. "They are taking away our freedom, tellin

Animal activists and zoo supporters locked horns in a heated and star-studded, battle Thursday over whether the Los Angeles Zoo should stop construction of a new $42 million elephant enclosure. Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

Among a herd of celebrities, including former game-show host Bob Barker and several "Desperate Housewives" cast members, actress Lily Tomlin said subjecting elephants to zoo life amounts to torture.

"The word `zoo' is sort of elephant-speak for Guantanamo," Tomlin said.

"Golden Girl" Betty White also showed, but spoke in favor of building the new enclosure and dismissed claims that the lone remaining elephant at the zoo was stressed out or depressed.

Concerned that her power could be limited under a proposed change to the City Charter, City Controller Laura Chick said Thursday that she will fight the changes. Daily News.

The council is scheduled to take up a proposed charter amendment today that would spell out which programs the Controller's Office can review for performance audits.

"I can only believe that some members of this City Council are opposed to public transparency," Chick said. "If the measure goes to the ballot as it is, I will ask that I be allowed to write the argument against it and I will campaign against it."

The propos

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is headed to Chicago to meet Friday with President-elect Barack Obama, who asked the mayor to be part of his Economic Transition Advisory Board.
The meeting, with Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, is part of the effort to develop a strategy to develop policies the new administration can put into effect after taking office.
In addition to Villaraigosa, others involved include billionaire Warren Buffett, Chicago Mayor William Daley, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and numerous other business leaders and government officials.
Aides to the mayor sought to scotch further speculation that he is being considered for a job in the Obama White House.
"His only plan is to run for re-election," an aide said.

Barack Obama's election as president has boosted California's confidence that its leaders could play a more prominent role in national affairs, after eight years of being left out in the cold by the Bush administration. Daily News.

And while few Southern California heavyweights would admit Wednesday that they're interested in joining Obama, there was no doubt some are polishing off their r sum s.

"It would be hard to beat what the Clinton administration did, with four Californians in Cabinet posts, but I would expect California to play a bigger role," said John Emerson, who served as the deputy director for personnel for President Clinton after he was first elected.

Even as an economic crisis has forced hundreds of thousands out of their homes and state officials are staring at a $15 billion budget deficit, California voters stunned analysts by approving $11 billion in bonds to build a high-speed rail system and fix up children's hospitals.

And voters in Los Angeles County have come out largely in support of tacking another half-percent onto their sales taxes to fund transportation projects, while at the same time giving the OK to $7 billion in bonds for the Los Angeles Unified School District and $3.5 billion for L.A. community colleges.Brandon Lowrey in the Daily News.

As the dust began to settle Wednesday, some experts are blaming the surprise on everything from President-elect Barack Obama's political machine to voter ignorance to idealism.

"I think the Obama turnout really made a difference," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. "It just brought out a lot of new voters, a lot of young voters who probably don't have the same feelings about property tax that old voters might have."

Click photo to enlarge
State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas said Wednesday his first order of business is to... (File photo)

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As the first new member elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors since 1996, state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas said Wednesday his first order of business is to assemble an effective staff and focus on immediate needs in South L.A., including reopening Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

Ridley-Thomas said he also plans to introduce an anti-crime initiative, advance an economic development agenda focused on green jobs, and address the foreclosure crisis, which has hit his district particularly hard.

"Therefore, you can expect an initiative from our office on the matter that increases the scrutiny of agents, brokers and speculators who do unscrupulous things in the real estate market only to harm unsuspecting borrowers," he said.

Ridley-Thomas, who has served on the Los Angeles City Co

Blame it on the lack of sleep from Tuesday's election, but the Wednesday news conferences talking about the results got all messed up.
First, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky planned one for the intersection of Wilshire and Veteran, to show the crowded traffic in West Los Angeles, But an advisory went out that it would be at Wilshire and Western.
The mayor and Yaroslavsky, and a small group with them in West L.A., quickly moved to the mid-city site where television cameras were waiting.
At about the same time, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planned an event on the South Lawn of City Hall.
His problem?
A movie was shooting _ ironically a political rally _ that forced him to move.
First it was planned for the Spring Street steps _ crowded with film extras _ and then to the Temple Street side of City Hall.

The theme of the inaugural of Barack Obama will be "A New Birth of Freedom," as announced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
A statement from Feinstein:
"A New Birth of Freedom" commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The words come from the Gettysburg address, and express Lincoln's hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation shall lead to "a new birth of freedom" for our nation.
The inaugural theme, which was selected by Senator Feinstein and the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, will be woven through the inaugural ceremonies. The theme is traditionally linked to a major anniversary, and in her announcement Senator Feinstein spoke of the appropriateness of the chosen theme to our present day circumstances, particularly in light of the historic election of Senator Barack Obama.
In addition to Senator Feinstein, the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies include: Senator Bob Bennett, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; and House Republican Leader John Boehner.
"At a time when our country faces major challenges at home and abroad, it is appropriate to revisit the words of President Lincoln, who strived to bring the nation together by appealing to 'the better angels of our nature'," Senator Feinstein said. "It is especially fitting to celebrate the words of Lincoln as we prepare to inaugurate the first African-American president of the United States."
"On January 20, as President-elect Obama takes the oath of office, he will look across the National Mall toward the Lincoln Memorial, where the sixteenth president's immortal words are inscribed. Although some inaugural traditions have changed since Lincoln's time, the swearing-in ceremony continues to symbolize the ideals of renewal, continuity, and unity that he so often expressed."

It appeared to be a good night for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who saw voters approve Propostiion 11, the redistricting measure, as well as Proposition 1A, the high speed rail train project.
Proposition 8, the measure banning same sex marriages, was still very close.
Here are the latest results:
Yes % No %
1A Y Safe, Reliable High-Speed Train Bond Act
4,806,338 52.3% 4,386,791 47.7%

2 Y Standards for Confining Farm Animals
5,920,306 63.3% 3,437,395 36.7%

3 Y Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program.
4,999,031 54.7% 4,150,344 45.3%

4 N Parent Notif. Before Terminating Minor's Pregnancy
4,442,323 47.4% 4,912,890 52.6%

5 N Nonviolent Drug Offense. Sentencing, Parole, Rehab
3,701,613 40.2% 5,499,393 59.8%

6 N Police, Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Laws.
2,729,939 30.4% 6,236,902 69.6%

7 N Renewable Energy Generation
3,207,175 35.0% 5,955,483 65.0%

8 Y Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry
5,019,930 51.9% 4,656,291 48.1%

9 Y Criminal Justice System. Victims' Rights. Parole.
4,770,398 53.2% 4,212,493 46.8%

10 N Altern. Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy Bonds
3,642,040 40.0% 5,449,670 60.0%

11 Y Redistricting
4,390,867 50.5% 4,305,649 49.5%

12 Y Veterans' Bond
5,643,823 63.4% 3,260,222 36.6%

Los Angeles voters gave narrow approval to a half-cent sales tax measure, Measure R, in Tuesday's election as it appeared a $36 a year parcel tax for anti-gang programs was falling narrowly short of approval.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and other officials have scheduled a news conference to discuss the sales tax victory for transportation programs, while city officials are expected to hold off on conceding defeat for the parcel tax measure.
Here are the latest results on local contests:
Board of Supervisors
MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS 250,198 61.4
BERNARD C PARKS 157,294 38.6

2/3 OF VOTES CAST
MEASURE R - MTA SALES TAX -
YES 1,633,442 67.41
NO 789,601 32.59

2/3 OF VOTES CAST
Measure A - VIOLENCE PREVENTION PRGMS -
YES 567,560 66.12
NO 290,799 33.88

MEASURE B
B - UPDATE LOW RENT HOUSING -
YES 492,631 59.81
NO 331,070 40.19

55% OF VOTES CAST
MEASURE Q - SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BONDS -
YES 709,726 68.94
NO 319,832 31.06

From Daily News staff writer Gregory J. Wilcox:

We arrived at our polling place, Winnetka Avenue Elementary School, about
6 p.m. The line stretched out of the school's assembly room.
We've
voted here every election since moving into the Valley in 1998. This
was our longest wait. And it was different.
Kids were waiting in line with their parents. "Do you have to be 18 years old to vote?" a young
girl in front of us asked her mother.
"Yes," her mother said.
"But not to be a part of history," my wife said.
By the time we got home it looked like she might be right.

An hour after winning the election, Obama _ accompanied by his wife Michelle and two daughters ) came to a victory celebration in Grant Park before a sea of supporters waving American flags and chanting, "Yes, we can."
"Hello, Chicago," Obama began. "Is there anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible.
"Tonight is your answer."
It was in the lines of voters who stood to vote and representing a cross-section of the country.
"Americans who sent a message to the world that ...we are and always will be the United States of America.
"It's been a long time coming. But change is coming to America."

Sen. John McCain quickly conceded the election and offered his congratulations to Sen.Barack Obama and noted how far the nation has come.
"There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States," McCain said. "Let there be no reason for every American to cherish their citizenship."
McCain stilled any protests in the crowd.
"These are difficult times in our country and I pledge all in my power to help him."

The county Registrar reported more than 2 million people turned out for Tuesday's election at its 4,394 polling places.
"Voter turnout today was extremely heavy and polling places are staying open until the last voter in line at 8:00 P.M. has been allowed to vote," Registrar Dean Logan said in a statement.
"Actual poll closings tonight may be as late as 9:00 P.M. or later. The delay in poll closing and the transportation of ballots to the central counting facility will delay the reporting of election results."
There are closing procedures that must be performed at each polling location before the ballots are turned in for counting and there could be lengthy delays.

In a stunning election with vast historical implications, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois today was elected president of the United States.
Putting together a vast ground operation across the nation, registering millions of new voters and tapping into a desire for change, Obama led a revived Democratic Party to a wide victory where he will have at least 58 members in the Senate and 241 members in the House to push through his agenda on the Iraq war, health care and taxes.
Obama was able to win over voters in many states that were traditionally Republican, including Ohio and Colorado and appeared to be winning in Florida and Virginia.
The final votes giving him the election came shortly after 8 p.m., when results came in from California, Oregon and Washington.
Obama is scheduled to soon address a huge crowd gathered at Grant Park in Chicago.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the election a mandate of hope.
"I say to America, we've heard you," Reid said. "Those who voted for us, we will lead the nation in a better direction. Tonight is a new chapter in the history of our country."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the election was a mandate to change the country.
"A very important part of that will be...the civility in which we engage in dialogue," Pelosi said. "I extend a hand of friendship to Sen. John McCain, no matter the outcome of the election...in the spirit of a better America."

In a stunning election with vast historical implications, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois today was elected president of the United States.
Putting together a vast ground operation across the nation, registering millions of new voters and tapping into a desire for change, Obama led a revived Democratic Party to a wide victory where he will have at least 58 members in the Senate and 241 members in the House to push through his agenda on the Iraq war, health care and taxes.
Obama was able to win over voters in many states that were traditionally Republican, including Ohio and Colorado and appeared to be winning in Florida and Virginia.
The final votes giving him the election came shortly after 8 p.m., when results came in from California, Oregon and Washington.
Obama is scheduled to soon address a huge crowd gathered at Grant Park in Chicago.

Seven more electoral votes for the Illinois Senator, Obama gets Utah and its five votes.

Nine electoral votes for McCain, five for Obama. Totals: Obama, 199, McCain 78,

CNN projects Obama will win Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. More importantly, no Republican has ever won the White House without carrying the sate. The latest electroal count is Obama 194, McCain 69.

The two are winning where expected: Obama in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin. McCain gets Kansas and North Dakota. Electoral vote race: Obama,175; McCain, 70.

Adds another 15 electoral votes.

With its 9 electoral votes. Obama at 103, McCain at 43 electoral votes.

Obama wins the crucial state of Pennsylvania, with 21 electoral votes. McCain had campaigned hard there, hoping to appeal to more conservative voters. He also gets Connecticut (7) and Delaware (3). It puts Obama at 103 and McCain at 34.

From Daily News staff writer Justino Aquila
Actress Amy Brenneman, currently seen on "Private Practice," spent Tuesday night in a Hollywood sound stage after voting, but surrounded by her colleagues and keeping a close eye election results was the best way to spend the evening.
"Working on election night is not a bad thing," said Brenneman, who is also supporting the No on Proposition 8 campaign. "I think No on Proposition 8 is important because it's about equal rights for all and I just don't see how anybody can argue with that."
Brenneman believes that the yes campaign has used fear-based tactics that are misleading and damaging. "What their campaign is claiming has been discredited all over the place," the actress said. "It's not going to affect education. These scare tactics are from people who are afraid of change."

The networks are projecting a number of states for Obama: Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and District of Columbia. So far, Obama holds a 77 to 34 lead in electoral votes.

CNN says the st-3ate with its eight electoral votes goes to McCain. He leads 16-3 so far. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia are about to close. Polling in Indiana, Virginia and Ohio is very close.

Six states closed their polls at 7 p.m. McCain is projected to take Kentucky and its eight electoral votes, but he is having trouble in Indiana and its 11 votes. Obama is being given Vermont and its three votes
The key state being watched in this group is Virginia, where both campaigns staged extensive campaigns.

Reports from North Carolina are is it appears. Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole could be the first casualty of the Democratic backlash in Tuesday's election.

It is already starting to be a long night at Fox News, where anchor Brit Hume raises the question of who will lead the Republican Party _ even before one state is called.
There are a host of potential leaders lurking _ from Sarah Palin to Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.
Much of the mood at the network has focused on what went wrong with the McCain campaign and the direction the party needs to take to return to be competitive with the Obama-led Democrats.

Councilman Richard Alarcon is wasting no time in getting a message to the next president _ no matter who it is.
Alarcon has called a news conference for Wednesday morning with a coalition of non-proift agencies, service providers and asking calling on President-elect Obama or President-elect McCain to press for a change in federal poverty guidelines.
Alarcon long has been promoting an updating of hte guidelines, which he said do not take into account regional differences such as the cost of living in Los Angeles compared with a rural area of Wyoming.

Exit polls show the top issue driving voters is the economy, followed by Iraq, terrorism and health care, according to CNN.

31,268,357 voters have cast votes early in America, which represents 25.3% of the total of all ballots cast in 2004. Nobody doubts we are headed for an absolute record turnout in this election. fivethirtyeight.com.

22.5% of Americans cast their vote early in 2004, and if that number held true for this election, then 138,970,474 Americans will end up casting ballots.

While much has been made of the Democratic Party get out the vote effort, California
Republicans said they were active as well during the campaign.
Communications Director Hector Barajas said that during the olast 72 hours, the state GOP contacted 905,169 voters. That includes calls to 751,303 and visits to 153,865 voters by volunteers, who gave more than 25,000 hours of their time..

While waiting for election results to come in:
Is there a Betty Ford Clinic to rehab political junkies:

What will happen now to all the talking heads _ the pols, pundits and press guys and gals who populated the television screen for the past year and became part of our lives?

Some, like David Broder, Ron Brownstein, Pat Buchanan, James Carville and Mary Matalin, will survive as long as there are Sunday talk shows and Larry King. Likewise, Karl Rove and Bill Cristol should be safe as long as Fox News stays in business. And, thanks to CNN, folks like Paul Begala, Bay Buchanan and Roland Martin should still be around.

But, what of Michelle Bernard, Chris Cillizza, Ana Marie Cox, the Chicago-area reporters like Jill Zuckman and Lynn Sweet and all the other commentators who we became so familiar with? Will they just disappear into the ether of television? Or, will they find a new life as permanent pundits in residence?

Democrats are ebullient about their national prospects, hoping for a national tidal wave similar to what Republicans enjoyed back in 2004. Capitol Weekly.

Here in California, people are actually talking about what had once seemed unthinkable - the prospect of Democrats taking a two-thirds majority in the state Assembly.

Sure, it's a long shot, but in this election year, Democrats believe anything is possible. If Democrats are to get to that magic 54 number in the Assembly, they would have to sweep seven races which are now seen as competitive. Below is a scoresheet for those of you who want to follow along on Election Night in some races that are sure to provide some drama long after the presidential election is settled.

Although rain is expected this morning in Los Angeles, election officials anticipate a record turnout in this historic election and have deployed extra poll workers and printed additional ballots to handle the crush of voters. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

"I think the motivation and interest in this election is at an all-time high, and I think people will find their way to the polls to vote," Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said. "Hopefully, the rain will hold off and we won't have people out in the elements waiting to vote."

The National Weather Service is predicting a 60 percent chance of rain in parts of Los Angeles County this morning, clearing by the afternoon.

Of all the things the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has spent money on - from exhibiting Salvador Dali's surrealist works to buying African sculptures - one of its latest expenses might be the most unusual: public transportation. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

A whopping $900,000 donation was made this year from the museum's nonprofit Museum Associates to the Yes on Measure R campaign. The coalition has raised $1.7 million in support of a proposed half-percent sales-tax hike for public-transportation projects in Los Angeles County.

U.S. auto sales plunged 32 percent in October, to their lowest annual rate in a quarter-century, as sagging consumer confidence and tight credit paralyzed the market. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Daily News.

Consumers ignored zero-percent financing and other incentives designed to lure them into showrooms just as 2009 models began to arrive.

"This market is extremely tough. I've never seen it this difficult," said 55-year dealership veteran Bert Boeckmann, president of Galpin Motors and owner of the biggest-volume Ford dealership in the world.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials voted to appoint the district's first-ever official liaison to the Armenian community after 16 community representatives, including an Armenian speaker, were laid off over the summer. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.
The district's personnel commission voted 2-1 Monday to create a new position for an Armenian-speaking parent- community facilitator.
The moves comes after the Armenian community complained about the loss of the district's only Armenian-speaking community representative in July.

After being pressured by an audit and women's-rights groups to clear a backlog of 7,000 rape kits in their crime lab, LAPD officials said Monday that they have begun prioritizing the kits to catch rapists who haven't been identified and might still be on the loose. Daily News.

The department hopes to have the cases categorized for analysis within the next two months, Deputy Chief Charlie Beck told the City Council's Public Safety Committee.

Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the first in the nation to vote, went for Sen.Barack Obama in its polling shortly after midnight EST.
The normally Republican community _ it hasn't gone Democratic since 1968 ) voted 15-6 for Obama.

The multi-level process to quality for the March 3 city ballot began on Monday with a number of candidates seeking to be first to qualify, by taking out declarations of intent to run.
City voters will decide whether to re-elect Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and will also have open races for City Attorney and Controller, due to term limits.
Eight City Council offices will be decided as well as three Los Angeles Board of Education seats and four on the Los Angeles Community College District.
Villaraigosa did not take out his declaration, but five others did. They include attorney Walter Moore, who ran in 2005, Bruce Darian, entertainer Phil Jennerjahn and civic community leader David Hernandez and public policy advisor Mike Manley.
City Attorney candidates include environmental lawyer Carmen Trutuanich and attorney Gregory W. Smith.
No candidates declared for controller.
C ity Council members seeking re-election are from odd-numbered districts. They include Councilman Ed Reyes, Councilman Dennis Zine, Councilman Richard Alarcon, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Councilman Eric Garcetti and Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
Reyes, Rosendahl and Hahn were the only two incumbents to take out their declaration on Monday.
Reyes drew two challengers, Sylvia Luna and Jesse Rojas. Rosendahl drew one, hydrographer Harry "Craig" Wilson. Hahn also had one announced opponent, Chris Salabaj.
Two candidates, Guillermo Huesca and Richard Perry, declared for the 7th Council District against Alarcon. Youth trainer Keith Hardine filed for the 13th District seat against Garcetti.
The three seats on the Board of Education does not include two incumbents, Marlene Canter and Julie Korenstein, who decided against seeking re-election. The incumbent member who is seeking re-election is school board president Monica Garcia.
`Parent-community activist Bill Ring took out a declaration for District No. 4 and teacher-educator Louis Pugliese filed for District No. 6.
Community College board members seeking re-election include Kelly Candaele, Angela Reddock, Nancy Pearlsman and Miguel Santiago.
Candidates have until Saturday to take out the declarations the first step to become eligible for the election. The next phase involves collecting signatures of at least 500 voters on nominating petitions.
The next deadline for candidates is Dec., 3, when nominating petitions must be submitted to the City Clerk's office.

A series of last minute rallies by Democrats to wrap up Election 2008 are being staged today to give local officials a last chance to get out the vote for Sen. Barack Obama as well as other favored candidates and issues.
State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas received support for his bid for the Board of Supervisors at a noon City Hall rally from Democrats, even though a number of city officials who have endorsed Councilman Bernard Parks also appeared.
Leading that charge was Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Council members Eric Garcetti and Janice Hahn.
While they kept quiet about the supervisors' race, the three offered wide support for the Obama ticket as well as urging support for Proposition 1A as well as Measures R and A _ the transportation sales tax measure and the anti-gang parcel tax.
There also was vocal opposition to Proposition 8, the measure that bans same sex marriage.
The City Hall rally drew a number of state officials, including Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assembly members Mike Feuer, Felipe Fuente and Anthony Portatino.
At 3 p.m, the mayor and others were gathering at the freeway overpass near Union Station for a rally and march in support of Measure R.
Villaraigosa campaigned in New Mexico and Nevada over the weekend for Obama and he said he is confident both states will turn Democratic this year.

The Field Poll, courtesy of Capitol Weekly, offers a recap of its latest poll numbers on th e12 state ballot propositions:

Proposition 1A (high-speed rail bonds)
Yes: 47%
No: 42%

Proposition 2 (farm animal confinement)
Yes: 60%
No: 27%

Proposition 3 (children's hospital bonds)
Yes: 54%
No: 35%

Proposition 4 (parental notification for teen abortion)
Yes: 45%
No: 43%

Proposition 7 (renewable energy generation)
Yes: 39%
No: 43%

Proposition 8 (ban on same-sex marriage)
Yes: 44%
No: 49%

Proposition 10 (alternative fuel vehicles bonds)
Yes: 49%
No: 39%

Proposition 11 (redistricting)
Yes: 45%
No: 30%

Proposition 12 (veterans bonds)
Yes: 58%
No: 29%

When you watch the election returns tomorrow, you can bet the networks and cable news shows will be scrambling to be the first to call each state and the election itself.
It could have repercussions in California, where a high turnout is seen as a key for a number of measures _ particularly those involving spending.
Which is why so many of the campaigns fear an early call on the presidential election, which could depress turnout here in the west.
So, what many will be looking at is how and when the returns come in tonight and which candidate gets to 270 electoral votes.
Here is a time line for when the votes will be coming in and what the experts are looking at:
The first results will start trickling in after 3 p.m. PST, when parts of Indiana (11 electoral votes) and Kentucky (8), begin to come in.
Full results for both states will come in at 4 p.m., along with (most of) Florida (27), Georgia (15), South Carolina (8), Vermont (3) and Virginia (13) come in. Most experts believe Virginia is the key state. If Sen. Barack Obama wins it, it is expected he will win by a landslide. If it goes to Sen. John McCain, it could be a long night.
In either case, that adds 66 electoral votes.
By 4:30 p.m. PST, North Carolina (15), Ohio (20) and West Virginia (5) will have their votes cast. Ohio is considered the key state in this batch. That's another 40 electoral votes.
At 5 p.m., another 198 electoral votes will be decided with Alabama (9), Connecticut (7),Delaware (3), District of Columbia  (3), Illinois (21),Maine (4).Maryland (10).Massachusetts (12), Michigan (17) Mississippi (6), Missouri (11). New Hampshire (4).New Jersey (15)Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (21), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (11) and Texas (34).
At 5:30 p.m., Arkansas (6), comes in.
At 6 p.m., votes from Arizona (10), Colorado (9), Kansas (6), Louisiana (9), Minnesota (10), Nebraska (5), New Mexico (5), New York (31), Rhode Island (4), Wisconsin (10) and Wyoming (3), will come in. Those account for 102 electoral votes.
At 7 p.m., Iowa (7), Montana (3), Nevada (5), North Dakota (3) and Utah (5) comes in, adding 23 more electoral votes.
At 8 p.m., California (55) closes its polls, as does Hawaii (3), Idaho (4), Oregon (7) and Washington (11). That accounts for 80 electoral votes.
And, at 9 p.m., Alaska (3), comes in to close out the election.

***
The Huffington Post has a very cool color map that will provide a running count on the returns.

Returning home after two days of being evacuated last month from fires that destroyed nearly 20,000 acres of brush near his home, Richard Preuss took a spin through the neighborhood to check out the damage. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

Shocked at how close the charred earth came to his home, the father of two was grateful for the work of firefighters and police who kept his place safe while he stayed with family in Encino.

"Because of the firefighters and police, we weren't affected," said Preuss. "But we certainly could have been, I have no doubt."

It was bad enough for Rodrigo Sanchez when the tree trimming jobs began heading for the chipper six months ago. Dana Bartholomew in the Daily News.

But as work gradually diminished, so did a pantry meant to feed him, his wife and three young children.

"It's tough to make ends meet," said Sanchez, 34, of Santa Clarita, awaiting a truck of fresh produce last week at Valley Food Bank in Pacoima. "There's no work. Last week, two days. This week, one day. ... Right now, there's nothing we can do."

With voter turnout expected to exceed 80 percent Tuesday, voting rights advocates demanded Sunday that Los Angeles County officials supply enough ballots for a 100 percent turnout. Daily News.

The demand came as Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan asked voters to cast their ballots at off-peak hours Tuesday to avoid lines of two hours or more.

As California voters prepare to decide Tuesday whether to eliminate the marriage rights same-sex couples won five months ago, gays and their allies have been encouraged to tell co-workers and neighbors why legalizing the unions matters to them.AP in the Daily News.

Same-sex couples who have married since June knocked on doors in neighborhoods across the state Sunday to share stories with the voters they hoped to persuade to defeat Proposition 8.

Tipoffs: Changing meaning of election rankles; Protective League looking to broaden impact.

Too many voters?
With record numbers of people expected to inundate the polls Tuesday, voting experts are concerned the sky-high turnout may overwhelm the system, resulting in long lines and short-tempered voters.

"Our biggest problem going into this election is that we may not be able to meet the demand," said Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation.

"Do we have the capacity to handle an extremely high turnout? That's the question that is weighing on the minds of poll workers and election officials." Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

New Latino voters
An American flag hanging next to an Aztec calendar perhaps best symbolizes the moment.
Recently-naturalized Americans from Mexico and other Latin American countries packed an office meeting room Saturday for their final lesson in undertaking the most sacred duty of their newly earned citizenship - voting. Tony Castro in the Daily News.

Young voters a factor
Emily Lehrer, a 20-year-old Valley College student, knows some people think her generation is apathetic, unmotivated and superficial. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.
Little suspense in legislative races
Voters in 13 legislative districts around the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County will elect state lawmakers Tuesday, only months after partisan gridlock led to the latest-ever budget in state history. Harrison Sheppard in the Daily News.

From Daily News staff writer Gregory J. Wilcox:
About a year ago at the Valley Industy and Commerace Association Business Forecast Conference John J. Pitney, Jr., Crocker Professor of Politics at Claremont McKenna College, made a prophetic political observation. If the Republican party wanted to shake up this presidential election Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin would the vice presidential candidate.
He arrived at that process after a simple process of elimination.
"The Republicans needed someone who wasn't part of the Washington establishment and could qualify as an agent of change and on the other hand be accepted by the party's conservatives," Pitney said.
The other possible choice, he said, was Louisana Governor Bobby Jindal. "He's very young and looks even younger and I suspect that was a concern."
So how does Pitney think Palin has fared.
"It's been a mixed bag. On the one hand the (Charile) Gibson and (Katie) Couric interviews went poorly and that's been reflected in some of the pole numbers. On the other hand she's energized the Rrepublican Party in a way John McCain never could."

Propositions 1A, 4, and 10 are clinging to a narrow lead, but each are below the 50 percent mark needed for passage, according to the latest Field Poll. Proposition 12, the veterans bond, appears headed for victory while Proposition 3, the children's hospital bond, has moved above 50 percent support. Capitol Alert in the Sacramento Bee.

As usual, find the poll's exclusive statistical tabulations only on Capitol Alert.

The biggest shift came for Proposition 1A, the nearly $10 billion high-speed rail bond. Back in July, the Field Poll showed the measure comfortably ahead 56 percent to 30 percent.

Amid Los Angeles' estimated $400 million shortfall and a grim economic outlook, City Councilman Dennis Zine introduced a motion Friday to consider cutting the city's fattest executive-level salaries and freezing other workers' pay increases when their contracts - including police and fire - are renegotiated next year. Brandon Lowery in the Daily News.

The motion comes on the heels of the council's Wednesday approval of standard 3 percent raises for department heads, putting LAPD Chief William Bratton's salary at $320,736 and Department of Water and Power General Manager H. David Nahai's at $324,428.

Zine said he wanted to both cut costs and instill confidence in Angelenos who might balk at giving raises to those in the city's highest pay brackets.

If Los Angeles Unified's $7billion school bond passes Tuesday, district students won't be the only ones who benefit. George B. Sanchez in the Daily News.

Contractors and construction firms are expected to see an uptick in business during the slumping economy - and many of them have contributed financially to the Yes on Measure Q campaign.

Since early September, the Yes on Q effort received more than 140 contributions totaling more than $700,000. Nearly two-thirds of them came from general contractors, construction, architecture and engineering firms, most of whom do business with the district.

Bonds sought for other districts
Officials at the William S. Hart Union High School District are hoping voters will spring for another bond to build and improve area schools. Jerry Berrios in the Daily News.

Voters in the Santa Clarita Valley will find the $300 million bond, called Measure SA, on Tuesday's ballot.