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The board also made Birmingham's journalism and communications magnet a separate campus, housing about 500 students.
The 5-2 vote came a day after Birmingham's principal and athletic director, lead petitioners of the charter, were disciplined for their approval of student athletes being used in a racy GQ magazine photo shoot featuring "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen.
]]>On a warm and sunny afternoon with more than 1,000 supporters on the South Lawn of City Hall, Villaraigosa said he recognizes he still has much to do to return to the popularity he had when he first took office four years ago.
Greuel, Trutanich promise transparency
A paper name plate reading City Attorney Carmen Trutanich covered the Rocky Delgadillo signs on his eighth floor office Wednesday as workers also finished installing Controller Wendy Greuel's new signs on her third floor office. Daily News
And, on the first day of their new job, the two showed clearly they plan to be different from their predecessors with the promise of greater independendence and more public transparency.
New LAUSD members
Two new school board members were sworn in to the Los Angeles Unified School District's board of education Wednesday, launching the district's 155th year. Connie Llanos in the Daily News
Nury Martinez, representing the east San Fernando Valley, replaced 22-year school board veteran Julie Korenstein in District 6. Steve Zimmer, representing parts of West Los Angeles and the West Valley, replaced Marlene Canter in District 4.
The vote came as Sheriff Lee Baca insisted he had no choice but to close the Pitchess Detention Center North Facility and redeploy 187 personnel unless the supervisors gave him additional funding.
"Instead of taking such a drastic measure that compromises public safety, all other options must be exhausted," Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said.
]]>Charter proponents say they want to bring reform and financial freedom to a school that has suffered from worse-than-average dropout rates and declining test scores over the years.
]]>"You can call it a rededication to the job and a demand for accountability," spokesman Matt Szabo said. "Accountability from him and from others."
Villaraigosa, who was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote last March against a crowded field of relatively unknown and underfunded candidates, feels a sense of humility and appreciation in being re-elected to a second term, Szabo said.
Greuel optimistic about Controller's job
Her last day as a member of the City Council carried a number of surprises for Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. Daily News
They included proclamations, flowers, a sudden appearance by her husband, Dean Schramm and son, Thomas, in the City Council chambers and an hour-long tribute by the people she has worked with since 2002 - hailing her as the city's Pothole Queen for her inner toughness and sunny demeanor.
]]>But what critics dubbed the Ed Boks Show ends today as the most colorful Animal Services Department manager in Los Angeles history cleans out his desk.
Hired in January 2006 to enact a "no kill" animal shelter policy, Ed Boks became mired in controversy followed by a string of no-confidence complaints. But the outgoing ex-minister defended his record as among the very best in the nation.
]]>While only 11 jobs are now on the line, the number is expected to grow to at least 76 and possibly up to 400 this year if a tentative agreement with the Coalition of City Unions is rejected.
All of the jobs that will receive layoff notices in this initial round are held by members of the Engineers and Architects Association, which refused to participate in the negotiations and has threatened a lawsuit against the proposed deal.
]]>Customers at the San Fernando Valley shop and other stores in the region will grumble even louder this week, when the sales tax in Los Angeles County rises an additional half-percent or a half-cent on the dollar.
Beginning Wednesday, the sales tax in Los Angeles County will reach 9.75 percent because of voter-approved
]]>Sherman, who serves on the House Committee on Financial Services, opened the meeting by addressing economic issues facing the nation including bailouts and state budget woes. Sherman reminded his constituents that he did not vote for the Wall Street bailout, to which the crowd applauded.
But he warned attendees at the packed Reseda High School auditorium that "the recession would be hard on us for another two years."
]]>Every politician reaches that point when it's time to move on - usually because they've been voted out of office or, these days, face term limits. Daily News.
Los Angeles Unified school board members Julie Korenstein and Marlene Canter decided to step down on their own - allowing two new members to join the seven-person board at a time when many fear the district's basic survival is at risk.
In with the new....
Just days before the start of their terms on the Los Angeles Unified school board, Steve Zimmer and Nury Martinez are not daunted by the monumental challenge facing the nation's second-largest district. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.
The pair starts work Wednesday with the district shackled by a $1.1 billion deficit over the next three years, a frustrated work force frightened of further layoffs and a community clamoring for reform.
]]>As he prepares to take the oath of office for his second term on Wednesday, Villaraiogsa instead is looking at less visionary promises and more practical tangibles to deliver to a city with a sinking economy and a skeptical view of City Hall.
The city is grappling with a $530 million shortfall and the prospect of shutting off municipal services twice a month, problems that prompted Villaraigosa last week to announce he would not run for governor next year.
"I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis," Villaraigosa said during an interview on CNN. "It's as simple as that."
]]>As the third largest public law office in the state, the Los Angeles City Attorney handles approximately 100,000 civil and criminal cases a year. The position entails defending the city's interests in civil lawsuits and claims, prosecuting criminal misdemeanors and serving as general counsel to all city departments and officials.
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