September 2009 Archives

Readers, let's end September with a bang:

Los Angeles County prepared Tuesday in wake of a tsunami warning resulting from a tidal wave that swept Samoa, while the Samoan community in Carson gathered to share information and organize a vigil for relatives affected back home.

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a $1.2 billion waterfront redevelopment plan early Wednesday, after about 500 people crowded the meeting room to sound off on the plan.

The unique Beach Cities Health District is apparently a model of the preventive health care envisioned in national health care reform plans.

Toyota Motor Corp., whose sales and marketing arm is based in Torrance, has announced plans to recall about 3.8 million late-model vehicles in the United States in fear that their floor mats could cause accelerator pedals to jam.

Manhattan Beach's famed dune will remain closed through the end of the year.

Stakeholders at a Wilmington elementary school have voted to change the institution's name to honor George De La Torre, a local businessman and philanthropist who died last year.

Talks continue in Carson over the fate of two mobile homes parks.

Arraignment was postponed this morning  for woman who has been charged in relation to allegedly renting out her Palos Verdes Estates home to weddings and events.

Melahat Uzumcu asked for her hearing to be postponed so that she may hire an attorney.

A Torrance Superior Court judge gave her until Oct. 22, when she will be arraigned on charges of violating the zoning code, creating a public nuisance and operating a business without a license. If convicted of all four counts that she faces, she could serve up to two years in jail and pay a fine of $4,000.

As reported in Monday's Breeze, Uzumcu's seaside Paseo Del Mar home has been the site of repeated weddings that have upset residents in the surrounding area, city officials and neighbors have said.

City code does not allow a residential home to be used for commercial events.

Readers, let's get this news party started:

Some Torrance residents are nearly croaking over the possibility of placing a whimsical frog statue recently donated to the city by a former mayor in a seaside park. Children might play on the bronze statue and hurt themselves!

Police are investigating a hit-and-run accident allegedly committed by an off-duty Torrance police officer over the weekend.

Los Angeles County is set to pay $305,000 to settle a medical malpractice lawsuit brought on by the family of a man who died at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance after a hang-gliding accident two years ago.

San Pedro's Salvation Army Family Store has closed. You know it's a bad economy when even thrift stores are shutting down.

Public hearings over a proposed new public transit plan that could relieve South Bay traffic begin this week.

After three appearences at CIF semifinals in as many years, Palos Verdes High's girls tennis team is aiming for a title this year. Check out pictures.

Hawthorne City Council candidates for the November election are raking in cash, campaign finance forms due on Friday show.

These most recent finance forms cover the period July through mid-September. As usual, Mayor Larry Guidi has taken an early lead in donations. He brought in $21,550 this period, which takes his total this year to $32,145. He already had $57,974 in his war chest from previous campaigns.

Guidi's biggest donor was Elon Musk, owner of Hawthorne-based rocket maker SpaceX, who gave the mayor $5,000. U.S. Tow, which has the city's towing contract, and Academy Auto Insurance also donated large sums. Businesses, developers, a union, and residents round out the list.

Councilman Danny Juarez, Guidi's challenger for the mayor's seat, did not turn in his forms by the due date.

There are seven candidates for two City Council seats, which will be vacated by Councilmen Gary Parsons and Pablo Catano. Here is a breakdown of the council hopefuls and their campaign piggy banks:

• Alex Monteiro raised $1,400 this period, mostly thanks to a donation from Catano.
• Angie English took in one $1,500 gift from Excel Property Management Services of West Hollywood.
• Alex Vargas amassed $8,395 from family members and local residents.
• Olivia Valentine garnered $5,095 from local businesses, a developer, and a Gardena-based union, among others.
• Alicia Brewster and Gregory Fallon did not get any donations more than $99.
• Leithelle Williams did not report her income by the due date.

Over the weekend, the Washington Post solicited three-paragraph blurbs from various foreign policy experts on what should be done in Afghanistan. One of them was Jane Harman, D-South Bay, who wrote this:

It's too early to abandon a strategy focused on protecting the population and rebuilding the country, a key part of which is Afghan buy-in. We should aim to shrink our ground footprint and focus on training a growing army of willing and courageous Afghans. But without a viable partner, the strategy will fail. That's why I say: "It's the corruption, stupid."

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, is right to focus on better governance as the way to persuade Afghans to side with NATO forces against the Taliban. Major opposition candidates and tribal elders in Kandahar told me in April that the presidential election would be a sham and that people could join the Taliban rather than submit to the corruption of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's cronies. The United States has leverage to demand that the Karzai government clean up its act and submit to a partial or total recount to fix the fraudulent election. Unless and until this happens, Congress shouldn't even be asked about troop levels.

Note that Harman is not repeating her suggestion from last week that more troops be offered in exchange for progress on corruption.

Note also that the call for a recount is new.

Let's get to it, readers:

The city of Palos Verdes Estates is prosecuting a wealthy divorcee for renting out her 7,000-square-foot estate for weddings and tourists -- not a cool move in a city that is pursuing a counter suit against the folks they proscuted earlier this year for too elaborate Halloween decorations.

Some Westchester moms are taking to technology to fight crime in their neighborhood.

Johnny Torres clawed his way out of a life of gangs and drugs in a South Bay housing project to turn his life around in the military, and start classes last week at UCLA.

Bicycle thefts are apparently way up in the South Bay beach cities.

Speaking of which, some Redondo Beach children's beloved pet turtle has been stolen.

Gardena and San Pedro high schools, two of the most underperforming institutions in the South Bay, could be taken over by independent operators under a Los Angeles Unified School District reform plan.

Hey, while you're flying through Los Angeles International Airport, why don't you get your seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine? Shots are available starting Thursday.

South Bay real estate prices slipped 2.5 percent overall last month, recent figures show.

We are deep into prep football season, so why don't you check out our local sports coverage?

Readers, let's hop to it:

A fire broke out at a Wilmington refinery this morning.

A loving and handy father brought a world wonder to his Redondo Beach daughter's backyard wedding. So sweet.

The family of a man shot and killed by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies last month in Carson have filed suit against the agency.

Just as the city of Torrance nearly wraps up extensive roadwork to its namesake boulevard, it moves along to Crenshaw Boulevard.

Veteran newswoman Toni Sciacqua is the Daily Breeze's new editor. Why don't you follow her on Twitter, and wish her congratulations?

The latest bank robbers with cutesy names wanted by the FBI? The Bedtime Bandits, who use pillow cases when they steal from banks, including three in the South Bay.

Today's At Work column profiles a woman who runs a San Pedro construction business.

Make sure you check out the Breeze's Top 10 list of prep football teams.

Capitol Weekly takes a look at Laura Richardson's staff turnover rate, and finds that 18 staffers have already left since Richardson was elected two years ago.

The report is based on records maintained by Legistorm, which tracks Congressional staffing and salaries.

"When you see someone who can't keep staff, it's usually either they're a difficult boss to work for, they don't pay enough or the staff just doesn't respect them while they're there," (Jock) Friedly (who publishes Legistorm) said. "I can't say whether any of this is the case in Laura Richardson's case."

Richardson is on her fourth spokesman and her third chief of staff. Perhaps most interesting are the commenters, who seem to have some inside knowledge:

And let us not overlook how Richardson forced staff members to pay for her dry cleaning, move her Sacramento house from Sac to D.C. by U-Haul, this after the moving company quit when she talked to them like she was crazy. Oh and please don't exclude how she locked Stan out of the Sacramento office, Jasmyne from the District office, and had Kim escorted by Capitol Police out of the House.

Richardson declined to comment to Capitol Weekly.

Readers, let's get to it:

Police are investigating a double homicide in Wilmington last night.

Proposed state legislation would limit how employers can use credit checks to screen potential hires, like one Hawthorne woman who believes she was passed over for two jobs because of bad credit.

Several South Bay survivors of drunk driving victims are participating in this weekend's Mothers Against Drunk Driving fundraiser.

A new extradition law means means an ex-con wanted in Washington and found in Gardena goes free.

Manhattan Beach residents tonight can give their two cents about how parking restrictions might help ease Sand Dune Park use.

A Rancho Palos Verdes landowner can't use his extensive property for parties or weddings, city planners have ruled.

South Bay residents now has two more places to spend money they don't have: Kohl's opens Sunday at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach, and Howard's, an electronics chain, took the space vacated by Circuit City in Torrance.

The Port of L.A.'s Clean Trucks Program is drawing some national interest, as the city lobbies Washington for permission to re-regulate the local port trucking industry. The program is seen, for better or worse, as a potential model for re-unionization port drivers nationwide.

Whether you think that's a good idea or not depends on your politics. First up, the Wall Street Journal, which takes a dim view of the program:

Unionization would give the Teamsters enormous bargaining leverage over work rules and pay, sharply raising the cost of moving goods, as well the power to shut down ports in a strike. Some 32 trade groups, from farm organizations to the National Retail Federation, signed a recent letter to Mr. Oberstar opposing the legislation. The response of shippers would be to divert cargo to Mexico or Canada, or pass through an expanding Panama Canal for ports on the Gulf or East Coasts. California doesn't need more reasons for business to flee the state.

The change in federal law would also mark a step away from the transportation deregulation that began in the 1970s and that has done so much to reduce costs and improve competition. The damage from a patchwork regulatory system would be felt nationwide, and all for the sake of Mr. Villaraigosa's union pals.

But The American Prospect argues that the Clean Trucks Program is an essential piece of a broad effort to modernize America's ports:

Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, is a marvel of efficiency. More than 7,000 container ships visit its docks annually, most stopping for barely more than a day. New terminal facilities, built on landfill where the river meets the sea, handle 10 million containers with a minimum of congestion and pollution.

The freight -- Chinese clothing and electronics, American pharmaceuticals, Spanish automobiles -- seamlessly flows to warehouses, distribution centers, rail yards, and barges surrounding the port, on time and on schedule. The tightly integrated freight-movement system at the port makes it possible to operate a just-in-time logistics system in which goods arrive at their destination 15 minutes before they are moved to their next spot on the supply chain. This allows shippers to operate with minimal inventory, a must on a continent where most retail shops have minimal space to store goods. Lean logistics means lower interest costs on merchandise, lower insurance costs, less theft, and less need to discount unsold goods.

By comparison, American ports and the logistics and distribution systems they feed are old world.

Readers, let's hit it:

Rep. Jane Harman has apparently shifted her previous position that any new troops in Afghanistan would be citizens. In an op/ed she's penned, Harman has called for higher troop levels there if the Afghan government can deliver anti-corruption measures.

Gardena city leaders Tuesday night selected its city clerk to fill the seat vacated by Steve Bradford, now an assemblyman. Check out tomorrow's paper for more details.

A new Lomita home for domestic violence victims and their children hosts a gala to raise money in this rotten economy.

Sorry, friends, but you've gotta limit your roosters to just one in Los Angeles, thanks to a new ordinance approved Tuesday.

The man who allegedly sexually assaulted and beat a 69-year-old woman beyond recognition on a Hawthorne street last week has been charged with forcible rape and attempted murder.

A Gardena man pleaded no contest to shooting his ex-con father during an argument. How's that for a nuclear family?

Gardena City Clerk Tasha Cerda was appointed to the City Council with a 2-1 vote late Tuesday night. She is replacing former Councilman Steve Bradford, who was elected to the state Assembly this month.

There were four candidates who applied for the appointment, which was made in lieu of a March 2010 special election. They were: Cerda, Realtor and former City Council candidate Mina Semenza, Commissioner Woods Woolwine, and Art Kaskanian, owner of Sam's Auto Land.

Cerda was elected to the City Clerk's post in March, after twice running for a seat on the council. She is president of the Holly Park Homeowners Association and a longtime community advocate.

Mayor Paul Tanaka nominated Cerda at Tuesday's council meeting and Councilman Ron Ikejiri also supported her appointment. Councilman Dan Medina voted no, and Councilwoman Rachel Johnson abstained from the vote. Johnson and Cerda used to be close political allies, but they had a falling out several years ago.  Cerda will serve out Bradford's term through 2012.

See tomorrow's paper for a full story about the appointment.

For the sake of completeness, here is a recent letter to the Washington Times from Jane Harman's potential Republican challenger, Mattie Fein. Fein was responding to the Harman op/ed that appeared on Sept. 10.

The issue isn't simply the corruption ("It's the corruption, stupid!" Opinion, Thursday). It's whether the U.S. military is the instrument for ending Afghanistan's corrupt, ethnically splintered, sectarian and inept government, stupid!

Why should a single American soldier risk life and limb in Afghanistan if the defeat of the Taliban or al Qaeda there depends on an Afghan democracy that Common Cause would salute? U.S. military personnel are and should be trained for one mission and one mission only: to kill the enemy. They are not and should not be in the business of promoting clean and efficient government -- especially in Afghanistan, where weak, corrupt, tribal and despotic rule has prevailed for millenniums.

The henpecking of Rep. Jane Harman, California Democrat, is akin to throwing a snowball into hell to quell the heat. If she truly believes what she wrote about Afghanistan and corruption, she would be demanding an immediate withdrawal of troops to avoid senseless American casualties.

Fein has formed an exploratory committee to look into a run against Harman next year.

In a voicemail, Jane Harman takes issue with my characterization of her op/ed in today's Financial Times:

The op/ed with Michael O'Hanlon is about corruption. It's not about troop levels. And my position, which I have said publicly, is that I am hopeful that any additional troops required in Afghanistan will be Afghan troops, and that that will be possible once the Afghans have confidence that their government will deliver services.

The Harman-O'Hanlon piece suggests increasing U.S. troop levels on the condition that anti-corruption measures are taken. That's a distinct message from the one Harman delivered in the Washington Times last week, when she argued (writing solo) that it's premature to talk about U.S. troop increases.

Congress should not even be asked about more troops without first being shown evidence that some anti-corruption metrics have been achieved, not just announced.

Success in Afghanistan is essential; the United States has invested too many troops and too much treasure to fail. But raising troop levels is the wrong place to start the discussion of how to move forward. Better governance is the right place. That way the additional troops will be Afghans. It is their fight, and they should constitute the overwhelming majority of the forces fighting to protect their country.

Harman's position may have shifted since last week -- she would say it hasn't -- or today's op/ed may merely be reflective of O'Hanlon's more hawkish influence.

Marcy Winograd, who is challenging Jane Harman for the Democratic nomination, just put out her own statement on Afghanistan:

We all want to feel safe and secure, and know that our taxpayer dollars are not being wasted on perpetual wars that create new enemies. For these reasons, we must work for an exit strategy from Afghanistan and bring our troops home...

Some say we cannot afford to leave Afghanistan. In fact, my opponent argues we must eradicate corruption there because -- "... the United States has invested too many troops and too much treasure to fail." I say -- We cannot afford to stay in Afghanistan because we will bankrupt our country.

War and occupation breed corruption, so a policy of escalation in Afghanistan is at cross-purposes. If we really want to eradicate corruption in Afghanistan, then we should invest in humanitarian aid, not weapons that will kill innocent people and create more hatred toward us. Let us build schools, hospitals and houses -- not as an occupying power -- but as a global partner interested in shared prosperity and global stability.

Rep. Jane Harman has an op/ed in the Financial Times today, in which she and co-author Michael O'Hanlon suggest conditioning troop increases in Afghanistan on the Karzai government's willingness to pursue anti-corruption measures:

But we need to find a way to benefit from this moment of maximum US leverage. Barack Obama, US president, can tell Mr Karzai that Congress, facing $1,000bn (€677bn, $611bn) deficits and an American public souring on the war, will not fund additional troop deployments until it sees Afghans doing their part. This is a credible good-cop/bad-cop message that Mr Karzai, assuming he is ultimately re-elected, will ignore at his peril.

Afghanistan has moved onto the front burner since the publication of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment that without more troops, the mission will fail.

To get a sense of where O'Hanlon is coming from on this, check out his July op/ed calling for more troops in Afghanistan; his argument that Afghanistan is no Iraq; and his op/ed downplaying the challenges there. 

Today's op/ed is behind a pay wall, but you can read the whole thing after the jump.

All seven candidates for Rancho Palos Verdes City Council have confirmed attendance at a debate Thursday, Oct. 1, that organizers are billing as the "New Hampshire primary of RPV politics."

There's a little over a month to go before the Nov. 3 election that will bring two new councilmen into office.

The event is set for 7 p.m. at Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West.

It's hosted by the Home Owner Associations of Long Point -- PV Bay Club, Sea Bluff, Sea Hill, Vista Pacifica HOAs and The Villas.

Today, the O.C. Register takes a look at Ted Lieu's battles to reform mortgage lending. Familiar stuff for local Lieu-watchers, but it's interesting to see him get some broader attention.

Story includes the detail that Lieu brought chocolates to banking industry lobbyists (?), and this curious graf:

Lieu's repeated efforts to change lender behavior - he also authored a bill awaiting action by the governor that restricts use of subprime loans - have cost him. He lost his chairmanship of the banking committee and was not allowed even a seat on it.

In one of the last acts of his speakership last year, Fabian Nunez ousted Hector De La Torre from the chairmanship of the Rules Committee. He tapped Lieu to replace him, moving Lieu over from Banking and Finance. There was bad blood between Nunez and De La Torre over an Assembly pension deal and De La Torre's failed bid for speaker.

Did Nunez also want to punish Lieu for being too hard on the banks? That's hard to figure, since only a few months before Nunez co-authored Lieu's mortgage reform bill. But I suppose anything is possible.

Lieu is running for attorney general.

Readers, let's roll:

Missed the Emmy's last night? Prep for water cooler talk with our round-up, and scroll through pictures of the pretty dresses.

As Redondo Beach's King Harbor turns 50, locals wonder what's next for the landmark.

A 70-year-old woman who was brutally raped and beaten on a Hawthorne street last week has been identified by her son.

A record 14,038 people helped pick up garbage at Southern California beaches Saturday as part of Coastal Cleanup Day, during which volunteers collected more than 300,000 pounds of debris -- including a plastic skull that gave volunteers in Redondo Beach a bit of a fright.

In the wake of last month's 230-acre fire on the Palos Verdes Peninsuala, officials there are negotiating for improved brush clearance strategies.

After more than a decade of wrangling and fallen plans, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners next month will consider a $1.2 billion waterfront redevelopment plan aimed at reviving San Pedro's image and economy.

The plans call for an increased footprint around quaint but outdated Ports O' Call, but what happens to downtown San Pedro?

Now that the state Legislature is on a break, let's see what new laws South Bay state elected officials got passed -- and what failed.

NPR has a piece on the difficulty of alleviating prison overcrowding -- even when the state is under a court order to do so. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg explains:

"When it comes to criminal justice, it's very, very political... And of course too many of them running for higher office or concerned about their political futures were not willing to cast the votes for a comprehensive package."

That's a reference to folks like Pedro Nava and local boy Ted Lieu, who both voted against prison reform, no doubt in part to protect their law-and-order cred for the upcoming attorney general's race. (A third A.G. candidate, Alberto Torrico, voted for the Assembly bill.)

In an interview, Lieu, D-Torrance, blasted the reform proposal, which he called a form of early release:

"We took a whole bunch of non-violent, non-serious offenders, and took them off parole supervision. It's the parole agents' job to help these people integrate into society. Primarily what this bill did was cut money. It's an odd response when the federal courts say you've got a huge problem in corrections, and our response is, 'Let's cut $1 billion.' I simply would have cut more from other places and not have cut from public safety."

Lieu argues that the problem is not that sentences are too harsh -- which some have suggested could be remedied by a sentencing commission -- but rather that there is too much recidivism. The solution to that, he says, is more rehabilitation, not early release or lessened probation supervision.

"What people don't understand is that you have to try very hard to get into state prison," he said. "You don't get there for shoplifting. The average state prisoner has five felony convictions. You're in state prison if you did one horrible act or a series of moderately horrible acts."

These votes have already come up at a recent A.G. debate, and are likely to figure prominently in the coming campaign.

Readers, let's hit it:

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year begins today at sunset.

It's also National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which the folks at the Los Angeles Air Force Base have commemorated with a 24-hour torch run.

Members of Hermosa Beach's Hope Chapel Foursquare Church have sued a former pastor, accusing him of duping them into a ponzi scheme in which they lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Two sleuthing folks staying in Torrance traced stolen tires and rims from their trailer to a Craiglist ad. Police arranged to meet the sellers/thiefs, and then made an arrest.

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society Museum has secured its first rotating exhibit -- a group of valuable paddle boards and other lifeguard-themed memorabilia set for official unveiling at a gala Saturday.

San Pedro's Cabrillo Beach is apparently still dirty, even after Port of Los Angeles officials removed a rocky jetting aimed at improving water circulation.

Yum! A San Pedro woman is honoring her Italian heritage with cupcakes.

Mira Costa High School's football team lost in the last minute Thursday. Denied!

Readers, we are chockablock with news today:

Signs indicate the recession might be ending, but food pantries have seen a 34 percent increase in need compared to the same time last year.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn has formed a committee to explore the possibility of her running for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Meanwhile, political consultant Mattie Fein is preparing to run against Jane Harman as a Republican in the 36th Congressional District.

John Bogert's son is learning to drive!

The ruckus over how South Bay Botanic Garden board members spent a surprise donation has apparently settled down.

El Segundo has given its school board an extra $150,000 cash payment, but the high school still wants more lucrative filming time.

Three more South Bay post offices, including Hermosa's and another in Redondo Beach and Torrance, have been added to the list of possible branches set for closure in an effort to cut United State Postal Service costs.

Cal-OSHA has levied nearly $33,000 in fines upon Exxon-Mobil over the April death of a worker at its Torrance refinery.

A Manhattan Beach man will take the helm of Northrop Grumman once its current CEO steps down Dec. 31.

Palos Verdes High School's boys water polo team apparently has a got shot at a title this season.

Bloomberg is reporting that the first person to speak up on behalf of a reprimand for Joe "You lie!" Wilson was none other than... Laura Richardson:

The second-term member who represents Long Beach said she spoke up at the weekly caucus meeting that same day because "leadership didn't say something strong" about "what they were going to do" in response to Wilson's outburst.

It was "the elephant in the room that we had not dealt with," and "I didn't think it was OK to think it would go away," she said yesterday in a telephone interview after the House vote.

During her behind-closed-doors speech to House colleagues, Richardson recalls saying that "this country has taken on a display of hate, a display of rage a display of unwillingness to even consider and be open to change."

Richardson said she was concerned that Wilson's outburst showed "we have crossed the line of it becoming dangerous if we as members are going to scream at one another."

Live long enough and you see everything.

Readers, without further ado:

Like much of the state, South Bay school districts improved on test scores and many exceeded goals, according to figures released Tuesday by the California Department of Education.

Speaking of which, Gardena's 156th Street Elementary School was one of 25 schools statewide to receive honors for their students' standardized test performance.

Prosecutors presented closing arguments Tuesday in the murder re-trial case of Cameron Brown, who is accused of killing his 4-year-old daughter by throwing her over a Rancho Palos Verdes cliff nine years ago.

Though he agrees that President Obama was lying in his health care speech last week, South Bay Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst was wrong. Rohrabacher was one of seven republicans who voted Tuesday to censure Wilson.

The Los Angeles County Health Services Department, an already indebted agency that oversees several South Bay clinics as well as Habor-UCLA Medical Center, will see a $71 million reduction in state funding this fiscal year.

Finally some good economy news: August showed the smallest decline in shipments passing through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach this year, figures released Tuesday show.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was one of just seven Republicans to vote for the House resolution reprimanding Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for shouting "You lie!" at President Obama last week.

"I think that unfortunately my Republican colleagues got sucked into playing low brow politics and we should have taken the high road,'' Rohrabacher tells the Register. "The high road is you maintain decorum in the House and you don't want to have a president treated any differently than if Ronald Reagan was delivering the speech.''

South Bay Reps. Jane Harman and Laura Richardson also voted aye. Maxine Waters was traveling and missed the vote.

Today, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., introduced a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

Rep. Jane Harman, who voted against DOMA back in 1996, joined 90 other legislators as a co-sponsor of the bill:

"I'm hopeful that we can repair some of the damage done by that law," Harman said. "This bill is yet another chapter in the nation's ongoing quest to live up to the ideals of equality and freedom embodied in the Constitution."

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has issued its annual list of the most corrupt members of Congress, and this year both Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters made the cut.

And in both cases, the allegations can be traced to the foreclosure crisis.

Richardson is on there for her personal mortgage problems. (She also made the 2008 list for the same reason.) As everyone knows, Richardson lost her Sacramento home in a foreclosure sale last year, then got it back when Washington Mutual intervened, raising at least the appearance of preferential treatment. She also defaulted on two homes in Long Beach and San Pedro, and failed to pay $9,000 in property taxes on the Sacramento home. (The taxes were later repaid by WaMu, which itself went belly-up soon after.) For a time the neighbors were complaining about Richardson's untended lawn, but those problems appear (fingers crossed) to be behind her. Though there have been reports that the House Ethics Committee is looking into the matter, Richardson says she has righted her financial ship.

Waters is back on the list after a two-year absence due to her efforts to help OneUnited Bank, where her husband used to serve as a board member. Last fall, as the global economy was melting down, Waters helped arrange for a meeting between Treasury Department officials and the leadership of OneUnited Bank. The meeting was supposedly intended to address the broad concerns of minority-owned banks, but Treasury officials said that it turned into a plea for a bailout for OneUnited, which had incurred major losses due to the failures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. OneUnited was later reprimanded by the FDIC for excess executive compensation and shoddy lending practices. It was also given $12 million in TARP funds. Waters used to own $250,000 to $500,000 worth of stock in OneUnited, and her husband still holds a sizable investment in the bank. Waters said her conduct in this case was wholly consistent with her advocacy for minority-owned banks.

CREW is generally thought of as a left-leaning organization, but this year Dems outnumber Reps on the list (8-7).

Readers, here is your morning news:

As the High Holy Days approach, South Bay synagogues are working to help members afford tickets to services, as well as expensive membership dues, which are typically paid this time of year.

What would Suzanne Somers think? Manhattan Beach park goers might have to leave their ThighMasters at home if city leaders tonight decide to ban personal exercise equipment in town.

An 87-year-old woman forced to testify in court said her son would never, ever murder his former girlfriend 30 years ago in Torrance.

Volunteers from the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro released seals back to the sea Monday. Check out pictures of these cuties -- the seals and the volunteers, of course.

A San Pedro real estate agent and mortgage broker doesn't let blindness impede his business.

South Bay beach city residents had better get ready for a new girls volleyball season. Check out pictures of teams from Mira Costa and Redondo Union.

The biggest vote in Steve Bradford's very young legislative career involved an industry he knows quite a bit about: electric utilities.

Bradford voted yes on SB 14 and AB 64, which would require utilities to get 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. During the campaign, Bradford had expressed some skepticism about such renewable requirements, based on his experience in public affairs at Southern California Edison.

In a conference call with reporters set up by the governor's office today, SCE VP Stuart Hemphill took aim at the legislation:

SB14 would require Southern California Edison to take its eye off the ball in terms of focusing on transmission and instead require us to focus on building renewable generation.  

The governor is expected to veto the bills.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has appointed Betsy Butler to the state's Film Commission.

Despite having never run for office before, Butler is the leading contender to replace Ted Lieu in the Assembly largely by virtue of her Sacramento connections. Butler is the top fundraiser for the Consumer Attorneys of California, a lobbying group for trial lawyers. Before that she worked for the League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Defense Fund.

As far as I'm aware, Butler has never worked in government before*, so this film commission appointment could be intended to fill in that gap on her resume. Steinberg has endorsed Butler in next year's Democratic primary.

* UPDATE: Wrong. Butler worked for four years in the Commerce Department during the Clinton Administration.

Here are some snippets from State Assemblyman Steve Bradford's letter of resignation from the Gardena City Council.

Bradford served on the council for more than 12 years. He resigned on Thursday, the day he was sworn in as the representative of teh 51st Assembly District.

"I am proud of and humbled by our Council's shared accomplishments over the past decade plus. Together, we have worked hard to restore the City's financial condition and economic vitality by reducing and restructuring the City's debt, constructing a $35 million 'green' Transit Facility, encouraging small business development, job creation and increasing city services for over the nearly 60,000 residents of Gardena and establishing the best jazz festival in the south...

While I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to serve the people of the 51st District, I will deeply miss the camaraderie of the Council and our work together on behalf of the city that has been my home for the past four decades."

 Bradford broke down and cried as he said goodbye at the Sept. 8 council meeting. He also took the opportunity to ask for support for President Barack Obama's health care plan, and to complain about opposition from insurance companies.

Readers, let's start your week off right:

Improvements to West High School softball fields are nearly complete after one family fileda complaint against Torrance Unified School District alleging a lack of athletic opportunities for girls, guaranteed under Title IX.

Two sisters love their Carson resident brother-in-law so much that they'd give him their kidneys.

Efforts to unionize a Port of Los Angeles trucking company serves as a microcosm for the national debate over the Employee Free Choice Act.

Now that Marymount College has announced plans to become a four-year school, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has ordered more environmental review of the institution's controversial expansion plans.

A woman whose body was found in a burning Gardena auto shop Friday killed herself, officials have ruled. See pictures of the scene.

Lomita is more than halfway done with its new reservoir, the biggest public works project in the tiny city's history.

Though Manhattan Beach's popular Sand Dune park remains closed for maintenance that was badly needed after a recent surge in use, residents nearby are already worried about its looming, yet so-far unscheduled, reopening.

And they are apparently making their worries known to city officials.

To that end, City Manager Geoff Dolan has written a letter to residents that outlines the steps leaders are taking to address the problems that lead to the popular dune's closure:

Dear Sand Dune Neighbors,

I want to thank everyone for the many emails that have been sent to City Council and City staff regarding Sand Dune Park. In addition I would like to try and address many of the points that have been raised by residents. Please take note that City Council has the final say on any and all decisions related to the Park.

First I want to acknowledge the substantial increase of the Dune's use and the impact this increased attendance has had on the adjacent residential neighborhood. Everyone at the City recognizes the problem and the challenge is now to resolve the issues. In the past we have focused on things such as parking, staffing and traffic. While these actions may have provided some relief, problems remain that are still unacceptable.

Your morning news, readers:

John Bogert reflects on Sept. 11, 2001, a day that forever altered the nation's collective consciousness. Are you doing anything special today? Peruse our list of local events to remember those lost eight years ago.

What does Sept. 11 mean to you? Leave a comment, and share your experience.

Firefighters discovered this morning the body of a 60-year-old woman inside a fire-ravaged automotive repair shop in Gardena.

A man wrongly arrested and forced to confess to the rape and murder of  a Lawndale woman in a Manhattan Beach home four years ago has received $1.25 million settlement from Los Angeles County.

Just days before Marymount College officials will plead their expansion case to the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, the two-year school has announced plans to offer bachelor's degrees.

A rape and abduction reported by an 18-year-old El Camino College student never happened, officials said Thursday, a day after they warned parents and students of the assault.

Today's prep sports preview checks in with West High School's football team. Check out pictures, too.

Assemblyman Steve Bradford was sworn in today in a private ceremony in Sacramento.

He teared up at his last meeting at the Gardena City Council. Let's see if he can keep his perfect attendance record going up at the state Capitol.

Readers, here's your morning scoop:

Los Angeles County is developing a grading grading for day care centers in hopes of giving parents guidance on where to send their children. A voluntary pilot program has started in San Pedro and Wilmington.

Local Beatles fans flocked Wednesday to electronic stores to buy the latest offering from the Fab Four.

On the first day of school for the Los Angeles Unified School District, we check in with San Pedro High's new principal, who apparently has her plate full at the troubled campus.

Two South Bay beach cities are a little bit closer to a consolidated fire department.

Gardena city leaders have approved a new condo complex, but nixed a commercial development because it included a nail salon and tobacco shop.

Narbonne High School running back Melvin Davis starts his season Friday in memory of his friend, slain former player Dannie Farber. Check out pictures.

If you missed the speech, here's the full text:

 

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people: 

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  We were losing an average of 700,000 jobs per month.  Credit was frozen.  And our financial system was on the verge of collapse. 

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.  A full and vibrant recovery is many months away.  And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.  That is our ultimate goal.  But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink. 

I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those who have taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery.  I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation. 

But we did not come here just to clean up crises.  We came to build a future.  So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future - and that is the issue of health care. 

CNN and Fox News are both reporting that a number of Congress members showed up early at the Obama speech today to save seats along the aisle.

Among them: Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach.

Those aisle seats are coveted by lawmakers who want to be seen shaking the president's hand on national TV...

UPDATE: Paydirt! Richardson, in a white coat, just spotted shaking the president's hand on CNN.

To celebrate her ninth birthday on the ninth day of the ninth month, Miranda Snell got breakfast in bed this morning, a fancy tiara to wear at school, and plans for a special dinner at her favorite restaurant tonight.

"I'm turning nine," the Lomita third-grader said. "It's the ninth month and it's 2009 and it's the ninth day. They have the same numbers. My dad told me. He told me that all the numbers were going to be nine."

But despite having likely the most numerically neat birthday of the year, Miranda will have to wait to really celebrate her special day on Saturday, when all her school friends will come over for a pool party.

Looks like 9-9-09's falling on a Wednesday has kept the distinct date from being, well, a 10.

Cherished Vow's, a wedding chapel in Torrance, married five couples today -- a figure on par with any other weekend day, said owner Julie Nixon.

"We're performing No. 5 right now," she said this afternoon. "It's not as many as 7-7-7 or 8-8-8. If this were a Saturday, we'd be much busier."

Already, Nixon has received a call from a couple inquiring about the availability of Oct. 10, 2010, a Sunday.

Still, Nixon has no complaints about 9-9-09 -- a Wednesday usually only brings one couple to the chapel, she said.

And Miranda got a special treat birthday treat that would only work on a school day. She didn't have to wear her uniform, and instead got to stand out in whatever outfit she chose: brown shorts and a white shirt with lots of designs, she said.

On what was likely his last time as a sitting Gardena City Council member, Steve Bradford choked up on Tuesday night.

Bradford was elected to the state 51st Assembly District last week to replace Curren Price, Jr. (who was chosen for the state Senate). Bradford will represent Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Playa Vista, Westchester, Lennox and other nearby areas.

   "This could well be my last meeting," Bradford said. "I want to say how honored and privileged I've been to serve the city of Gardena."

At that, he paused as tears welled in his eyes.

"This is where the rubber meets the road," he went on. "I can go to Sacramento and hide. I can go to Washington DC and hide. But you can't hide from the residents of 146th Street who say they want less traffic congestion."

He asked the council to continue the summer jazz festival that he has hosted at Rowley Park for the past seven years.

Mayor Paul Tanaka and council members praised Bradford for his victory, and said they were thrilled to have an "advocate" for Gardena in Sacramento. 

Bradford, who has been a councilman for 12 years, will begin his new job as soon as Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass asks him to, which could be as soon as today. Then Gardena will rush to meet a 30-day deadline to fill his seat.

Tanaka called on anyone interested in the seat to fill out an application at City Hall. The council will vote on a replacement at its next meeting (if Bradford is called to the Assembly before that). If three of four council members agree on a candidate, that person will take the chair. If the council members cannot reach a majority agreement, a special election will be called in March to fill out Bradford's term until 2012.

The city will have a public goodbye reception for Bradford at the beginning of its Sept. 22 meeting.

Speaker Karen Bass has just stripped Assemblyman Mike Duvall, R-Yorba Linda, of his seats on the Rules Committee and the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

KCAL 9 reported that Duvall, who is married, recently spoke about affairs he was having with two lobbyists, apparently unaware he was sitting next to an open microphone. Reporter Dave Lopez says that one of the lobbyists works for a utility company, which would have business before the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

In a statement on his campaign website, Duvall says, "I made a mistake and I sincerely apologize. I deeply regret the comments I made in what I believed to be a private conversation. This is a private matter and I ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved."

Let's hit it with the news:

We check in with South Bay schools that tuned in Tuesday to watch President Obama address school children across the country.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has awarded a $170 million contract for the construction of a new surgery center at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance.

Meantime, the county will receive nearly $15 million from the Center for Disease Control to combat swine flu as part of an emergency public health fund.

Turns out, Tortilla Flats isn't the best name for a restaurant in Old Torrance, just blocks away from the turf of an East Torrance gang that has adopted the literary moniker.

Trucking companies are protesting a proposed 18-cent state gas tax, which some companies working out of the Port of Los Angeles say would only add to the burden they're feeling after new environmental regulations.

One local company is seeing a profit boost thanks to gold's rising value.

Prep football is here, and today we look at teams from Leuzinger and Inglewood. While you're at it, why don't you check out pictures of Leuzinger's team?

Rep. Maxine Waters will be discussing health care on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday morning.

Looks like Waters, D-L.A., will be representing the left side of the spectrum, with Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., holding down the right. Fireworks will ensue. Also on the panel will be former Sens. Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, who will play the role of the Senatorial saucer that cools the hot passions of the House.

Also, as a kind of warmup, tonight Waters will be on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" on MSNBC.

The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder has updated its count in the 51st Assembly District, and the new tally shows that Steve Bradford has indeed won the seat outright.

With roughly 850 ballots added to the count, Bradford's share of the total remained unchanged: 52.9 percent. That means he cleared the hurdle to take the seat without a runoff in November.

So send your applications for the open seat on the Gardena City Council...

AP:

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- California authorities say a clash between opponents and supporters of health care reform ended with one man biting off another man's finger.

Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Frank O'Hanlon says about 100 people demonstrating in favor of health care reforms rallied Wednesday night on a street corner. One protester walked across the street to confront about 25 counter-demonstrators.

O'Hanlon says the man got into an argument and fist fight, during which he bit off the left pinky of a 65-year-old man who opposed health care reform.

A hospital spokeswoman says the man lost half the finger, but doctors reattached it and he was sent home the same night.

She says he had Medicare.

O'Hanlon says the attacker fled but authorities have a good description.

Readers, without further ado:

A man was killed when struck by a car as he ran across the street late last night near Los Angeles International Airport.

Los Angeles County fire officials believe last week's Palos Verdes fire was accidental and possibly caused by a power pole.

A Harbor College geography professor has been convicted of stalking television weather man Fritz Coleman, whom she believes makes incorrect weather forecasts that endanger people's health.

South Bay students followed a statewide trend by showing a small uptick in an increase in high school pupils passing the exit exam on their first shot.

The AES power plant in Redondo Beach is seeking an injunction against the city's planned ballot measure that could force it to pay millions in taxes.

In more court news: Charges were filed against actress Joyce DeWitt for driving under the influence in El Segundo. A judge tossed out some allegations from Donald Trump against Rancho Palos Verdes.

Gear up for college football season -- and don't forget our local community colleges, Harbor and El Camino. Check out pictures here and here.

The South Bay Tea Party organization is demanding that Rep. Jane Harman hold a town hall meeting in her district. But the August recess is winding down and it doesn't look like there's going to be a public forum before Congress returns to D.C. next week.

Harman did sit down today with her "medicine cabinet" -- a group of local hospital administrators and health professionals who advised her on health reform issues.

The full list of attendees, which was provided by Harman's office, is after the jump.

Rep. Laura Richardson stopped by at the Press-Telegram today, and this photo was taken. She's holding a miniature P-T newspaper box:

The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder's office reports that there are about 800 ballots left to be counted in the 51st Assembly District. If that's the case, then Steve Bradford only needs to win 86 of them (10.7 percent) to win a majority of the vote and take the seat outright.

Since he won 52.9 percent of the ballots counted so far, it's a near certainty that taxpayers will be spared the expense of a runoff.

Steve Bradford sent this over at about 1 a.m.:

We engaged the voters with a clear agenda for change in the 51st Assembly District. The voters wanted a legislative representative who would focus on creating new jobs, provide residents with greater access to healthcare services at private and public hospitals, and work diligently to solve the state's ongoing budget mess and cut the massive state deficits that inflict pain on local governments struggling to provide essential local services.

The voters of the district supported me and rejected my opponents due, in part, to my pledge to move aggressively on those specific issues, but also based on my 12-year track record of leadership on the Gardena City Council and my achievements as Gardena's Mayor Pro Tem. I am deeply honored by the strong support I received from the voters of the 51st Assembly District in this Special Election Primary. To win the 51st District seat outright is a tremendous accomplishment and a humbling achievement.

And we just got this from the Gloria Gray camp:

Gloria D. Gray, recent democratic special election candidate for 51^st Assembly District seat, sends a heartfelt thanks to her army of supporters who made a significant impact on the September 1^st race in a little over one month. Additionally, Gray congratulates Steve Bradford in securing 52.93% of the vote and his northward trek to represent the wonderful people of the 51^st.

"I entered this race for the people who insisted that I take my work to a new level, and I must say that I was fully supported by these same people throughout the four-week campaign period - to the tune of a 19% take-away," said Gloria Gray.

[snip]

Gray is most optimistic about the outcome as she places the election results in its proper context: she was outspent in this special election 10-to-1 and she entered the race two and a half years after her most formidable opponent had already made his rounds securing major endorsements.

"In the whole grand scheme of things, I am proud of the race that I ran," continued Gray. "The assurances that I received as a result of this short-term election is reason enough to keep my eyes and ears sensitive to future election opportunities."

More from the free food beat:

Susie Cakes, a gourmet bake shop that recently opened a location in Manhattan Beach, has a sweet deal that could entice students to hit the books.

For the entire month of September, children enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grades who stop by the shop with a paper, report or project that earned them an "A" get a free apple spice cupcake.

Those brainiac kids can also sign up for a contest that could win a cupcake party for their entire class. Yum!

The store is in the Manhattan Village complex, 3500 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 150.

Readers, here ya go:

Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford has won the 51st Assembly seat in Tuesday's special election, avoiding a run-off by earning about 53 percent of the vote in a field of six candidates.

Two Rancho Palos Verdes teens home alone while their parents vacationed in Spain are among those who shared their stories with the Breeze about surviving last week's brush fire.

Check out pictures of the fire's aftermath.

Scary stuff: A doctor at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance details in a new book details of the recent increase in drug-resistant bacteria.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn is pushing for the Knoll Hill land swap, though state officials appear ready to reject the plan for San Pedro.

Local car manufacturers Toyota and Honda saw a boost from the federal government's rebate plan.

Gardena and Palos Verdes high schools are both getting new football coaches this fall.

With all precincts reporting, Gardena Councilman Steve Bradford has 52.9% of the vote.

It certainly looks like he's won it outright, but we'll have to wait for late absentees and provisionals to be sure.

Turnout: 7.53%. That's gotta be some kind of record.

Looks like the firefighters came through for Steve Bradford.

With 123 of 158 precincts reporting in the 51st Assembly District special primary, the Gardena councilman has 51.7 percent of the vote -- just a whisker above the magic 50% threshold needed to win outright.

His nearest Democratic competitor, water board official Gloria Gray, has 19.5 percent of the vote. Put this one in the refrigerator.

The Bradford campaign always said their goal was to be the top Democrat in the race, and they seem to have achieved that handily. The real question at this point is whether Bradford wins outright, or has to wait two months to face Republican David Coffin the Nov. 3 runoff.

Either way, it looks like there's going to be a vacancy on the Gardena City Council.

(The 51st Assembly District has more than four times as many Democrats as Republicans. The district includes Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena.)

Polls will close on schedule at 8 p.m. tonight in the 51st Assembly District, which includes Inglewood, Lawndale, Hawthorne and Gardena.

However, firefighters who are manning the lines at the 127,000-acre Station Fire will have an extra two hours to cast their votes at special polling locations, thanks to an executive order from the governor.

Gardena Councilman Steve Bradford is considered the favorite against challengers Gloria Gray, a water board official, and Robert Pullen-Miles, a Lawndale councilman.

For what it's worth, Bradford has the endorsement of L.A. County Firefighters Local 1014, so the decision to make accommodations for the firefighters may be to his (slight) advantage.

They're also holding polls open late for firefighters who hail from the Bay Area's 10th Congressional District, where there is also a primary election today.

The delay means that the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder will not start counting ballots until 10 p.m. That means that the results will not appear in tomorrow's print edition of the Daily Breeze.

So check back here for up-to-date results as they come in.

Bradford's party, for those supporters who may be interested, is at 8 p.m. tonight at the Paradise restaurant, 889 W. 190th St.

Gray's party is also at 8 p.m. at her Inglewood campaign office, 2300 W. Manchester Blvd.

If you're at either one, send me an e-mail and let me know how it's going:

gene.maddaus@dailybreeze.com

Readers, let's hit it:

Firefighters are still working to contain the wild fires. Make sure to check back to the Daily Breeze for updates throughout the day.

Recession-rocked California hospitals are asking state leaders for relief from seismic safety rules that could lead to closure if not met on time, but several South Bay hospitals are busy with reconstruction plans.

Los Angeles County residents could save up to 40 percent in prescription medicine costs under a program announced Monday by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

A 62-year-old Hermosa Beach woman and her granddaughter both started their first day of classes Monday at Cal State Long Beach.

A Hawthorne man was shot to death after taking his niece and nephew to the Wilmington church, where his father was the pastor.

The Torrance City Council is set tonight to approve an $18 million purchase of a site for a new transit center.

A lawyer has accused Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. of Torrance of obstruction of justice.