......... NEWS
of the Day - October 19, 2009
on
some LACP issues of interest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEWS
of the Day
- October 19, 2009
on
some issues of interest to the community policing and neighborhood
activist
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following group of articles from local
newspapers and other sources constitutes but a small percentage
of the information available to the community policing and neighborhood
activist public. It is by no means meant to cover every possible
issue of interest, nor is it meant to convey any particular
point of view ...
We present this simply as a convenience to our readership ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From LA Times
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Community service as a TV theme
More than 100 programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and cable networks will spotlight the idea of giving back, through story lines or public service announcements.
By Matea Gold and Maria Elena Fernandez
October 19, 2009
Reporting from Los Angeles and New York
Discerning television viewers may notice a recurrent theme on their favorite shows this week. The doctors on ABC's "Private Practice" give homeless teenagers free checkups. On NBC's "30 Rock," page Kenneth Parcell tries to adopt all the dogs at an animal shelter. And two characters on CBS' "Numb3rs" talk about joining Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The outpouring of volunteerism is no coincidence. The story lines were developed for iParticipate , an industrywide initiative aimed at urging viewers to give back to their communities. Spearheaded by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, one of Hollywood's major charitable organizations and the force behind last year's "Stand Up to Cancer" telethon, the project has been embraced at an unprecedented level by the networks, studios and stars.
More than 100 programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and cable networks such as Nickelodeon and Lifetime will spotlight community service, either through explicit story lines or public service announcements featuring actors such as Emily Deschanel, Eva Longoria Parker and Rainn Wilson.
The message will be nearly ubiquitous, starting in the morning with programs such as "Today" and "The View," and then echoed on soap operas, prime-time series and late-night shows.
"We thought we'd have 20 or 30 programs involved," said Lisa Paulsen, chief executive of the EIF. "It's just caught on like wildfire."
But while the project has found widespread support in Hollywood, its dovetailing with President Obama's call for national service has fueled suspicion in some conservative circles that iParticipate is an effort to prop up left-wing causes.
Twitter users have posted messages complaining that the initiative is an abuse of the public airwaves. Writers on the blog Big Hollywood , part of the conservative news portal Breitbart.com, noted that the iparticipate.org's database of volunteer opportunities includes postings from Planned Parenthood and groups focused on ending global warming. (The database -- powered by a nonprofit Web platform called All for Good , designed by engineers from Google and other tech companies to be a single search interface for volunteers -- also includes listings for anti-abortion organizations and the conservative group Tea Party Nation.)
An EIF memo to show runners explaining the project obtained by Big Hollywood describes the initiative as a response to Obama's push for more community service. But Paulsen said that she and EIF board Chairwoman Sherry Lansing were inspired by hearing both Obama and Sen. John McCain speak about the need for more volunteerism at a service forum during the 2008 campaign.
"All of our political leaders have made national service a priority," Paulsen said. "This is a nonpartisan initiative. I don't see that there's anything negative that can be taken from this in any way, shape or form, because it really is about true citizenship."
Entertainment executives first hit on the idea during a board retreat in summer 2008 when they were brainstorming how to follow the "Stand Up to Cancer" project, according to Mitch Metcalf, NBC's executive vice president of program planning and scheduling and a member of the EIF board.
"We're lucky that the Obama administration happened to think this is a worthy cause and the first lady in particular is behind this general effort," he said. "But that just provides support and shines a spotlight on it. . . . We're certainly not servicing the White House."
Rather than just "running a bunch of stoic PSAs," Metcalf said network executives realized it would be more effective to embed the message of service into story lines. Producers were asked to find ways to hit on the theme but given creative freedom about how to do so.
"We didn't pull any arms or put a gun to anybody's head," said Preston Beckman, Fox's chief scheduler, also on the EIF board. "I think what's kind of cool about this is there wasn't an attempt at any kind of uniformity. There weren't any scripts or requirements. It was really 'Here's the goal: Get the word out about volunteering and do it however you feel would be best.' "
On NBC's "Parks and Recreation," executive producer Greg Daniels came up with the idea of having the characters build a park with KaBoom!, a nonprofit organization that constructs playgrounds.
In the Fox comedy " 'Til Death," couple Doug (Timm Sharp) and Ally (Lindsey Broad) address why they spend most of their time participating in protests and supporting the environment.
On Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana," Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) tries to win the school's charitable fundraising campaign.
Bruno Heller, executive producer of CBS' "The Mentalist," said it was easy to make the story line a natural part of his show. The writers decided to have rookie cop Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) volunteer in a kitchen for homeless families, which causes tension in her love life. (Some service-themed episodes, like this one, are airing later in the month.)
"It kind of fit in naturally with the characters," Heller said. "We're not playing it like an after-school special."
EIF is now in talks with film and music executives about incorporating iParticipate into their work, Paulsen said.
"We've just begun the conversations, but they're all enthusiastic," she said. "Everyone is saying, yes, yes, yes."
Justice Department memo rules on medical marijuana
Prosecutors will not seek to arrest users who are in strict compliance with state laws, officials say.
Associated Press
October 19, 2009
Washington
The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors today.
Two Justice Department officials described the policy to the Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.
The policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.
Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violated federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.
A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent today to federal prosecutors in the 14 states and to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.
The government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity, the officials said.
The memo warns that some suspects may hide drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business. In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases that involve violence, illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or other crimes.
Roman Polanski out of Zurich prison, under medical care
October 18, 2009 | 9:21 am
Roman Polanski remained at a medical center in Zurich, Switzerland, this morning, a day after being taken out of his prison cell for an undisclosed medical condition.
"All I know is that he has been taken from prison for medical attention. I don't know where he is or when he will be returned to prison," the director's attorney, Herve Temime, told Reuters news agency.
Temime told Swiss papers last week that Polanski was depressed and in an "unsettled state of mind" behind bars.
Polanski, 76, faces extradition to Los Angeles for sentencing after having pleaded guilty three decades ago to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Swiss authorities last week rejected Polanski's request to be released from jail. The director's representatives have said they plan to fight the efforts of L.A. prosecutors to bring the director back to California.
A team of American attorneys for Polanski met with a deputy assistant attorney general and other Justice Department officials Oct. 2 and presented them with arguments against returning the director to the U.S. to face sentencing on a statutory rape charge, according to a letter included in an appellate court filing Oct. 7.
Polanski was arrested Sept. 26 in Zurich. He fled the U.S. on the eve of his 1978 sentencing for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, who told police he raped and sodomized her during a photo shoot.
Authorities say the deadly violence in Rio de Janeiro a day earlier has only toughened their resolve to improve security ahead of the 2016 Games.
Associated Press
October 19, 2009
Rio De Janeiro
At least 2,000 Brazilian police officers patrolled this coastal city Sunday as officials pledged to hold a violence-free 2016 Olympics despite bloody drug gang shootouts that left 14 people dead.
An hours-long gun battle Saturday between rival gangs in one of the city's slums killed at least 12 people and injured six. A police helicopter was shot down and eight buses set on fire during the incident.
Police said Sunday that they had killed two suspected drug traffickers in overnight clashes near the Morro dos Macacos ("Monkey Hill") slum where the gangs fought for territory. But the area was largely peaceful.
Two officers died and four were injured Saturday when bullets from the gang battle ripped into their helicopter hovering overhead, forcing it into a fiery crash landing on a soccer field. Officials said they did not know whether the gangs targeted the helicopter or it was hit by stray bullets.
Gunfire on the ground killed 10 suspected gunmen and wounded two bystanders.
Authorities said the violence had only toughened their resolve to improve security ahead of the Olympics and before 2014, when Brazil will host the World Cup soccer tournament with key games in Rio, the second-biggest city.
Rio state Public Safety Director Jose Beltrame told reporters that the violence was limited to a specific area of the city of 6 million and "is not a problem throughout all of Rio de Janeiro."
He said authorities would follow through with promised efforts to reduce crime.
"We proved to the Olympic Committee that we have plans and proposals for Rio de Janeiro," he said. "We proved that our current policy not only consists of going into battle, it also consists of keeping the peace."
Rick Orlov is a Daily News staff writer. Updated: 10/19/2009 03:50:40 AM PDT
The search for a successor to Police Chief Bill Bratton begins in earnest this week, with the Los Angeles Police Commission conducting interviews for those making the first cut from the city Personnel Department.
There are at least six candidates who will be interviewed on Wednesday and Thursday - and they are said to include some from outside the LAPD - at a yet-to-be announced downtown location as Personnel winnows the list down to three choices for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The site of the interviews is expected to be released today.
It is believed between 12 and 15 candidates have been submitted to the commission for consideration.
The group was narrowed down from the 24 that originally applied for the post.
The group includes 17 Caucasians, five Latinos, one African-American and one Asian-American. Nineteen are men, five are women.
Bratton, whose resignation becomes effective on Oct. 31, has been pushing for an insider to be named and he has encouraged all of his command staff to apply for the job.
The Police Commission has held several public hearings around the city to hear what the public wants in the next chief and most have said they want to see an insider who would continue to carry out the reforms implemented by Bratton.
While the job carries a lot of prestige, it also contains a high risk factor as the department faces threats to reduce its overall force and tighter budgets in the coming years.
The city's new Department of Human Services, created this year with the consolidation of several agencies - Human Relations, Status of Women and Children Youth and Families - has created a unique problem.
There are now more commissioners than staff.
The three panels overseeing the agencies have a total of 33 members. The staff numbers 20.
Human Relations has a commission of 11 members, Children Youth and Families has 15 and Status of Women has seven.
Councilman Tom LaBonge, who held a hearing last week into how the consolidation is going, thinks things are a bit out of whack.
"We should look at just putting these departments in the Mayor's Office," LaBonge said. "Sometimes it's good to have separate departments, but in a time of crisis like we have now, we have to look at new ways of doing things."
One step could be consolidating the panels - with reduced membership - to provide public input and ease the burden on the staff, which must attend to the demands of all the commissioners who meet on different days.
It didn't take long for David Freeman to learn what he was stepping into when he agreed to become interim general manager of the Department of Water and Power.
The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council had invited Freeman to speak to their group last week when he canceled at the last minute. Freeman had agreed to step in when former DWP GM David Nahai dropped out after submitting his resignation.
Freeman e-mailed the group, a half-hour after the meeting had started, that he would be unable to attend on the advice of DWP staffers.
It was not going to be a friendly audience, with residents upset over the DWP bills an the water main breaks in recent weeks.
The Neighborhood Council is considering taking some kind of formal action to protest Freeman's failure to appear.
Councilwoman Janice Hahn is flying high these days with her newfound ambitions to be lieutenant governor.
A poll she commissioned showed her with a significant advantage over state Sens. Dean Florez, D-Fresno, and Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, not only in Los Angeles but in San Francisco as well.
The race, however, remains wide open with three out of five Democratic voters undecided.
One of the main points in her favor is being based in Los Angeles, with a high profile political job that draws much more attention than individual state legislators.
Hahn has formed an exploratory committee to look at the race, but she appears more and more likely to jump in.
U.S., after long ban, quietly begins to study gun safety
Jim McElhatton
More than a decade after Congress cut funding for firearms research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), another federal health agency has been spending millions of dollars to study such topics as whether teenagers who carry firearms run a different risk of getting shot compared with suffering other sorts of injuries.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also has been financing research to investigate whether having many liquor stores in a neighborhood puts people at greater risk of getting shot.
Such studies are coming under sharp scrutiny by Republican lawmakers who question whether the money could be better spent on biomedical research at a time of increasing competition for NIH funding. They're also leery of NIH research relating to firearms in general, recalling how 13 years ago the House voted to cut CDC funding when critics complained that the agency was trying to win public support for gun control.
"It's almost as if someone's been looking for a way to get this study done ever since the Centers for Disease Control was banned from doing it 10 years ago," Rep. Joe L. Barton, Texas Republican, said of one of the NIH studies. "But it doesn't make any more sense now than it did then."
The NIH, which administers more than $30 billion in taxpayer funds for medical research, defended the grants.
"Gun related violence is a public health problem - it diverts considerable health care resources away from other problems and, therefore, is of interest to NIH," Don Ralbovsky, NIH spokesman, wrote in an e-mail responding to questions about the grants.
"These particular grants do not address gun control; rather they deal with the surrounding web of circumstances involved in many violent crimes, especially how alcohol policy may reduce the public health burden from gun-related injury and death," he said.
Mr. Barton and Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, first questioned the NIH about the gun-related grants in a letter Friday to NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins.
The letter sought information about grants for current projects and for others starting as far back as 2002, totaling nearly $5 million. The lawmakers called the study of criminal behavior "a laudable endeavor which consistently benefits the American people, often in ways that people do not see."
"And yet we have trouble understanding the administration's desire to spend, for example, $642,561 in taxpayer funds to learn how inner-city teenagers whose friends, acquaintances and peers carry firearms and drink alcohol on street corners could show up in emergency rooms with gunshot wounds.
"The day-follows-night quality of this question and its potential answer simply do not seem to justify the expense that would be borne by people who work and pay their taxes," the lawmakers wrote.
Special interests on both sides of the gun-control issue differ on the question of whether the NIH ought to be conducting firearms-related research.
"This kind of research does concern us, and we're going to be watching it closely," said Erich Pratt, a spokesman for the Gun Owners Association of America. "You'd think that after the CDC had their money revoked, we wouldn't be dealing with this."
But Peter Hamm, spokesman for the Washington-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Republican lawmakers were "blaming the messenger" by criticizing the research.
"Burying the evidence is what the gun lobby is best at," he said. "Whether the members of Congress like it or not, gun violence is a public health problem in America today."
NIH records show that one study being questioned by lawmakers aimed to "investigate whether adolescents who consume alcohol and/or carry firearms, and/or whose daily activities occur in surroundings rich in alcohol and/or firearms, face a differential risk of being shot with a firearm or injured in a non-gun assault."
A separate study on child safety looked at the decision-making process by couples on whether to own firearms, in part trying to identify whether women are less supportive of firearms compared with their partners.
The questions about whether the NIH should fund such research are being raised more than a decade after the House voted against restoring $2.6 million to the CDC's budget, money that the agency was spending on gun studies. The move, backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), was made after Republicans and some Democrats complained that the CDC was pushing for gun control.
The money was eventually restored to the CDC budget but with a spending restriction that has remained in place ever since, mandating that funds cannot be used "in whole or in part to advocate or promote gun control."
Mr. Barton and Mr. Walden, both of whom have received political contributions from the NRA over the years, requested more information on the NIH firearms research funding a month after they separately raised questions about several other NIH grants.
Their earlier letter to the NIH cited questions about grants that "do not seem to be of the highest scientific rigor," including one on whether participating on dragon-boat paddling teams helped cancer survivors more than taking part in an organized walking program.
