Law Enforcement

Councilman calls for official's firing after LAPD communications outage
One day after Los Angeles Police Department radio communications went down for 12 hours, a city councilman on Wednesday demanded the firing of the official whose agency caused the problem. Councilman Mitch Englander said he will call for the dismissal of General Services Department General Manager Tony Royster for the power outage Tuesday at Mount Lee, where all LAPD radio communications equipment is housed.
Los Angeles Daily News

Mayor reverses stance on LAPD shooting settlement
A day after saying the city should pay $4.5 million in taxpayer money to settle a lawsuit with a convicted felon shot by police, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa reversed himself Wednesday, saying the payout should not be made. The Times reported Tuesday that the City Council must decide whether to approve a settlement deal with Robert Contreras, who was left paralyzed when police shot him after he fled the scene of a drive-by shooting.
Los Angeles Times

Sexual predator targeting San Fernando Valley high school girls
Authorities in the northeast San Fernando Valley continued their search Wednesday for a sexual predator they say is targeting high school girls. Los Angeles police said the man may be responsible for two attempted kidnappings and seven instances of lewd acts over the last 15 months.
Los Angeles Times

Maple syrup used in anti-Semitic vandalism
Los Angeles police Wednesday said a vandal used maple syrup to form the outline of a swastika and the word "Jew" on the driveway of a Northridge home. The anti-Semitic message was left on the driveway either Sunday night or Monday morning, said investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire Division. Toilet paper was also strewn in trees in the home's frontyard.
Los Angeles Times

Police to crack down on texting, putting on makeup while driving
Californians who have yet to hang up their cellphones when behind the wheel may want to start this month. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and law enforcement plans to aggressively enforce laws involving distracted driving. Law enforcement agencies from around the state will be honing in on such drivers throughout the month, adopting a "zero-tolerance" policy in hopes of curbing distracted driving, Sgt. Denise Joslin of the California Highway Patrol said.
Los Angeles Times

Reseda man convicted in attempted rape of teens
A Reseda man was convicted Wednesday of sexually assaulting four teenage girls, including an attempted rape, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Jose Perez, 25, was found guilty on nine felony counts of attempted rape, attempted kidnapping, assault with intent to commit a felony as well as a misdemeanor assault charge. Perez was arrested in April 2010 after he forced an 18-year-old woman into his car in Reseda alley.
Los Angeles Times

4 people injured in traffic crash at Ventura and Topanga Canyon boulevards
Portions of Ventura Boulevard near Topanga Canyon Boulevard were closed shortly around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after a car hit a pedestrian and rear-ended another vehicle, officials said. A grey car was traveling westbound on Ventura Boulevard at a high rate of speed and hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street on the western side of the intersection with Topanga Canyon Boulevard, according to initial reports from Los Angeles police officers at the scene.
Los Angeles Daily News

State Budget

Brown pitches tax hike for public safety
Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday urged support for his proposed tax increase to assure funding for local governments that have taken on increased public safety duties. "To make realignment work, which is the most far-reaching change in our criminal justice system in decades, we need the money. In order to get the money, we need some more tax revenue," Brown told media before addressing the California State Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference in San Diego. "But almost equally as important, we need the guarantee this money is going to be available at the local level for public safety."
UT San DIego

City Government

After Occupy L.A., lawmakers seek to limit access to City Hall park
In a move that seems designed to keep Occupy L.A. demonstrators from resuming nighttime protest at the park outside City Hall, a Los Angeles city councilman is calling for the park's hours of operation to be shortened, and for rules regarding tents to be clarified. Councilman Jose Huizar on Wednesday introduced a motion that asks the city attorney to prepare an ordinance that would limit access to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Current hours of operation are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Los Angeles Times

Planners unveil $500-billion blueprint for regional transportation
Southern California's regional planning agency passed a 25-year transportation investment strategy Wednesday that officials said accounts for millions of future residents and a changing environment. The plan includes measures to improve goods movement, reduce air pollution and ease pressure on commuters by building new rapid transit bus and high-speed rail lines, improving highways, increasing carpooling and encouraging telecommuting. If all elements were put into place, it would cost about $500 billions, officials said.
Los Angeles Times