Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Gramercy Park, Reseda and 5 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in seven Los Angeles neighborhoods, according to an analysis of L.A. Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Gramercy Park was the most unusual, recording 14 reports compared with a weekly average of 5.2 over the last three months. Reseda topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Media coverage of car chases: entertaining, pointless or irresponsible?
A wave of car chases throughout Southern California has caused the police force to disparage the way media outlets handle coverage of chases, stating that live coverage from the scene of chases does little but exacerbate the problem. According to the LA Police Protective League, "media coverage of police chasing dangerous felons in the southland have put thousands of people, including dozens of police officers, in extreme danger. Police chases and the aftermath are certainly newsworthy, but the recent live television coverage has had the feel of a sporting event - with accompanying colorful commentary."
KPCC

Burning body in South L.A. street was a woman, police say
Authorities said Tuesday that a body found burning in a South Los Angeles street was that of a female adult. But besides that, little was known about the circumstances surrounding the Monday night burning. The body was reported about 9:40 p.m. in the 9300 block of South Grand Avenue, said Los Angeles Police Department Criminal Gang Homicide Det. R. Gordon. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities were treating the investigation as a homicide.
Los Angeles Times

14-year-old boy, girl injured by hit-and-run driver in Van Nuys
A boy and a girl, both about 14 years old, were injured Tuesday in a hit-and-run collision in Van Nuys, authorities said. The accident was reported shortly after 7 a.m. at Vanowen Street and Ranchito Avenue, said Officer Christopher No of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations office. Paramedics took the pair to a hospital, and the teens were expected to survive, authorities said. They were in a crosswalk when they were hit by a small, older-model pickup truck that was eastbound on Vanowen Street, said LAPD Sgt. Larry Jones of the Valley Traffic Division.
City News Service

LAPD defends chalk protest arrests at Artwalk
Los Angeles police officials Tuesday said they could have handled a skirmish with protesters at a downtown ArtWalk earlier this summer more smoothly and quickly but made no apologies for arresting people for using chalk to draw on sidewalks. Following the July incident, for which the LAPD was criticized by protesters for overreacting, the department launched an internal review of its response. With that review now complete, the L.A. Police Commission, which oversees the department, were briefed on the findings at their weekly public meeting.
Los Angeles Times

Do you feel safe in Highland Park?
In July of 2011, LAPD released statistics showing a steady reduction in violent crime in Highland Park. According to figures provided by Captain William Murphy, reports of rape, robbery and aggravated assault were all down considerably compared to the year before. Four homicides were reported at the time, the same as the year before. The 30-percent reduction in violent crime led the entire of Los Angeles, Capt. Murphy proudly proclaimed. A little more than a year later, those numbers are less favorable.
Highland Park - Mount Washington Patch

Traffic

L.A.'s first toll lanes to open Nov. 10 on 110 Freeway
Los Angeles County's first toll lane will open Nov. 10 on the 110 Freeway, officials announced Tuesday. The 11-mile toll lane, which was created using existing carpool lanes, runs between the Harbor Gateway Transit Center/182nd Street and Adams Boulevard and aims to provide a faster trip for motorists who are willing to pay a small price. Tolls will vary between 25 cents and $1.40 per mile, depending on traffic speeds and demand, and solo drivers and carpoolers will need a transponder and FasTrak account if they want to use the lanes.
Los Angeles Times

Proposition 32

Labor, business launch dueling Prop. 32 campaigns
Business and labor groups launched dueling ad campaigns Tuesday focusing on Proposition 32, the November ballot measure that promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics. A group with ties to the conservative billionaire Koch brothers is airing television spots supporting the initiative, saying the influence of corporations and unions in Sacramento is "killing California." The ads, funded by the American Future Fund, blame "deals cut in shadows in back rooms" for the state's high unemployment, "lavish pensions," and poorly performing schools.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Crisis Response Team looking for volunteers
Volunteers were being sought Tuesday to join the mayor's Crisis Response Team, a corps of trained civilians who respond to traumatic incidents to assist victims and their families at the request of the Los Angeles fire and police departments. "CRT volunteers provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, attend to urgent victim comfort needs, act as a liaison between the victim and emergency personnel, and give referrals to victims and their families affected by a death, a serious injury, a violent crime or other traumatic incident," said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
City News Service

Proposed pension plan for Los Angeles would make new hires pay more, retire later
Los Angeles city officials proposed a pension reform plan for new civilian workers on Tuesday that would raise the retirement age from 55 to 65, reduce benefits and demand more in contributions from the workers. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana released the proposal, saying it would create a new tier in the LACERS retirement system for employees hired after July 1, 2013. He estimates the plan would help save the city $30 million in its first five years and between $3.9 billion and $4.3 billion over 30 years.
Los Angeles Daily News