Pensions

More double talk from Richard Riordan
Richard Riordan told reporters Friday that he is backing out on his initial commitment to debate Los Angeles Police Protective League President Tyler Izen regarding his pension scheme that he is trying to qualify for the ballot. Two days ago, Riordan's spokesperson told reporters that the former mayor would debate the League regarding his pension proposal. "Dick Riordan was for a public debate about his pension proposal before he was against it," Izen said. "Once again, we are seeing Riordan speak out of both sides of his mouth."
LAPPL News Release

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan hasn't studied cost of pension reform initiative
Former Mayor Richard Riordan's plan to dramatically revise the city's three pension systems was developed without an actuarial study that would determine the costs of any new system. Before any changes can be put in place, the City Charter requires "that all pension changes have an independent actuarial analysis," City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said. "We did one for the new sworn and civilian tiers."
Los Angeles Daily News

Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Eagle Rock and eight other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in nine L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Four neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Eagle Rock was the most unusual, recording four reports compared with a weekly average of 0.7 over the last three months. Florence topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

One man injured during clash at pro-Israel rally in Westwood
One man was injured Sunday afternoon during a clash between supporters of Israel and Palestine who were rallying outside the Westwood federal building on Wilshire Boulevard, authorities said. The Los Angeles Police Department, L.A. County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol responded to the incident, but no arrests were made, LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith said. He said the injured man was taken to a hospital after suffering what appeared to be a broken arm. "Our guys called in additional resources with a tactical alert," Smith said. "Once we did that, things started to calm down."
Los Angeles Times

Cops: Burglar leaves his car, iPad at scene of the crime
A bungling burglar left footprints, fingerprints, and even photos of himself at a Los Angeles home, police said. Lt. Paul Vernon said the man kicked in the front door of a house in Arleta on Nov. 13 and started to ransack a bedroom. The burglar made so much noise that he awoke the owner, who had been asleep in another room, Vernon said. He then begged the owner not to call police and ran out to his car - which wouldn't start, the LAPD said in a press release.
NBC4

Fleeing Van Nuys DUI suspect found, arrested by LAPD
A motorist suspected of driving under the influence led police on a pursuit Friday in Van Nuys and then apparently ran into a home before being arrested. The pursuit began just before 2:30 p.m. near Ethel Avenue and Burbank Boulevard, Officer Luis Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Department said. "The driver ran into a building or a home on Hatteras Street," Garcia said. Police set up a perimeter in the area as they searched for the suspect, who may have jumped over some fences before entering the home.
City News Service

LAPD seeks help to identify a deceased female hospital patient
Investigators need help in identifying a deceased woman who was dropped off at King Urgent Care Clinic in Willowbrook two months ago. According to coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey, Jane Doe was alive when she was dropped off at the King Urgent Care Clinic located at 12021 South Wilmington Avenue around 1:50 p.m. on Sept. 27. The woman, who was dropped off with no wallet or identification, later died at the hospital. Her cause of death is pending the result of toxicology tests.
ABC7

LAPD officer used Taser on handcuffed woman
A Los Angeles police officer shocked a handcuffed woman with a Taser stun gun while joking with other officers at the scene, according to interviews and law enforcement records, adding to a series of controversial use-of-force incidents at the LAPD. Officer Jorge Santander then appeared to lie about the December 2010 incident repeatedly in written reports. The three other LAPD officers who witnessed Santander stun the woman all corroborated his version of events when first questioned and failed to tell supervisors that one officer had recorded a video of the encounter, the records show.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD helps Venice students prevent bullying
LAPD Pacific Area hosted “Stand Up and Speak Out Against Bullying” on Nov. 15 at an assembly with 650 students at Venice High School. Topics discussed included bullying, cyber bullying, text bullying, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media tools. The students were shown short videos and a power point presentation. The assembly provided information and resources how to identify, address and prevent bullying. Students were given anti bullying wrist bands and a booklet on online responsibility, “Stop, Think, Click.”
Venice-MarVista Patch

City Government

Valet parking regulations to be considered by city of Los Angeles
It's a familiar scene in car-centric Los Angeles: Motorist drives up in expensive car to sidewalk lectern with "valet parking" sign. Motorist tosses keys to total stranger wearing black pants and white shirt. Convenience to some, menace to others, L.A.'s myriad parking valets could soon, for the first time, be subject to regulation. Critics complain that fly-by-night valets have turned trusting souls into cynics by failing to cover damage to vehicles or by lifting valuables from glove compartments.
Los Angeles Times

Union panel opposes proposed sales tax hike in L.A.
One of the largest public employee unions at Los Angeles City Hall handed a potentially costly setback to a plan for a new half-cent sales tax, announcing Friday that its political advisory board opposes the measure. Service Employees International Union Local 721's political education committee recommended unanimously Thursday night that the group take a position against the tax, which is backed by City Council President Herb Wesson for the March 5 ballot.
Los Angeles Times