Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Arlington Heights and seven other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in eight L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Arlington Heights was the most unusual, recording six reports compared with a weekly average of 1.8 over the last three months. Koreatown topped the list of three neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Jurors call for death of 49th Street Massacre gunman
A jury on Monday decided that a gang member convicted of killing four people -- including a 10-year-old boy -- should be executed, authorities said. A prosecutor argued last week that Charles Ray Smith, 44, deserved to die after a previous jury found him guilty of taking part in two separate deadly shootings in 2006, including one that became known as the 49th Street Massacre. In that incident, two men wielding AK47s opened fire on children and adults enjoying a Friday afternoon on a quiet South Los Angeles street.
Los Angeles Times

Leichman Special-Ed Center hit by graffiti vandals
Leichman High School in Reseda, which services special-education students, was vandalized over the weekend with graffiti that included threats to President Obama, LAUSD officials said Monday. The graffiti included swastikas, depictions of bombs and the message "Kill Obama?" scrawled on buildings at the campus at 19034 Gault St., spokesman Tom Waldman said. Damage was estimated at $2,500.
Los Angeles Daily News

Santa Monica gunman strapped ammo to chest, thighs, sources say
The gunman who killed five people in a Santa Monica shooting rampage was armed with more than three dozen large-capacity ammunition magazines, sources familiar with the investigation said Monday. The ammunition was strapped to his body -- including his chest and thighs -- as well as in pouches in his clothing and protective vest. More ammunition was found in a black bag. John Zawahri, 23, had approximately 40 magazines each capable of holding 30 bullets.
Los Angeles Times

Terrorism symposium planned for Hollywood
Protecting Hollywood from terrorism is the topic of discussion at an upcoming symposium that will be hosted by the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division. The workshop is the brainchild of Hollywood LAPD Captain Beatrice Girmala who wanted to focus on the subject "since Hollywood is considered one of the mecca areas for people to come here from all walks of life," said Sergeant Darrell Davis. "We get people from every country that come to Hollywood."
Hollywood Patch

Apple to add kill switches to iPhones
Apple said Monday it will equip its new iPhones with a "kill switch" that will render the devices useless if stolen - making the Cupertino firm the first manufacturer to act on a chorus of law enforcement calls to discourage robbers who are targeting smartphones. The switch will enable a user to deactivate a stolen cell phone via a website. It will prevent a thief from erasing the owner's data from the phone, even if the SIM card - the integrated circuit that includes an owner's password and other identifying information - is removed, Apple said.
San Francisco Chronicle

Guns

High-capacity ammo 'repair kit' lawsuit
Firearms distributors are flouting California's ban on high-capacity magazines, those that can fire more than 10 rounds without reloading, by taking them apart and selling them as easily assembled "repair kits," San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera charged in a lawsuit filed Monday. The Superior Court suit accuses three online gun-accessory companies and a promoter of California gun shows, including the annual Crossroads of the West show at the Cow Palace, of illegal business practices.
San Francisco Chronicle

State Budget

California state revenues beat estimates by 12 percent
California took in $7.27 billion in revenues during the month of May, exceeding estimates by 12 percent, Controller John Chiang announced Monday. "California continues to show strong signs of recovery. May's higher revenues reflect growing employment, increased consumer spending, and a resurgent housing market," Chiang said in a statement. "However, this good news should be tempered by nagging questions regarding its sustainability and by the need to repay years of accumulated debt."
Los Angeles Daily News

City Government

L.A. mayoral runoff another low mark in voter turnout: 23.3%
Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles' incoming mayor, won the office with fewer votes than any newly elected mayor since the 1930s, when the city population was less than half its current size, according to a Times analysis of final results. Garcetti's complete tally was 222,300, just 12.4% of the city's registered voters. That was well ahead of his opponent, City Controller Wendy Greuel, but a smaller vote total than any incoming mayor since Frank Shaw in 1933.
Los Angeles Times

Company protests selection of AEG to run L.A. Convention Center
A company seeking to run the Los Angeles Convention Center filed a challenge Monday to the city's plan to hire Anschutz Entertainment Group, saying AEG lacked the experience needed to secure the lucrative contract. Pennsylvania-based SMG said in a protest letter that AEG did not meet the city's search specifications, which called for a firm with five years of "managing and operating convention or exhibition facilities in similar markets."
Los Angeles Times