Law Enforcement

Police contract dispute resembles a political campaign
With all the trappings of a political campaign, the Los Angeles Police Protective League is mounting an effort to get the public to weigh in on its efforts for a pay raise for the Los Angeles Police Department rank and file. The Protective League began a campaign to supporters, sending out 356,000 emails to residents urging them to contact City Council members to voice their support for officers. The league has also created Public Safety First, a website ( publicsafetyfirst.com ) for Angelenos "who share our concerns for public safety and the issues that affect it." There's even a YouTube video (click image at left to watch) making their case.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police union sues to block L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck from discussing contract with officers
The Los Angeles Police Protective League late Friday announced plans to block Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck from meeting with officers to discuss the rejected one-year contract. The PPL said it will file an Unfair Employee Relations Practice lawsuit to ban the two city officials from having direct communications with officers over ongoing contract issues.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD: Man arrested in attack on woman in laundry room of East Hollywood building
Police arrested a man Friday who they believe attacked a woman in the laundry room of her East Hollywood apartment complex. The crime happened around 8 p.m. Thursday in the 1300 block of North Edgemont Street, near Sunset Boulevard, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Authorities believe the man, identified as Christian Yniguez, 25, was trying to break into local businesses and cars when they received a 911 call from the victim.
CBS LA

Drive-by shooting suspect is arrested after crashing into cars
The suspect in a drive-by shooting in downtown Los Angeles was taken into custody Saturday afternoon after he crashed into two cars in front of a homeless shelter, police said. The suspect, a man in his mid-50s, was driving a white van near 7th and San Pedro streets on the border of the Fashion District and skid row about 1:30 p.m. when he fired a handgun at a man on the sidewalk, striking him in the leg, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Ike Ornelas of Newton Station.
Los Angeles Times

Suspects escape Atwater Village shooting down L.A. River bed
Two men were wounded, one seriously, in a shooting in Atwater Village on Saturday evening, police said. One victim was shot in the abdomen about 6:35 p.m. in the 2900 block of Ingledale Terrace off Glendale Boulevard, police Sgt. Wayne Guillary of the Northeast station said Saturday night. The other was shot in the shoulder. Both were taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where the man with the abdominal wound was in surgery Saturday night, Guillary said.
Los Angeles Times

Motorcyclist killed in North Hollywood hit-and-run
A driver and passenger involved in a hit-and-run crash in North Hollywood have been arrested after fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a man Saturday morning, authorities said. A motorcyclist was struck by a red Toyota Camry around 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Lankershim Boulevard, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Investigators say the Camry was heading northbound on Lankershim and as the driver made a left on Magnolia, he crashed into the motorcyclist who was going through the intersection.
NBC4

LAPD nabs stolen car stealers on Pacific Ave & Windward
LAPD ran the plate of a guy driving like an idiot on Pacific on Saturday, and the plate came back as a stolen car. Saturday traffic snarled the two in the vehicle ... which allowed for backup units to arrive. The two were taken down at Pacific & Windward. A crowd gathered as LAPD officers drew their guns. When the two were cuffed, the crowd cheered.
Venice 311

Traffic Alert

'Century Crunch' could make journey to LAX worse
It's billed as the "Century Crunch," a potential traffic nightmare rivaling the likes of "Carmageddon," "Jamzilla" and possibly even "Sharknado." For 57 hours from Friday through the morning of July 28, Century Boulevard - the busiest route into and out of Los Angeles International Airport - will be shut down so work crews can demolish a bridge to make way for a future light rail stop. And it all will happen on a summer travel weekend that compares similarly in traffic and passengers to the day before Thanksgiving.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Consumer Warning

FBI issues warning about air conditioner coolant
The FBI is warning people to be on alert for refrigerant substitutes that have not been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some contain propane, which is flammable and can explode or catch fire if, for example, a technician servicing an air conditioner gets too close to the coolant while soldering. So far, the explosions have been rare. The problem has cropped up as the U.S. phases out R-22, a chemical used for decades as a refrigerant in air conditioners and refrigerators.
Associated Press

Gun Control

Jerry Brown signs gun control bill
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a gun control measure eliminating an exemption for certain semiautomatic pistols from California's unsafe handgun law, Brown's office announced Friday. Assembly Bill 1964, by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, is designed to limit the exemption for single-shot pistols from the state's unsafe handgun roster, excluding semiautomatic pistols altered to not fire in semiautomatic mode.
Sacramento Bee

Election 2014

Shootout for Los Angeles County board may be most interesting race
In an otherwise lackluster campaign season, California's most interesting political duel may be one for a rare vacancy on the five-member Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It's interesting because a supervisor's seat in a county that's more populous (10 million-plus) than all but eight states is a powerful political prize. And it's interesting because of the two candidates who survived the June primary.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

DWP nonprofits ordered to recognize Garcetti allies as trustees
A Superior Court judge is ordering two Los Angeles Department of Water and Power nonprofits to recognize trustees allied with Mayor Eric Garcetti, the latest twist in an enduring saga over the details of their spending. The mayor's office heralded the decision as a victory. "With today's ruling, DWP trustees can take their seat at the table to make sure ratepayer money is not misspent," Garcetti spokesman Jeff Millman said in a written statement.
Los Angeles Times