Law Enforcement

City says LAPD officers acted in self-defense
A mentally ill African American man knowingly acted in a way that forced two LAPD officers to fatally shoot him, according to a federal court filing by the Los Angeles City Attorney. The two officers shot Ezell Ford, who was unarmed, after he tried to grab one of their guns, according to LAPD officials and the court filing. The shooting occurred August 11 on West 65th Street in South LA.
KPCC

Body found on 101 Freeway near Silver Lake Boulevard offramp
The discovery of a body on the side of the northbound 101 Freeway in Silver Lake snarled the early morning commute Thursday after authorities temporarily closed two lanes for the investigation. The pedestrian's body was discovered shortly after 3 a.m. near the Silver Lake Boulevard offramp, according to the California Highway Patrol incident log.
Los Angeles Times

Traffic

Van Nuys Boulevard closing for resurfacing this weekend in Sherman Oaks
A long-needed face-lift of a heavily traveled portion of Van Nuys Boulevard was announced Thursday, with residents warned to expect traffic delays as the street and on- and off-ramps of the 101 Freeway are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Councilman Tom LaBonge, who represents the area, announced the $700,000 project, which runs on Van Nuys Boulevard between Ventura and Magnolia boulevards in Sherman Oaks and is part of Mayor Eric Garcetti's Great Streets initiative to improve intersections throughout the city.
Los Angeles Daily News

Vote No on Proposition 47

Greg Munks and Steve Wagstaffe: Prop 47 will result in increased crime, less safety in neighborhoods
" As the elected San Mateo County district attorney and sheriff, we respectfully request that you join us in opposing Proposition 47, the so called Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. Between us we have 74 years of experience in the criminal justice system. We believe this ill-conceived proposition will not lead to safer communities but instead will result in increased crime and less safety in our neighborhoods.
San Jose Mercury News LAPPL Blog

National ACLU spends big for California's Proposition 47
The American Civil Liberties Union has contributed $3.5 million to the campaign to pass Proposition 47 in recent days, making it the largest donor to the Nov. 4 measure that would reduce penalties for certain crimes. The New York-based organization gave $2 million last Friday and another $1.5 million on Tuesday to the yes-on-47 campaign.
Sacramento Bee

Prisons

California will end race-based punishment in state prisons
When a group of prisoners attacked two guards at California's High Desert State Prison in 2006, the warden declared a full lockdown that confined African Americans in one wing of the prison to their cells, and kept them there for 14 months. No outdoor exercise. No rehabilitation programs or prison jobs.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Los Angeles faces $95.3-million shortfall, city report states
Los Angeles faces a $95.3-million shortfall this fiscal year, in part because of employee overtime costs, budget officials said Thursday. Funding shortages in the city's police overtime account, salary increases for new police officers and Fire Department overtime costs contributed to the deficit, a City Administrative Office financial report states. Transportation Department overtime costs driven by special events, street resurfacing projects, and "one-time unusual occurrences (e.g. water main breaks)" also boosted the shortfall, according to the report.
Los Angeles Daily News

No progress on LAFD 911 response times, new data show
Waits for 911 medical help in Los Angeles have increased slightly this year, signaling no measurable progress toward Mayor Eric Garcetti's campaign pledge to speed up Fire Department responses to emergencies, according to city statistics released Thursday. Garcetti presented the new figures at an afternoon news conference in which he and Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas praised LAFD efforts to overhaul how the agency gauges its performance.
Los Angeles Times

Mayor Garcetti can't get enough D.C.; Gov. Brown has had his fill
Many Californians may be happy to never set foot in Washington, with its humid weather, over-abundance of careerists and lack of decent produce, but one of the state's biggest enthusiasts can't stay away. Mayor Eric Garcetti parachuted into town this week for the sixth time since he was sworn in just a year and a half ago, raising the question: What is Los Angeles getting out of it?
Los Angeles Times