The LAPD Reserve Corps - the finest in the nation . The Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps is comprised of community members who volunteer their time to fulfill many of the roles handled by full-time sworn police officers. Reserve officers receive the same training as fulltime officers and work alongside them in every aspect of Department operations. The Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps has over 650 active reserve officers, and is the largest Police Department Reserve Unit in California. Accredited by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), the Los Angeles Police Department’s Reserve officers are perhaps the finest in the nation.

Here's a copy of Laura Chick's report on the Controller's Fraud Unit.  This important Unit was created to help eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from City government. The report details some helpful hints on the types of problems you should report to the 24/7 confidential Whistleblowers Hotline at 1-866-428-1514.  Also included is a recap of the results of the many cases my investigators brought to a successful conclusion during this past year. It's a shame that a few incidents reflect badly on all City workers when the truth is 99.9% of our workforce is dedicated, honest and hard working.  That's all the more reason to contact the Unit if you suspect a problem.

Its a quality of life issue .. and there ARE rules. Barking dogs, construction equipment, amplified musical instruments, trash trucks, and loud parties are all examples of noise found in major urban areas. Understandably, certain noise levels must be tolerated by all citizens in order for normal functions of urban life to continue. However, excessive, unnecessary, and/or annoying noise is subject to regulation. On March 29, 1982, the City Council adopted a new Noise Ordinance that established limits on noise pollution, set enforcement responsibilities, and provided penalties for violations. . See the list of ordinances collected here for your consideration

Process recommends merit-based contracts in areas of the City that need them most , Building on a new approach and an innovative strategy to reduce gang violence across the City, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made recommendations to the City Council today for new gang prevention contracts in six areas facing the highest levels of gang crime in Los Angeles. The recommendations were issued following a rigorous application and review process developed by the Mayors Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) and emphasizing the need for greater transparency, accountability and oversight. Each of the organizations was evaluated based on the merit of their applications, history of success, proposals for new programs, and record in the community.

Controller Laura Chick's 188 page Report recommends many changes . City Controller Laura Chick has found that the City lacks key components in its emergency and disaster preparedness. “The City of Los Angeles certainly has suffered from its share of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires and flash floods. Unfortunately, since 2001, we also know that terrorist attacks are now additional potential man-made disasters. It is only a matter of time before we face the next large-scale emergency and we must be better prepared than we are now,” said Chick, who released an audit of the City's emergency planning efforts and disaster preparedness. “This audit was conducted to ask and answer the question: Is the City of Los Angeles well-prepared for a major emergency? How can we say the City is well-prepared when it doesn't even have an overarching strategy that coordinates all the necessary pieces for a disaster recovery plan? How can we say the City is prepared when there is no follow-through to correct problems that are identified during training exercises?” said Chick. EDITOR'S NOTE: For your convenience the Executive Summary and Recommendations are included.