As you may have heard, Los Angeles City Council approved a plan Tuesday to restore the park surrounding City Hall post-Occupy L.A. The approved option calls for 51% less grass and more native, drought-tolerant plants. But what about other green, sustainable ideas like edible gardens? Farmscape, California's largest urban farming operation, has quite a few of these ideas and has been striving to get them heard. more ›

After months of restoration contemplation and astronomic cost estimates, L.A. City Council approved a plan today to revive the park surrounding City Hall. The 1.7-acre area, which once exhibited lush green grass, met its match when Occupy L.A. descended upon the land on October 1, 2011 and remained stationed on the grounds for nearly two months. more ›

If you're feeling enslaved to the third smoggiest metropolitan area in the country, perhaps you should pack up and move to Santa Monica, a city promising green rights to its residents. more ›

The L.A. City Council tentatively approved a 3% water rate increase proposed by the city-owned Department of Water and Power (DWP) in a 9-4 vote. But the decision is pending a second vote next week. more ›

Redistricting is going on in the City of Los Angeles, and today, quite literally, the political landscape of local government has been rocked by the proposed boundary lines for our 15 Council Districts. more ›

On Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed into law a controversial measure that makes the issuing of permits for adult film productions linked to the production company's compliance with mandatory use of condoms by their performers. So what's next? more ›

Los Angeles has become the first city in the nation requiring adult film actors to use condoms while on set. City Council voted 9-1 favoring the proposed ordinance today. In addition to requiring adult film actors to practice safe sex, the ordinance will also force production companies to pay a film permit fee. The fee will pay for inspections enforced by the city. more ›

A full ban of medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the City of Los Angeles is one step closer to happening today after the City Council Public Safety Committee forwarded a draft ordinance prepared by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's office to the full City Council, reports City News Service. more ›

In a preliminary vote taken today, the Los Angeles City Council has voted 11-1 in favor of an ordinance put forth that would require actors in adult films wear condoms. Adherence to the ordinance would be a condition of film companies receiving filming permits. more ›

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a former Carson City Council candidate after he posted a rather serious and concerning call for action on his Facebook page on Sunday - the assassination of President Barack Obama and his children. more ›

Perhaps taking its cue from environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, Los Angeles City Council has preserved nearly 280 acres of land near the Angeles National Golf Club in Lake View Terrace. Councilmember Paul Krekorian led a land transfer ceremony this morning to publicly celebrate the historic, long-awaited transfer of 277.5 acres of land from the Angeles National Golf Club to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). more ›

L.A.'s proposed ban on single-use shopping bags was postponed by city lawmakers on Friday who have requested further studies be conducted on the ban's economic impact. The requested analysis will help the city determine if they will make the bold move of banning all single-use shopping bags or mirror bans enacted in other cities that ban single-use plastic bags but still offer single-use paper bags for a tiny fee. more ›

A new ordinance favored by L.A. City Council on Tuesday may force many Venice Beach boardwalk vendors to move their goods elsewhere. Council unanimously approved a measure prohibiting commercial vending along the west side of Ocean Front Walk in a 12-0 vote. more ›

Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution declaring that corporations are not people, and consequently are not entitled to the same constitutional protections. The vote was taken following a discussion about money and politics in chambers during today's meeting. In the crowd were several participants of the Occupy LA movement. more ›

Los Angeles is broke, and officials are trying to get creative to find ways to bring in some revenue. The latest scheme, touted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his team, is to allow advertising in city parks and the L.A. Zoo. more ›

Occupy L.A. and Good Jobs L.A. are rallying the 99% again today to call on City Council to pass the Responsible Banking Ordinance. Over 200 activists will represent the 99%, including those of Occupy L.A., Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), LA Voice PICO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Good Jobs L.A. more ›

City officials and law enforcement seem to be in prep mode for delivering the expected eviction notice to the Occupy LA protesters who have lived on the City Hall lawn since October 1. more ›

Today Councilman Jose Huizar will announce he plans to join with community activists and seek a full ban on the businesses, because a recent court decision will create severe limitations on how the City of Los Angeles can "effectively regulate" those medical marijuana operations. more ›

Cyclists share the road with other drivers, but is there ever a time when they are allowed to share the sidewalk with pedestrians? Today the Los Angeles City Council embarked on a plan to update the municipal code to clarify the current language of the law and to specifically determine when a bicyclist can use the sidewalk. more ›

After months of hairy debate, West Hollywood has become the first U.S. city to ban the sale of fur apparel products. City Council voted 3-1 in favor of the fur-free ordinance on Monday night. The vote was the last step in banning sales of clothing made from the skin or pelt of animals with hair, wool or fur. more ›

West Hollywood has taken the fur-free reigns and may soon become the first U.S. city to impose a sales ban on fur. City Council approved a modified version of a ban on the sale of clothing made from the skin or pelt of animals with hair, wool or fur on Monday. more ›

The race to fill Janice Hahn's vacant Los Angeles City Council seat has become the tale of the Officer and an Assemblyman. The two top finishers in last night's special election in CD 15 has resulted in a runoff slated for Los Angeles police officer Joe Buscaino and Assemblyman Warren Furutani. more ›

Actor Shia LaBeouf's neighbors - Joe and Orit Picker - have been granted permission to keep the paparazzi barricade that surrounds their Sherman Oaks home. Erected last year, the 7-foot high and 120-foot long wall blocks the home on the 3900 block of Deervale Drive from the incessant photo snappers stalking the actor 24/7. more ›

Does your four-legged canine companion like to express him or herself? As in, does your dog bark...a lot? If so, you may want to start stashing some extra cash in your piggy bank, because the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously yesterday to impose fines "on the owners of dogs that bark excessively — even if the canines are not licensed by the city." more ›

If you are among the 50,000 drivers with outstanding fines due for red light camera tickets, sorry, but the city is still looking to collect that money from you. Today the Los Angeles City Council voted in favor of continuing to pay the contractor hired to collect those fines. more ›

Protesters taking part in Occupy L.A. at City Hall have enjoyed a largely positive response from elected officials and city staff, but now one City Councilman says enough is enough. Bill Rosendahl says he agrees with their cause, but outside City Hall is no longer the place for them to hang out. more ›

Actor Shia LaBeouf's Sherman Oaks neighbors erected a towering wall in front of their home to block bothersome paparazzi last year, and city planning officials have deemed the wall in violation of city building codes. A Los Angeles City Council meeting on the matter is scheduled for today. more ›

The Glendale City Council is looking at implementing a plastic bag ban that mirrors the one already in place for unincorporated Los Angeles County. The push to force businesses and shoppers to utilize bags that are more eco-friendly, in particular reusable bags, has been strong in the Los Angeles area for the past few years. more ›

Los Angeles has a problem with massive cracks in its sidewalks, after the cash-strapped city just let things go for way too long and federal help dried up. Now the city is considering a plan to make those monster cracks the responsibility of homeowners. more ›

An update on the proposed mural ordinance will be heard by L.A. City Council today. The City of L.A. recently formed a Mural Task Force and looks to Portland, Oregon for guidance in preserving and protecting existing murals, creating an environment for new ones and ending L.A.'s so-called mural moratorium. more ›