Christmas has come and gone, and your tree is probably on its way to becoming a fire hazard. So when you're ready to ditch your spruced up spruce or festive fir and you live in the City of Los Angeles, know that there are three ways to recycle that Christmas tree. more ›

Are animals being cared for in shelters run by L.A.'s Animal Services Department actually being stolen and sold for profit? It's possible, and City Controller Wendy Greuel has announced today her intention to conduct an audit aimed at uncovering just what is going on behind the scenes there. more ›

March 31st is Cesar Chavez Day, and though this year that falls on Thursday, some local organizations and civic resources will observe the holiday today or other days this week. The holiday is nationally recognized, but its roots are in Los Angeles, thanks to the many local volunteers who worked to see the day be made into a legal state holiday and day of service. Here's what will be closed on what day this week in observance. more ›

One quarter into the 2010-11 fiscal year and Los Angeles' "spending is running $63 million more than expected," according to the Daily News. The information comes from City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, who warned the City Council last week in the latest financial status report. The overrun can be covered by the reserve and unappropriated balance accounts, but come June, there's an anticipated $318 million deficit expected. (h/t LA Observed) more ›

Los Angeles has been dealing with a severe budget crisis this past year, forcing elected officials to make draconian cuts to the workforce and services. To name a few of the effects, libraries are now closed two days a week, employees across the board must take furloughs and the LAPD has had to make adjustments to how it deploys officers. more ›

Small business journal Portfolio.com yesterday released a study detailing the most and least stressful cities in the country, finding Detroit at the top of the list and Salt Lake City at the bottom. It wasn't based on personal interviews, rather it was based on data from issues that contribute to a populace's stress: Unemployment, poverty, unhealthy air, commuting and sunshine, to name a few. more ›

It's a national holiday and in Los Angeles city limits, that means relaxed parking rules. Obvious things like parking in red zone, handicap areas and on sidewalks will still be enforced, but most meters and preferential parking districts will not. The following is via LADOT's website: more ›

Sunday marks a big day of transition for Los Angeles, thanks to the city's budget shortfall. Both the Library and the city's 24-hour operator service shorten hours. more ›

Of the 187 medical marijuana dispensaries that registered in 2007, 174 have informed L.A. officials they plan to stay open. The notices from dispensaries are part of the process after L.A.'s ordinance on the shops went into effect earlier this month. Under it, some facilities can lawfully stay open, but hundreds of others were deemed illegal and have to close. That, however, hasn't stopped all of them. The famous KFC-turned-dispensary i Palms that was parodied in an episode of "South Park" was served with a warrant by police yesterday and one person was arrested. Of the 174 that plan to stay open, initial review by city officials indicate that under 100 will actually end up being legalized operations. more ›

Complaints about food trucks over the past year have gotten to Councilmember Tom LaBonge, who represents a portion of Wilshire Boulevard where it has become a ground zero of sorts between brick and mortar businesses and the mobile eateries. "I appreciate the the value they can add to our culinary landscape," he said earlier this week during a public meeting, but he explained that something had to be done. On Friday he took the first step by submitting two food truck motions for the Los Angeles City Council to consider. more ›

A proposal to shut Los Angeles libraries down another day of the week was reluctantly approved yesterday by the board that oversees them. Starting July 6th, libraries will be open five days a week, a move to keep the system of 83 libraries solvent during budget cuts and workforce reductions. This comes after the Board of Library Commissioners voted to shorten hours earlier this year from seven days a week to six due to budget cuts. More details of the proposal can be found on LAist's post from before the meeting. more ›

The budget drama is not yet over! As July 1st approaches -- that's the new budget year for L.A. -- the process to let go of 761 workers began yesterday, according to the Daily Breeze. The first round will include 246 people, including employees from libraries to animal services and parks. If $53 million does not come in from leasing garages later this year, another 1,000 employees could also go to the wayside. Unions argue the layoffs won't save the city much as deferred wage hikes are coming down the line. more ›

Today is the day. After a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries was set in 2007, Los Angeles politicians finally agreed on an ordinance regulating them earlier this year (discussions about the ordinance began in 2005). It goes into effect today, meaning over 400 shops -- hundreds popped up after 2007, despite the moratorium, using a legal loophole -- have to close or likely face some kind of enforcement. more ›

Los Angeles' City Adminstrative Officer Miguel Santana today plead "no contest" to misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, a charge stemming from March when he was involved in heavy budget discussions with City Council. Santana today was immediately sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $1,737 in fines and penalty assessments, according to Deputy District Attorney Casey Jarvis. more ›

At a meeting between politicians and the city hall press corps, Council President Eric Garcetti apologized about recent media restrictions at city council meetings enacted two weeks ago and said the policy will be reworked. The rules, which limited reporter access to councilmembers during meetings, have been a story onto itself, but more ›

The city of Los Angeles has four main police departments under its control: the famous LAPD, Airport Police, Harbor Police and General Services Police. The latter, which is proposed to be folded into the LAPD, is in charge of city owned buildings and most parks, but in our experience, it's the policing agency with the most tone-deaf cops. more ›

Police had a difficult time controlling a group of loud protestors chanting about a rent hike moratorium this afternoon. The L.A. City Council decided not to vote on placing a temporary moratorium on increasing rent to rent-controlled units, instead pushing it to committee for further study. more ›

More reductions in library hours, increased parking fines, taxing billboards, job cuts and more were the outcome of yesterday's 10-hour Los Angeles City Council meeting. In all, the city's $6.7 billion budget was approved, thus sending it to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his blessing. more ›

The people behind "Recall City Hall" are hoping last week's vote to ban travel to and doing some business with Arizona will fuel donations to their campaign, which seeks to recall Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and support voting out the L.A. City Council at future elections. more ›

The Los Angeles City Council usually does not meet on Mondays, but as the full group begins to discuss and consider next year's fiscal budget, which begins July 1st, a special meeting has been called to avoid mass layoffs. 1,761 jobs could be saved, but that depends on how things play out. 761 of them would be saved if unions accept more paycuts and up to 1,000 would be saved if by October 1st, revenues from leasing out city-owned parking garages and other revenue sources generate enough money. more ›

As expected, the Los Angeles City Council today passed a resolution limiting the city's dealings with Arizona-based businesses and opposing any federal immigration legislation that's based on racial profiling or discrimination. The move was approved by every councilmember except Greig Smith, who represents one of the most conservative parts of the city in the Northwest San Fernando Valley. more ›

Today the Los Angeles City Council will debate and vote on a resolution calling for the end of city business with the state of Arizona and companies headquartered there until the controversial immigration bill SB 1070 changes. In an analysis (.pdf) prepared for the discussion, $56.28 million has been identified in city contracts with Arizona-based companies. more ›

The number of murders within Los Angeles city limits has tipped 100, which has some wondering if crime is up or not. Through May 8th, there were 103 murders, three more than the same time last year, which was when the city experienced the fewest homicides since 1967. "Murder in Los Angeles is not really a function of the economy," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told KCAL-TV today... more ›

About 50 librarians and book supporters gathered on all four corners of a busy Hollywood intersection last Friday evening during rush hour, earning honks in support of saving L.A.'s dwindling library system. This year, it has already faced major cuts--for one, libraries are no longer open seven days a week--and now faces even heavier ones in Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed budget, which will take affect July 1st when libraries could go from six to five days of open doors. more ›

Councilmember Herb Wesson wants the city to explore placing a measure on a ballot asking voters to tax billboards. The suggestion comes in a letter (.pdf) from L.A. City Councilmember Herb Wesson offering various ideas on saving the budget. more ›

On Wednesday, former Mayor Richard Riordan released a scathing op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explaining why Los Angeles was on the brink of bankruptcy and what the city should do to fix it. The problem with L.A., Riordan said, was pension reform and new employee hires. more ›

In the Wall Street Journal yesterday, former Mayor Richard Riordan and a president of a local investment advisory firm said Los Angeles is on the brink of Bankruptcy. That's not a surprising claim, but the two lay out why they think this and a how-to to fix it. They say the problems are related to two numbers: 8% and 5,000. more ›

In last week's post about a parking enforcement officer taking lunch while his vehicle sat partly in a red zone, one LAist reader asked for the final word on red zones. "Does the red zone go by the frame of the car, or the tire?" asked a commenter named "Los Angeles." Commenter "Defender90CA" replied "Red zone goes by the tire, not the frame." more ›

85.000 vehicles travel the southern portion of La Cienega Boulevard everyday, making it one of the traveled surface streets in the region. From the 10 freeway to 405 freeway, the critical five-mile artery can be its own traffic hell for commuters and the adjoining residents of Los Angeles, Culver City, unincorporated Ladera Heights and Inglewood. more ›

Los Angeles' medical marijuana ordinance was signed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last Friday, meaning city workers today began the process of informing unauthorized storefronts to close. "The letters will start going out Tuesday to more than 400 marijuana retailers in the city that are alleged to be in violation of the law, which prohibits the outlets from being within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, parks and other 'sensitive use' sites," explained the LA Weekly. more ›