Frank Stoltze
I came to L.A. as a very young reporter on New Year’s Day, 1991. Two months later, four LAPD officers were caught on videotape beating Rodney King. A year later, the night before the riots/rebellion broke out, I was in the Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts at an extraordinary rally of rival gangs that had brokered a truce.
Today, I cover Civics and Democracy in L.A. As we face perhaps the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War, I seek to engage with communities and examine the hurdles to becoming involved in the political process. I cover the various social and political movements seeking to improve the lives of Angelenos. I also cover anti-democratic forces.
And after all these years, I still need to figure out the best donut shop in L.A. The best torta. The best (not fanciest) coffee. Best of all I get to meet the smartest, most interesting people and bring their voices to you.
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The Sheriff’s department has opened criminal investigations into two key watchdogs and has investigated a former department official who played a role in disciplining deputies. Villanueva defends the inquiries as proper. -
Norrington was granted parole after serving 15 years for attempted murder, a crime he committed when he was 22. He's determined to prove the parole board made the right decision.
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The 62-year-old Cecil Rhambo rose to assistant sheriff during his 33-year career at the Sheriff's Department, so he could present a serious threat to Villanueva.
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The sheriff had earlier threatened to arrest any unhoused people who refused to leave by Independence Day.
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The suit claims Christopher Bailey was not resisting in any way when the deputies repeatedly punched, choked and tasered him during a May 2020 traffic stop.
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The recall campaign against L.A. County DA George Gascón remains a long shot, but he is not taking any chances. Gascón held his first public rally Friday to defend himself.
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George Gascón promised during his campaign to review past police shootings. The outside panel will examine fatal shootings to see if there is evidence that might call into question previous DA's decisions not to file criminal charges against the officers.
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Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he's on a “humanitarian” mission to help homeless people, but he’s also threatening to arrest those who don’t leave. Some who work on the issue question whether his approach will succeed.
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Once a powerful supporter of Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the L.A. County Democratic Party has called on him to resign.
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Villanueva had drawn fire from First Amendment advocates over his initial decision to deny a permit to Revolution Club for a march to the South L.A. Sheriff's Station.
