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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First Amendment activists are crying foul over a decision by L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva to deny a permit for a group that wants to protest violence by his deputies. -
The murder of George Floyd revitalized the police reform movement in L.A. But the movement's progress has been uneven.
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Reform advocates have hailed L.A. District Attorney George Gascón’s new policy as striking a blow against mass incarceration, while many in law enforcement say he’s endangering the public.
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Sheriff Alex Villanueva, embattled for much of the past three years, must now face an election challenge from one of his top lieutenants in the department.
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There's LAPD and LASD — and 70 more(!) police departments operating in Los Angeles County.
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Since the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commissioner is advisory only, it's up to Sheriff Alex Villanueva to decide whether to adopt the ban.
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A California Supreme Court ruling that says its unconstitutional to keep someone behind bars merely because they can't make bail.
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Getting out of jail just got a whole lot easier, and affordable, thanks to the California Supreme.
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A String Of LAPD Shootings Raises QuestionsStarting on March 16, there was an unusual cluster of six LAPD shootings over the course of a week. Does it signify anything?
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What To Make Of The Past Week's Spike in LAPD Shootings?Critics see more proof of officers too willing to use deadly force; a use of force expert doesn't think the cluster is significant.
