Zach Behrens

current events Councilman Eric Garcetti thinks that's an actual possibility. In a comment he left on LA Weekly's website, he said "Our work in February and March has resulted in further real savings that will total about $50-$65 million more by the end of June (end of our fiscal year). Combined with slightly better property tax receipts, we will be able to meet our obligations for this year. Nevertheless, I hope the DWP gives...

City Hall, as seen from Main Street | Photo by Sean_Yoda_Rouse via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr After a stressful Wednesday where Los Angeles budget news was a mile a minute, Thursday had some peace. Budget officials announced that there was an unanticipated $30 million realized through unexpected tax revenues and cuts made last month, according to the Daily News. That money will be combined with $90 million from the city's reserve fund to...

The new ad will appear in buses in South L.A. Transit riders in South L.A. will begin to see these bus ads, reminding them that reporting illegal dumping can lead to a $1,000 reward. Marketing of the incentive, which is available to any illegal dumping case throughout the city, is one part of a campaign to solve rampant dumping in South L.A. neighborhoods. The issue came to light when the LA Times investigated the...

Photo by discarted via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The union that represents LAPD officers are blowing the whistle on what they are calling a myth in the city budget cuts. From their blog: ... it is a myth that the LAPD has been exempt from the city’s budget cuts. The impact of officers being taken off the streets because of overtime concerns, and filling in for furloughed civilians or vacant civilian jobs, are...

A police perimeter around the crime scene | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist A 2007 murder may be linked to Saturday's restaurant shooting that left four dead inside a middle eastern cafe, the LA Times is reporting. Akop Akopyan, 24, was found dead on Mulholland drive in what police believe was an execution hit. The 2007 case hasn't been solved, but some of the deceased victims in Saturday's shooting, which is also thought to be...

Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego are all vying to get Comic-Con. Whoever wins out will reap financial benefits from the massively big and popular convention dedicated to all things action, nerdy and sexy. Filled hotel rooms, full restaurants and more mean good things for L.A.'s job force and sales taxes. Curbed LA notes that a Facebook fan page has been set up for people to show their support. Anaheim has one, too....

A falling-over bouganvillea in Eagle Rock | Photo by dreamyshade via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The Sex Pistols' former manager Malcolm McLaren has died at age 64 Ha! CBS Outdoor put up a menacing-looking billboard ad for "Nightmare on Elm Street" above a Silver Lake nursery school. A shocked mother contacted CBS, which promptly pulled the ad and replaced it with a public service one. Will high speed rail in the U.S. be...

Photo by sirimiri via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Los Angeles budget officials today reported an increase in the city's budget deficit. "The 2009-10 Budget deficit is now estimated at $222.4 million," a report released today said. The new number, which was previously $212 million, is based on $36.8 million in savings, the unexpected $26 million in increased property tax revenue and the loss of, thanks to a standoff over the controversial carbon surcharge...

Remember the initiative that entered circulation last month that sought to ban two state retirement systems from "investing in companies doing business in Israel"? Well, it was withdrawn from circulation, according to the Secretary of State's office. Phew, we can still go on using and supporting Intel chips, Google, cell phones, Viagra, instant messages and Victoria's Secret....

Personal Photo via Crime Insider Monica Beresford-Redman, the owner of Zabumba Restaurant and Bar on Venice Boulevard, was found dead today in Cancun, Mexico where she was traveling with her husband and reported missing after an apparent shopping trip. Her husband, Bruce Beresford- Redman and reality TV producer, has been detained, according to sources of KTLA. He said she was missing since Monday, but officials were suspicious because he reported her missing on Tuesday,...

As usual with death on the road, an ad hoc memorial is set up by family members and loved ones. Westside-based blog Tabloid Baby notes that the one set up on Sunset Blvd. for 13-year-old Julia Siegler, who was killed in late-February when crossing the street to catch the bus, continues to grow, becoming much bigger. "More than a month later, the memorial to Julia has become a living shrine, with flowers arrangements replaced...

Photo by = Manny = via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr For at least the second time this year, security checkpoints at LAX have been shut down after a passenger left security screening too early. "At approximately 5:05 a.m. PDT, TSA closed the security checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminals 6 and 7 after a passenger left the checkpoint before a carry-on bag was properly screened," explained Suzanne Trevino, a TSA...