The federal system lacks California’s explicit check on the president’s pardoning power, and President Trump has made the most of his unfettered discretion. For example, last year he pardoned Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., and a staunch Trump political ally, before Arpaio could be sentenced on his conviction for criminal contempt […]
Blog: L.A.’s new Airbnb ordinance is already at risk of being undermined
Still, given the financial resources of Airbnb and the social resources of hosts, we can expect to see continued efforts to roll back this much-needed regulation. The City Council was slow to deal with the problems of home sharing, but now that it has, it needs to protect the integrity of this ordinance. Source: latimes.com […]
Blog: A Warsaw Ghetto uprising fighter died. Humanity must never forget his story
To the editor: My eyes got teary and my body turned cold as I read the story of the death at age 94 of Simcha Rotem, a Holocaust survivor who fought in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising. These resisters were destined to fail and knew it, but they fought the overwhelming Nazi forces for a […]
Blog: Music from the Great Depression that is appropriate for our time
To the editor: Thanks for the op-ed article about the history and importance to U.S. troops serving overseas of the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and thanks for reminding us that this classic and endearing song, first made popular by Bing Crosby in 1943, has just as much value and meaning… Source: latimes.com – […]
Blog: Poverty and homelessness are bigger drivers of crime than criminal justice reform
The assertion by Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) that people steal because there is “no accountability” and “no one’s going to jail anymore” is nonsensical. Our jails remain crowded. The vast majority of theft offenders are not apprehended, and as a former police officer, Cooper should know that. Source: latimes.com – Los Angeles Times
Blog: If you like a shirtless Russian leader, a 2019 Putin calendar could be for you
“Mostly tourists buy them, not locals,” said Svetlana, who was working at one of the dozens of souvenir shops just off Red Square. With a slight smirk, she laid out some of her store’s other Putin items, including a chocolate bar with a wrapper that said, “Go Hard Like Vladimir Putin.” Source: latimes.com – Los […]