David Zahniser
https://www.latimes.com/people/david-zahniser
Content published by David Zahniser.Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:00:28 GMTL.A. County and city are both reeling financially. Why is the county better off?
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-19/county-budget-settlement-layoffs-l-a-on-the-record
Both L.A. County and city are saddled with billions in unexpected costs. How come only one faces a $1-billion deficit?Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:00:28 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-19/county-budget-settlement-layoffs-l-a-on-the-recordViolent weekend in South L.A. leaves two dead, another injured
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-13/three-shooting-incidents-in-south-los-angeles
An LAPD spokesperson said it was too soon to say whether three shootings, which took place within a mile of each other, were related.Sun, 13 Apr 2025 23:58:53 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-13/three-shooting-incidents-in-south-los-angelesHow much did Bass and her acting mayor communicate while she was in Ghana?
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-12/la-on-the-record-bass-harris-dawson-messages-ghana-l-a-on-the-record
City officials turned over a batch of revealing text messages from Mayor Karen Bass during her return to the U.S. But one name was missing: her acting mayor, Marqueece Harris-Dawson.Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:00:02 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-12/la-on-the-record-bass-harris-dawson-messages-ghana-l-a-on-the-recordHuge trash fee hike looms for L.A. residents
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-10/los-angeles-considers-major-increases-to-its-trash-fees
The L.A. City Council is weighing a plan to increase trash fees by 56% for single-family homes and duplexes, while doubling the fee for apartments with three or four units.Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:00:40 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-10/los-angeles-considers-major-increases-to-its-trash-feesMayor Karen Bass is looking vulnerable. But will anyone challenge her in 2026?
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-09/mayor-karen-bass-vulnerable-election-2026-caruso-fires-challengers
The chattering among the city’s political class about potential competitors has grown louder. But it's still unclear whether anyone will mount a serious challenge to an incumbent who still wields considerable clout.Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:10 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-09/mayor-karen-bass-vulnerable-election-2026-caruso-fires-challengersFeds to look into potential fraud and corruption in Southern California homeless funds
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-08/taskforce-homelessness-funds
The Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force will investigate potential fraud and corruption involving local homelessness funds, with U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli saying there will be arrests if federal laws have been broken.Tue, 08 Apr 2025 17:00:18 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-08/taskforce-homelessness-fundsDebate over homeless funding leaves L.A. city and county at odds yet again
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-05/la-on-the-record-city-and-county-at-odds-over-homeless-services-l-a-on-the-record
The debate over the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has brought the city and county back to a familiar place: divided over strategies for fighting homelessness.Sat, 05 Apr 2025 15:00:30 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-04-05/la-on-the-record-city-and-county-at-odds-over-homeless-services-l-a-on-the-recordLos Angeles homeless chief to resign after the county guts her agency
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-04/los-angeles-homeless-chief-to-resign-after-the-county-guts-her-agency
Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, announced her resignation Friday.Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:46:12 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-04/los-angeles-homeless-chief-to-resign-after-the-county-guts-her-agencyCounty supervisors create new homeless agency, despite warnings from L.A. mayor
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-01/county-votes-to-pull-money-from-homeless-agency-despite-mayors-opposition
The plan would move more than $300 million and hundreds of workers out of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority and into a new county department.Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:33:12 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-01/county-votes-to-pull-money-from-homeless-agency-despite-mayors-oppositionL.A. County supervisors to vote on creating their own homeless services agency
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-31/los-angeles-homeless-agency-under-fire
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is looking to pull hundreds of millions of dollars out of LAHSA, a move that unnerves some at L.A. City Hall.Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:22:05 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-31/los-angeles-homeless-agency-under-fireL.A. City Council seeks crackdown on the N-word and C-word at meetings
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-22/los-angeles-city-council-cracks-down-on-hateful-language
Council members say hate speech used by the public during city meetings has discouraged others from coming to speak.Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:00:47 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-22/los-angeles-city-council-cracks-down-on-hateful-languageL.A. city budget shortfall grows to nearly $1 billion, with layoffs 'nearly inevitable'
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-19/los-angeles-city-budget-shortfall-gets-much-worse
Faced with a nearly $1-billion budget shortfall, the Los Angeles City Council met behind closed doors to take a fresh look at its salary agreements with labor unions.Wed, 19 Mar 2025 20:16:28 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-19/los-angeles-city-budget-shortfall-gets-much-worseWith L.A.'s mayor facing a recall threat, her supporters go after billionaires
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-14/la-mayor-recall-threat-supporters-mobilize
Supporters of Mayor Karen Bass have begun ramping up their defense of her, warning that right-wing billionaires are 'coming for L.A.'Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:00:43 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-14/la-mayor-recall-threat-supporters-mobilizeL.A. County's budget is taking hit after hit. Trump could make things worse
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-03-08/la-on-the-record-county-budget-woes-l-a-on-the-record
L.A. County's heading into a rough budget season. Federal cuts could make it worseSat, 08 Mar 2025 16:00:58 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-03-08/la-on-the-record-county-budget-woes-l-a-on-the-recordFormer Fire Chief Kristin Crowley loses bid to get her job back, winning just two votes
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-04/fire-chief-crowley-loses-her-appeal-for-her-job
Crowley’s bid to get her job back was almost certain to fail, given the fact that she needed 10 votes. Her only support came from Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park.Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:27:11 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-04/fire-chief-crowley-loses-her-appeal-for-her-jobBass aides were warned of growing fire danger before she flew to Ghana
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-04/bass-aides-were-warned-of-growing-fire-danger-before-she-flew-to-ghana
L.A.'s mayor said she wasn't told about the wind forecast before flying to Ghana. But the city's Emergency Management Department sent weather advisories one day earlier.Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:00:58 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-04/bass-aides-were-warned-of-growing-fire-danger-before-she-flew-to-ghanaFoes of Mayor Karen Bass form committee to raise money for recall bid
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-03/karen-bass-recall-committee
Any recall effort would need to gather valid signatures from 15% of registered voters, or about 330,000 overall.Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:43:07 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-03/karen-bass-recall-committeeL.A. council president moved rapidly on the ousted fire chief. Then came the outcry
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-03-01/council-president-marqueece-harris-dawson-fire-chief-meeting-l-a-on-the-record
City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson tried to put the Chief Crowley controversy to rest. His fast-track strategy was halted just as quickly.Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:00:13 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-03-01/council-president-marqueece-harris-dawson-fire-chief-meeting-l-a-on-the-recordFormer L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley appeals her dismissal by Mayor Karen Bass
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-27/former-lafd-chief-kristin-crowley-appeals-her-dismissal
The procedural step, which is afforded by the City Charter, is unlikely to succeed. But it could cause more public agita for Mayor Karen Bass.Thu, 27 Feb 2025 23:29:24 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-27/former-lafd-chief-kristin-crowley-appeals-her-dismissalL.A. recovery czar vents over working for free: 'I was lied to'
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-24/recovery-czar-mayor-pay
Steve Soboroff walked back the comments a few days later, saying that he doesn't think he was intentionally misled.Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:33:20 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-24/recovery-czar-mayor-payKaren Bass has faced tough questions. The city is making her answers hard to find
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-02-22/la-on-the-record-bass-wildfire-q-and-a-goes-missing-l-a-on-the-record
Mayor Karen Bass has had tense exchanges with reporters since the Palisades fire. But the record of those are frequently cut from her news conference videosSat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:56 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-02-22/la-on-the-record-bass-wildfire-q-and-a-goes-missing-l-a-on-the-recordBass ousts L.A. fire chief, saying LAFD needs new leadership
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-21/bass-ousts-la-fire-chief-crowley-lafd-fires
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday.Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:28:08 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-21/bass-ousts-la-fire-chief-crowley-lafd-firesRick Caruso sues to stop Television City project, using a law he once disparaged
https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-02-15/la-me-rick-carusos-the-grove-sues-to-block-television-city-l-a-on-the-record
The developer has been a critic of California's environmental lawsuits. Now his mall has filed one too.Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:00:08 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-02-15/la-me-rick-carusos-the-grove-sues-to-block-television-city-l-a-on-the-recordDWP secures law firm, at up to $1,975 an hour, to defend against Palisades fire lawsuits
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-14/law-firm-1975-an-hour-defend-against-palisades-fire-lawsuits
The Board of Water and Power voted to approve a contract for L.A. firm Munger, Tolles & Olson to investigate claims related to the Palisades fire and defend against lawsuits.Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:00:32 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-14/law-firm-1975-an-hour-defend-against-palisades-fire-lawsuitsAfter critics blast move to pay L.A. wildfire recovery czar $500,000, he'll do it for free
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-08/critics-assail-decision-to-pay-recovery-czar-500-000-over-90-days
Steve Soboroff’s salary would have been funded by charitable organizations. He had defended the arrangement, saying his expertise made him worth the $500,000.Sun, 09 Feb 2025 03:22:52 GMThttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-08/critics-assail-decision-to-pay-recovery-czar-500-000-over-90-days