L.A. Times - Points West | Steve Lopez

Do we love L.A.? We don't always vote like it

Steve Lopez — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:10:00 -0700

The weather should be nice (what else?) for Tuesday's municipal election, so roll out of bed and start humming Randy Newman. Maybe we'll hit 25% turnout.

No, wait, don't turn the page.

You name it, Eric Garcetti has done it

Steve Lopez — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

At a Westwood pizza parlor, L.A. mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti — who is George Plimpton, Bono and 'Seinfeld's' Mr. Peterman all rolled into one — finds common ground with students.

In exactly one week, Los Angeles will wake up with a newly elected mayor.

The tale of the rescue dog has a tail-wagging ending

Steve Lopez — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:45:00 -0700

The Corgi mix named Hannah/Ginger wasn't a fit for one family — but now she's found a happy new home. Meanwhile, say hello to Dominic.

Last week's column, about my misadventures with a rescue dog, was not universally embraced by pet owners.

Wendy Greuel takes on the crowd at Tolliver's

Steve Lopez — Tue, 7 May 2013 20:38:00 -0700

The mayoral candidate takes questions and chats with patrons for two hours. It points up the need for a forum other than debates in which voters can get a look at candidates.

"Hi guys, long time no see," Wendy Greuel said, strolling into Tolliver's barbershop as if she were a regular.

The fast-moving tale of a rescue dog named Ginger

Steve Lopez — Sat, 4 May 2013 16:05:00 -0700

A 3-year-old Corgi mix in need of 'a home where she can blossom!' gives her new owners the slip — and then returns. She might be showing them who's really in charge.

When I had dogs as a kid, and later as a young adult, there didn't seem to be anything difficult about finding the right canine or taking care of it. But things seem to have gotten a lot more complicated since then.

Labor has helped L.A., but tweaks are still needed

Steve Lopez — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:40:00 -0700

Two SEIU leaders say they have made concessions to help the city deal with its budget crisis. But all of the city's public employee unions can do more.

I think it's fair to say that the men sitting across the table from me Monday afternoon were not terribly happy with my recent work.

iPads in school: a toy or a tool?

Steve Lopez — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:15:00 -0700

Whether equipping all students with iPads is a gimmick or a great idea, one San Fernando Valley school that's using them is sold.

At Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences in Granada Hills, every student has an iPad.

Time for public employee unions to pick up the tab

Steve Lopez — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:53:00 -0700

Labor in L.A. is going to have to shoulder more of its health and retirement burden or risk the givebacks and layoffs that the rest of the workforce has endured.

For more than half of my 38 years in the news business, I've been a member of a union, though I'm not currently. And my late father was a proud Teamster for decades.

Gun legislation failure dismays survivor of Texas mass shooting

Steve Lopez — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Irma Garcia, who was badly hurt in 1966 by Charles Whitman at the University of Texas, wishes senators had the courage to approve expanded background checks.

Irma Garcia pulled back her sweater to show me where the bullet entered her shoulder and spun her around. It then torpedoed through her body and exited near the middle of her back.

For Boston, drawing a lesson from 9/11

Steve Lopez — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:44:00 -0700

The bombings evoke memories for two men whose lives were changed by the 2001 attacks. 'I keep telling myself life goes on,' says a former Boston Marathon runner whose daughter died on 9/11.

There it was on the screen, tragic and terrifying, another senseless act of cowardice. This time in Boston.