VICIOUS CIRCLE: It’s Southern California’s eternal cycle....
VICIOUS CIRCLE: It’s Southern California’s eternal cycle. Unusually heavy winter rains quench a parched state’s thirst. But the rain promotes growth of heavy grass--perfect brush fire fuel when temperatures rise and the Santa Anas blow . . . It’s possible to protect your home, firefighters say, although no safeguards are foolproof. See Valley Briefing (B5).
POLICE LIMITS: On his way to sweeping the San Fernando Valley vote, Mayor Riordan stressed a key promise--increasing the LAPD ranks by 3,000, to a total of 10,500, in his first term. Can it be done? Police Chief Willie L. Williams says not (B1) . . . The LAPD academy, running full tilt, could not increase the 7,600-officer force by more than 1,200 officers in four years, the chief said in an interview.
TUSK POWER: Banker Alfred R. Villalobos is such a gung-ho Republican that his Tarzana home, where he threw a party last year that raised $75,000 for GOP campaigns, is decorated by elephant statues, elephant paintings and an elephant in stained glass. Now Mayor Riordan has named him deputy mayor (B1) . . . Fellow Latinos, even Democrats, praised his appointment to the $89,500-a-year job--a big pay cut.
FINICKY CAR: A Van Nuys man now has a car that won’t go anywhere unless it likes his breath. But it wasn’t his idea. . . . Murray J. Greenfield is the first drunk driver in Los Angeles sentenced under a new law requiring him to equip his car’s starter with a breath analyzer (B4) . . . Bad blow, no go.
NEW DIRECTION: Calstart, the Burbank-based transportation consortium, is switching gears. Until now, it has focused its efforts on creating a local electric car industry to bring new jobs to the recession-plagued Southland. . . . With Southern California Gas Co. as its newest member, Calstart is broadening its focus to other alternative fuels such as natural gas (D1).
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.