Occupy L.A.

In clearing Occupy site, time is on LAPD's side, chief says
After a flurry of eviction threats, street protests and court maneuvering, Occupy L.A. remained standing on the City Hall lawn Monday evening - prompting debate about the caution displayed by city leaders seeking to avoid violent clashes seen in other cities. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said Monday he remains committed to the restrained approach, noting that the encampment has shrunk by about 150 tents in recent days and that police have so far managed to avoid aggressive confrontations with protesters.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. mayor faces test in ouster of occupy protesters
The day after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa declared City Hall Park closed to Occupy Los Angeles protesters, many had packed up and gone home-but hundreds remained and a few scampered up trees to elude police. The protesters who stayed "are in violation of the law but we won't make any arrests until such time as we believe we can do so with a minimum amount of force," Mr. Villaraigosa said Monday in an interview in his office, three floors above the encampment.
Wall Street Journal

Occupy LA targeting ports of L.A. and Long Beach
As a deadline to evict protesters camped in front of Los Angeles City Hall passed with little fanfare today, the Occupy LA movement is now shifting its focus to the nation's busiest port complex. On its website, Occupy LA said it plans demonstrate at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, part of a wider effort to disrupt work at West Coast seaports on Dec. 12. Police agencies at both ports are coordinating plans with local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard in case of a mass demonstration.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Chatsworth and nine other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 10 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Chatsworth was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.7 over the last three months. Sun Valley topped the list of four neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Father killed in front of young son in South L.A. shooting
A man was shot and killed in front of his 8-year-old son in South Los Angeles on Sunday night, police said. The man, whose name was not released, was jump-starting his car in the 500 block of West 84th Street at about 8:40 p.m. when a man approached him and the shooting took place, said Officer Roger Aguirre at the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Street station. Aguirre said police believe that the shooting took place during a robbery attempt.
Los Angeles Times

No license, no car? Not so: LA considers changing 30-day impound on cars of unlicensed drivers
No license, no car - that policy, which activists have long complained unfairly punishes illegal immigrants who cannot get driver's licenses, may be about to change. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Police Department began allowing unlicensed drivers at sobriety checkpoints a free pass from having their car towed and impounded if a licensed driver was available to take it. Since then, Mayor Villaraigosa has been developing a new policy with the LAPD that would expand that change to include traffic stops and reduce the number of 30-day impounds, which can cost hundreds of dollars in fees.
Southern California Public Radio

LAPD wins GSN's 2011 award for Most Notable Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism or Crime Prevention Program'
The Los Angeles Police Department's cutting-edge Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau (CTSOB), led by Deputy Chief Michael Downing, was recognized at Government Security News' November 14 awards dinner as the "Most Notable Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism or Crime Prevention Program," a category that included five other finalists from federal, state and local government agencies.
Government Security News Magazine

Justice Dept. cracks down on Cyber Monday scams
Cyber Monday wasn't just about sales. On one of the busiest online shopping days of the year, the Justice Department announced that it shut down 150 Web sites selling counterfeit goods ranging from sports jerseys to handbags to the popular P90X exercise program. The operation was part of a campaign launched last year that has targeted more than 350 sites visited by millions of consumers.
Washington Post

Pensions

Public pensions not the principle problem
Unions intend to be active in restructuring pensions to reduce costs while ensuring decent retirements for public workers. This is not a new role for the unions, though. In the past two years alone, we have negotiated a host of agreements that saved the state $600 million by agreeing to pay more for pensions while trimming benefits and lowering costs. Negotiations in more than 200 California counties, local districts and cities including Escondido and San Marcos are bringing similar savings.
North County Times

Public pension security for California
When the Legislature reconvenes next month, one of the front-and-center issues will be public pension restructuring. California's public employee unions intend to be vigorous participants in this effort. It is important to note, though, that unions have long been active in negotiating changes at both the state and local levels that have reduced public costs while continuing to ensure decent retirements for public workers. These changes include increasing employee contributions and reducing pension formulas, which have already eased state budget costs by $600 million over the last two years.
David Low/Los Angeles Times