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Los Angeles, as Pedestrians, you have the right of way on your sidewalks

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Recently yours truly was pointed to a Municipal Code which certifies the right of the public to move about freely and accessibly through sidewalks belonging to the People of the City of Los Angeles. See the document for yourself below for details.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee pedestrians full protection from a person or entity or group’s very capability to impede the right of way, but it does ensure that people have grounds for protest whilst hampered by such impediments.

To be fully clear though: Please note that the information provided on jimbotimes.com does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. The material included is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. You should not act upon this information without also obtaining professional counsel from a licensed California attorney.

Source: Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.12, City Clerk

J.T.

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Los Angeles, under California Law, you’ve got up to an hour at any public parking lot

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Earlier this week a video by the L.A. Times’ 404 division caught the attention of yours truly when it cited a section of law stating that motorists are entitled to at least an hours’ grace time when parking at any public parking lot owned as private property by a store or vendor. Yours truly went ahead and looked up the code, VEH 22953, and can now verify the video’s information is accurate. See the document for yourself below for details.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee a motorist full protection from a lot owner’s very capability to stir up trouble over a parking space or two, but it does make for some better news in Los Angeles given so much to the contrary these days.

To be fully clear though: Please note that the information provided on jimbotimes.com does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. The material included is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. You should not act upon this information without also obtaining professional counsel from a licensed California attorney.

Source: Code Section, California Legislative Information

J.T.

griffith observatory and los angeles skyline

Los Angeles, here is the city’s proposed budget for FY 2026 – 2027

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According to Planning Director Vincent P. Bertoni, in 2025: “Forty-two (42) Zoning Review Program positions were functionally transferred from the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) to City Planning. With all zoning functions now residing in a single City department, City Planning is completing our departmental reorganization that will facilitate streamlined and efficient processing of essential development projects in Los Angeles. The Department will launch the new Development Services Bureau in January 2026 that will create a “One-Stop-Shop” for all zoning related services in the City, providing a streamlined, efficient, and customer-centered experience for project applicants under both the Original Zoning Code and the recently adopted New Zoning Code (Emphasis mine).”

L.A. City Council has to decide to modify or adopt this proposal before July 1st. But as the old saying goes, “to be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

Source: FY 2026 – 2027 Department Budget Requests, Los Angeles Department of City Planning

J.T.

cityscape of los angeles at sunset

Here is your L.A. County Supervisors Map by District until 2031

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Open in Map Viewer to see a more detailed version of the boundaries via ArcGIS.

This map was created by yours truly based on publicly available GIS data from Los Angeles County, which itself based the boundaries on recommendations from the Citizens Redistricting Commission of 2021. The boundaries are officially in effect until 2031.

Access more maps for the most populous county of them all HERE. Look up your District Supervisor via address HERE.

J.T.

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Please also be advised that L.A. City Attorney Feldstein-Soto is being sued for legal and ethical violations

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Michelle McGinnis is the former head of the L.A. City Attorney’s criminal branch in Los Angeles. She was appointed for the position in 2023 by then-incoming L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto but first began working with the city attorney’s office more than thirty years earlier, starting as a Paralegal. In 2025, however, she was abruptly terminated from her duties by Feldstein Soto for what McGinnis’ lawsuit describes as “personal and political gains.”

This isn’t just your average wrongful termination claim, though. McGinnis’ lawsuit contends that Feldstein Soto possibly broke the law by holding at least one personal meeting as soon as she got into office with disgraced Council Member Kevin De León, who at the time was the defendant in a case brought against him by activist Jason Reedy over a scuffle the two engaged in at the end of 2022 (among other things).

The potential oversight was not an isolated incident, however, as the following year Feldstein Soto directed McGinnis to pursue charges against Ricci Sergienko, a protestor who was within his right to protest the home of an Israeli lobbyist at the outset of Israel’s genocide in Gaza in late 2023.

Last but certainly not least, the lawsuit further alleges that Feldstein Soto consumes alcohol on the job, calls staff outside of work hours as early as 4:00 AM, and even demands City Attorney prosecutors to avoid criminal cases against corporate defendants who can be potential donors for her wider political ambitions. Read the full docket for yourself below, and remember that Feldstein Soto is up for reelection, or ouster, as soon as this June 2nd, 2026.

J.T.