The New Face of LA Policing; A Large House with a Small Footprint

Today the City Council will confirm Charles Beck as new Chief of the LAPD. His ascent marks a continuation of the policing philosophy of “openness and transparency” initiated by previous Chief Bill Bratton,…

Today the City Council will confirm Charles Beck as new Chief of the LAPD. His ascent marks a continuation of the policing philosophy of “openness and transparency” initiated by previous Chief Bill Bratton, and that’s a philosophy that finds concrete manifestation in six new and replacement police precinct stations built with Prop Q money across Los Angeles. From classical style buildings that were, according to LA Noir author John Buntin, “lovely” places where “unlovely” things happened, the department transitioned to “ideal” stations that resembled fortresses to today’s new approach where stations are designed to reflect their neighborhood and place an emphasis on welcoming public space. How much of an effect can design have on crime-fighting? How much can the nature of policing change? On today’s DnA we talk about all this, with author John Buntin; with LAPD officers (Sergeant Andrea Rea and Lieutenant Robert Miles); those in charge of the building program (Deborah Weintraub, Thom Brennan, Vincent Jones), neighborhood voices (Martha Cisneros); and Christopher King, architect, of Hollenbeck Replacement Station, shown right.

And last but absolutely not least, funnyman Keenen Ivory Wayans feels strongly he needs to make a contribution to the fight against global warming, while maintaining a high “aspirational” lifestyle. So he is about to break ground on a

16,000 square feet Italianate mansion in Malibu that he and his design and construction team – Richard Landry, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, John Finton – believe can be “green,” especially when Wayans is providing shelter for a family that sometimes numbers 50! They make their case on DnA today.While on the topic of global warming, sometime To The Point guests Bim Ayandele and Haroon “Boon” Saleem remind me that tonight you can boogie on down for climate change at an event hosted by Generation for Change Foundation and Environment America. Road to Copenhagen at Boulevard 3 in Hollywood is intended to raise awareness about global warming and the U.N. Climate Change Conference this December. Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys), DJ Muggs (Cypruss Hill), Bobo DJ Aero Smiles Davis and other special guests will be spinning. .