Americans across the country are still mourning the killings in Tucson. Our prayers continue for the recovery of the survivors, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and we are inspired by the courage of those who stepped in to stop the shooting and aid the victims.

At the same time, we...

In government, you can't wait for people to come to you - you need to give residents the tools to empower themselves in the most convenient way. Whether it's blogging, tweeting, or just good old fashioned door-to-door canvassing, I love promoting government at people's doorstep or, even better, in the...

Our city is facing the toughest economy we have seen since the Great Depression, and it will take a focused and concerted effort by all city leaders to balance our budget while continuing to provide key services that are essential to getting our economy back on track.

Last October, the...

President Obama's announcement that he plans to accelerate job-creation efforts was welcome news. Though the recent plunge in national unemployment statistics was heartening, big problems remain in some parts of the country.

Nowhere is that more true than Los Angeles, with unemployment at 13.9 percent, far above the national...

Welcome to Los Angeles! It's great that the Huffington Post's LA blog has arrived. I know that many of your readers and contributors have been in Southern California all along, and HuffPost itself has strong local ties.

But let's face it: up to now, much of the focus of Huffington...

Congressional leaders and President-Elect Barack Obama are moving to create an economic-recovery package ready to sign as soon as Jan. 20. That's great news for a reeling economy. But while a no-strings bailout to struggling state and local governments, as some are seeking, may ease painful decisions ahead, Congress should...