Dreier asks for postal investigation

In response to complaints about erratic mail service, Rep. David Dreier, a Republican who represents La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta, asked House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, to look into reports of mail delivery problems in communities along the foothills.

Dreier, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, sent a letter to Davis Wednesday asking him to address the concerns of foothill residents and business owners. Similar reports of irregular mail service in the greater Los Angeles area prompted the Government Reform Committee to announce that it will hold a hearing on the issue. Inconsistent mail delivery causes problems with bill payment and collection, Dreier said. A copy of Dreier's letter to Davis is on his website at http://www.dreier.house.gov.

Scott calls for U.C. accountability

In a hearing today in the state Capitol, state Sen. Jack Scott, a Democrat who represents Glendale, and members of the Senate Education Committee, heard testimony from the president of the University of California concerning questionable compensation practices for some U.C. executives.

U.C. has been in the spotlight over the past few months over revelations that the University spent tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses and perks for some executives with apparently little public disclosure, Scott said.

Scott said the hearing was not intended to be a witch-hunt but an effort to provide committee members and the public with more information about the compensation issues and whether the University of California followed its own established policies.

The accounts of compensation policy violations are extremely distressing and they have tarnished the reputation of the U.C. system, Scott said.

Information gathered from the hearing would reveal if University administrators were following their own procedures and whether new measures should be adopted, Scott said.

There will be a follow-up hearing Feb. 22 in Sacramento with UC Regent Chairman Gerald Parsky.

Getting a grip on prison gangs

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has urged the Sheriff's Department to separate violent gang members while they are in jail in an effort to keep other inmates and deputies from harm.

Sheriff Lee Baca must recognize the failure of mixing gang members with rival gang and non-gang inmates while they are held in custody, Antonovich said.