By Neil Rubenstein

Observer Columnist

The election on Dec. 3, 2013 between former Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta and the son of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas was disheartening, to say the least.

I wrote and then rewrote my take on the 54th Assembly District contest before giving up. There is absolutely no doubt government classes at Culver City High School could easily spend a semester or two dissecting the many ramifications of this race in California. Neil would have been smarter to just discuss this issue with the one and only Maria, AKA the "wild gypsy lady."

Here is her opinion. Mark wanted to make a statement to every person from now on running for office or re-election in the Second District that he/she better toe the line or all their contributions just might dry up and they might face a strong opponent in the next race. Now, I don't believe this for a second but Maria said to wait.

The federal government has agreed to build a new courthouse for almost $500 million near 1st and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. Have no fear, by the time it's ready for "guests" there will be a long reservation list.

Can we start with the lawsuit against the Jonesboro, Arkansas police chief, two police officers and the city? Chief Yates stands by claims Chavis Carter committed suicide by shooting himself as he sat in the back seat of a police cruiser with his hands handcuffed behind his back.

From the "Sunbathers Beware File," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced that beginning in 2015 law enforcement agencies would be using drones here in the United States. Thus far 32 law enforcement agencies have FAA approval to fly drones.

Do you remember just a short while ago when Mr. Snowden informed the world Uncle Sam was listening to millions of telephone conversations each and every day? Who would have believed our government would do such a thing without a court order? Well, put the children to bed. I don't want them to get nightmares when I whisper another nasty secret in your ear. Up in San Francisco where the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals meets, they will rule if police -- including our own Culver City police -- can collect and store DNA from citizens under suspicion and later released. Yes, you guessed right, the DNA stays behind forever. So, let's just say a member of our Culver City council is driving to the State Capitol when "Deputy Jones" arrests the council member for suspicion of being a 5' 10" blond Swedish lady age 25. The council member spends three hours in the lock-up until the dental charts are faxed up and is then let go. It can happen anywhere, anytime. And the DNA stays on file.

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The 9th Circuit Court also ruled two sheriff's deputies from San Diego County would stand trial for killing a suicidal man wielding a knife.

Just because an applicant falsified reports, had sex on the job, committed theft and solicited prostitutes was no reason those persons shouldn't be hired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. After all, everyone deserves a second or third or fourth chance.

I don't know about you but I feel safe here in Culver City because in California peace officers have bought 7,600 assault weapons. Just think, if the cartel swarms ashore at Marina del Rey and the Army, Marines and National Guard are busy defending us someplace else, then the Los Angeles Police Dept., with 10,000 officers and 1,300 assault weapons, can save us. Don't tell Long Beach P.D. with 37 weapons or Inglewood P.D with 17 weapons they are backups in case the cartel breaks through.

After listening to many learned friends tell me there is nothing the public can do about the obscene pensions city hall employees are getting, well, Opie, the federal court ruled Detroit can enter Chapter 9. Can we be honest? This financial crisis wouldn't have gotten to this level except for the greed of the union negotiators. The big shots are killing us by drawing pension checks large enough to choke a horse. Yes, eventually pensions will be reduced. Down the road, time is on our side.