Culver City Observer -

By Neil Rubenstein

Observer Columnist

With states decriminalizing marijuana and scaling back 1970s-era drug laws, admissions to state prisons have fallen from 689,536 in 2006 to 553,843 in 2012. New York has closed 24 prison facilities since 2011.

I sure hope none of the 165,200 employees who received Wall Street bonuses totaling 26.7 billion in 2013 get a rupture taking their checks to the bank.

Recently I went through the file folder labeled Culver City Court and would you believe I found a picture taken almost 40 years ago on the day Judge Hal Cherness was sworn in. It was 1975 and in the picture was his wife, Trudy, son, Darryl and Judge Frank Troost. The court house today houses the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum on Overland just south of Culver Blvd.

For those veterans whose records are incomplete, you can request copies from the National Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis at (314) 801-0800 or http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel.

Did you ever read the April 21- 27, 2014 issue of Bloomberg Business Week? I am referring to “States Target Corporate Cash Stashed Overseas” beginning on Page 27. Bloomberg claims these corporate stinkers using legal maneuvers are screwing Sacramento out of approximately $1,783 per capita. Most people feel there are 30 million plus Californians and if we multiply 30 million by $1,783 it comes to $53.5 billion in additional monies for the Golden State tax coffers.

For those who are interested, the Los Angeles International Airport police tests applicants every fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 5520 Arbor Vitae, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Phone (866) 462-4773 or go to http://www.laxpd.com. Starting salary is $48,003.

On Feb. 25, 2014 the German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed an agreement with Israel that would allow Germany to provide consular services to Israeli citizens in countries where Israel has no diplomatic presence.

One can only guess, but how much longer will it be before China swallows up Taiwan?

Can anyone blame Brazil and the European Union for being upset with our government “listening” to their conversations that they will spend $185 million to lay an undersea cable from Lisbon, Portugal to Fortaleza, Brazil?

Muslims in New York City are asking the Board of Education to add two holidays to the school calendar comparable to Yom Kippur and Christmas.

Years ago airlines advertised their flights to Hawaii. One clearly remembers United and their “fly the friendly skies” – it was so effective many people took their vacations in the Aloha state. Today that special appeal is not necessary as I assume the jet is full to capacity with members of law enforcement agencies from the four corners of our great country. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if these dedicated soldiers of law and order hired to root out the evil in that state’s island paradise are doing a great job with bounce in their step.

Did you see the special exemption in the law that allows undercover vice officers to have sex with prostitutes during investigations? This has been on the books in Hawaii for decades and apparently quite legal, but it seems the legislature will soon revise the statute. Members of the vice squad might not in the future be roaming through dark alleys and other places whistling, smiling and snapping their fingers.

For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website’s search box.