Friday Melee at City Hall

General Services Officer Michael Johnson covering KFI's Eric Leonard camera.

Officer Johnson points toward KFI's Eric Leonard.

Los Angeles Times photo of tenants, police skirmish.

Troubling scene at City Hall this afternoon as tenants rights groups protested the City Council decision to delay action on a rent hike moratorium proposal by City Councilman Richard Alarcon.

Tensions increase throught the proceedings as tenants rights groups and landlords gave testimony on Alarcon's motion. As the council debated Alarcon's motion, the mood darken as the retoric among those within the horseshoe became more heated.

Then when the council voted to do what they do best, that is punt, the boiling point was reached. This caused the masses to erupt and thus, a "officers need help call" went out. This cause a rapid response of Metro Cops and others to descend upon the council chambers where KFI's Eric Leonard became part of the drama.

Leonard became "ground zero" for the brewing media vs. council tensions over media access. On his blog he reports the following.

It's getting more and more difficult to cover L.A. City Council meetings.

Last week Councilmembers Garcetti, Zine, and Perry issued new restrictions for reporters, that, if fully enforced, would make it very challenging for us in the media to ask Councilmembers about their decisions.

Chief enforcer of the new rules is L.A. General Services police officer Michael Johnson, seen above, who today decided I wasn't allowed to take photographs of him while some protesters were yelling.

This evening on KFI's Tim Conway Jr. Show, Leonard reported that a meeting was schedule for Monday to discuss the new press restrictions, ..... under the condition that nothing be reported about meeting to the public.

Indeed the pressure is mounting.

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14