You probably fit into one of these two categories: 1) You can’t remember the last time you ventured to L.A. Civic Center to retrieve or review original source documents available at government offices. 2) You’ve relied so much on online databases that you’ve never set foot in any of these offices.
Either way, this is the perfect time for you to get your hands on the documents to which your databases have referred. This is the perfect time to see what information the databases don’t provide. This is the perfect time to make valuable contacts with people who handle those files and documents — people who may very well be willing to help you over the phone when you’re on deadline.
Let veteran investigative journalist and public records expert Don Ray introduce you to the files, to the documents and to the people who keep watch over them.
Imagine being able to squeeze more information and leads from documents your colleagues or competitors never knew existed. Imagine being able to answer questions you have never known you could ask.
The daylong tour and lecture begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, outside the Hill Street entrance to the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration just south of the corner of Temple. It’s on the east end of the building.
The places we will cover — in this approximate order — will be:
L.A. County Assessor — current records
L.A. County Assessor — map book archives
L.A. County Superior Court Archives — older civil and criminal files.
L.A. County Superior Court — Criminal Courts Bldg. — search/arrest warrants
L.A. County Superior Court — Criminal Courts Bldg. — criminal index
L.A. City Clerk — Building and Safety — building permits/plans
L.A. County Health Department — recently filed (one year) birth/marriage/death certificates
L.A. City Clerk — business/police/fire permits
L.A. City Ethics Commission — Statements of Economic Interest/campaign financing/lobbyists
U.S. District Court — civil and criminal indices and files
U.S. District Court — bankruptcy indices and files
This time around, the tour will begin exactly at 8 a.m. on the Hill Street entrance to the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. It’s just south of the corner of Temple and Hill streets. People can call Don Ray at (760) 900-1735 if they run late. Last time, we waited for 15 minutes for two participants who didn’t show up at all. Suggested donation is $40. We’ll have Don Ray’s book, Diggin’ Up Gold on the Old Paper Trail; A Workbook for Investigatin’ Folks for those who want to look at samples of the documents they will find at the offices. $20.
It’s very, very important to send and email to donray@donray.com if you think you may want to participate. That way, he can keep you up to date about the precise plans. Plus, he can give you additional information about parking in L.A. Civic Center as well as information about other forms of transportation to and from the lecture/tour.
But wait! There’s more!
One more thing. The following morning, Friday, June 20, 2014, Don Ray will conduct a half-day tour/lecture at the offices of the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder/Clerk at 12499 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. We’ll meet on the front steps at 8 a.m. It will last until noon. Suggested donation: $20. And we’ll have the book available for $20.
We’ll visit these offices in this approximate order:
Registrar of Voters — statements of economic interest, campaign finance statements
Registrar of Voters — voter registration records
County Recorder — grantor/grantee — deeds, trust deeds, liens, DBAs, etc.
County Recorder — very old grantor/grantee, tract maps and more
County Recorder — birth, death and marriage records
But wait! There’s even more!
I’m even willing to meet with any of the participants on Wednesday evening, June 18, 2014 to give a classroom-style. Time and location to be arranged if there are any interested participants. Suggestion donation: $20.
The proceeds will go to The Endangered History Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt non-profit educational organization. Tax deductible. You may make donations online by visiting http://www.ehpboosters.wordpress.com and clicking on the “Donate” button.
Please feel free to call Don Ray at (818) 237-3728 or email him at donray@donray.com if you have any questions.
Third Thursday Tours and Seminars 