Despite the urban renewal of Figueroa Blvd. in and around Staples Center and L.A. Live, downtown L.A. is still a bad place with a whole lot of bad people up to no good.

But apparently Villaraigosa and Bratton failed to take note of the lessons learned in 2000, when similar riots took place in front of Staples after the Lakers won the first of the consecutive championships. If there was a tactical alert in place last night, it wasn't very effective. Tactical alerts do not include leaving patrol cars sitting unattended in a potential riot area.

Just yet another reason for closed borders and police officers equipped with flame throwers.