Apology to Homeless May Be in Order

Searching for the local angle, in true journalistic fashion, USC’s Daily Trojan reported: “The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance last week that makes it illegal to urinate or defecate in public, which may impact USC partygoers and the homeless.”

I hope the homeless weren’t offended by being linked with that other group.

Frat boys and transients: Actually, there is a connection.

A few months ago, L.A. police complained that USC’s fraternities had dumped mounds of trash in their alleys, including “high quality” stuff (electronics, etc.) that attracted transients.

An officer told the Daily Trojan that the problem had been compounded because USC students had “invited vagrants into the [frat] houses to party.” Members of one house even discovered “a vagrant living in their basement for a couple weeks,” a fraternity official said. “This guy found his way into the house.” I guess he’s what you’d call an undeclared major.

Unofficial economic indicators: The business climate is so unpredictable these days (see accompanying) that column readers have come across:

* A firm that appears to go in and out of business every week (from Gregory Pearson).

* A town that seems to question whether travelers should stop there for room and board (from John Brierley).

* A motel that can’t make up its mind whether it’s open or closed (from Mike Hatchimonji).

* And a home improvement store that is afraid to make public certain details about its operation (from Paul Shefrin).

One more indicator? The crime log in the Saddleback Valley News carried this out of Lake Forest: “Informant states that he is an employee at a local insurance office. He states that the front door was wide open and there is an unknown man sitting inside typing on a computer. He overheard him talking about breaking in the computer to get info.” An intruder, possibly. Or maybe a new boss, just trying to conquer an alien computer system.

Here’s Why: Today’s photo of the roadside sign, by the way, was taken in bustling Why, Ariz.

MiscelLAny: Since acquiring KNX-AM (1070), radio giant Infinity -- owner of some 180 stations -- has fired general manager George Nicholaw (winner of numerous public service awards for his editorials) and canceled the nightly “Drama Hour” of old-time shows. And now, in what seems like a defensive move, a new KNX promo assures listeners that the station cares about them.

“We live here, too,” concludes the spot on the New York-owned station.

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083; by fax at (213) 237-4712; by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012; and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.