Community Correspondent
I hate to admit it, but I still
like living in Los Angeles.
Well, not exactly Los Angeles, but
the San Fernando Valley, primarily Sherman Oaks. That's why
I volunteer my time to help keep my community a nice place to live and
work in.
However, I feel like vultures are circling around us like downed prey. I realize
that our relatively traffic-less part of Ventura Boulevard and laid
back Valley lifestyle could soon be devoured by a pro-development City
Hall.
Of course, we will fight to keep that from happening. The Valley has long been known for active community involvement but, that's no excuse for sitting on the sidelines, no matter
where you live and work.
Frankly, our generally great
So Cal weather almost makes for a good trade-off between our worsening
traffic congestion, and degradation of a once-affordable quality of
life.
For those yearning to escape into a swimming pool,
our mostly sunny days means we actually get to take pleasure in doing
something the City does right. Namely, taking a swim in a nearby
Olympic-sized swimming pool owned and operated by LA.
The fact is this
City run facility works very well -- clean and clear filtered water,
hot water in the showers, and convenient hours reminds me that Los Angeles
is still capable of doing something beneficial for the public, at a
relatively modest cost to them.
And, yes, I do take note that I am a contradiction -- I spend more time out of the
water stating what needs to be fixed in Los Angeles than remembering
to say some parts do work well, such as non-toilet water filled swimming
pools.
Being reminded by this little
piece of a wet Eden is a good example of seeing people demanding accountability
and getting positive results from local and downtown pool personnel,
whenever there are problems with the pool.
For instance, schedule changes have been made convenient to the public, including combining pool repairs and maintenance at one time and/or not closing the pool when it's needed the most -- during the holiday season.
Interacting
with pool personnel also serves as a good reminder that our City will
respond when the public politely and consistently applies the pressure.
As a result, those City employees get to hear something probably barely
uttered by the public these days -- a resounding thank you by a bunch
of chlorine soaked addicts for a job well done.
(Ellen Vukovich is a Sherman Oaks activist. columnist for Sun Community Newspapers and a regular contributor to ronkayeLA.com)
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the Naitonal Enquirer.
LOLOLOLLOL---I think it's hysterical that no one posted anything they love about L.A!
Oh lord that's sad.
OK, I'll go: I love The Hollywood Bowl. However, since I cannot get a good paying job in this city of cronies and Those Who Know Someone vs. Those Who Don't, I most likely will not be buying tickets at the Bowl for all of the events I would like to see there. I have one visit planned, which someone else set up. We will far, far up in the back.
Yes, one can say that the cheap seats are still very cheap, but if you are in those seats it's hard to hear and even harder to see. One would be better off buying a CD to enjoy the music in that case.
So, The Hollywood Bowl is wonderful, but truly, it is beyond the budgets of many of the citizens of L.A. But I still love it.