Tom Camarella and Rebecca Rona-Tuttle, two of Culver City’s most seasoned activists, strode into Council Chambers last evening 45 minutes ahead of other oil field protestors. Well-armed with supporting documents, both had prepared statements they intended to deliver an hour later at the now-deflated special City Council meeting. Yes, Sentinel Peak Resources, operators of the Inglewood Oil Field, formally had … Read More
Thunder, Yes, but Clarke Wonders Where Storm Was
Mr. Clarke
Had it been Jim Clarke’s call, Council Chambers would have remained dark last evening. The Councilman would have preferred staying home since no urgent business was on the agenda. He had to have been pleased with the outcome, 120 bumpless minutes As forecast by all non-protestors, the special City Council meeting to debate regulations for a piece of the Inglewood … Read More
Good Form Wins on Oil Field Night
Appearances to the contrary, last evening’s special City Council meeting went just as smoothly as worried Council leaders had envisioned. In and out in two tidy hours instead of the feared messy late-night brawl. Facebook took care of that. Facebook began buzzing shortly after 6 o’clock yesterday morning: Operators of the Inglewood Oil Field unexpectedly had cancelled their intention to … Read More
Tonight’s Oil Field Meeting Goes Flat
The operators of the Inglewood Oil Field this morning only momentarily stunned organized protestors due to storm Council Chambers this evening. Sentinel Peak Resources caught almost everyone off-guard by abruptly withdrawing its intention of trying to delay release of the oil field’s latest draft environmental impact report. This act drains the entirety of the long-promised drama of organized, raucous and … Read More
Eskridge Reflects on His Beloved Natatorium
Mr. Eskridge
Third in a series Re “Why the Natatorium Never Reopened” Michael Eskridge, from Culver City’s best known florist family, does not employ flowery language when discussing the subject most closely identified with his School Board career. Swim headquarters, the long-idle Natatorium, finally is due to disappear this summer. Back in the ‘90s, Mr. Eskridge had hoped to re-open it after … Read More
Clarke, Centennial Chug Toward Closing Days
After undergoing political surgery 2½ months ago, Jim Clarke is recuperating nicely. Stepping aside following a one-year term as mayor, he is plain City Councilman Clarke, not that he ever has been accused of plainness. With a swash of quiet but effective vigor, he has returned to his baby, Culver City’s year-long Centennial celebration, about 10 weeks from ending. Mr. … Read More
Lockhart-School Board: Right Couple, Right Time
Ms. Lockhart, with daughter Kennedy
Whether accidental or calculated with uncommon foresight, a muscular mazel tov to the School Board for a brilliant marketing maneuver: Appointing the popular and the capable Leslie Lockhart as interim superintendent. She surely was the most logical antidote to heal the wounds caused by the dark, abrupt firing of Josh Arnold a month ago. She is Ms. Wide Knowledge of … Read More
Happy 50th Anniversary to James Forte!
Mr. Forte long has maintained 7 is his lucky number. On 7/7/1967, he became the first black officer in the history of the Police Dept. From left, Chief Eugene Mueller,Officer Forte, Asst. Chief Jan Mennig and Capt. Ron Perkins
Last in a series Re “Forte Shows How Far Humility Brings a Man” [Editor’s Note: Fifty years ago this morning, July 7, 1967, 27-year-old James Forte broke the color barrier in the Culver City Police Dept.] Gentle James Forte, who ended the all-white monopoly of the Police Dept. and Fire Dept. in Culver City, was talking about … Read More
A Round of Cheers for Forte at 50
James and Jobie Forte celebrated their 59th anniversary last Monday afternoon
Your reaction probably will hinge on your age when you learn that 50 years ago today, James Forte, late of Texas, softly but firmly breeched the color line in the Culver City Police Dept. On Culver City’s 50th birthday, the quintessential gentleman became the first black police officer before becoming the first black member of the Fire Dept. He flung … Read More
County Patiently Waits for July to Start
Believe the government if it tells you today is Wednesday. One inch past that, and odds start at a 100-1 they are deliberately wrong. According to the left-wing bright lights in charge of County government, today is not July 6. It is, by best anti-calendar leftist estimates, June 30¼ or possibly June 35th. The honest lefties at the County helm … Read More