Breaking News Articles

First of two parts I was born in Iran, and I came to the United States when I was six years old. Being an Iranian-American Jew, I lived in a Persian community in West Los Angeles. My formative years were spent attending private schools. I am blessed to have entered a field I love.  Working as a physician’s assistant in … Read More

Second in a series Re “Eskridges Pool Their Thoughts on Natatorium” With the imminent razing of the Natatorium, Mike Eskridge was in a sentimental mood this week. When he made the first of his four runs for the School Board 25 years ago, his campaign centered on keeping the Natatorium open despite severe School District budget cuts. Mr. Eskridge won. … Read More

Second of three parts Re “Why Is County Sitting on Homeless Numbers?” The slickest, fastest and most honest response to yesterday’s question – why is Los Angeles County temporarily hiding the number of homeless persons in Culver City? – is succinct: Because it can. The County is the biggest bureaucratic kid, or bully, on the block. To a rumbling tumult, … Read More

First in a series The School District announcement that the storied and controversial Natatorium will be razed – finally – this summer stirred syrup-like sentiment in the bosom of Mike Eskridge. A quarter-century ago his younger son Brian happily was learning the joys of swimming as a 4-year-old. Mr. Eskridge held one view then, a different one today. Brian was … Read More

Gov. Brown, a life member of the theatre of the absurd, evoked a fresh round of barely tolerant smiles yesterday. Burnishing his reputation as California’s most versatile politician, Jerry revived his favorite gesture. Modestly clinging to the belief that if people refuse to compliment you, you should pat your own back, the governor swung into career-long mode. Through an accident … Read More

On Sunday morning at the synagogue breakfast honoring talk radio star Larry Elder, a different side of Antonio Villaraigosa emerged. He was a shrunken version of the outspoken mayor of Los Angeles who was term-limited four years ago. Standing before a couple hundred deeply religious men and women, was he cowed? Where was the fire from a hard-bitten politician touting … Read More

Third in a series Re “Marijuana Users – Can They Relax?” Going into Wednesday afternoon’s third in a series of Marijuana Task Force meetings at 2 o’clock in Council Chambers, police Lt. Manny Cid continued his ongoing discussion about the role the Police Dept. will play when new regulations are finalized. With formerly illegal marijuana smoking now legalized in California, … Read More

First of two parts The following story should be ingested when the reader is alone, preferably in a dark, windowless room. Ready? Breathe noiselessly so as not to disturb anyone who is nosy. Read in utter silence. The number of unsheltered homeless persons in Culver City is… Sorry. Can’t tell you. It is a story of immodest length. Culver City, … Read More

One of the liveliest civic-oriented synagogues in the heavily Orthodox LaBrea neighborhood rang the bell for meaningful brotherhood yesterday. Bais Naftoli recognized Larry Elder, the Sage from South Central, the Prince of Pico-Union, among the hottest properties in talk radio. His career has boomed locally and nationally since moving from KABC afternoon drive to KRLA (870 AM) in the evenings, … Read More

After standing, or lying down, at parade rest for a quarter century, the Natatorium is saying goodbye to Culver City. School District Supt. Josh Arnold announced that – mercifully, in the view of many – the low-slung former swimming emporium will be torn down this summer. Next summer, the almost legendary Natatorium will be replaced by a gleaming eight-room, two-story … Read More