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Here is an email I sent to all City Council members concerning the refuse/sewer rate increases which will, undoubtedly, go into effect in the not too distant future: Council members, the reason for this is missive is to complain about the method by which you, through your staff, have gone about informing the public of their right to protest the … Read More

Re “Racial Bias – Even if We Have to Fake It”   With questionably supported allegations of racial bias by black and white Oakland police officers against black lawbreakers back in the news, Culver City, says the police chief, can stand up with an unquestionably clean record. After reading yesterday’s shaky report in the Los Angeles Times, Scott Bixby expressed … Read More

Two liberal Stanford researchers, driving from Palo Alto to Oakland, stopped for a red light. Each licked the tip of the fingernail on the index finger of the driver’s left hand, the passenger’s right hand. Each social/sociable scientist extended the appropriate digit out the window, piercing a driving rain. Fifteen seconds later, each yanked his drippy digit back inside. With … Read More

Dr. Joshua Arnold Superintendent School District   Dear Dr. Arnold,   Based on the guidelines established for the Community Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), this report covers our achievements and recommendations for the past year. The CBAC committee has met monthly this school year, starting in November. We have reviewed District budgets with Mike Reynolds (assistant superintendent for business) and his staff, along … Read More

If the wider non-Jewish community of Los Angeles had been peering in a window at the Bais Naftoli synagogue in LaBrea a week ago Sunday morning, the politically astute would have been staggered. Especially if they share the most common American perspective, that Orthodox Jews are politically conservative, and that non-Orthodox and non-religious Jews are liberal. Wrong. Diversity abounded. Among … Read More

[Editor’s Notes: When the editor of the newspaper recently rejoined the classical music audience of KUSC (91.5 FM), he promptly noticed the witty, knowledgeable host of the morning show spectacularly was missing. Mr. Bartel sadly explains.] Dear, good KUSC listeners, notably KUSC listeners who have inquired about my absence from the air waves. Please accept my plea for your forgiveness … Read More

Haven’t you dreamed of lying on a hammock with your shoes off, and a drink nearby? Well, my hammock dream has come true. The Sunnydaze hammock from Amazon ($110) set up so easily I couldn’t believe it. No tools necessary, it said. Right. The hammock frame snapped together in 5 minutes. Time to hang the hammock on the frame: 1 … Read More

First of two parts   See if this tickles your attention: “One hundred years ago today, Harry Culver taught the band to play.” Nobody around Culver City this morning was hanging here in 1917. Therefore, imaginative Gary Mandell’s magnetic assertion stands. His eye-catcher is dripping with timeliness. The community is 75 percent of the way through its Centennial Year. This … Read More

Second of two parts   Re “How Fortunate I Am, a Young Woman Glows” Three of my close friends and I had the pleasure of traveling to France and Israel for an unforgettable adventure, 12 days, five in each country. Beautiful sites. Great food. Remarkable people. France is full of life and culture. From the busy streets of Champs Elysees … Read More

Only one question had to be asked of Vice Mayor Thomas Small, the portrait of an accomplished rhetorical artist who specializes in imagery: Did the trip reach expectations  — the recent 11-day mission City Hall’s top three executives undertook to Capo d’Orlando, Sicily, to evaluate Capo as Culver City’s prospective next Sister City? “Oh, boy, it was mind-blowing,” Mr. Small … Read More