COVID-19 at 3 months Fighting Entropy

Entropy is the concept that all matter is decaying to a state of lower energy. A spinning top slows and falls motionless to the floor. A Koi pond deprived of the pumps and attention that keeps it clear and beautiful, soon turns into an ugly mosquito infested green marsh. For the last three months, we […]
Power outage sparks Woolsey memories

On Sunday August 2nd, I got up at 5:45 AM and crept into the bathroom to get ready for my day. I flipped the light switch and nothing happened. Immediately my mind switched into Woolsey mode. Why is the power off? Did I pay the bill? Did someone hit a pole? It was too early […]
Why we are glad it’s over.

The year began with anger, confusion, pain, and uncertainty about the future on all sides. The County of Los Angeles and the City of Malibu were just as overwhelmed as the residents. Finger pointing, commiserating and rumors were the currency of the day. Woolsey was larger than anyone (State, County, or City) had contemplated. The […]
Citizens of Malibu

I will appear in November on the ballot as a Candidate for the Malibu City Council. This campaign will be a little unusual due to the constraints of COVID. Supporter coffees in each of the neighborhoods, candidate debates, shaking hands and kissing babies all seem unlikely at this writing. The column above is being included […]
Traffic hell on PCH as COVID-19 moderating
On Sunday the 26th, I was reminded why I try not to leave the neighborhood after noon on a summer weekend. I accepted three appointments between 1:00 and 3:30 and ventured forth into Malibu’s version of Dante’s Inferno. As I inched past Zuma Beach, I counted 4 cars who had stopped on the traffic lanes […]
Karen Farrer lauded, Mikke Pierson sworn in, and a pause on the stampede to “By District” elections.

Last week’s Malibu Times had an excellent article by Jimi Tallal about a tentatively successful appeal in the litigation over whether Santa Monica would be required to move to “By District” elections. That appeal was subsequently confirmed on Thursday July 9th. Santa Monica had appealed a Superior Court order mandating voting “By District” in Santa […]
The surge arrives and the banks close

As June ends, we have the harvest of many too enthusiastic openings of beaches, bars and restaurants in the Sunbelt states as well as the large protest gatherings across the country. Los Angeles County, which was rejoicing only two weeks ago as the daily new infections dipped close to 1000 a day has jumped to […]
Malibu West Fire Brigade practice session and COVID-19 surge continues

On Saturday July the 28th The Malibu West Fire Brigade met to get some instruction and hands on practice. We were instructed by our training officer “ “ about proper handling and connection of hoses and connectors and the importance of working in teams. We also heard from Dermott Stoker and Tim Bigelow about the […]
COVID-19 hope

It’s been a tough week for America and Los Angeles. The idiotic, murderous, criminal behavior of an ill-trained “veteran” Police officer in Minneapolis has resulted in a wave of legal protests across the Country that ultimately morphed into rioting, looting, fires and despair for our cities. Curfews were declared throughout Los Angeles, City and County. […]
Insurance skullduggery and why I’m still wearing a mask

An article in the 6/21/2020 Los Angeles Times by Michael Hiltzik detailed the latest effort by the Insurance industry to neuter the consumer protections guaranteed by Proposition 103. Proposition 103 was adopted in 1988, creating the office of Insurance Commissioner, and has been a thorn in the side of the Insurance industry ever since. Industry […]