Clarity in Looking Back
I have a respectful response to Judi who wrote a passionate editorial about the changes in the Palisades. She is heartfelt in her concerns and so disappointed with what’s happening in our town.
She lists some wonderful memories of the Hughes Market, Barrera’s Pizza, Mort’s Deli and the Bay Theatre where she saw “Summer Place” on a first date with her now-husband.
Judi, I feel your passion and understand your melancholy mood, but remember memories are just that. Things from the past that we love to look back on, visualize and enjoy.
I wondered if there might be a similar letter as yours written some time ago. I couldn’t find one, so I made it up:
Dear publisher of the Palisades Post,
I’m a 40-year resident of the Palisades. I moved here when it was first settled in 1921. Back then a single road, the present-day Entrada, led from Santa Monica to the Palisades. This town was a wonderful sleepy little village, where neighbors waved a hello as they pushed babies in trams along the quaint dirt roads.
As I look at all the changes now in 1961, I can’t help but think that this town is changing for the worst. It all started with that awful Beach Boys song earlier this year where our precious Pacific Palisades is mentioned in the lyrics.
You know that means we’ll be in other songs now, and that’s just going to bring “young” people to our town and I don’t even want to think about it.
Let’s face it, ever since that Self Realization center on Sunset opened in 1950 by that oddball Paramahansa Yogananda, we’ve been in a downward spiral. I hear he’s writing a book called the “Autobiography of Yogi.” Well, I’ll tell you, the only yogi I know and love is the cartoon bear from Jellystone Park.
But what really put me over the edge was the fact there is a chain “super” market called Hughes coming to town and, get this, there is a deli called Mort’s, of all names, about to open on Swarthmore.
That’s right you heard me—a deli. I understand these are very popular in New York and, my gosh, you know as well as I that this is the end for all of us.
If you’ve ever been to New York, you know how dirty it is. Soon we’ll have trash on the streets and pretzel vendors on Via De La Paz. Pizza restaurants will follow and God help us if a movie theater comes to town playing sinful cinema like that “Summer Place” movie I’ve read about.
Pray for us Palisadians. Mark my words, this town will be gone by the end of the decade.
Signed, A concerned, worried citizen, June 1961
So, Judi … it’s all perspective. Change is not always good as you pointed out, but one thing you can’t change, is change.
And here’s something to look forward to Judi. There will be a new Bay Theatre in the Caruso town center and I bet if we write enough letters to the owners of the theater, they may show “A Summer Place” one warm summer’s eve.
Dave Cipriano
Zar Looks Back
These days as I prepare to transition out of my role as Pacific Palisades Community Council chair, I am fortunate to be able to look back on four productive years at PPCC, where I’ve learned so much about this wonderful community, and hopefully also imparted a tone of civility and respect for all comers.
The Community Council is a forum for the consideration of community issues. It was conceptualized by our founders as an inclusive place where discussion would represent a diversity of viewpoints from the community and a civil manner of reaching consensus.
The model was so admirable that decades later, the city of LA modeled an entire movement after the instincts of Pacific Palisades.
The current Neighborhood Council system takes a page or two from our play book, seeking to engage the community voice on local matters, and advise lawmakers as to the sensibilities on the ground.
This is not to say we serve to affirm or dispute the legality of policies or regulations. There are lawyers who do that. Our mandate is entirely different. We aim to be the voice of the community so that we can paint a hyper-local picture of the Palisadian view point on any specific matter that stands to impact our community. We cannot represent that voice without a diversity of viewpoints from residents who believe they can come to us, engage with us, and can expect to be acknowledged.
As I leave my role, I’d like to be able to look back and believe not only that I helped preserve that spirit of open engagement; but that I left the leaders elected after me with an unyielding sense that they should continue in the same spirit.
Maryam Zar | Chair, PPCC
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