L.A. Anatomía

I was on my way to see my papou (grandfather in Greek), and for some reason I kept it on KCRW, listening to a broadcast of Santa Monica’s Council meeting.  The meeting was about the Tree Crisis that had the whole town in a dispute over what to do with the dying Ficus the city of Santa Monica had planned to cut down due to fungi infections, general decay, old age, etc.
The citizens of Santa Monica gave their voices, opinions and suggested what to do in timed statements that made some relative sense.  They spoke about the shade and architectural beauty that these massive trees provided.  One guy who couldn’t string two words together kept talking about Wind power.  His slurred words suggested he might have been experiencing a flashback.  Another member of the community reputed that these trees drew tourists to Santa Monica in the first place.  Funny, I always thought it was the beach and the promenade that attracted tourists.  Being a frequent visitor to the beach community, I don’t think of the beautiful canopies along the boulevards when I think of Santa Monica.   But at the very least, the broadcast interested me enough to check out what was going on.
While the City of Los Angeles planned on planting 1,000,000 trees, as initiated by Mayor Villaraigosa, the City of Santa Monica planned on cutting down some of its old trees.  “The Public Landscape Division of the Community Maintenance Department will be removing the following Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’) trees …These trees will not tolerate the amount of root pruning necessary to continue performing the City wide sidewalk and curb repair program” (Issued by City of Santa Monica).
The Santa Monica city council also claimed that because some of the Ficus trees had contracted a fungus that was rotting them to the core, they needed to be removed immediately.  If not, then all sorts of public health concerns and liabilities come into play if branches start falling out of no where, killing cars and people on the way down to hit the ground. Makes sense.  Who wants to deal with that kind of bullshit?  Isn’t that why they have the phrase “nip it in the bud”? And, Coupled with the trees nature for it’s roots to split up  concrete, “according to According to the city, removing the 54 trees would make streets safer for pedestrians and reduce concrete sidewalk-repair costs and legal payouts to trip-and-fall victims.
Really? The city is more concerned with people getting a scraped knew beucase they weren’t looking where they were going and might fall! This is more important to worry about than the homeless in the city or the cleanliness of their beach water? A possible scraped knee? Then you know what they should do? Post a fucking bandaid dispenser! And a “Watch where you’re going” or “Mind the roots” sign somewhere!It would be much more cost effective then the hundreds and thousands of tax payers money they spent on destroying these trees.

I mean, those big Blue buses must kill all sorts of pedestrians every year and they’re still allowed on the streets.  It’s understandable to empathize with Hippies: all that global warming scare, epidemic fears and the fact that we need to save all the trees we can.  But why did the council wait this long, until it became a problem to do something about it?  Why didn’t the SM Park and recreation Dept. notify the city earlier?  Was there was no effort to help nurse the sick trees before giving them their death sentence.
If you had an ailing grandpa who was losing his faculties slowly, and you knew it was only going to get way worse, would you pull the plug on the guy?  So, what to do, what to do?  I know!  Let’s launch an attack against these forest haters!  Let’s form an organization and call it “Treesavers,” have a blog, rally the community, let our voices be heard, hold tree vigils, stage/threaten hunger strikes, chain ourselves to the trunks of these trees.  Let’s try to pass them off as historical landmarks or something (LAist.com). Let’s cause a scene!
“The city wants to remove over 50 of the beautiful, large-canopy Ficus trees and replaced with small Ginkgos that though beautiful, actually cast very little shade (most of it after 20 years’ growth). Why? The city claims some of them are too damaged to be saved. But the majority of these trees are being removed to make those streets more attractive to the shopping public. This weird logic flies in the face of research, surveys and studies showing that dense, large-canopy trees attract shoppers. They make the place nicer, better and healthier for everyone.” – Treesavers.blogspot.com
It turns out actually, as reported by the LA Weekly earlier this year, the real reason to remove the ficus trees was apart of a $8 million project that will revitalize 2nd and 4th street storefront curb appeal. In fact the a business owners association claims that the reason why retail stores on Third Street are doing so well, despite this economy, is beucase “the Promenade is planted with a more flowery tree species.”
Ummm…I don’t think it’s the trees that are the problem as much as it is the crappy stores that just happen to be there…What do Ficus trees have to so with that?
For a while, the Treesavers were out there fighting the good fight for the trees and going forward with their crusade to preserve nature in Santa Monica. They even had some of the store owners support the cause by having posters in their display cases. One storeowner says Ken Salek, who co-owns Nobel Gems Inc. with his brother said, “I’ve been here for 25 years. We chose this street because of the look that these trees created. Fourth Street is known for these trees.”
But unfortunately, it became a showdown. The battle between green and evil came to a halt when the Treesavers were blind sighted by 23 trees being felled overnight, taking the members by complete surprise.  The city officials cut down the trees in the early morning.
So what’s become of them?  Where have these mighty tree defenders gone?  After basically being bitch slapped by the city, you’d think there would be some sort of public outrage.  Or that they had some guerilla-esque tactics up their sleeves.  A Plan-B!
But no, they’re as quiet as a tree.  Maybe, they’re laying on the down low, gathering resources and planning a massive citywide attack.  Perhaps, congregating some street teams and plotting against certain people in positions of power, so when the time comes they’ll at last take their vengeance.
As of now, their blog is still up, trees are still coming down, and no new strikes are in the works.  Except for a daily vigil.  Or is that just a ruse to the unsuspecting?

It’s officially fall, and though the sunny weather and the cool balmy nights may not seem like it, the retail stores are still on track with the seasons. Pumpkin patches and Halloween costume shops spring up out of no where to remind us that the yule-tides are just around the corner.

 And what’s the quintessential image of the fall and winter season that ushers in the holidays?

 A wood burning fireplace. Just the scent of that smokey musk makes one think of hot chocolate, warm sweaters, baking stuff, and over all fuzzy goodness. Well, all that fuzzy-goodness you’re inhaling are actually harmful particles, called PM2.5, that get lodged in your lungs.

Healthy Hearth, is actually a program initiated by the Air Quality Management District in So. Cal, that promotes, “Clean Burning.” Intense wood smoke can create immediately create bodily reactions, like stinging eyes, runny nose and even headaches. Scientists at the American Lung Association are actually concerned with traditional wood burning fireplaces, that can cause or lead to serious lung diseases.

 But you’ve got to wonder, who owns a traditional fireplace in So. Cal?

Aren’t most of the fireplaces gas?

And does this mean we have to invent a new entrance for Santa to drop off gifts for the wee ones?

And of course the most dangerous times to use your wood-burning fireplace or stove, is during the winter when cold air can trap these dangerous microscopic particles, when you need it the most.

So, the solution:  “Homeowners can get a $125 discount on the price of gas log sets for their fireplaces under a new program aimed at curbing wood smoke pollution…”

That’s right, you heard me. The giant Humboldt squid, which mostly lives in low oxygen columns of water is edging its way closer to the LA coast and shallow ends of the sea. Feeding, in what are rightfully OUR commercial fishing grounds. Ugh!

What could be the cause of this mayhem??

“Oxygen-starved waters are expanding in the Pacific and Atlantic as ocean temperatures increase with global warming, threatening fisheries and other marine life, a study published [in May 2008] concludes.”

Threatening to some marine life, helping others to thrive. The low levels of O2 or “hypoxic, zones ” resulting in global warming has urged the squid to explore new territories that it may have not ventured into previously. And these squids are FEROCIOUS preditors.

That, coupled with over-fishing these grounds, leaves the marine life in these particular area strangled on both sides. Almost squezing them out of their habitat, cylces, and into possible exinction. And we;re talking about a whole lot of diverse marine life.

“Most of these [ hypoxic] zones remain hundreds of feet below the surface, but they are beginning to spill onto the relatively shallow continental shelf off the coast of California and are nearing the surface off Peru, driving away fish from commercially important fishing grounds, researchers have found.”

These Squids “can grow 6 feet long, appear to be taking advantage of their tolerance for oxygen-poor waters to escape predators and devour local fish.”

Layers of O2 have been depleting rapidly over the last 50 years.

A study in Germany states that the increase of Hypoxic waters, has the same effect of gases trapped in a greenhouse.

“lighter warm water creates a cap over the colder depths, making it less likely that oxygen-enriched surface water will mix with colder water. Other biogeochemical processes also rob oxygen from deeper waters, such as the decomposition and re-mineralization of dead plankton as it settles to the seafloor.”
“The trend, the study points out, eerily echoes a scenario that unfolded about 250 million years ago, when 95% of life on Earth went extinct after heat-trapping carbon dioxide spewing from volcanoes warmed the planet and the oceans became stripped of oxygen.

Francisco Chavez, a study coauthor and senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, said that California can look to Peru for potential problems ahead. Peruvian authorities have struggled for a decade over a commercial fish called hake that is being squeezed between overfishing and oxygen-starved waters.”

“At some point, it’s going to push them up onto the surface,” he said.

Can you imagine, if squids could walk?

Eerie….

The friends said thank you for the information and hiked back on to the path towards Chinatown.

“Didn’t we just see this woman like 20 minutes ago?” Nathan pointed to the woman who was walking her dog and heading towards them.

“Yeah, I think so. How did she come back around like that?” Sarin wondered

“It’s a glitch in the system. You know what they say about déjà vu’s?”

“In the Alchemists, déjà vu’s are supposed to be signs that mean you are where you’re suppose to be at the time and place. But does anyone know what the word means?” Lory asked.

The foursome spotted hidden entryways on the side, little alleys and fence ways that had been hidden by the overgrown greenery.  Who knows how many they’ve passed by unnoticed just like the river. So many Freeways structures and bridges run and jump across the concrete river people in cars tend to forget. Of course we’re going to have an empty river if no one pays attention to it. It will shrivel up like anything else that’s breathing.

“Hey look at that,” Sarin pointed to a crude cave-man-esque mural of obvious objects and symbols.

“It’s the Story of the Indians,” said Lory. And literally it was, down to the figure of a man on a horse with a cowboy hat. Very unimaginative for a mural. But it was the first, and there was still river and therefore hope that there was some still some great artwork to be seen, to discover.

They were explorers of the river. Charting its course and documenting strange new creatures and creations. Signs of life culture.  They came to a slight plateau where they walked among the short columns of a surface street with cars whizzing just above them. The ground they were walking on was covered with empty spray cans. The brand: The Great American. Graffiti tags over graffiti tags over stenciled figures.

It was a cave, what they found. And that’s what they called it. The cave. They walked through timidly, trying not to disturb anything that might belong to a hobo. They found two cars, trashed and totaled and discussed how these cars could have possible gotten there, under the highway.

The path out of the cave lead them straight to train tracks. They had to head back and look for another way. Roaming around the cave some more, they found a passageway.

“Can we fit through there?” Sarin asked.

Nathan went to check it out. He hunched over a bit and popped his head out. “Come over you guys.” They all followed suit, and when they emerged they found themselves on a surface street.

“Whaaaatt dah-?” a biker cried passing by as they all popped out from under the street.

“We’re like Freeway rats.” Lory said.

They ran across the road to the sidewalk on the other side, close to the river. They followed the curve and crossed the street and took the stairs to the railed walkway on one of the freeways. As they were walking a young kid was strutting the walkway like it was the runway, like it was his runway. Taking each step towards them with sexy stride.  As they passed each other, he glanced at them politely and with his cute elfin green eyes he said, “hi.”

It took all of them by surprise.  There was only one word to describe and Lory said it best, “Fierce.”
And as they passed him they came across a bush of native Los Angeles sunflowers. Thought to be an engendered flora of the city. It must have been planted there to beautify part of the freeway. But the plants and blossoms weren’t tended well and grew erratic and looked up kept.

Lory looked back at the young male, he couldn’t have been more than 17. His dark skin was just glistening in the early afternoon sun. “I wonder where he’s going,” she asked aloud. Loud enough for all to hear among the traffic of speeding cars all going in the same way with no real destination in mind.

Yesterday, 4 friends decided to walk a segment of the LA River and discover a different side of the city they live in. They met Atwater Village in the morning at and planned to walk the river until Chinatown. They’re all ready with liquids, snacks, cameras and sunglasses. The morning was cool and a bit foggy, but everyone was prepared for a scorching day.

They drove down to Rattlesnake Park, just off of Fletcher and near the 5 freeway and entered the River’s path from there. No one seemed to mention why the gateway was called Rattlesnake Park and no one really seemed bothered by the idea of the off chance they might encounter one. The group was excited about embarking on their River adventure. It was like a concrete version of Huck Fin…

The River immediately smelled of salt and fish stench. It’s banks was lined with wild vegetation, wire fences, houses, sheds, and the back lots of some industrial buildings on one side. On the left, the River’s side, the slight breeze and the small tilt of the land were gently pushing a trickle of water. Between the water and the bank there was steep down slope of concrete. This was part of the river that was encased for flood control purposes. But it made the River look like a big gutter.
Besides the Flora on the right, there was some trees, plants, and wild bush that thrived in the middle of the river as well. The Greenery was a harsh contrast to the blaring white concrete that was surrounding it. It was also a statement in a sort of way. No matter how much you try to pave down nature, it will always spoil and crack your plan.

As the foursome walked along the path they encountered an elderly couple on their Saturday morning walk, a woman walking past them with her dog and most of all they were surprised to see people fishing in the River.

“Do you think they actually catch anything and eat it you know? ” Lory asked.
“I think it might just be the thrill of the catch,” Sarin said.
“I wonder if they catch any mutated fish, like the three eyed fish from the Simpsons.” Nathan wondered aloud.

They kept going. They sang Tori Amos songs. They took pictures of odd objects they found: Birds in flight, grocery carts covered in cobwebs, the skyline
“Did you know, that there were all these Indian villages, near the river. And they would take boats and float all the way down to Long Beach area to do trade and commerce with the other Indians.” Lory said. She used to work at the Southwest Museum by Griffith Park.

The Morning cool was beginning to wear off just as the sun was settling in the sky. The heat wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been and the topic of discussion had turned to a debate of whether or not Tigers were really carnivores. If they only ate protein, where did they get the rest of their Vitamins from?

“Shoot, I should know this!” Sarin said, “I just taught my kids this lesson!” Sarin taught 4th grade in one of the Glendale public schools.
They passed by another fisherman down near the trickle of water.

“Hey, it looks like he caught something.” Sarin pointed. “What kind of fish is that?”

“Why don’t you come down and take a look!” The fisherman said. And the group followed suit. They walked down the concrete encasement over to the fisherman. “This here, this here is a Carp,” he said kneeling down next to the flopping fish.
“Are you going to eat it?” Lory asked.
“Noh, I’m going to let it loose. But I’m going to measure it first.”
“That’s a big Carp.” Nathan said.
“Not so big. I’ve seen bigger,” he turned his head up for a moment and looked at Nathan through his sunglasses. “You know where Hyperion is?” he asked pointing in that direction.

Nathan nodded.

“Well, over there, the fish are as long as my leg!” he exclaimed while opening his fanny pack. “Carp as long as my leg!”
“So, you come down here a lot?” Lory asked.
“Yup. Everyday. Everyday. Oh it’s tremendous fun. Tremendous! I come down here, catch some fish measure them and then let them go.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. You’d be surprised to know there are all sorts of wildlife here in the River, fish, ducks, some of the exotic birds you might see here have escaped from the zoo, and even coyotes.”
“Coyotes live here?”
“Yeah, they live right there in the bush. They live in the middle right there and on the other side is the river too. The sad thing is though they eat the ducklings. I come here one day and see a momma duck with 11 babies. And then, the next day its 7…the Coyotes eat them. ”

The fisherman took a moment and pulled out his measuring tape from a fanny pack. He bent down to measure the Carp that was on its side gulping for water and getting bits of air. “17 inches” the fisherman exclaimed and gently took the hook out of the carps lip and let it go. The fish then muscled its way from the shallow step to the slightly deeper parts of the river. “That was a fighter. It got caught. Then it tried to hunker down from one rock to the next trying to wiggle itself loose.” He said and got up.

“Do you know if there are any plans to clean the river up? Any programs?” Lory asked.
“No, I don’t know if any sort of initiative has been taken. People come here to walk and there all are sorts of little parks they’re putting nearby. Nobody seems to know, but the River is alive…”