July 25, 2006 issue

From the Editor:

"Taking Flight"


Dear Anna,
Hi! I really enjoy your paper, and I thought rather than think to myself how entertaining it is, that I'd write you and let you know. Actually I decided to do this several weeks ago - but have just gotten around to it. I had my own dilemma with trees by the way - an 80 year old Silver Maple in our backyard fell over in all the rain and landed on my neighbor's roof, taking out our new iron rod fence in the process. I really like the serial that you are publishing by Veronica Bennett. It reminds me of when the NY Times would print Dorothy Parker's works - my mother was a big fan of hers and collected some of the papers. Her column could be twice the size, and I'd still be wanting more in the end.

I also like the Eco Nerd - what a funny moniker and how informative he is. Metro LA is a unique voice in a world of print saturation. I find that each column and article speaks to me. I don't know if you get many letters, but I thought you'd like to hear from someone who really enjoys sitting down and reading what you have to say.
Sincerely, Andrea Abbate July 4, 2006

Dear Andrea, and the many readers who have written to me over the past 8 years:

Thank you for all your letters. They are what has kept me going, as well as my credit cards and 2nd mortgages. As I break from MetroLA, formerly NoHo>LA, once NoHo News, and possibly sell-off my books, toys, art, and grandmother’s china, I will keep your letters always to remind me of the great dream we have had for our communities. As I look back at the 185 issues I put together word by word, I see you in all of them, your talent, your voice.

I remember the early days in the newly designated NoHo Arts District. I had moved to the valley about 10 years prior. After the ‘94 earthquake, I would sometimes drive across Magnolia and see the rubble. And then a phoenix started to rise, and theatres and art galleries and cool little vintage shops. I wanted to be a part of it. Everyone was vying for a piece of the territory. It didn’t pan out, though, for most. There were not enough people to buy what we were selling, even though we all thought it was so great.

Now NoHo is on the threshold of a new era, where beautiful new apartments and condos are springing up all over, and big money is chomping at the bit to sprint with huge retail and restaurant chains.

I also want to thank the theatre community of Los Angeles for their support for my “megazine” all these years. You are the true artists and visionaries, the risk takers, as every night you lay your soul out to an audience for criticism. And I want to thank my many advertisers and pro bono writers and photographers. I always thought of this as your paper, and that I was more like the head dishwasher.

Speaking of diswashing, that is another new job option for me. Or maybe working for another newspaper, and I can just see my new office, looking like the one in the picture below, because they really won’t be able to pay me, either. When you, my dear readers, call me and tell me that you saw the paper at a stop just yesterday, but went back today and it isn’t there, but all the other ones are, it makes me wonder, “How could I have lost this fight to stay in the publishing game?”

The U.S. poverty rate ranks #1 among the developed nations in the world. We also rank #1 for the rate of billionaires. Most poverty stricken Americans have jobs, many have 2 or more! The sale of recreational boats is down, but the sale of mega yachts has never been hotter!

Hopefully I will be writing my novel, maybe even blogging it. It is also a very ambitious project (self-described as Harry Potter deciphers the DaVinci Code, but with a girl protagonist) that I started in ‘98. I have already written about 100 pages, and I hope that my new office as indicated below is not indicative of what will be coming out of my head!

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - excerpt from Nelson Mandella's ‘94 inaugural speech.

My future may be cold without you, but it looks bright. My job is done here, I raised my son, and he’s now a man who can take care of himself. Maybe a little writer’s cottage in Iceland for me, or something more affordable, like Biminy, U.S.A. Your letters will keep me warm. My only regret is that we grow up. - Annie