Yes, The Supremes, other parts of our “Justice System,” Congress, Trump appointees, corp media, parts of academia, foreign dignitaries & royalty, & other elites are in it or have pals in it, so they’ll do their best to cover it up.
But from many sources more keeps coming. They’ll never stop it all, even if they stop some. Some’s enough to implicate the worst actors.
Thanks for the story Dana! I always appreciate your viewpoint. Also, hi from Bonney Lake, WA. We are nearish neighbors. I lived in San Diego for a few years while my husband was in the Coast Guard. I understand the vibe of LA but it never really made me want to live there. Even the weather... I much prefer the Pacific Northwest! All that sunshine is not for me!!
bit out of my realm of experience - welcome new perspectives, appreciate this story...even though a professor over 4 decades...was often aware of students coming from more privileged circumstances, but as a professor in the arts focus was how to get materials and opportunities to those who were either short on resources or confidence , with great ideas, how to write a good letter with a winning up front "ask" - to foster confidence soliciting what was needed to successfully realize projects, gain support and interest in both their work and futures....
Well written and expressed, appreciate the two sides of the same coin. Would like to have a better understanding of college tours. I don’t understand the luxury of touring educational institutions; it’s a privilege to be able to afford any post high school opportunities, what’s the need to tour them?
Thanks so much for your kind words, Allegra. The tours exist to give prospective students and parents a sense of the program and the campus itself. My daughter is looking at art and design schools, so seeing the facilities and the work of the current students can be super clarifying.
As for the cost—no arguments. It’s an obscene amount of money, even with the scholarships. Sigh.
That is awesome 👏 I hope she finds the right fit, we need more art in our lives, something real and not AI generated. Wishing you both a bright future.
Your exploration of both sides of the coin in this piece is an important perspective. It’s a vital conversation, especially because it highlights a significant divide in the 'college experience.' For many, including my own family, the idea of touring campuses is a privilege rather than a standard milestone. It can be easy for that 'bubble' of privilege to inadvertently exclude the stories of those who don’t have the same resources. This kind of blissful ignorance often makes it difficult to foster genuine empathy for different struggles. Seeing even a hint of that awareness in your writing is a powerful first step toward a more integrated and supportive community. Thank you for opening the door to that perspective.
Oh, 💯— this is a memoir story from my life, not a journalistic coverage of the cost of college. Which is obscene.
We only went on this tour because the school offered her a big scholarship including a stipend that covered our travels. I’m not sure that’s typical but I’m grateful we were able to do it.
I find it weird that anyone would want to visit Rodeo Dr. It’s about as vapid as a place can get. There is nothing there for me. Certainly no culture, unless you consider riding an elevator for the music.
And “Pretty Woman”? A totally boring movie about a businessman and a prostitute. Lol…With Richard one Gere, and Miz Roberts who laughs her way through the entire film, showing off her teeth. You’d have to pay me $100 to watch that movie again and it would be torture.
LA otherwise is a nice place but lacks culture. It’s not all as bland as Rodeo Drive, and the weather is good. But you need a car to even go to the store. No place to walk unless you’re in Santa Monica or Venice. It’s not a place I would ever want to go to college. I would choose for my kid Boston, New York, San Francisco. Where they actually have public transportation. And where most of the people who go there don’t care about rodeo dr. they care about more interesting things than that. Such as Art, theater, culture. As a matter fact, nothing can be less interesting than Rodeo Dr..
Some of us enjoy light entertainment that leaves us in an upbeat mood. "Pretty Woman"...... "Dirty Dancing"....."Flash Dance" come to mind. Your sentiment is the same one we, myself included, use to denigrate the opposition, who maybe find their entertainment in Wrestlemania and demolition derbies. A well written essay, such as this one, should have your respect for its thoughtfulness....not just the subject matter
Thanks Fran, I appreciate this comment. I also respect Steve’s right to his opinions on Pretty Woman/Rodeo Drive, etc.
I’m not sure we’re at odds in calling Rodeo Drive vapid (I’d say it’s far worse). I think Pretty Woman is a classic Cinderella story and Julia Roberts shines in the role. Is it banal and problematic? Sure. Is it still heartfelt in parts? Also yes. We don’t have to agree on this though, as this essay isn’t a critique of Pretty Woman. It’s using it as two cultural touchpoints: 1) the near-universal satisfaction we all feel when Julia gets her “big mistake, HUGE” revenge on the shop clerks for underestimating her. And 2) the vision of who Rodeo Drive was for in 1990 when the film came out—snooty rich white people—and how that dynamic/demographic has shifted in the 35 years since.
But what really jumped out in your comment was this line about college location: “I would choose for my kid…”
I am not choosing for my kid. My values and preferences are not hers. She’s now an adult—albeit a young one—and she gets a say, a big one, about what school and city work best for her future. I can influence and her dad and I won’t let her make an unhinged financial decision, which she knows. But within what’s financially feasible, we are trying to help her make an informed decision.
Thanks to both of you for reading my essay and commenting. It means so much!
The choice between movies is’nt pretty woman, dirty dancing, flash dance, or wrestlemania or demolition derby’s.
Those are all brainless escape movies. If I had to choose, I would choose the former, but I would choose none.
The banality of pretty woman and visiting Rodeo Drive was stark. But I would choose for your daughter one of the places I mentioned, because what America lacks mostly is culture.
What America has most are chain restaurants, fast foods, and malls. You’ll find those in the cities I mentioned, but they are buried within the culture and they do not dominate.
Because I would choose it doesn’t mean I would force it on anyone.
Steve, if you'd like to remain a part of this community, I suggest you adjust your tone with all of us. We're all on the same side--be kind or at least respectful.
Powerful piece. The juxtaposition of velvet ropes protecting handbags vs inadequate protection for people cuts deep. What really got me was how the demographics on Rodeo have shifted but the power dynamics remain the same - just diferent faces holding the power now. Had a simlar experience at a high-end store in NYC couple years back and it made me rethink who "safety" is really designed for these days.
Never been to LA so no window shopping on Rodeo Dr. Liked "Pretty Woman" but one viewing is sufficient. Lived in Minneapolis for 5 years in the mid-70's, most of it within a mile (one of the apartments was just 4 blocks) from the spot where Alex Pretti was murdered with Donald Trump's "complete and total" approval/praise...blessings even. It was a good place to live. Friendly. Like you, today I have sufficient assets to afford a handbag that costs more than I paid for my first new car, but I don't dress to impress. I buy my blue jeans from the piles on the Sam's Club display tables. They're labeled "Members Mark" (so maybe I'm a bit of snob when compared to Groucho Marx, who said he wouldn't join a club that would have him as a member) and they outlast Levi's. Thanks for a good read; one of the best so far today.
I am a former Angeleno. Oh, how this resonates! It’s as brilliant as the sunshine on Rodeo Drive. Just marvelous!
That’s highest praise!! Thank you!!! 💙
The Supremes now are full time Pedophile Protectors
Yes, The Supremes, other parts of our “Justice System,” Congress, Trump appointees, corp media, parts of academia, foreign dignitaries & royalty, & other elites are in it or have pals in it, so they’ll do their best to cover it up.
But from many sources more keeps coming. They’ll never stop it all, even if they stop some. Some’s enough to implicate the worst actors.
I’m on the other side of the Peninsula from you in Washington.
Hello 👋🏼
For some odd reason, it’s somehow comforting to know you’re “just over there”.
Perhaps someday we’ll share a coffee and look out at the sky over the coastline of Seattle💚💙💜
Oh, I’d LOVE to! And you’re right—it is comforting. Hello back! 👋
Thanks for the story Dana! I always appreciate your viewpoint. Also, hi from Bonney Lake, WA. We are nearish neighbors. I lived in San Diego for a few years while my husband was in the Coast Guard. I understand the vibe of LA but it never really made me want to live there. Even the weather... I much prefer the Pacific Northwest! All that sunshine is not for me!!
Hello, Bonney Lake!! I’m 💯 aligned—LA holds little appeal for me. I’m a PNWer, through and through.
Q: whose daughter was this....thanks for the story
My daughter. With me. 😊
bit out of my realm of experience - welcome new perspectives, appreciate this story...even though a professor over 4 decades...was often aware of students coming from more privileged circumstances, but as a professor in the arts focus was how to get materials and opportunities to those who were either short on resources or confidence , with great ideas, how to write a good letter with a winning up front "ask" - to foster confidence soliciting what was needed to successfully realize projects, gain support and interest in both their work and futures....
Thank you—that’s an incredible compliment to give me as a writer. 💙
'We need to do more voting". That is my biggest gripe about "our" side.
Thank you for a great read.
Well written and expressed, appreciate the two sides of the same coin. Would like to have a better understanding of college tours. I don’t understand the luxury of touring educational institutions; it’s a privilege to be able to afford any post high school opportunities, what’s the need to tour them?
Thanks so much for your kind words, Allegra. The tours exist to give prospective students and parents a sense of the program and the campus itself. My daughter is looking at art and design schools, so seeing the facilities and the work of the current students can be super clarifying.
As for the cost—no arguments. It’s an obscene amount of money, even with the scholarships. Sigh.
That is awesome 👏 I hope she finds the right fit, we need more art in our lives, something real and not AI generated. Wishing you both a bright future.
Thanks so much—and back atcha! 💙💙💙
Your exploration of both sides of the coin in this piece is an important perspective. It’s a vital conversation, especially because it highlights a significant divide in the 'college experience.' For many, including my own family, the idea of touring campuses is a privilege rather than a standard milestone. It can be easy for that 'bubble' of privilege to inadvertently exclude the stories of those who don’t have the same resources. This kind of blissful ignorance often makes it difficult to foster genuine empathy for different struggles. Seeing even a hint of that awareness in your writing is a powerful first step toward a more integrated and supportive community. Thank you for opening the door to that perspective.
Oh, 💯— this is a memoir story from my life, not a journalistic coverage of the cost of college. Which is obscene.
We only went on this tour because the school offered her a big scholarship including a stipend that covered our travels. I’m not sure that’s typical but I’m grateful we were able to do it.
(My kid is a remarkably good artist.)
I find it weird that anyone would want to visit Rodeo Dr. It’s about as vapid as a place can get. There is nothing there for me. Certainly no culture, unless you consider riding an elevator for the music.
And “Pretty Woman”? A totally boring movie about a businessman and a prostitute. Lol…With Richard one Gere, and Miz Roberts who laughs her way through the entire film, showing off her teeth. You’d have to pay me $100 to watch that movie again and it would be torture.
LA otherwise is a nice place but lacks culture. It’s not all as bland as Rodeo Drive, and the weather is good. But you need a car to even go to the store. No place to walk unless you’re in Santa Monica or Venice. It’s not a place I would ever want to go to college. I would choose for my kid Boston, New York, San Francisco. Where they actually have public transportation. And where most of the people who go there don’t care about rodeo dr. they care about more interesting things than that. Such as Art, theater, culture. As a matter fact, nothing can be less interesting than Rodeo Dr..
Some of us enjoy light entertainment that leaves us in an upbeat mood. "Pretty Woman"...... "Dirty Dancing"....."Flash Dance" come to mind. Your sentiment is the same one we, myself included, use to denigrate the opposition, who maybe find their entertainment in Wrestlemania and demolition derbies. A well written essay, such as this one, should have your respect for its thoughtfulness....not just the subject matter
Thanks Fran, I appreciate this comment. I also respect Steve’s right to his opinions on Pretty Woman/Rodeo Drive, etc.
I’m not sure we’re at odds in calling Rodeo Drive vapid (I’d say it’s far worse). I think Pretty Woman is a classic Cinderella story and Julia Roberts shines in the role. Is it banal and problematic? Sure. Is it still heartfelt in parts? Also yes. We don’t have to agree on this though, as this essay isn’t a critique of Pretty Woman. It’s using it as two cultural touchpoints: 1) the near-universal satisfaction we all feel when Julia gets her “big mistake, HUGE” revenge on the shop clerks for underestimating her. And 2) the vision of who Rodeo Drive was for in 1990 when the film came out—snooty rich white people—and how that dynamic/demographic has shifted in the 35 years since.
But what really jumped out in your comment was this line about college location: “I would choose for my kid…”
I am not choosing for my kid. My values and preferences are not hers. She’s now an adult—albeit a young one—and she gets a say, a big one, about what school and city work best for her future. I can influence and her dad and I won’t let her make an unhinged financial decision, which she knows. But within what’s financially feasible, we are trying to help her make an informed decision.
Thanks to both of you for reading my essay and commenting. It means so much!
The choice between movies is’nt pretty woman, dirty dancing, flash dance, or wrestlemania or demolition derby’s.
Those are all brainless escape movies. If I had to choose, I would choose the former, but I would choose none.
The banality of pretty woman and visiting Rodeo Drive was stark. But I would choose for your daughter one of the places I mentioned, because what America lacks mostly is culture.
What America has most are chain restaurants, fast foods, and malls. You’ll find those in the cities I mentioned, but they are buried within the culture and they do not dominate.
Because I would choose it doesn’t mean I would force it on anyone.
Oof 😒
Get up on the wrong side of life this morning?!?
😆😆😆
If reality slaps you in the face, maybe you should just stay in bed.
Steve, if you'd like to remain a part of this community, I suggest you adjust your tone with all of us. We're all on the same side--be kind or at least respectful.
So someone can say that you’re being grumpy, but you can’t tell them that in fact they’re being haughty?
Congratulations, Dana!
Your daughter’s values widely transcend those coveted on Rodeo Drive!
Great article. Well written food for thought (and action).
Powerful piece. The juxtaposition of velvet ropes protecting handbags vs inadequate protection for people cuts deep. What really got me was how the demographics on Rodeo have shifted but the power dynamics remain the same - just diferent faces holding the power now. Had a simlar experience at a high-end store in NYC couple years back and it made me rethink who "safety" is really designed for these days.
Never been to LA so no window shopping on Rodeo Dr. Liked "Pretty Woman" but one viewing is sufficient. Lived in Minneapolis for 5 years in the mid-70's, most of it within a mile (one of the apartments was just 4 blocks) from the spot where Alex Pretti was murdered with Donald Trump's "complete and total" approval/praise...blessings even. It was a good place to live. Friendly. Like you, today I have sufficient assets to afford a handbag that costs more than I paid for my first new car, but I don't dress to impress. I buy my blue jeans from the piles on the Sam's Club display tables. They're labeled "Members Mark" (so maybe I'm a bit of snob when compared to Groucho Marx, who said he wouldn't join a club that would have him as a member) and they outlast Levi's. Thanks for a good read; one of the best so far today.