A teensy little rant brought on by the New York Times

What is it with the New York Times and its L.A. problem? The paper sends a writer to Big Bear, a good two hours away, and the very first words out of the guy's mouth are a cheap shot at L.A. "Smog and gridlock and vanity," he sniffs, before turning his attention to the lovely lake. (And btw, that's New York on the right.)

It's not that he's wrong -- our smog has made us, if not famous, then infamous. It's been making headlines lately, too, but not the way NYT guy implies. California's trying to put a cap on emissions and the Feds want to stop us.

Traffic? Yep, we've got it. And if there's anyone out there who's happy with the pace at which L.A.'s gridlock is being handled, from the city to the state levels, by all means, speak up. I'd love to hear from you.

What really irked me (and this is a newspaper blog so please note the polite "irked" in place of language that would make my very proper French mother blush and my bosses turn a deeper shade of red for another reason entirely) was the bit about vanity.

If you don't get out enough, if you read too many tabloids or watch too much TV, you might think Los Angeles equals Hollywood. But if you know the city at all, you know it's made up of regular people doing their best to make a life. Neighborhoods and  schools and rec centers, small businesses and artists and activists, food lovers, nature lovers, gardeners. Imperfect? You bet. But vain? I argue no. Most of the people who live here don't deserve that kind of lazy slap in the face.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Associated Press / Richard Drew

Comments

[Calidude]

I'm not impressed with NYC at all....Give me L.A any day !

[Sabrina]

New York, schmoo York, I'll take L.A. (Malibu in particular) any day over that pretentious city on the East!

[David]

It's way past time for an LA writer to head East and do unto others what they do regularly to us. Or maybe if we just ignore them it will be the best revenge. Meanwhile, I'm taking the laptop out by the pool. After all, it's already summer.

[Erik]

Hate new york city
Its cold and its damp
And all the people dressed like monkeys
Lets leave chicago to the eskimos
That towns a little too rugged
For you and me, you bad girl

Rollin down the imperial highway
With a big nasty redhead at my side
Santa ana wind blowin hot from the north
And we was born to ride

Roll down the window, put down the top
Crank up the beach boys, baby
Dont let the music stop
Were gonna ride it till we just cant ride it no more

From the south bay to the valley
From the west side to the east side
Everybodys very happy
cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day

I love l.a. (we love it)
I love l.a. (we love it)

Look at that mountain
Look at that tree
Look at that bum over there, man
Hes down on his knees
Look at these women
There aint nothin like em nowhere

Century boulevard (we love it)
Victory boulevard (we love it)
Santa monica boulevard (we love it)
Sixth street (we love it, we love it)

I love l.a.
I love l.a.
(we love it)

[melissa lion]

Everyone in every city loves to diss LA. I've lived in San Francisco and I live in Portland now. People take great joy in shouting about the craphole that is LA. I lived in LA for 11 months, and I'll never live there again, however, I have to say, I love LA. I love visiting, I love the weather, I love the people.

I tell everyone I know that you won't find people who love their city more than Los Angelenos. Meanwhile, here in Portland, people write daily rants about what a horrible place this is. Oh, and they always add that LA sucks too -- don't Californicate Oregon, people. Puh-leeze.

Portland could learn a few things from LA -- like the fact that Tevas and Birkenstocks are as painful to those who are looking at you as those shoes are comfortable for you.

But LA could learn from Portland too -- we have great public transit and more green spaces than any other city.

Love where you are. Don't worry about the rest. An LA motto if I've ever heard one.

[Jimmy]

Oh sure. "New Yorkers" love to bag on LA but A) Most of the time these "New Yorkers" are not even NY natives B) Eventually move out to Los Angeles anyways and bringing their whining over here

[Pat]

I grew up on the East Coast but have lived, happily, here in LA since 1972. Most East Coasters just don't get us and never will. I, for one, kinda like it that way!! I love LA!!!

[Tom]

I've lived both places and worked in LA. Thats why I live in Orange County. If the grankids weren't here, I'd be gone too. Both places are sink holes. As long as open spaces are paved over and overbuilding is the norm, traffic, clutter, and overpopulation will continue to erode our quality of life.

[CMH]

New York not congested, polluted or vain? Has this writer ever been to New York? Manhattan at rush hour is a epitomy of all three combined. Perhaps his view was skewed by the sun shining in his eyes? LA and NY each have their good and bad points. Why can't we just learn to love eahcother for what those are? I won't pretend to have good pizza, if you don't pretend to not be vain.

[peetie44]

Veronique,

I've lived in both L.A. and NYC. I enjoyed them both.

The biggest difference I've found between the respective habitants is this: New Yorkers actually believe people living in L.A. might actually bother to consider what New Yorkers think of them and their city.

When they finally realize that no one in L.A. cares one way or another about NYC, or what their citizens think about L.A. and it's denizens, they get a mite b*tchy.

[jessica pauline]

here here! the new york smugness is SO OLD and so obnoxious. especially from someone just passing through -- cheap shot.

[Chris]

You would do well to examine why you care. If you don't know that NYC also has smog, gridlock, and vanity, then perhaps it is you who needs to get out more.