Add me to the list of goodbyes

I just found out I'm among the newest round of layoffs here at the L.A. Times and I wanted to say goodbye.

When I started this blog last February, we were ranked 8-millionth in the vast Wild West that is the blogosphere. Today, we're in the top 5,000. We get tens of thousands of hits a day, scores of comments, and get to share what we know about Southern California with the rest of the world. It was hard work and great fun and I loved  every minute of it.

Here's a photo of the Sunday sunrise in Malibu, the day Tony Hillerman, one of my journalism teachers, passed away. The sorrow of that loss blends into the grief of this one. I'll miss him, and all of you, very much.

--Veronique de Turenne

Comments

[Miss Picky]

C'est domage! You have such a unique gift for finding interesting items to show us. We'll miss you, along with the many others, sung and unsung, who preceded you.

Bonne chance!

[Dayna R]

You will be missed! Now I'll just have find you Here In Malibu.

[Julia]

Oh! I've only been reading this blog for about a month, but I totally fell in love with it. What a disappointment!

[Martin Green]

You're the reason I came to the LA Times online in the first place. I was reading your Malibu blog (please don't stop that!) and that lead me here.

[h.w.]

That is terrible!

Take care, and always do your best. I will miss seeing what you've found to show us.

[Shelby Grad (Los Angeles Times)]

As a colleague and occassional contributor to LA Now, I wanted to let Veronique's readers know what a wonderful force she was in our newsroom. She taught a lot of us how to blog and helped create a literate, sophisticated and informative vehicle for keeping up with Southern California.

[Bernard G. Chambers]

I randomly found your brief but very touching tribute to Tony Hillerman. I am his nephew and can attest that anyone who ever knew him will miss him. Thank oyu and good luck

[scott allman]

Well this completely sucks!
You're the only reason I read the L.A. Times.
In fact you're the only part of the L.A. Times I read.
When one door closes another one opens.

Hang in there,

Scott

[Ralph Morin]

I read of your notice of termination and felt sadness. You write well and that will be missed. The once mighty Los Angeles Times has lost its way in the workd and that causes a greater sadness.

[David]

Wow. That is a major bummer. I only discovered this blog a few months ago, and fell in love with it. It finally gave me a reason to patronize the Times again. I'm very disappointed to hear that your work is falling victim to the ongoing problems at the Times/Tribune organization. The Los Angeles community is the worse off for your loss. When will your last column be?

[Brady Westwater]

This is... insane. With the lack of local coverage being th biggest problem for the LA Times, how can they let you go? Particularly a handful of dishonest others - who shall remain names - whose existence sullies the name 'journalist' continue to write for the paper. You will be missed....

[Rodger Jacobs]

Bloody awful, just bloody awful.

[terry dyne]

Great news! Every time another biased Times hack gets the axe, an angel gets his wings.

[L Joyce Croker]

This is crazy, Veronique; you just GOT there, and yours was of the few remaining features of the paper I read every day.

Time for me to cancel my subscription to the paper. I only read Al Martinez and the Travel section on a regular basis, anyway.

We'll keep watching for your byline at worthier publications!

Joyce

[tique]

I looked forward to reading Veronique's work on this blog daily -- it was so exciting to see the Times finally "getting it" as far as blogs go. Veronique made this blog a smart mix of news and entertainment.
Well, one less website for me to read, without Veronique I'm outta here.

[melissa lion]

I'd like to echo the more carefully worded comments here, but, frankly Scott just about summed it up for me.

*Sigh*

Oh, and Terry, I think those same angels would probably endorse the "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all" adage. BUT WHO CARES? IT'S THE INTERNET! Behave like a jerk at will!

[mike]

I'm so sorry to hear the sad news. I've told so many people about this blog- it has been such a unique snapshot of local news. I always started my day reading this.

Thanks for all of the quality work you put into LA Now, and I wish you the best of luck on the opportunity you find next.

[SC from SF]

WOW! You will be missed, as will your writing.

[John Y.]

I've been visiting your blog each morning for the past two months... So sorry to see you go!

[Eric Estrin]

Sorry, Veronique. It was good while it lasted.
Eric

[Rachel Cohen]

But a blog on local news at a paper that resisted covering local news for how long? Maybe this is a step in the right direction.

[Zan Dubin Scott]

So sad. My heart continues to break for the LA Times and I fear for our democracy. I continue to believe we'll see a new, stronger paper one day, some day, and send props to those talents left behind.
Zan

[dick adler]

I'll miss every one of your lovely words, and especially your fine pix which I steal and send around the world. Now I have to go back and read the print edition, because you are irreplaceable. Hope you got some dough out of the fuggers.

[Myron]

Now I can cancel my subscription

[Andy Bechtel]

I'm sorry to hear this news and of the ongoing cutbacks there. The LAT is made up of great people who deserve better.