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

[Gordon Martin]

Yet another reason to cancel the LA Times...again. When will become the paper LA, the second largest city in the USA, become a truly great paper again?

[Gordon Martin]

Bring bring back Veronique! She is the blog and for those of us not fortunate to share in all of the Bu's splendor, a real treat. This is one of the only blogs I went to daily and am going to miss my friend who cheered me up countless times when I was down. Please do not let this beautiful blog, written by a gifted writer, pass like so many of the things that make Malibu and Los Angeles special.

[Friend of Veronique]

PLEASE bring back Veronique. This isn't a blog without her.

[paul wilner]

hey, miss v...
so sorry to hear the news - unfortunate and ill-advised on their part, as usual.

for what it's worth , there is life - better life - after working on the apparently insoluble problems of the dailies. trust me on this one...

all best, as ever,
paul

[LAT death spiral]

Veronique gets canned but Lee Abrams still has a job? Now that's the definition of insanity.

[Ben Peters]

Ouch! Such a smart and touching voice you have, and what a way with a camera.
Sorry!

[Julie S.]

Hey all, just wanted to say that besides commenting here about being upset that Veronique has been laid off, remember that you can click on that "contact" link and give the LA Times feedback that you're upset over their decision. Maybe if enough of us tell them we're mad, they'll change their minds or maybe they won't do anything but it can't hurt to try, and it's just as easy to send the feedback as it is to comment here. So if you're upset, go the extra step (like I already did) and don't assume they're going to read the comments here! ~J~

[Alan Yudman]

So sad to see you go. Really enjoy the blog and love the photos. I save them on my blackberry and use them as wallpaper. They're just beautiful. Good luck!

[teri sforza]

Oh, Veronique, I am so very bummed.

[Brian Humphrey]

Veronique, I will miss your sense of responsibility in covering local news. It remains troubling to think that with an increased need (and relative ease) for quality hyperlocal coverage, Mr. Zell feels otherwise. Kindly accept my best wishes and hang in there. You will not only survive but thrive. -BH-

[Donna Barstow]

Veronique,

Gah, you were one of the few bloggers who had a sense of humor there. You also knew how to turn a phrase, and to link SOMEWHERE outside of the narcissistic Times itself. And knew how to write blog-like. Rare, especially in the Times.

Not to mention the savvy to turn the numbers in. Just Thursday Tony Pierce was bragging how successful your blog had become in such a short time.

Good luck moving forward.
Donna Barstow

[robert dean]

Thank you for all the work you put into LA Now. I look forward to reading your words where ever you might land next.

[Mike Schneider]

Veronique, add me to the list of folks sorry to see you go. LA Now quickly became one of my go-to sites, and I always appreciated the love you sent Franklin Avenue's way. I know you'll still be out there on the blogosphere, so we'll still be reading ya!

[Sonya Smith]

Good luck in your career and life Veronique. You did great work on this blog -- posting insightful words, links to the best on the web and amazing photos.

[Steve]

I was lucky enough to be Veronique's editor--and I use the term loosely--at The Times. As it turned out, I really didn't do much editing. I just sat back and admired her work. I just want to say thank you, Veronique, for all the stylish prose and, most of all, for all the laughs and good cheer. I hope we'll get a chance to be co-conspirators again in the future. Steve.

[Craig]

Good riddance. This blog was almost always just a bunch of links, anyway.

[Julie S.]

I am so disappointed to hear that you're being laid off! I love your blog and read it every day. I am about ready to cancel my subscription to the Times but then I guess that wouldn't help the rest of those who are still there. I wish they'd reconsider this decision! Hope to read you elsewhere though. Best wishes! :)
~J~

[Edmund Biro]

I will add my voice; sorry to hear that. One of the really nice things about the *new* LAT, is that there are/were(?) some savvy folk like yourself to make it worthwhile; and save those of us time in finding the really neat stuff.

I'll look for you on the 'net.

-e

[Jan Connell]

Please add my name to your list of fans.
I lived in "The Jungle", Playa del Rey, back in the day and I now read your blog from afar, with great fondness. In times of stress, your blog's photos temper my mood.
I am sad for you.

[Ed Greenberg]

I have enjoyed your work in this blog. You capture lots of good material. I wish you all the best of success.

I also was really sorry to hear about Tony Hillerman.

[ashlea simpson]

This is awful. I have loved all your articles and the tremendous photos with them. How can they be so stupid? Keep in mind, it obviously was meant to be merely a stepping stone to far more rewarding opportunities ahead of you - as you so very obviously deserve.

[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.

[Myron]

Now I can cancel my subscription

[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.

[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

[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.

[Eric Estrin]

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

[John Y.]

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

[SC from SF]

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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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

[terry dyne]

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

[Rodger Jacobs]

Bloody awful, just bloody awful.

[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....

[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?

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[h.w.]

That is terrible!

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

[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.

[Julia]

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

[Dayna R]

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

[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!