The Los Angeles we know has long been an irresistible subject for novelists and moviemakers – so much so that they’ve often tortured reality to make it conform to their imagination.

Robert Towne mined the history of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in his screenplay for “Chinatown” but moved the story ahead up by some two decades,from 1913 to the 1930s,to give his scenario it’s noir sensibility.

Ridley Scott and his filmmaking team depicted a future Los Angeles beset with darkness and a never-ending downpour of rain for “Blade Runner” – never mind that its source material, philip K.Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” was set in San Francisco, that provincial burg some 400 miles to the north.

Los Angeles knows how to weather a crisis – or two or three. Angelenos are tapping into that resilience,striving to build a city for everyone.

from Fear to Fur: Why More californians Are Turning to Protection Dogs

Years ago, Mike Davis wrote “fear eats the soul of Los Angeles.” today, protection dogs, security cameras and guards are big business.

But the task of defending home and family is increasingly being outsourced to a new kind of bodyguard: highly trained canine companions. Demand for protection dogs is surging in California, fueled by rising property crime, economic uncertainty and a growing sense of unease.

“It’s definitely been a boom in the last few years,” says David Reinke, owner of Elite Working Dog, a company that trains and sells protection dogs in Riverside County. “people are realizing that a dog can offer a level of security that an alarm system simply can’t.”

The cost of acquiring and training these canine protectors isn’t cheap. A fully trained protection dog can range from $20,000 to $80,000 or more, depending on breed, lineage and level of training. But for those willing to invest, the peace of mind can be invaluable.

These aren’t your average family pets.Protection dogs undergo rigorous training to assess threats, deter intruders and, if necessary, defend their owners and property.They are typically German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, or Rottweilers – breeds known for their intelligence, loyalty and protective instincts.

“We focus on building a strong bond between the dog and the owner,” explains Reinke. “The dog needs to be able to read their owner’s cues and react appropriately to different situations.”

The rise in demand has also led to concerns about unqualified trainers and unscrupulous breeders. Experts advise potential buyers to thoroughly research trainers and ensure they use positive reinforcement methods.

“You want a dog that is confident and stable, not aggressive,” says Ed Faron, a canine behavior consultant and trainer. “A well-trained protection dog should be able to differentiate between a genuine threat and a harmless visitor.”

For many Californians, a protection dog represents more than just security. It’s a symbol of control in an increasingly uncertain world, a furry guardian offering a sense of safety and peace of mind.

Mike Davis, Historian of the American West, Dies at 76

Mike Davis, a prolific and fiercely independent historian whose work challenged conventional narratives of the american West, died April 25 at his home in San Diego. He was 76. The cause was esophageal cancer, according to his sister, Toni Davis.

Davis was best known for his groundbreaking 1986 book, “City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles,” a scathing critique of power structures and urban development in Southern California. The book, which blended past research, investigative journalism, and Marxist theory, became a foundational text in urban studies and a touchstone for activists.

But Davis’s scholarship extended far beyond Los Angeles. He wrote extensively about the history of California, the environment, and social movements. His other notable works include “Magical Land: History and Folklore in california,” “Dead Cities,” and “In Praise of barbarians: Reagan, Thatcher and the End of Enlightenment.”

Davis was a controversial figure, often clashing with academic colleagues and political opponents. He was a staunch critic of capitalism, environmental destruction, and the romanticization of the American frontier. His work was characterized by a deep empathy for the marginalized and a relentless pursuit of truth.

Born in Los angeles in 1946, Davis was a lifelong Californian. He earned a Ph.D.in history from UCLA and taught at several universities before becoming a freelance writer and researcher. He was a visiting professor at several institutions, including UC Riverside and Cornell University.

Davis is survived by his sister, Toni, and a legacy of scholarship that continues to inspire and provoke debate. His work remains essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the American West and the forces that have shaped its history.## the Future of L.A.: Echoes of prediction and Paranoia

In 1992, Mike Davis observed the burgeoning market for security systems – burglar alarms at $78,000 each; “Yes, paranoia does sell” was how I headlined my column. It still does: Guard dogs, surveillance cameras and sentry-protected neighborhood tracts have proliferated all around the Southland.

Davis foresaw the continued development of “tourist bubbles” – theme park-like “historical district, entertainment precincts, malls … partitioned off from the rest of the city” – think developer rick Caruso’s shopping center the Grove,opened in the Fairfax District in 2002,which presents blank or billboarded walls to the outside world,enclosing a Disneyesque landscape of shops and restaurants inconspicuously monitored by security services.

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As opinion pollsters know, when you ask people what the future will look like, they invariably paint a picture that looks just like the present, only more so: If there’s a crime wave when they’re being polled, they foretell a world beleaguered by armed gangs; if there’s a recession, they expect a world of unrelieved poverty; if it’s a period of technological advancement, they foresee a world of flying cars.

Writers projecting a future of L.A. tended to fall into the same pattern. The Slovenian transplant Louis Adamic, who had emigrated to the United States in 1913 and settled in the port community of San Pedro, scrutinized Southern California with pitiless objectivity in a 1930 essay titled “Los Angeles! There she blows!”

Adamic mentioned the conviction among Angelenos that their city “will ultimately – perhaps within the next three or four decades – be the biggest city in the world.” And he acknowledged that “the place has many great advantages, among the foremost, of course, being Climate, and but a single drawback, which, however, is an extremely serious one – that of water shortage.”

Nevertheless, noting that the city’s population had doubled over the previous 10 years to nearly 2 million, he confidently predicted that it would number 3 million by 1935. It didn’t reach that mark until the 1980s, and it’s not the first time, nor the last, that a prediction of the city’s future overshot the target. His concern about water, of course, was spot-on.

Another writer who extrapolated from what he saw of the Los Angeles of his time was Morrow Mayo, whose 1933 book “Los Angeles” is quoted elsewhere in The Times’ Future of L.A. package. mayo expressed the opinion that even if “the territory known as the ‘city of Los Angeles'” grew from its then-population of 1.2 million to 4 million or more,he doubtedWhat kept Los Angeles even marginally vibrant was the steady influx of vigorous immigrants from the East,the Midwest and the South – people seeking a better life,a new start,or simply a warmer climate. They came in waves, each bringing its own culture, skills and aspirations.The aircraft industry, spurred by the demands of World War II and the Cold War, was a major engine of growth. Carey McWilliams wrote in 1949 that it was “likely to remain in the region and even to expand production.” And for a time, it did. but Boeing’s military aircraft assembly line was shut down in 2015, ending an era.

Despite the shifts and challenges, Los Angeles continued to evolve, attracting people from all corners of the globe. The city’s diverse population, coupled with its strategic location and entrepreneurial spirit, helped it navigate the changing economic landscape. Though, the decline of manufacturing and the rise of globalization would soon present new hurdles for the region.

the Colorado River Crisis: how the West Grew and What’s at Stake Now

For over a century, the Colorado River has been a lifeline for the American West. It’s fueled the growth of sprawling cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, and transformed arid landscapes into agricultural powerhouses.But today, this vital resource is facing an unprecedented crisis, threatening the future of millions and raising fundamental questions about water management in a changing climate.

A History of Engineering and Growth

The story of the colorado River is one of ambitious engineering and relentless growth. In the early 20th century, the river was seen as a resource to be “tamed” and harnessed for human use. The construction of massive dams – hoover Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, and others – began in the 1930s, creating reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell. These projects provided flood control,hydroelectric power,and,most importantly,a reliable water supply for a rapidly developing region.

The Colorado River Compact of 1922 allocated water rights among the seven basin states (California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). Though, the allocation was based on optimistic, and ultimately flawed, estimates of the river’s average flow. it didn’t account for the prolonged and intensifying droughts that are now becoming the norm.

(Image of the Los Angeles Aqueduct – A massive project brought water to L.A. from the Owens Valley.)

The Current Crisis: A River in Decline

Today, the Colorado River is shrinking. Decades of overuse,coupled with the impacts of climate change – including rising temperatures and reduced snowpack in the Rocky Mountains – have led to historically low water levels in Lake Mead and lake Powell. These reservoirs are now at record lows, threatening the ability to generate hydropower and deliver water to downstream users.

The situation is dire. The Bureau of Reclamation has mandated significant water cuts for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. California, while initially spared from the deepest cuts, faces increasing pressure to reduce its water consumption.

What’s at Stake?

The consequences of the Colorado River crisis are far-reaching:

Agriculture: The Imperial Valley in California and other agricultural regions rely heavily on Colorado River water for irrigation. Reduced water supplies threaten crop production and the livelihoods of farmers.
Cities: Major cities like Las Vegas and phoenix depend on the river for a significant portion of their water supply.Water restrictions and conservation measures are becoming increasingly common. Ecosystems: The declining river flows are devastating aquatic ecosystems, impacting fish populations and riparian habitats.
Tribal Nations: Many Native American tribes have senior water rights on the Colorado River, but have historically been marginalized in water allocation decisions. The crisis exacerbates existing inequities.Looking Ahead: A Future of Adaptation

Addressing the Colorado River crisis requires a fundamental shift in how water is managed in the West. Some potential solutions include:

Increased Conservation: Implementing more aggressive water conservation measures in cities and agriculture.
Improved Water Use Efficiency: Investing in technologies and practices that reduce water waste.
Negotiating New Agreements: Revisiting the Colorado River Compact to create a more equitable and lasting allocation framework.
Exploring Option Water Sources: Investing in desalination, water recycling, and other alternative water sources.
* Addressing Climate Change: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the river’s flow.

The future of the American West depends on finding solutions to the Colorado River crisis. It’s a challenge that demands collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to adapt to a new reality of scarcity. The choices made today will determine whether this iconic river continues to sustain life and growth in the region for generations to come.

The West’s Water Future: A Look Back at Predictions

For decades, experts have grappled with the question of water in the American West – a region defined by both its stunning landscapes and its chronic scarcity. Looking back at predictions made by key observers offers a sobering,and sometimes prescient,view of the challenges the West faces today.

Marc Reisner, author of the seminal “Cadillac desert,” envisioned a future where the West would adapt to its limitations rather than continue to attempt to dominate nature. He foresaw a shift away from trying to recreate the East, and towards embracing a different model of development. Reisner looked ahead, hopefully, to a West that “might import a lot more meat and dairy products from states where they are raised on rain, rather than dream of importing those states’ rain …. A region where people begin to recognize that water left in rivers can be worth a lot more – in revenues, in jobs – than water taken out of the rivers.”

“At some point, perhaps within my lifetime, the american West will go back to the future than forward to the past.”

Regrettably, Reisner, who died in 2000, didn’t live to see that happen. Whether his hope will ever be fulfilled remains an open question.

Perhaps the most penetrating look at the future of Los Angeles and its state came from Peter Schrag, a former editorial page editor at the Sacramento Bee. In his 1998 book “Paradise Lost,” Schrag sought not simply to foretell the region’s future,but to explicate how its future foretold what was in store for the country as a whole.(Its subtitle was “California’s Experience, America’s Future.”)

When he wrote the book, California was in one of its boom phases.It was again “the driving engine of national economic growth and likely to remain in that position until well into the next century…. Becuase of foundations laid forty years go … it is at the forefront of the world’s leading-edge technologies and of its creative energy.” (He was right about that, at least up to this moment.)But Schrag also pointed to the state’s “increasingly dysfunctional governmental and fiscal public institutions, the depleted state of its public infrastructure, services, and amenities, the growing gaps between its affluent and its poorer residents, and its pinched social ethos,” which “hang like dark clouds in the sunny skies.”

California had exported to other states the facile low-tax policies of Howard Jarvis and Ronald Reagan’s view of government as “the problem, not the solution.”

In addition, Schrag saw that the emergence of social media “may insure against the power of big Brother to dominate communications, but they also amplify the power of shared ignorance …. What used to be limited to gossip over the back fence.