MTA’s Pedestrian Notion for Region

Writer/environmentalist Ellen Stern Harris received a letter from the MTA that began:

“The MTA and Local Government Commission invite you to a presentation on creating walkable communities.”

Commented Harris: “Is that in lieu of settling the strike?”

EVERYTHING’S MOVING SLOWER IN LA. THESE DAYS: Harris, by the way, got the letter Sept. 23. The presentation was given Sept. 21.

OK, OK, ALREADY! John O’Donnell of South El Monte snapped a shot of a sign on a street where residents apparently have been slow to get the point (see photo).

SUCH A DEAL: Today’s questionable bargains (see accompanying) include a CD player ad with language about installation that mystified several readers. And David Graham of Laguna Niguel spotted a bighearted offer by an automotive shop.

DOLPHIN PARAMEDICS: Some experts’ predictions about the year 2000 contained in a 1960 KNX-AM radio time capsule, which was recently opened:

* “Dolphins may be as popular as poodles, maybe even in the family swimming pool.”

* “A dolphin’s distress call will have been simulated to help persons in trouble to whom dolphins will speed when the signal is heard.”

* “It is likely that mom, dad and the kids will pile into the family plane. It will take off and land vertically, push along at 500 mph, and if it runs out of gas a lever will release a parachute and the craft will float gently down.”

* “There most certainly will be more laws . . . and lawyers.”

* “The Olympic Games will attract truly worldwide attention in the year 2000, when millions will view the events as they transpire on large-screen televisions, with the color, ceremony and competition as impressive as in their own home as in the stadium.”

As they transpire? Not in tape-delayed-by-NBC America.

And, finally: “Man will find a new rapport with the animals of the sea and others with whom we share the Earth.”

Then why doesn’t my cat come when I call it?

THE ADOPTED CITY: A joke dating back to the early 1900s held that any time two people met on a street in L.A., one inevitably would say, “I’m a stranger here myself.” Nobody seemed to be born in L.A.

That’s still true in the case of this city’s mayors. No L.A. native has held that office since Fred Eaton (1898-1900), and he is believed to be the only one since California became a state.

The hometown drought could change next year when L.A. elects a successor to New York-born Richard Riordan.

True, five of the announced candidates were born far from the L.A. River, including U.S. Rep Xavier Becerra (Sacramento), state Controller Kathleen Connell (Denver, Colo.), businessman Steve Soboroff (Chicago, Ill.), and City Councilman Joel Wachs (Scranton, Pa.)

But there are two Angelenos in the race, City Atty. James Hahn and Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa.

Now the question is will their birthplace cost them the votes of all the ex-New Yorkers here who find fault with everything Angeleno?

miscelLAny:

Tom Martin had to laugh when he saw a Mustang convertible, with the top down, pull into a parking lot in Norco, whereupon the driver used her hand-held remote to lock the car--while leaving the top down.

Yes, Martin added, she was a blond.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.