Maybe he didn't want to option it, anyway

Daniel A. Olivas is an LA-based writer who has been described as "a master folk-teller," "enthralling" and "adept at establishing character." Is it a surprise that he has a day job as an attorney? Maybe not so much when you consider one of his titles: Devil Talk.

Last week Olivas was apparently silver-tongued, winning a long fight on behalf of the Coastal Commission in securing a right-of-way to the beach next to David Geffen's house. On top of losing the battle, Geffen has agreed to pay about $300,000 in expenses to the California attorney general's office and a nonprofit group; for years they'd been in the courts arguing Geffen should provide the beach access he had agreed to back in 1983 when he did some major home improvement.

With any luck, riff-raff like us should be able to stride down the Geffen easement to the Pacific by Memorial Day. Hopefully Geffen will forget Olvias' name around then, too.