Thanks for reporting on the Bukowski landmarking.

I'd just like to point out that the Delongpre residence has been on the tour route for Esotouric's "Haunts of a Dirty Old Man: Charles Bukowski's Los Angeles" since it was launched last summer. It is a favorite stop for our passengers. In fact, the discovery of the threat to the building's survival was made by tour host Richard Schave, when doing a final run through of the route last August.

Here's his original blog post about finding the property listed on Craigslist as a $1.3million teardown: http://2or3things.org/delongpre

Preservationist Lauren Everett read that post and started the campaign to save the building, and she is the person who deserves the most credit for what happened yesterday.

I don't really understand why people think there is something our literary tours stand to gain by having the building landmarked; the landlord's lawyer made the same claim at the CHC hearing, right after calling Buk a Nazi. We can drive the bus down that street with or without a plaque in place, with the bungalows standing or some crummy condos there--it doesn't make or break the Bukowski bus tour, which includes dozens of locations, though it really is a moving experience to be able to see the place where he flowered as a writer.

But more than that, it means so much to the neighborhood's historic integrity, and as a sign of respect for a great local artist that the place has been so designated. Too bad the same can't be said for John Fante's "Ask the Dust" apartment on Berendo.

-Kim Cooper, Esotouric/1947project

Yessss! This news makes me happy. Thank you.

Bluebird

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.

Charles Bukowski