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Down and Out in Beverly Hills
This weekend, some neighbors in Beverly Hills called in the cops and broke out the video camera to tell the tale of the thieves who helped themselves to items from their outdoor Christmas displays. Expressing dismay at the theft of things from $1000-elves, the Baby Jesus in his humble manger, and a wreath, the real 90210-ers were horrified that they would now have to chain down their lit-up snowmen and reindeer, and hoped that the public knew about their plight. LAist photographer Tom Andrews took a trip to the home of Peter and Shera Falk, whose pricey decorations were swiped. Is their holiday display less than it could--and should--be?
Of course, it's not really the theft that is disturbing (put nice stuff out and you run the risk of it being swiped, no matter your zip code, that's just how it is, frankly) but that the Falks and others would want to make a very public issue about it. It's hard to ascertain if they are hoping to let others know that some guys have a very un-Christian approach to Christmas, or if they expect sympathy for their loss. Theft of anyone's property is not right, but at a time when most people are living paycheck to paycheck, do we really need to hear about wealthy people losing lawn ornaments when many people are losing jobs?
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
