On December 23, Beverly Hills Weekly Publisher Josh Gross and I took a field trip. As you may know, Josh is a public transit junkie who proudly does not own a car and takes public transportation everywhere and anywhere. In anticipation of the opening in 2026 of the Wilshire/La Cienega Metro station, he suggested that we travel by bus and subway to the beating heart of Los

Angeles, Langer’s Deli which is located diagonally across Alvarado Street at 7th from MacArthur Park. Langer’s is 10 miles from my home, a 45 minute drive in mid-day, more during rush hour.

We met at 10:30a at the bus stop on the southeast side of Santa Monica Blvd and Crescent Drive on the north lawn of City Hall. After a three minute wait we boarded the #4 bus eastbound (a local, there are no longer rapid lines on Santa Monica Blvd). Thirty five minutes later we disembarked at Santa Monica and Vermont and went into the subway station. After two escalator rides down, we were on the D line subway platform. Within about 90 seconds, the train arrived. After five minutes and three stops, we got off the subway at

MacArthur Park/Alvarado and walked a block to iconic Langer’s. The D line is the one that will service the two Beverly

HIlls stations, on Wilshire Blvd at La Cienega and the Beverly Drive station.

Now for the specifics about the journey.

Both the bus and the subway were half full. Both were clean although worn.

Most of the riders were elderly. Twice the bus driver assisted wheelchair bound passengers to enter and exit. Each time was seamless and took approximately 30 seconds. A fantastic service for people with mobility issues. There were zero incidents with unruly passengers and I did not at anytime feel uncomfortable. I did not observe any fare avoiders.

The entry point at Santa Monica and

Vermont and the exit point at Alvarado were equipped with so-called “paddle gates” which prevent fare avoiders from entering the subway and, if properly installed, prevent fare avoiders from exiting. This latter capability is, in my judgment, a high priority for the safety of our City as fare jumpers should be discouraged so that the subways are for people who need to be somewhere not for people who need somewhere to be.

While the exit point at Alvarado and its neighbor MacArthur Park are relatively high crime areas, there were five Metro security officers and other Metro employees there and they answered my questions about the gate operations.

Total elapsed time from City

Hall to Langer’s was exactly 60 minutes. My senior (over 62, some of my suits are older than that) non-peak weekday one-way fare for both the bus and the subway together was 35 cents. Full fare for younger Apparently transfers are free. Unbelievable!! Driving time would have been a bit shorter, maybe 45 minutes to the restaurant’s parking lot and then a short walk to the restaurant.

Probably $5 for gas and another $5 for the Langer’s lot if it is not full. Taking

Metro to sports venues where parking can be $75 or more is even more cost effective.

Of course, many prefer the convenience and familiarity of driving their own car. And the world out there is less comfortable than our little Beverly Hills Bubble. I would say that we live in a “Tale of Two Cities” time (if someone had not beaten me to that phrase). The farther east we go from Crescent Drive to Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), the more brown and less affluent our region becomes. It is very different and the difference is somehow more apparent from a bus or a subway than from our own cars. But it is what it is and it is all a part of our large, diverse region.

And the Langer’s pastrami sandwich with Swiss cheese and Russian dressing on fabulous rye bread was as terrific as always.

At this point, I must digress for a personal note of nostalgia. My first memory of visiting Langer’s was in

July 1971. I was working for a law firm located in DTLA and went to dinner at Langer’s with some of my colleagues.

At that time, the Los Angeles Times printed a Preview Edition that hit the streets at about 7p. As we walked out of the restaurant, I saw the Preview Edition big bold headline: “Nixon to Visit China.” Only 55 years later and the cold war continues.

Josh may love public transit but he also loves comfort so he insisted on taking an Uber home which took longer than the bus/subway ride. Total elapsed time – three hours.

And the adventure –Priceless.

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Planning Commissioner Myra Demeter has alerted me to what she considers an important and very helpful service offered by the City. This service is part of the City Public Works

Department” Power on Beverly Hills program which puts residents in touch with local experts who will help with our energy resilience needs. In Myra’s case, she was considering installing solar power panels on her roof to generate electricity. She contacted Michael

Ware of Power on Beverly Hills who was able to connect her to a network of solar installers and energy consultants.

Myra says that they walked her through the project and advised her on what to look for and what to ask for to get the optimal system for her family. All at no charge. A very good example of what outstanding service our City offers.