California Planning and Development Report's Morris Newman looks at the land use issue that caused the break-up of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former TV news reporter Mirthala Salinas.
"What exactly happened during the Greatest Romance of the 21st Century, (keeping in mind that it's still a very young century)? A certain fly on the wall was able to listen in on the final conservation between two of the most scintillating and intriguing personalities of recent times - and the hitherto unheard story about the way their romance foundered on an important land-use decision in the San Fernando Valley. Readers should keep in mind that NBC Studios and Thomas Properties of Los Angeles have announced plans to build a $3 billion broadcast facility for the national television network, and that the City of Los Angeles (insert picture here of Mayor Villaraigosa smiling winsomely) has jurisdiction. Without further ado, our telenovela de amor:"
"Antonio: You seem unusually quiet tonight, mi corazon. A penny for sus pensamientos?
Mirthala: Oh, nothing, caro, just thinking (She looks north out the window, toward the future home of NBC's West Coast televisions studios.)
Antonio (apprehensive): Oh no, I've told you not to waste that pretty little head with thinking.
Mirthala (Suddenly, decisively): Tony, I want to get back into television.
Antonio (Cautiously, not knowing yet where the conversation is heading): Of course, of course, television is nice
Mirthala (turning her head sharply toward him): Antonio! You will have something to do with the approval of the new NBC studios at Universal, que no?"
FULL STORY: Antonio Y Mirthala: The Real (Land Use) Story
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