The Hermit: dressed in ragged clothing, holding the light of truth in one hand and the staff of wisdom in the other. He turns his back on society and his face towards the mountains seeking enlightenment or possibly just solitude. Urs Baur created this distinctly Topangan version of the Hermit tarot card for this issue of TNT. Topanga has been home to many individuals on the hermit’s solitary journey. Join us for some of their stories. Cover design by Urs Baur
Topanga residents in and around the Palisades Fire burn zone weren’t just battered by rain and wind this week, they had to cope with road closures and flash flood and evacuation warnings. Topanga Canyon Boulevard was closed preemptively on Sunday, February 15, ahead of the first wave of rain. It remained closed when TNT went to press—a reminder that we will all be coping with the aftermath of the fire for a long time, as burned vegetation recovers and hillsides stripped by the fire stabilize. Topanga has already received almost 30 inches of rain this season. Residents are urged to use caution and be patient.
The new year has started with some catastrophic environmental news on the national stage—the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate federal clean air regulations is the biggest, and one that is expected to be challenged in court—but there is some good news at the state and local level.
State fish and game officials have officially classified the mountain lions of the Central Coast and Southern California “threatened” under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The decision gives these big cats permanent protective status and opens the door for conservation funding and new habitat protections.
Earlier this month, the National Park Service officially launched the Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study to evaluate the feasibility of designating portions of the Santa Monica Bay coastline as a new national park unit. This move may seem overly optimistic at a moment in American history when National Parks and other public lands are under attack and at risk of being sold off to the highest bidder, but the study was approved by Congress in 2023 and by the time it is complete the climate in Washington may have changed. We have more on the study and how to participate in the process in our Newsbeat section.
A gray wolf was recently seen traveling through the mountains near Acton. It’s the first time in more than 100 years a wild wolf has made its way to Los Angeles County. Wildlife officials are calling the sighting a major milestone in the species’ gradual return to California.
The three-year-old female gray wolf, BEY03F, was born into Northern California’s Beyem Seyo Pack. She has traveled nearly 400 miles from the Sierra Nevada to reach the Southern California Mountains.
A male gray wolf, OR93, traveled as far down as Ventura County in 2021, but was tragically killed crossing Interstate 5 in Kern County on his way north again.
We may never have wolves in the Santa Monica Mountains, but there is good news for the wildlife that does make its home here: the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon is on schedule to open in the fall of this year, and the project just received $18 million from the California Transportation Commission’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program, to ensure that it stays on track. The overpass, billed as the largest in the world, already spans the 101 freeway. The final stage involves bridging Agoura Road, which parallels the 101.
The desert tortoise, another wildlife species that is at risk from vehicle strikes, recently won a major victory. After a six-year legal battle, a million acres of the Western Mojave Desert will be placed off limits to off-roaders to help protect the endangered species from being flattened into extinction. Neither wolves nor tortoises are residents of the Santa Monica Mountains, but all of California’s ecosystems are interconnected. A win for one species is a benefit to all, however far removed they may be geographically.
And finally, the state is extending and expanding its mortgage relief program. Homeowners who previously received three months of assistance may qualify for additional support, bringing total relief to a full year. The program will now cover as much as $100,000 in total assistance, up from $20,000.
Eligibility has also been expanded. In LA County, households with a combined annual income of up to $281,400 now qualify.
“So far, the state has provided $6.5 million to 793 disaster-impacted homeowners, primarily survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires,” a press release states. “Significant funding is still available—including those who may need continued relief when forbearance ends.
Applying is free, but eligible residents are encouraged to do so quickly. Visit calassistmortgagefund.org or call 800-501-0019.
Stay safe, be well!
