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Newsletter: Essential California: San Francisco has only itself to blame for those high rents

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Good morning. It is Saturday, July 25. Here's what you don't want to miss this weekend:

Top stories

Call for change: The top regulator in Los Angeles County says the Compton Fire Department needs a sweeping overhaul of how it responds to emergencies. According to the Emergency Medical Services Agency, the fire department does not have enough paramedics. The fire chief went on leave after defibrillators had to be taken off fire trucks and ambulances because there was no documentation that crews were adequately trained to use the life-saving devices. Los Angeles Times

Port makeover: Down at the Port of Los Angeles, the San Pedro Fish Market is preparing for a multimillion-dollar makeover of the waterfront. The market is key to the area's redevelopment, as it draws more than 1 million visitors a year. "They're the linchpin. They're the anchor. The developers are going to want those million people that they bring every year,” said Doane Liu, deputy executive director at the port. Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s old food scene: Together, Wolfgang Puck and Patrick Terrail fed and entertained Hollywood's top stars at Ma Maison. The beloved restaurant was known for its unlisted phone number and the rows of Rolls-Royces parked out front. Then, the two men went through what they describe as a "really bad divorce." Now, the two talk about the restaurant and their relationship. Hollywood Reporter

Unintended consequences: Is San Francisco's affordability crisis the logical result of its liberal policies? One writer argues that the city's longtime stance against new development, which in previous generations had destroyed minority neighborhoods, led to the current housing shortage that has sent rents through the roof. City Lab

Walking for water: It's becoming routine to read stories about wells running dry in the Central Valley. Residents are finding various ways to cope, and in one small town that means walking a mile just to fill a 5-gallon jug. "There's no faucets to turn on, honey. I cry. Because I don't have nothing," said Flossie Ford-Hedrington, a longtime grape and cotton picker. The Nation

Poor almonds: Because of the drought, almond farmers are using more groundwater to irrigate their trees. But that water often contains a lot of salt, and the salt is slowly killing trees. Crop yields could decrease by 4% this year. Grist

Right back at ya: In case common decency is not enough of a reason to refrain from urinating in public, nine public walls in San Francisco now have pee-repellent paint that will cause the urine to splash back onto shoes and pants. SF Gate

This week’s most popular stories in Essential California

1. Last weekend's powerful rains in Southern California were a preview of what to expect from El Niño this winter. The storm system may also be behind an unusual summer snowfall in the Sierra Nevada and the "miracle rain" experienced in May. Los Angeles Times

2. When you're looking for a parking space, it can be incredibly frustrating to see a car take up two spaces. Or park over the line. Or do any number of inconsiderate things. A new Instagram shames the poor parkers of L.A. Zocalo Public Square

3. Drivers on the 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass didn't expect to have to abandon their vehicles in the face of a wildfire last week. Nor did they expect to be charged thousands of dollars to towing companies to get back their cars. Officials are investigating whether tow companies exploited the situation. LAist

4. California chefs do many things well, but when it comes to bagels -- well, the East Coast has us beat. New York Times Magazine

5. View Park has been home to Los Angeles' affluent African American population since the 1960s. It's even known as the "Black Beverly Hills." Now, some residents are complaining that a proposal to give the area landmark status is just a ploy to attract white home buyers. Los Angeles Times

ICYMI, here are this week's Great Reads

Absence of hope: At a motel in San Bernardino, children roam unattended as the adults in their lives deal with drug addiction, prison and poverty. In this part of California, 9% of public school children are homeless. Los Angeles Times

Karaoke with colleagues: Networking is important in any job, even in pornography. That's why many of the genre's actors, directors and crew members gather every week at a Burbank bar for Porn Star Karaoke. The bonding ritual is especially important as the Internet and new condom laws have caused a major downturn in the industry. Los Angeles Times

Orphanage for animals: Rhino poaching is on the rise in South Africa, where more than 1,200 of the animals were killed last year. Poachers will often kill the mothers and abandon the calves. The lucky ones end up in an orphanage, where they can receive medical treatment and food. Los Angeles Times

Looking ahead

Today: The Special Olympics World Games will hold its opening ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Monday: Orange County's Pride Week will kick off in Costa Mesa. The theme is "Color Our World With Pride."

Wednesday: Officials and advocates will gather at Los Angeles City Hall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.

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