I go there all the time....the homeless is so much worse over the last 15 or so years. he is ignorant about it. .....way more drug use....and way more invisible homeless that dont use drugs and live in their cars or vans. Democrats live in denial. period
lol... youtube hid my comment talking about mainstream media and their lack of culture and effort like Peter puts in. TH-cam hid that 🤷♂ for being true and dictionary words also.... wow. Says a lot about who is making the bias in Ai here lately.
I would like to go around LA with Walter! He sounds and acts like that cool uncle or family friend that just knows shit and stuff, The coolest guy ever!
Appreciate Walter sharing a lot history that many don't know, may have forgotten, or not here to share. It great to hear it from someone who knows it personally. Thank you Peter for great stories and bringing to us the stories that aren't found anywhere else.
I feel like i can watch an entire Movie out of this story. I am an ex-firefighter myself. I can feel the intense dramatic scenes that can played out, the many stories of animals lost, the stories of the rats. omg, you imagine being able to put that in a motion picture. =) this story should be told. so cool
What an incredible video. Walter is truly a gem. Thank you so much for sharing him and his beautiful storytelling with us - people like him are treasures!
My neighbor Mr D would be amazing doing something like this where I am in New York. He’s in his 80s, old an military vet, LOVES talking about the old days and what the neighbor looked like. Recently he wrote up a 2 page history of our street and put it in everyone’s mailboxes. He lets my two younger kids run on his property picking wild mushrooms and loves educating them on different ones and different wild flowers and the birds.
Awww....I love this, my great aunt used to write stories about our area during the depression era here in the North Carolina town where I'm from and still live I loved her documentation. I'm from a textile area of NC, that's similar to coal in Appalachia or any other town of working class people that built their towns around one industry.
My in-laws immigrate from Scotland in '58 to an apartment at 11th & Wilshire in Santa Monica for $120/mo. I checked that same apartment in 2018 and it was $4,200/mo. Being retrospective gives us great context for understanding and often times clarifies misunderstanding about the past and revisionist history that seeps into our culture. Thanks for sharing his story.
@@mikeb837 my family and I currently finding new place to rent but cheapest one to rent a 3 bed house is $2,600 but we need housing and some of the cheap ones doesn’t do housing the highest is $3,800. I’m planning moving to Arizona because my cousin renting two houses for $1,800.
I live in the Sunset Park in Santa Monica. A friend of mine lives in the same neighborhood ,in a building since 1980 a one bedroom rent control. He pays $600 a month. The rest of the tenants who are not under rent control pay between $3800 and $ 5800.forfor one or two bedroom. Most work in high tech and drive MZ and Audi. About six years ago when the building was bought, they made an offer to the tenants for $80,000 apiece to move out and most took the money but another friend of mine that lived in the same building refused and then they offered him 200 K he moved 😂
Walter is very Rare indeed. Most "Old" Californians have died or moved out of state. What remains is why I will not visit ever again. I miss the beauty but not the lifestyle or its government.
$325,000 in the late 80's was still quite expensive. I remember how big a deal it was to buy a quarter million dollar house in Princeton NJ, one of the most expensive NJ neighborhoods. And Santa Monica was a third more! That being said, I just came back from a 5 day visit to LA, and I can now see why someone would withstand the high cost of living, the traffic, and the restrictions. Its absolutely beautiful and offers everything from NYC style life in downtown to Jersey Shore vibes without the douchebags in Huntington and Santa Monica, to masses of Suburbia and good hiking, skiing, and surfing all within a few hours of each other.
Love this episode. Growing up in Camarillo (Ventura County) we'd spend lots of time in that area. Hearing Walter tell his story, brought me back to my childhood. Thanks Peter for this video.
The communities through Topanga Canyon are as eccentric as I’ve ever seen. L.A. mountain communities are both beautiful and rugged as all hell. It takes a special person to live there knowing that one spark could destroy everything in just a few minutes.
I grew up in the beach towns in the South Bay of Los Angeles: Torrance, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes… born in 1956, coming up on 67 years of age, the beach towns were like small villages where everyone knew each other, treated all like neighbors and friends
HE TOLD THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH about the homeless situation. I to am a native and there has been homeless that flocked to California since the 70's.....IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM
I grew up in the bay area. Family moved here in 1964 when I was 2. Homeless for sure were in san francisco and oakland since the early 70's as well as drug addiction and associated crime. It's not new. It seems worse because the population has doubled. Drugs are worse. Still plenty of beauty here though.
But the homeless population is worse than it's ever been. And it's created by the left leaning politicians who rule the state .Until residents of California wake up and run them out of office, California's problems will continue .The mass exodus of middle class residents to other states will only get worse in the near future as California is toying with compensation of millions of dollars to descendants of slaves .Most problems in California are man made ( politician made) , high taxes, water problem, high crime, homelessness , high real estate , wild fires etc.
I remember my grandfather told me that there was homeless in the 50s also. He was fed up and left to Texas in the 70s and realized that Dallas has homeless too. Guess the homeless problem is a US problem for a very long time.
It's not a completely new problem but no way is the homeless situation today comparable to even 5 years ago. That's like comparing Signal Hill to Mt. Shasta.
@@truthseeker6377 That is a lie. I live in LA and the problem hasn't changed in the last 40 years I've been alive. The only thing that i have seen is that they have migrated from the lower income parts to better areas. This is very similar to what is happening in Texas. Everytime I visit family there it just reminds me of LA.
Oh my goodness, Peter, that was wonderful! Those hardy folks who live in the Santa Monica Mountains like the Shirks are my heroes. I've known some of them, and always wonder at their courage. A friend told me that if your home is surrounded by fire, get up there on the roof so the firefighters can see you and they will make a huge effort to save your place.
Loved this. In the late 1950's, my family built a house on Trancas Beach, down on the coast from this video. Our neighbors were Kathryn Hepburn and Frank Capra. My dad commuted to Santa Monica in his Porsche Speedster and worked at McDonnell Douglas. Idyllic life, middle class. I moved to Alaska 40 years ago and never looked back.✌️
@@solvingpolitics3172 well, it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. It's a great place to be tested, and discover your mettle. Majestic, beautiful, and dangerous. A good place to hone your problem solving skills. And learn humility.
I lived in the general area when most of the coast roads were 2 lanes and you just pulled off partly in the sand and you were on the beach. When they started paving paradise and putting in parking lots I cried.
This video was absolutely amazing! So interesting to watch and listen from a fireman’s perspective. I’ve only visited California a few times on business, but I’m amazed at how beautiful it is and how resilient Californians are. I’ve seen charred and blackened hillsides and I can’t imagine what these people go through during the fires. Again, great video Peter! 👍🏼
I live on the east coast. The canyons, where the firefighter lives, are fantastic. The light, the scenery, the hills are magic...when I am in LA I always take a day to hangout there...and it is always the most fun of the trip!
I moved to Santa Monica in 2014 with my wife and 4lbs. Yorkie. I’ve worked for LA County Fire for 20 years and before that, I did 14 years with the LA County Sheriff. I’m currently stationed at the Marina Del Rey fire station so I can ride my bicycle to work. I’ll be retiring in a couple of years. Like Walter, I’ve seen so much in the last 34 years of service to the county. I absolutely love living in Santa Monica. It took my wife and I 20 years of marriage before we saved up enough money to finally buy a small condo on Ocean Avenue. We moved from Valencia which is about 35 minutes north in the Santa Clarita Valley. We are both southern Californian natives. It’s so sad to see what Los Angeles is becoming, but my entire family is here so I can’t leave nor do I really want to. To those who aren’t blessed to live on the California coast, I can’t describe in words how beautiful it is. And the weather is absolutely perfect. There were days when it was 104 degrees in Valencia, we would travel to Santa monica and it would be 68. The people who live in this city are so wonderful, we literally make friends on a daily basis by just walking our dog in the parks. I pray that the law makers of this region open their eyes and start taking the power away from the abusers of our system and put it back into the hard working tax payers. Thanks for all the great content Peter. I loved the piece you did on East LA. I worked there for 17 years between fire station 3 and ELA sheriffs on 3rd street.
Peter, I enjoy your videos in a different way than i enjoy others & I've often wondered why that it is. I just realized it's because of your unique style of interviewing people. It feels very intimate and non biased and we really don't get much of that in the media we consume. It feels raw & honest and it's truly a breath of fresh air. For these reasons, i will be checking into your Patreon so i can be a tiny part of this wonderful movement you are on. Thank you for what you are doing. Kim from Arkansas
Agreed. Peter is not trying to push an agenda. He lets people speak openly and whatever comes out, then that is what you get. Rather refreshing. Very rare these days.
People who haven't lived in LA also don't realize how amazing Griffith Park is. I've been hiking it for 8 years and still find little bits of new trail. Mountain lions, coyotes, rattlesnakes, all right in the middle of the city. I've yet to come across a remotely comparable park in the middle of a US city. Many tourists just go up to the observatory by car or shuttle but it's a trail runner, hiker or dog walker's dream. It's "normal" to me now but I was so in love with Griffith Park the first 2-3 years I lived near it.
4 years ago I was driving through the area after midnight and the coyote/mountain lions were everywhere. Blocking drivers and running through people's yards. Never seen anything like it 😂😂
Thanks for sharing. I lived in Southern California for about a dozen years (the last four in North Hollywood, if you ever get a chance to take the guided tours originating at the library in NoHo do it) and despite all of the problems with LA, I do miss it. The city is full of interesting stories, people and places.
Peter, I have been watching your videos for quite some time. In California, we had Huell Howser who was well-loved and he hosted and produced a show sharing unique places in California. Your videos are of that quality. I saw that the Border Patrol had put your video on their social media apps. Thanks for all that you do and I looked forward to more interesting and unknown locations.
I like the familiar local unknown places. Anyone born in the 70's can recognize the drastic changes and increased difficulties brought into the region with them.
When I was a baby, we lived in the Angeles Forest near Hidden Springs. Our house was an old gas station. Then there was a terrible flood with loss of life and our house washed away so we had to move back to Inglewood. It's crazy how close LA is to pines, beach, city, and desert.
I recently discovered your channel and am enjoying it. I must say this one is a favourite. I just love this couple! Their story telling is great. The rabbit story made made me laugh (something i needed lately) thank you! 👍 Watching from Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦
His demeanor is so chill. I'd love to hear more about hidden gems like the carousel apartments. Props to him for having the experience to stay diligent on fire watch. It absolutely paid off. Lastly, Unrelated, Who made that butterfly art in their dining room? Its gorgeous.
I fought fire up in that canyon when I was a young firefighter. The famous Steve Mcqueen and Alli McGraw wanted to go past our position on the road hoping to hold the line as fire progressed uphill from the pacific coast highway. He was very nice and polite and respected our warnings but was allowed to pass so they could go on up into the canyon to protect their property. They had horses and animals that needed attention. I miss the beauty of when the sea meets the mountains surrounding LA and the back coastal side of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. This was 1973 with Ventura County Fire Department Engine 46 out of Simi Valley. Thank you, Peter, for doing this story. Brings back memories.
Very cool reminiscing with Walter about the Wolsey Fire barreling down that area of Yerba Buena. I was assigned to Station 56 down the road at the time and the fire was so massive that there were even firefighters from other states who eventually showed up. Us locals were scattered across the county already by the time it got to Malibu and firefighters from the LA departments were covering the area near my station by the time it got there.
When Walter started talking about the "towns" that were built on the rooftops, I had read about them from a post I had gotten on Facebook awhile ago. Fascinating story and pretty cool to hear someone 'real' talk about it! Peter, you've got to do another video with Walter! I am a HUGE fan of your channel! Keep up the great work!! :)
Amazed how this landscape looks just like ours. There’s rapidly growing focus on private & community fire bunkers in SE Australia now, to provide a refuge from the fire front Walter spoke of. Fires are getting too fast & intense, behaving in ways that even experienced firefighters & researchers have never seen. He was very prepared but also lucky. If one thing had gone wrong…
I wasn't living at home at the time, but back in the 80's my parents house was very close to the San Gabriel mountains and a fire ripped through the area and burned several homes. Our house was saved because a relative had brought a pump and some oscillating sprinklers and set it all up on the roof and used the pool water. Very scary, everyone was OK.
Loved this video, thank you! i had a friend whose family owned a ranch in Malibu but never got to visit so this was a real treat. What a wonderful story teller, Walt and his wife are the down to earth native Ca people that i had grown to love years ago.
Thank you so much for this vid. I lived in Santa Monica for 45 years and moved to central NY ten years ago - leaving was a mistake, but a necessity because it became too expensive and too crowded to exist there in SM and on the Westside of LA. I miss it every day. Walter remembers what I remember about the old town, Malibu and the SM mtns. LOVED Walter and his memories! Thank you, Peter. I can't go a day without watching your vids. This one, though, was special to my heart.
You are great Peter. İ've recently had a rejection on my visa application. But I don' t get disappointed. I love America and will move there for sure. God bless America❤
Peter you don't only deserve more viewers/subscribers, you deserve you own show on one of the big channels. But then again you would lose your independant approach that way, so thank you for your work.
So cool thx so much for all your hard work you put in these videos especially for us disabled people who don’t have the ability or means to go anywhere. Much appreciated Blessings to you and yours!
Cool seeing you Peter in some of my old stomping grounds in Santa Monica! I've been out for 43 years now and 9th street and Arizona is round about my area. Walking distance to the Pier. I remember that storm that hacked off the last 300ft of the pier that had the boat launch ramp on it. Being on the old pier listening to the piles creeking and moaning as each relentless wave came meandering through. Great times! As always great show Peter! Cheers, Michael
I am younger than Walter but the way he described playing as a kid really resonated with me - hearing him talk about playing "war" on dirt mounds, digging tunnels etc. If kids were to say that they are playing "war" now the parents would likely be scrutinized for poor parenting skills.
@@garyroberts2563 before then it was just after ww1. Before that it was the civil war., etc. It's natural for us to struggle and have conflict. Not necessarily kinetically but we do need a challenge.
I am 23 and I had that exact same childhood except it was in north Africa. We played war by throwing rocks at each other, built shacks, biked, played with fire... Must've heard that phrase "[name] does your mama know you're here? She's looking for you" dozens of times. Nice to see the whole world experiencing the same childhood
Also there was many movies and shows that were westerns years ago. Even the show Lassie that many children watched. Today the TV shows for children are Big Bird and indoctrination nothing to encourage creativity.
It is especially beautiful in the spring after a rainy winter. Full of flowers and green and wonderful weather. The best time I think at least for SoCal is early spring.
It's stunning when watching very select clips from the safety of the internet. Come check us out in real life and you'll quickly find out the difference without makeup.
I love Walter. I love his wife . And I LOVE their land and beautiful home. This area reminds me so much of Golden, Colorado (50 years ago.) It was 20 minutes west of downtown Denver; and it was an entirely different world. We spent every Sunday there with my aunts, uncles and cousins when I was growing up.
I know you were already in Venice but shot out to Phoenix House recovery center. That place saved my life. Ten years on heroin and all it took was my willingness and 3 months of recovery on the boardwalk. Thank you Paul Jones @ Phoenix House
Love this. Absolutely stunning views looking at the split in the Valley with the setting sun. Both sides of the hills were lush green, stark contrast compared to the dark burnt Canyon. I use to love travelling the backroads of Northern Ca., from Fairfield to Napa.
Great interview Peter. Walt is one humble guy with a great sense of SA (Situational Awareness). I bet he was a hoot to be around during his years of service! Absolutely beautiful property they've built over the years.
Interesting Gentleman with so many stories to tell I think , beautiful spot to live but as he said you have to know what your doing . As always interesting and entertaining video . Just on a side note my dad was a firefighter here in Wales UK this Gentleman reminded so of my dad , my dad had so many stories about fires he went out to 35 years a firefighter he loved every second of it talked about it right until he died in fact it was my last chat with him .
What a great gentleman Walter is. A real dependable and modet man. He's the kind of guy our young guys need to spend time with. Your videos are a great document of the most interesting people. Thank you so much.
Wow. I was born and raised in Santa Monica. I remember riding my bike to the pier the day after the storm took out the pier. I’ve ridden that merry go round many many times. Moved away in 1990. Thanks for the ride down memory lane.
You really succeeded in bringing out the most amazing facts...millions of people crammed 10 minutes from all that wild space!!! Walter's stories!!! Thanks!
I worked up this road on Houston Rd. You passed right by it. The sunsets are spectacular up there. My old boss, now a good friend of mine would happily let you come up to his property if you're ever up there again. Has fire stories of his own.
There is something about seeing nature that immediately makes you feel alive. Kinda crazy that we build these huge cities that makes us feel like we're in a prison.
I’m new to your channel/videos. I love how you get into the different cultures of the people you are interacting with. From Walter in the hills to the Florida atvers riding in there side by sides! Looking forward to your next video.
I'm fairly new so i don't know if you have a video on the subject or not. The hole time I was watching him talk about the wildfires It reminded me of the camp fire in my hometown of Paradise California. 80% of the town was lost 10's of thousands of people lost their homes mostly lower middle class. I'm sure a lot of people remember this fire but I think this would be a great video concept for this channel.
I grew up in the Valley in the late 50s to mid-60s and used to take the Decker Canyon Rd over to the ocean where I hit PCH and turned to go right to Zuma Beach or left down to the Malibu area. Many of the rides were on my 305 Honda Super Hawk. I was 17. That bike could haul! I used to hike all over that area, too. Those were the days! Of course, few to none of the homes you are referencing were around back then. Thanks for the recollection of many good memories. I'm now 80 and live just south of Reno. You know that area too. Keep on truckin'. 🙂
I just discovered your channel and I haven't been able to stop watching! I've lived in Los Angeles since 1966 most of the time and I learned new things. I love what you are doing.
😇💜 Thank YOU Peter for sharing this family's BEAUTIFUL home and property with us, and the fire that happened 4 years ago, as well as the many changes that have happened over the years. I lived in Huntington Beach CA for years and when I was in my early 30s My Hubby and I moved to Riverside CA with our two kids. Huntington Beach CA started to grow and change especially the downtown area and the Huntington Beach pier it just did NOT have the same old feeling to it anymore.
Thanks for watching Everyone!
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I wonder when the trash, filth, drug infestation, and homeless will take that over.
I go there all the time....the homeless is so much worse over the last 15 or so years. he is ignorant about it. .....way more drug use....and way more invisible homeless that dont use drugs and live in their cars or vans. Democrats live in denial. period
lol... youtube hid my comment talking about mainstream media and their lack of culture and effort like Peter puts in.
TH-cam hid that 🤷♂ for being true and dictionary words also.... wow. Says a lot about who is making the bias in Ai here lately.
The fact this is the only emoji.... with a positive chart, says it all. 💹
Peter, have you taken any inspiration from Huell Howser??
Crazy watching this video now a year later while LA is burning again. Hope they're all safe 🙏🙏🙏
I'm from Chicago, been living in LA for 3 years now, and I still think I see it like an outsider. Thank you for this.
I would like to go around LA with Walter! He sounds and acts like that cool uncle or family friend that just knows shit and stuff, The coolest guy ever!
It's just a show, dude. Repent to Satan.
@@dj_onslaught very likely exactly that as the CCP normalized back home
What a lovely couple. And Walter is really modest about his bravery in that fire situation.
coming back to this video after losing my home in the palisades fire hits different
Feeling sorry for all people who lost their home for the Wildfire in L.A Take Care! From Sweden
Is this video showing all what’s gone now?
Appreciate Walter sharing a lot history that many don't know, may have forgotten, or not here to share. It great to hear it from someone who knows it personally. Thank you Peter for great stories and bringing to us the stories that aren't found anywhere else.
This one could easily been 1h longer, it felt their story has so more to tell. Great vid Peter as always.
I think he has the longer versions/uncut on whatever subscription service he uses for his fans.
*always*
Agree 👍
I feel like i can watch an entire Movie out of this story. I am an ex-firefighter myself. I can feel the intense dramatic scenes that can played out, the many stories of animals lost, the stories of the rats.
omg, you imagine being able to put that in a motion picture.
=) this story should be told. so cool
What an incredible video. Walter is truly a gem. Thank you so much for sharing him and his beautiful storytelling with us - people like him are treasures!
My neighbor Mr D would be amazing doing something like this where I am in New York. He’s in his 80s, old an military vet, LOVES talking about the old days and what the neighbor looked like. Recently he wrote up a 2 page history of our street and put it in everyone’s mailboxes. He lets my two younger kids run on his property picking wild mushrooms and loves educating them on different ones and different wild flowers and the birds.
Sounds like a great guy! I’d watch if Peter did a video with him for sure
Do it Peter !
Bring him out... BUCKET LIST..YET JUST A WISH🎉🎉🎉
Awww....I love this, my great aunt used to write stories about our area during the depression era here in the North Carolina town where I'm from and still live I loved her documentation.
I'm from a textile area of NC, that's similar to coal in Appalachia or any other town of working class people that built their towns around one industry.
Time to get some coffee and watch another great video, Peter never disappoints.
Indeed.
Thanks again, Peter man 🤙
Doing exactly that ☕️. Cheers
heh i do the exact same, i had dinner while watching this time tho.
LOVED this. Really liked his stories about what it used to be in SMonica and Malibu - and wow - what a story about the fires. Well done, Peter
My in-laws immigrate from Scotland in '58 to an apartment at 11th & Wilshire in Santa Monica for $120/mo. I checked that same apartment in 2018 and it was $4,200/mo. Being retrospective gives us great context for understanding and often times clarifies misunderstanding about the past and revisionist history that seeps into our culture. Thanks for sharing his story.
4200? Wow I wonder how some can survive these days 😢
@@mikeb837 my family and I currently finding new place to rent but cheapest one to rent a 3 bed house is $2,600 but we need housing and some of the cheap ones doesn’t do housing the highest is $3,800. I’m planning moving to Arizona because my cousin renting two houses for $1,800.
@vce.john1734 I'm in Southern Oregon. It's hard here too. I've also thought about AZ. I wish you luck!
I have a buddy who is still rent controlled since his dad bought the apartment in the 60s. Dude pays like 650 for rent! 😂
I live in the Sunset Park in Santa Monica. A friend of mine lives in the same neighborhood ,in a building since 1980 a one bedroom rent control. He pays $600 a month. The rest of the tenants who are not under rent control pay between $3800 and $ 5800.forfor one or two bedroom. Most work in high tech and drive MZ and Audi. About six years ago when the building was bought, they made an offer to the tenants for $80,000 apiece to move out and most took the money but another friend of mine that lived in the same building refused and then they offered him 200 K
he moved 😂
Walter is embodiment of old California that made it cool and calm place to move to. Wish future CA can learn from him
Walter is very Rare indeed. Most "Old" Californians have died or moved out of state. What remains is why I will not visit ever again. I miss the beauty but not the lifestyle or its government.
Never thought me and my dogs would be on here. 1:30 that's me! Thanks Peter haha
$325,000 in the late 80's was still quite expensive. I remember how big a deal it was to buy a quarter million dollar house in Princeton NJ, one of the most expensive NJ neighborhoods. And Santa Monica was a third more! That being said, I just came back from a 5 day visit to LA, and I can now see why someone would withstand the high cost of living, the traffic, and the restrictions. Its absolutely beautiful and offers everything from NYC style life in downtown to Jersey Shore vibes without the douchebags in Huntington and Santa Monica, to masses of Suburbia and good hiking, skiing, and surfing all within a few hours of each other.
I love how Walter describes everything. Bet he missed being a fireman.
Love this episode. Growing up in Camarillo (Ventura County) we'd spend lots of time in that area. Hearing Walter tell his story, brought me back to my childhood. Thanks Peter for this video.
What is that exact area?
@@sonnyanaya1877west of Los Angeles County, Thousand Oaks to Ventura
The communities through Topanga Canyon are as eccentric as I’ve ever seen. L.A. mountain communities are both beautiful and rugged as all hell. It takes a special person to live there knowing that one spark could destroy everything in just a few minutes.
I grew up in the beach towns in the South Bay of Los Angeles: Torrance, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes… born in 1956, coming up on 67 years of age, the beach towns were like small villages where everyone knew each other, treated all like neighbors and friends
I ran amock in Hermosa all through High school and after for a couple years
HE TOLD THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH about the homeless situation. I to am a native and there has been homeless that flocked to California since the 70's.....IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM
I grew up in the bay area. Family moved here in 1964 when I was 2. Homeless for sure were in san francisco and oakland since the early 70's as well as drug addiction and associated crime. It's not new. It seems worse because the population has doubled. Drugs are worse. Still plenty of beauty here though.
But the homeless population is worse than it's ever been. And it's created by the left leaning politicians who rule the state .Until residents of California wake up and run them out of office, California's problems will continue .The mass exodus of middle class residents to other states will only get worse in the near future as California is toying with compensation of millions of dollars to descendants of slaves .Most problems in California are man made ( politician made) , high taxes, water problem, high crime, homelessness , high real estate , wild fires etc.
I remember my grandfather told me that there was homeless in the 50s also. He was fed up and left to Texas in the 70s and realized that Dallas has homeless too. Guess the homeless problem is a US problem for a very long time.
It's not a completely new problem but no way is the homeless situation today comparable to even 5 years ago. That's like comparing Signal Hill to Mt. Shasta.
@@truthseeker6377 That is a lie. I live in LA and the problem hasn't changed in the last 40 years I've been alive. The only thing that i have seen is that they have migrated from the lower income parts to better areas. This is very similar to what is happening in Texas. Everytime I visit family there it just reminds me of LA.
Oh my goodness, Peter, that was wonderful! Those hardy folks who live in the Santa Monica Mountains like the Shirks are my heroes. I've known some of them, and always wonder at their courage. A friend told me that if your home is surrounded by fire, get up there on the roof so the firefighters can see you and they will make a huge effort to save your place.
Loved this. In the late 1950's, my family built a house on Trancas Beach, down on the coast from this video. Our neighbors were Kathryn Hepburn and Frank Capra. My dad commuted to Santa Monica in his Porsche Speedster and worked at McDonnell Douglas. Idyllic life, middle class. I moved to Alaska 40 years ago and never looked back.✌️
Every place was better in the late 50's!
What is life like in Alaska?
@@solvingpolitics3172 well, it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. It's a great place to be tested, and discover your mettle. Majestic, beautiful, and dangerous. A good place to hone your problem solving skills. And learn humility.
@@edwardlagrossa1246 For whom?
Porsches and building homes on the beach are a symptom of middle class life?
Gotta check the math on that that.
I used to love driving up in Malibu.. going through Topanga Canyon and Malibu Canyon Rd such a great ride to chill and listen to music in your car ❤
Used to love riding up to the Rock Store
I lived in the general area when most of the coast roads were 2 lanes and you just pulled off partly in the sand and you were on the beach. When they started paving paradise and putting in parking lots I cried.
This video was absolutely amazing! So interesting to watch and listen from a fireman’s perspective. I’ve only visited California a few times on business, but I’m amazed at how beautiful it is and how resilient Californians are. I’ve seen charred and blackened hillsides and I can’t imagine what these people go through during the fires. Again, great video Peter! 👍🏼
I live on the east coast. The canyons, where the firefighter lives, are fantastic. The light, the scenery, the hills are magic...when I am in LA I always take a day to hangout there...and it is always the most fun of the trip!
*Walter=Bruce Willis in Diehard.*
That is the desert part, a lot of it is mountains, rivers and timber, but most media never shows it.
Such a treat having Peters channel three past 4/5 years.
Real insight to different communities in America & surrounds.
Greetings from England 🏴
Bruvh, 10x better than corporate reporters. Keep on keeping on!
I moved to Santa Monica in 2014 with my wife and 4lbs. Yorkie. I’ve worked for LA County Fire for 20 years and before that, I did 14 years with the LA County Sheriff. I’m currently stationed at the Marina Del Rey fire station so I can ride my bicycle to work. I’ll be retiring in a couple of years. Like Walter, I’ve seen so much in the last 34 years of service to the county. I absolutely love living in Santa Monica. It took my wife and I 20 years of marriage before we saved up enough money to finally buy a small condo on Ocean Avenue. We moved from Valencia which is about 35 minutes north in the Santa Clarita Valley. We are both southern Californian natives. It’s so sad to see what Los Angeles is becoming, but my entire family is here so I can’t leave nor do I really want to. To those who aren’t blessed to live on the California coast, I can’t describe in words how beautiful it is. And the weather is absolutely perfect. There were days when it was 104 degrees in Valencia, we would travel to Santa monica and it would be 68. The people who live in this city are so wonderful, we literally make friends on a daily basis by just walking our dog in the parks. I pray that the law makers of this region open their eyes and start taking the power away from the abusers of our system and put it back into the hard working tax payers. Thanks for all the great content Peter. I loved the piece you did on East LA. I worked there for 17 years between fire station 3 and ELA sheriffs on 3rd street.
Would you recommend visiting Santa Monica as tourist?
Well said and amen!
Ha! All the firemen live in Santa Clarita, just as all the cops live in Simi Valley.
@@DooDickyI would
Yeah rite I don't know u
Peter, I enjoy your videos in a different way than i enjoy others & I've often wondered why that it is. I just realized it's because of your unique style of interviewing people. It feels very intimate and non biased and we really don't get much of that in the media we consume. It feels raw & honest and it's truly a breath of fresh air. For these reasons, i will be checking into your Patreon so i can be a tiny part of this wonderful movement you are on. Thank you for what you are doing. Kim from Arkansas
Thanks Kim!
Agreed. Peter is not trying to push an agenda. He lets people speak openly and whatever comes out, then that is what you get. Rather refreshing. Very rare these days.
Fantastic video, and with such an incredible guy. Walter is the kind of guy the world needs more of. Thanks for sharing!
People who haven't lived in LA also don't realize how amazing Griffith Park is. I've been hiking it for 8 years and still find little bits of new trail. Mountain lions, coyotes, rattlesnakes, all right in the middle of the city. I've yet to come across a remotely comparable park in the middle of a US city. Many tourists just go up to the observatory by car or shuttle but it's a trail runner, hiker or dog walker's dream. It's "normal" to me now but I was so in love with Griffith Park the first 2-3 years I lived near it.
4 years ago I was driving through the area after midnight and the coyote/mountain lions were everywhere. Blocking drivers and running through people's yards. Never seen anything like it 😂😂
I think it's the largest wildlife park in the country -- wonderful place!
There’s a lot of wilderness areas around Los Angeles and we have tons of equestrian areas and cycling. It’s not all city.
I won't argue I just wanna add Yosemite is the most beautiful park but I know what you mean and not arguing at all
There would be a lot more parks like it if there were more cities with equally cancerous sprawl
Thanks for sharing. I lived in Southern California for about a dozen years (the last four in North Hollywood, if you ever get a chance to take the guided tours originating at the library in NoHo do it) and despite all of the problems with LA, I do miss it. The city is full of interesting stories, people and places.
Shoutout to Walter for his service to the community ❤🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒 Thxs Peter
Thanks to you of course, and Walt and his wife for sharing themselves so beautifully!
Peter, I have been watching your videos for quite some time. In California, we had Huell Howser who was well-loved and he hosted and produced a show sharing unique places in California. Your videos are of that quality. I saw that the Border Patrol had put your video on their social media apps. Thanks for all that you do and I looked forward to more interesting and unknown locations.
I like the familiar local unknown places. Anyone born in the 70's can recognize the drastic changes and increased difficulties brought into the region with them.
Aaahhhmmaaaazzing!
Love this mans podcast. Just get lost in it . He makes everything so interesting. Shows the beauty of everything around us . Brings me peace.
This was wonderful. I love explores from a locals perspective and learning about their history. Great job as always!
The hills around LA are always so beautiful for a couple of weeks in early spring
Peter, you always find the best guides!!!
That area is just GORGEOUS where Walter lives, wow! So sad it’s such a fire hazard.
Pretty much all the hills around LA are.
pros and cons to anyplace you live - you just have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. Walter has
Hope this guy is ok, remembered this episode and him saying how he would stay and fight the fires 😢
When I was a baby, we lived in the Angeles Forest near Hidden Springs. Our house was an old gas station. Then there was a terrible flood with loss of life and our house washed away so we had to move back to Inglewood. It's crazy how close LA is to pines, beach, city, and desert.
I recently discovered your channel and am enjoying it. I must say this one is a favourite. I just love this couple! Their story telling is great. The rabbit story made made me laugh (something i needed lately) thank you! 👍
Watching from Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦
The scenery @ 25.56 looks a hell of a lot like Lord of the Rings 1.. very beautiful shot / view at that particular spot .... amazing view ....
That guy could easily offer some training, knows exactly what to do without panicking. Beautiful view! Thanks for bringing us along....
His demeanor is so chill. I'd love to hear more about hidden gems like the carousel apartments. Props to him for having the experience to stay diligent on fire watch. It absolutely paid off. Lastly, Unrelated, Who made that butterfly art in their dining room? Its gorgeous.
I fought fire up in that canyon when I was a young firefighter. The famous Steve Mcqueen and Alli McGraw wanted to go past our position on the road hoping to hold the line as fire progressed uphill from the pacific coast highway. He was very nice and polite and respected our warnings but was allowed to pass so they could go on up into the canyon to protect their property. They had horses and animals that needed attention. I miss the beauty of when the sea meets the mountains surrounding LA and the back coastal side of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. This was 1973 with Ventura County Fire Department Engine 46 out of Simi Valley. Thank you, Peter, for doing this story. Brings back memories.
Very cool reminiscing with Walter about the Wolsey Fire barreling down that area of Yerba Buena. I was assigned to Station 56 down the road at the time and the fire was so massive that there were even firefighters from other states who eventually showed up. Us locals were scattered across the county already by the time it got to Malibu and firefighters from the LA departments were covering the area near my station by the time it got there.
When Walter started talking about the "towns" that were built on the rooftops, I had read about them from a post I had gotten on Facebook awhile ago. Fascinating story and pretty cool to hear someone 'real' talk about it! Peter, you've got to do another video with Walter! I am a HUGE fan of your channel! Keep up the great work!! :)
Thanks Peggy!
Amazed how this landscape looks just like ours. There’s rapidly growing focus on private & community fire bunkers in SE Australia now, to provide a refuge from the fire front Walter spoke of. Fires are getting too fast & intense, behaving in ways that even experienced firefighters & researchers have never seen. He was very prepared but also lucky. If one thing had gone wrong…
I wasn't living at home at the time, but back in the 80's my parents house was very close to the San Gabriel mountains and a fire ripped through the area and burned several homes. Our house was saved because a relative had brought a pump and some oscillating sprinklers and set it all up on the roof and used the pool water. Very scary, everyone was OK.
Loved this video, thank you! i had a friend whose family owned a ranch in Malibu but never got to visit so this was a real treat. What a wonderful story teller, Walt and his wife are the down to earth native Ca people that i had grown to love years ago.
Thank you so much for this vid. I lived in Santa Monica for 45 years and moved to central NY ten years ago - leaving was a mistake, but a necessity because it became too expensive and too crowded to exist there in SM and on the Westside of LA. I miss it every day. Walter remembers what I remember about the old town, Malibu and the SM mtns. LOVED Walter and his memories! Thank you, Peter. I can't go a day without watching your vids. This one, though, was special to my heart.
Ca. was Beautiful back then!
I grew up in eagle rock and boy I remember seeing the wildfires on the mountains. Im only 23 but im glad to hear more lore about my home state.
You are great Peter.
İ've recently had a rejection on my visa application. But I don' t get disappointed. I love America and will move there for sure.
God bless America❤
Incredible story. Also, what an amazing view from Walt’s house
It's great to speak to older generations. Times certainly have changed.
This video flew by. I loved listening to him talk
Peter you don't only deserve more viewers/subscribers, you deserve you own show on one of the big channels. But then again you would lose your independant approach that way, so thank you for your work.
Thank you Peter , this part Malibu. Increadably beautiful... and the gentleman was great..
So cool thx so much for all your hard work you put in these videos especially for us disabled people who don’t have the ability or means to go anywhere. Much appreciated
Blessings to you and yours!
Cool seeing you Peter in some of my old stomping grounds in Santa Monica! I've been out for 43 years now and 9th street and Arizona is round about my area. Walking distance to the Pier. I remember that storm that hacked off the last 300ft of the pier that had the boat launch ramp on it. Being on the old pier listening to the piles creeking and moaning as each relentless wave came meandering through. Great times! As always great show Peter!
Cheers,
Michael
I am younger than Walter but the way he described playing as a kid really resonated with me - hearing him talk about playing "war" on dirt mounds, digging tunnels etc. If kids were to say that they are playing "war" now the parents would likely be scrutinized for poor parenting skills.
Ha, yes we did back then. But you've gotta remember it was just after WW2.
@@garyroberts2563 before then it was just after ww1. Before that it was the civil war., etc. It's natural for us to struggle and have conflict. Not necessarily kinetically but we do need a challenge.
I am 23 and I had that exact same childhood except it was in north Africa. We played war by throwing rocks at each other, built shacks, biked, played with fire... Must've heard that phrase "[name] does your mama know you're here? She's looking for you" dozens of times. Nice to see the whole world experiencing the same childhood
Also there was many movies and shows that were westerns years ago. Even the show Lassie that many children watched. Today the TV shows for children are Big Bird and indoctrination nothing to encourage creativity.
...and it would be "war" on a video game 😕
California is absolutely stunning. Great job as usual, Peter.
It’s a dirty place . Too many homeless and drug members
It is especially beautiful in the spring after a rainy winter. Full of flowers and green and wonderful weather. The best time I think at least for SoCal is early spring.
It's stunning when watching very select clips from the safety of the internet. Come check us out in real life and you'll quickly find out the difference without makeup.
@@aldossnow3703 They are not living in the hills.
@@truthseeker6377 Where ?
fascinating, Thank you Peter
I used to live up there for decades. Very special place.
I love Walter. I love his wife . And I LOVE their land and beautiful home. This area reminds me so much of Golden, Colorado (50 years ago.) It was 20 minutes west of downtown Denver; and it was an entirely different world. We spent every Sunday there with my aunts, uncles and cousins when I was growing up.
I know you were already in Venice but shot out to Phoenix House recovery center. That place saved my life. Ten years on heroin and all it took was my willingness and 3 months of recovery on the boardwalk. Thank you Paul Jones @ Phoenix House
This should've been longer Peter! I absolutely loved listening to so much history Walter was sharing!
Love this. Absolutely stunning views looking at the split in the Valley with the setting sun. Both sides of the hills were lush green, stark contrast compared to the dark burnt Canyon. I use to love travelling the backroads of Northern Ca., from Fairfield to Napa.
That guy's house is beautiful. It is crazy to me how much like parts of Spain that land looks like and it was the Spanish who first colonised it.
Same Mediterrean weather
Thanks my friend for sharing a wonderful video
Wow ! These people are so incredibly likeable ! How wonderful it would be to have them as neighbors or acquaintances.
Great interview Peter. Walt is one humble guy with a great sense of SA (Situational Awareness). I bet he was a hoot to be around during his years of service! Absolutely beautiful property they've built over the years.
Peter next time you’re in LA, I’d love to show you the Antelope valley. LA counties high desert.
Interesting Gentleman with so many stories to tell I think , beautiful spot to live but as he said you have to know what your doing . As always interesting and entertaining video . Just on a side note my dad was a firefighter here in Wales UK this Gentleman reminded so of my dad , my dad had so many stories about fires he went out to 35 years a firefighter he loved every second of it talked about it right until he died in fact it was my last chat with him .
I could listen to this guy all day long.
What a great gentleman Walter is. A real dependable and modet man. He's the kind of guy our young guys need to spend time with. Your videos are a great document of the most interesting people. Thank you so much.
Walter is a super cool dude and that sunset view he has is one of a kind.
Wow. I was born and raised in Santa Monica. I remember riding my bike to the pier the day after the storm took out the pier. I’ve ridden that merry go round many many times. Moved away in 1990. Thanks for the ride down memory lane.
Walter was so interesting and obviously knew what he was doing being a fireman! So thankful they didn’t lose their house!! Great video Peter!
Thanks for sharing this video -what kind and gracious people to share their stories and home with us.
You really succeeded in bringing out the most amazing facts...millions of people crammed 10 minutes from all that wild space!!! Walter's stories!!! Thanks!
Wow that was fun! I lived in So Cal for like 15 years in the 80s, 90s. Interesting to see what it's like now
Mate, what you do is phenomenal. Absolutely, love all your episodes. I have learned so much by watching your episodes. Keep them coming Bro!
I worked up this road on Houston Rd. You passed right by it. The sunsets are spectacular up there. My old boss, now a good friend of mine would happily let you come up to his property if you're ever up there again. Has fire stories of his own.
There is something about seeing nature that immediately makes you feel alive.
Kinda crazy that we build these huge cities that makes us feel like we're in a prison.
That was one of the best videos yet. That was such an insane story from him
Walter is a cool guy. Thank you for your service and I'm glad he's living the dream now. He deserves it!
Walter and I basically had the same childhoods but in different parts of California. Great memories 😊
I watched this episode when it originally aired. I was wondering how many people would be coming back to watch this now. Fkn crazy
I’m new to your channel/videos. I love how you get into the different cultures of the people you are interacting with. From Walter in the hills to the Florida atvers riding in there side by sides! Looking forward to your next video.
I enjoyed this so much because I'm about the age of Walter and I lived in LA. Everything he was talking about took me back. It was great!😊
I'm fairly new so i don't know if you have a video on the subject or not. The hole time I was watching him talk about the wildfires It reminded me of the camp fire in my hometown of Paradise California. 80% of the town was lost 10's of thousands of people lost their homes mostly lower middle class. I'm sure a lot of people remember this fire but I think this would be a great video concept for this channel.
I grew up in the Valley in the late 50s to mid-60s and used to take the Decker Canyon Rd over to the ocean where I hit PCH and turned to go right to Zuma Beach or left down to the Malibu area. Many of the rides were on my 305 Honda Super Hawk. I was 17. That bike could haul! I used to hike all over that area, too. Those were the days! Of course, few to none of the homes you are referencing were around back then. Thanks for the recollection of many good memories. I'm now 80 and live just south of Reno. You know that area too. Keep on truckin'. 🙂
I'm watching this one day after another fire broke out in Malibu, the Franklin Fire. 😮
I just discovered your channel and I haven't been able to stop watching! I've lived in Los Angeles since 1966 most of the time and I learned new things. I love what you are doing.
😇💜 Thank YOU Peter for sharing this family's BEAUTIFUL home and property with us, and the fire that happened 4 years ago, as well as the many changes that have happened over the years. I lived in Huntington Beach CA for years and when I was in my early 30s My Hubby and I moved to Riverside CA with our two kids. Huntington Beach CA started to grow and change especially the downtown area and the Huntington Beach pier it just did NOT have the same old feeling to it anymore.