Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Matthew Meyer
What characteristics make a good criminal defense attorney?
What characteristics make a good criminal defense attorney? A good criminal defense attorney recognizes this their client’s life is about to change significantly. At a very basic level, they are constantly prepared for court and the battles their client will face moving forward. Issue-spotting is certainly another important characteristic – how are you going to fight the government unless you can find the issues to fight over? Good criminal defense attorneys are hard to come by.
Educating Nick - Palisadian Post
Nick Melvoin’s Friday was far from over when he hurried into a Brentwood coffee shop for a 4:30 p.m. chat with the Palisadian-Post. Half walking, half jogging, he made his way across the street, furiously tapping at his iPhone. He was only 10 minutes behind schedule—a genuine accomplishment that late in the day. Around half a year into his term as a school board member in the nation’s second largest district, Melvoin spends most of his days on his feet.
‘Windows and Mirrors’: Exploring Diversity at Archer School
The Archer School for Girls took a break from the traditional school day last month to invite students, faculty and staff to a daylong conference on diversity dubbed “Windows and Mirrors: Reflecting and Revealing Our Multicultural World.” The school said the project, held on Tuesday, Jan.
Teenagers, Social Media and Mental Health—We Hear Straight From the Source - Palisadian Post
The past year has produced a flurry of psychological studies and think pieces on the mental effects of social media on teenagers. Parents and psychologists alike worry that constant monitoring of sites can exacerbate the effects of anxiety and depression, enabling unhealthy comparisons, bullying and feelings of isolation. As with any relatively new psychological query, studies on the happiness of teenagers and their social media use are not decidedly conclusive.
Celia Bernstein and Westside Family Health Center’s Embattled Future - Palisadian Post
From its early days as a dentist-office-turned-women’s-clinic by 1970s feminists, Westside Family Health Center has always sought to care for the underrepresented. “We’re a resource for the community,” Director of Development Celia Bernstein told the Palisadian-Post. “We remove barriers to healthcare.” In the ’70s that meant creating a woman-centric health model that focused on the needs and agency of female patients.
The Gift of Real Estate Gimmicks
Or—How Much Stuff Can We Put Our Name On? Bust out your branded pens and pads of paper—complete with dazzling headshots and detailed contact information at the top—because the Palisadian-Post is diving into the wacky world of real estate marketing gimmicks. We’re all familiar with the standard branded fare: the aforementioned writing implements, fridge magnets and business cards galore.
Pali High Deems Xanax Abuse ‘Serious Health and Safety Concern’
After multiple troubling incidents in which “semi-conscious” students had to be transported from the nurse’s office to the hospital, Palisades Charter High School is warning that abuse of the prescription drug Xanax poses a serious threat to campus health. That’s according to Principal Dr. Pam Magee and Assistant Principal in charge of discipline Russ Howard.
Math Task Force Answers Call at Pali High
Palisades Charter High School moved to improve academic outcomes and renew a sense of trust in the school’s math department this week, holding the first meeting of a newly created Math Success Task Force. After receiving low marks from students and guardians on annual surveys and hearing from concerned parents at school board meetings, principal Dr. Pam Magee announced the task force at the January Board of Trustees meeting.
Tax Fix Incoming for Canyon Residents
City Councilmember Mike Bonin is targeting a frustrating tax glitch that charges Palisadians Santa Monica’s higher sales tax rate—and diverts the funds to our neighboring city’s coffers. In a motion introduced to City Council Jan. 26, Bonin calls on the Office of Finance to report back to council in 90 days with information on the extent of the issue citywide and a plan of action for addressing it.
Site of Puppy Playdates Future
The Palisades Dog Park Working Group and LA Recreation and Parks had narrowed a field of seven potential locations to three, and have recently determined that this area, a southern section of Temescal Canyon Park, is a suitable home for Pacific Palisades’ new off-leash dog park. The location is near the playground, close to restrooms, and will be large enough to incorporate both a small- and large-dogs park.
That's No House Cat
Home security cameras captured this impressive feline slinking through a Greentree Road backyard early in the morning on Jan. 14. The cat wandered the property before heading north. Santa Monica Mountains Park Ranger Kate Kuykendall confirmed that the kitty in question is a mountain lion, likely “P-12,” a male whose tracking collar stopped functioning a few years ago.
Dining Review: Il Piccolo Ritrovo
Pacific Palisades is a family town through and through, so it’s little wonder a cozy Italian joint in the heart of our Village makes a common refuge for the weeknight dinner crowd. That was the case on a recent Thursday evening at Il Piccolo Ritrovo, off Sunset near Palisades Charter High School. A steady stream of takeout customers, kiddos in tow, made their way in and out of the restaurant with boxed and tinned pizzas and pastas at a near constant pace.
Paying Santa Monica's Taxes?
Some Palisadians Pay a Premium – and Their Money is Leaving LA Despite living in Los Angeles, some Palisadians are getting saddled with Santa Monica’s higher tax rates—and their money is landing in our neighboring city’s coffers. That’s the reality for some residents of the confusingly named Santa Monica Canyon, many of whom share Santa Monica’s zip code despite technically residing in LA city.
Palisadian Martin Rayner's Triumphant Return to 'Freud'
Eight hundred performances and a near-death experience later, Martin Rayner still finds his role as Dr. Sigmund Freud as stimulating as ever. The veteran Palisadian actor is once again bringing the titular character to life inåproductions of Mark St. Germain’s off-Broadway hit, “Freud’s Last Session” at the Odyssey Theatre through March. Rayner was part of the original cast that launched the wordy, witty play to tremendous success in 2009.
'In One Instant' Now Free for Local Schools
Thanks to a grant by LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, most schools in the District 3 region can now host the Pacific Palisades-based In One Instant Teen Safe Driving Program on their campuses free of charge. The organization’s president, Palisadian Gail Schenbaum Lawton, co-founded the program after recognizing a lack of teen education focused on alcohol and distracted-driving related car accidents in the Palisades.
Tune In: Pacific Palisades Has a Podcast to Call Its Own
Asked to describe their on-air chemistry, hosts Brook Dougherty and Steve Cron are quick to draw parallels to “an old married couple.” As one of the latest guests on their nascent podcast, I’d agree with that assessment, though that’s not as negative a characterization as it might sound. They’re both knowledgeable, successful professionals with big personalities and sharp senses of wit.
Bugged: Bed Bugs, Landlords and You
Our fine city is consistently ranked within the top 10 U.S. metro areas for infestations, a fact that experts attribute to the city’s ever-increasing population density, as well as Angelenos’ tendency to travel in and out of town, giving foreign bugs a chance to hitch a ride on luggage or clothing and see the bright lights of Hollywood for themselves.
Archer Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion
A soggy morning couldn’t dampen the excitement at the Archer School for Girls on Jan. 8, as the school celebrated the groundbreaking of its Campus Master Plan, a $100 million project that aims to both preserve and expand the historic Sunset campus. Monday’s event featured exhibits on the school’s past and future, and addresses from Archer School leaders. “The iconic Eastern Star Home for Women became the school’s home in 1999,” Head of School Elizabeth English said.
Tiger Announces Return to Genesis Open
Tiger Woods announced last week that he plans to play in this year’s Genesis Open at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. That tournament, scheduled Feb. 12-18, and the Farmers Insurance Open at the end of January would mark Woods’ first return to action since a fourth back surgery sidelined the 14-time major winner in April of last year. It would be Woods’, whose foundation hosts the Genesis Open, first tournament at Riviera since 2006 if he participates as planned.
Pali High to Do Away with Class Rank
After months of discussion, Palisades Charter High School has officially moved to phase out annual class rankings that tell students where they placed academically among their peers. Starting with the class of 2019, Pali High will not release numbered rankings of all seniors. Instead, if they opt-in, students can request that the counseling office include a percentage ranking in their college recommendations—sharing that they placed in the top 5 or top 10 percent, for example.
Alliance for Seniors to Talk Scams and Abuse
Alliance for Seniors to Talk Scams and Abuse The Palisades Alliance for Seniors will host LAPD Officer Kristin Cho and LA City Attorney Susan Strick for an informative program on elder abuse and scams at the Palisades Branch Library’s Community Room on Monday, Jan. 8. The event will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon and is free of charge. Palisades Alliance works with the library to offer programs of particular interest to seniors, usually on the second and fourth Monday morning of every month.
Jacqueline Caster and Everychild’s Million Dollar Missions
Jacqueline Caster and the Everychild Foundation continued their crusade to help Los Angeles’ underprivileged children in 2017, granting $1 million to Loyola Law School to help train young lawyers as advocates for foster youth.
Parents Demand Action on Pali Math
Parents are once again pressuring Palisades Charter High School to improve the quality of math instruction, with a particular focus on lower-level courses for freshmen. In consecutive years, Pali’s annual survey of parents and students has revealed a more negative sentiment about the department than other academic subject areas.
Voices From the Street
On the second day of a new year, the Palisadian-Post asked people in The Village about their New Years resolutions—or, in some cases, lack thereof. Annabel Lassally I’m going to act more, rather than just talk about plans. I’m in college so my roommates and I often talk about big projects and then they never really happen. So [this year] I’m following through. Edwin Reyes I don’t really have one this year, I’m just going to keep doing what I was doing last year. Grinding [at work] and working out.
Pali High Pitches In on Fire Relief
Sophomores Sophia and Nicholas Arvin organized a collection box in the office of Palisades Charter High School to collect gently used sweatshirts and jackets for those affected by the Thomas Fire. The box was filled with donations by the end of the day, and now the Arvins have placed two more boxes in town for contributions of canned food and clothes to be taken north to fire victims in time for Christmas.
Pali High to Create Virtual Perimeter
Multiple scarring vandalism incidents have created a sense of urgency surrounding security issues at Palisades Charter High School, and the school’s governing board has approved plans this month to create a form of virtual fence around the campus. The new intrusion detection system would build on Pali High’s already extensive CCTV camera network to build a surveillance perimeter around the school.
Getty Center Celebrates 20 Years
Twenty years ago this month, the brand new Getty Center opened to visitors on a Brentwood hilltop with such a high level of anticipation that reservations were required to visit for the first few years. Since then, more than 20 million visitors from all over the world have experienced the free-to-enter Los Angeles campus, where they’ve engaged with art, exhibits and performances from across the world. Today the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades extends that experience even closer to home.
Max-Bone and General Porpoise Join Palisades Village
Rick Caruso’s highly anticipated Palisades Village project added two new names to its list of tenants this week: General Porpoise, a coffee and doughnut shop from acclaimed Seattle restaurateur Renee Erickson, and Max-Bone, a boutique shop offering clothes, beds, toys and more for the pampered Palisadian pooch. General Porpoise Palisades is a California debut for the James Beard Award-winning chef Erickson, who’s enjoyed plenty of success in her home state of Washington.
Despite Shortage, Plenty of Trees and Cheer at YMCA
A Christmas tree shortage that made pickings slim and prices higher at lots across the country this season didn’t spare Pacific Palisades, but the Palisades-Malibu YMCA’s tree lot has still managed to deliver holiday joy for all comers. The annual Y fundraiser’s largest trees—those between 10- and 15-feet tall—sold out over the first two weekends of December as usual.
Some Answers, More Questions for Sawusch Patients
There’s progress in the strange saga of a missing Palisadian ophthalmologist this month, though the developments also pose new questions about Dr. Mark Sawusch and his patients’ confidential medical information. At least three former patients have now received copies of their medical records—documents that had been unattainable for months after Sawusch swiftly retired from his Via De La Paz practice last summer.
Wildfire Impact Reverberates Through the Palisades
A spate of Southern California wildfires that have claimed homes and challenged firefighters for more than a week now never directly reached Pacific Palisades, but heavy winds and ash-filled air carried their share of consequences for the town. At press-time early this week, the Creek and Rye fires, in Sylmar and Santa Clarita respectively, were nearly 100-percent contained.
Sen. Allen Talks Environment and More in Temescal Canyon
State Sen. Ben Allen addressed a packed house at the annual meeting of the Temescal Canyon Association on Dec. 4, touching on environmental issues in the Santa Monica Mountains and beyond. Gathered in the Temescal Gateway Park dining hall on a blustery night, Allen told attendees he had fond memories of hiking in the park with his father—and not so fond memories of triggering photo-enforced tickets at one of the entry’s stop signs.
Pali High's Progressive Approach to Reproductive Health
Palisades Charter High School has taken an increasingly popular approach to reproductive health for teens: providing a discrete, on-campus option for its students to receive counseling on healthy relationships, learn about safe sex practices, obtain birth control methods and be screened for sexually transmitted diseases.
Winter Celebrations at Pali Elementary
Palisades Charter Elementary School is gearing up for a festive December, starting with its fourth- and fifth-grade students’ winter performance on Thursday, Dec. 14. Orchestra students will welcome guests with song as they enter campus that morning before the performance, which will feature holiday songs. Coffee Bean will provide coffee.
Seven Arrows Literary Festival
Seven Arrows Elementary School is inviting the community to its annual Literary Festival, which runs through Saturday, Dec. 9. The festival’s Pop-Up Book Shop will be open to the public each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a wide variety of books for all ages, from picture books to novels of all genres.
Senator Feinstein Joins Palisadian Flight Noise Battle
Senator Diane Feinstein has lent her name to a long-running effort to curb overhead aircraft noise in Pacific Palisades, sending a letter to FAA administrator Michael Huerta urging him to take “all possible steps” to address noise pollution across California.
Temescal Canyon Meets
The Temescal Canyon Association is holding their annual meeting on Monday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in the dining hall at Temescal Gateway Park. California State Senator Ben Allen will discuss issues concerning the Santa Monica Mountains and give an update on the proposed Liberty Canyon wildlife crossing. Historian Randy Young will also present “The Drama of Los Leones” and share the humorous back-story behind a rarely seen historic film of the canyon. —MATTHEW MEYER
Pali Community Forum on Hateful Speech
A vandalism incident at Palisades Charter High School reportedly caused $7,000 in damage earlier this month, but one of the school’s chief concerns amid the destruction was the effect of homophobic graffiti on the student body. In the week that followed, the school’s Gay Straight Alliance group hosted an open student forum for peers to share their feelings, concerns and suggestions.
A Palisadian Toast to Customer Service
By ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVI? | Special to the Palisadian-Post Palisadian Rick Brissen’s hard work as a courtesy clerk for Ralphs grocery store hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2013, Brissen was both surprised and honored to learn that he was selected best associate in the nation by Ralphs parent company, The Kroger Company. His title of “best customer service in the United States” was tracked by the steady wave of positive customer feedback he earns on the company’s online customer satisfaction survey.
It Takes a Village to Fix an Intersection
Calls from Pacific Palisades to improve the much-maligned intersection of PCH, Chautauqua Boulevard and West Channel Road have reached a fever pitch. Dangers at the three-way junction are myriad: West Channel’s confusing right turn lanes, the harrowing merge from Chautauqua onto the highway (and the motorists who bully their way in from the wrong lane), and confused tourists jaywalking across the highway instead of using Roosevelt Tunnel.
Everychild Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant
Everychild Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant The Everychild Foundation announced a $1 million grant to the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy at Loyola Law School this week, with a goal of stopping the “school-to-prison pipeline for ‘crossover youth,’” the name often used for foster youth who end up in the juvenile justice system. Everychild, which was founded by Palisadian Jacqueline Caster, awards the grant annually.
Kicked to the Curb?
The rollout of LA’s new citywide trash collection program, recycLA, has come with its fair share of growing pains, and Palisadians are adding their voices to a growing chorus around the city that say waste management is now more expensive and less consistent.
Jeff Lantos on the Palisades Podcast
Beloved Marquez Charter Elementary School teacher Jeff Lantos, whose award-winning musical history theater program has made him a legend in Pacific Palisades, appears on a new episode of the Palisades Podcast this week with hosts Brook Dougherty and Steve Cron. Lantos officially retired from teaching in 2016, though the Friends of Marquez booster club hired him back part-time to continue the lauded program.
The Boys Who Bake
An ever-expanding group of fifth-grade boys at the Village School are rolling up their sleeves in the kitchen to make a difference, baking delicious treats and selling their wares at stands around the Westside to help benefit those in need. They’ve dubbed themselves “Boys Who Bake,” complete with self-designed T-shirts, and they’re Pacific Palisades’ latest charitable force.
PCH Safety Concerns
At the November meeting of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, members again voiced concerns about safety for beachgoers and drivers at the intersections of Chautauqua Boulevard, West Channel Road and Entrada Drive at Pacific Coast Highway.
Hateful Graffiti Rocks Pali High Once Again
Two vandals struck Palisades Charter High School last weekend, spray-painting homophobic slurs and vulgar drawings around the campus in a roughly two-hour spree that left thousands of dollars of damage. The vandals, who entered the campus at around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov.
A Long and Winding Road
Jim Stout’s Journey from Oklahoma to the Palisades – And the Cars that Drove His Life Life moves a little slower for Jim Stout these days, at least relatively speaking. The former Palisadian lives on his family’s farm in Oklahoma, taking every opportunity to babysit for the grandkids and driving a shuttle for rail workers as a “semi-retirement” gig. Forty-some years ago, he was driving for work, too, although it was the process of driving to work that was often half the fun.
Palisadian Watchdog Group Launches FDA Legal Battle
The Palisadian Center for Responsible Science is taking the FDA to court over what it deems life-saving changes to the way clinical participants are warned about the dangers of volunteering for drug trials. Former participants and the father of a boy who died while participating in a cancer therapy trial are joining CRS in the suit, which was announced on Oct. 24 after the FDA rejected a formal petition to make the changes.
Palisadian Anti-Roundup Movement Reaches New Milestone
A campaign with roots in Pacific Palisades to end the use of the herbicide Roundup marked a new chapter this month, as LA’s Department of Recreation and Parks announced that it would no longer use the controversial spray near playgrounds and dog parks citywide.
'Gatsby' Comes to Glittering Life at Pali High
“The Great Gatsby” at Palisades Charter High School brings the glitz of prohibition-era New York to modern day Pacific Palisades through a clever blend of contemporary music and dance paired nicely with 1920s set-design, costuming and actor affectations. On opening night, “Gatsby” got off to a rousing start, as a flapper dancer ensemble introduced the play’s grand revelry with a pulsing number set to modern music.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Matthew
Contact Matthew, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack