As happens often in this town (and, I’m sure, across the nation), public or private institutions find themselves in financial distress, and whether it’s a question of immediate shortcoming and need, or the actual danger of closure, there is a sudden and desperate need for cash. 

At moments like this, when schools are unable to get new textbooks, or infrastructure is in dire need of repair, or State Parks are closing, I admit to a natural inclination to mentally seek out the deep pockets of our local moguls and billionaires to fix the problem.

Well, Eli Broad could write a check here, I muse, or Ron Burkle, or Stephen Bing, maybe Spielberg or Geffen, or any one of the quieter hundreds of mega-wealthy individuals living in Los Angeles who should care about the city and whose philanthropy would benefit so many by a timely...