What Oozes at La Brea Isn’t All Oil

Oil and water do not mix, as is well known.

But the two elements are sometimes found in uneasy coexistence.

One such place is the reed-lined pond in Hancock Park, home of the La Brea Tar Pits and two museums.

Recently, a little too much water oozed in, flooding a walkway and obligating maintenance workers to close off the pond bank nearest the Japanese Pavilion of the Los Angeles County Art Museum.

Given winter rains, the clay soil and the high water table in the area, occasional flooding is a fact of life at the park, which also houses a branch of the county’s Natural History Museum.

The water at times has threatened to pour into the art museum.

But officials said an emergency drainage system is in place that will prevent that.

Plans are going ahead for a major remodeling of the park that should cure the flooding for good.

Until then, we will have to wait for the sun to come out and dry up all the rain, and visitors who venture to the park will be able to peer at baby mosquito fish darting around the feet of the park benches.

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WILD TOWN: Mountain lions can now feel free to roam Sunset Boulevard.

Just as coyotes do.

As expected, the West Hollywood City Council voted Wednesday night to oppose a state Senate bill that would allow sport hunting of mountain lions.

The measure was sponsored by Councilman Steve Martin.

As “an old Boy Scout,” he said, he was worried that the legislation could end up lowering the cougar population in California.

The cougar population is already pretty low in West Hollywood, as Martin readily admits, but the question reminded him and colleague Paul Koretz of another beastly problem: coyotes.

The councilmen said they have seen the four-legged scavengers roaming Sunset Boulevard, presumably in search of food and a good time.

In fact, city officials believe coyotes may have been responsible for an unexplained series of house cat maulings a few years back.

“We decided it was either satanists or coyotes,” Koretz said.

“I don’t know if it was ever resolved to anyone’s satisfaction.”

Road runners, look out.

Beep-beep!

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NO FRILLS: Former Santa Monica Mayor James Conn was inundated with plaques at a party to celebrate the end of his ministry at the Church in Ocean Park.

State Sen. Tom Hayden said he was giving one even though he generally does not favor using taxpayer money for fancy souvenirs.

Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl said she passes plaques out so liberally that she was over budget.

She paid for Conn’s out of her own pocket.

Finally, up stepped Santa Monica Mayor Paul Rosenstein with an offering that looked pitiful by comparison.

“It’s not as big,” Rosenstein conceded.

“It’s not as beautiful. It doesn’t have a frame. But our budget is balanced.”