Three brokers, three price drops, three years: 545 Indian Field Road is back again

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After its listing expired last March, 545 Indian Field Road, Mead Point, the property took a breather and returned today at $42,995,000, a slight drop from its previous price of $45 million. It started off at $57,995,000 in August 2023, but at this price range, these things take time.

While I’m sure the present owner, a financial guy, has many accomplishments to his credit, the man I’m intrigued by is Ole Skaarup, the late owner of the 1928 house that was replaced by this one.

Ole skaarup

I believe I wrote about Mr. Skaarup when his house was first listed in 2012, but this tribute is worth repeating:

Industry Icon Ole Skaarup dies at 94 extracted from Marine/Log and other sources
Industry icon Ole Skaarup died June 15 at 94.

Mr. Skaarup established Skaarup Shipping Corporation in 1951, following several years of commercial shipping employment in New York. In 1954, he conceived, designed and contracted for the construction of the first ocean-going bulk carrier, which became the prototype for today's bulkers. Later, he designed the gravity-type self-unloading bulk carrier. [see this blog for Melvin H. Baker, Georgia S and June 4, 2010]
Born and educated in Denmark, he served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946 as an officer in the Transportation Corps where he gained extensive experience in ocean transportation. His move to Greenwich, Connecticut, in the 1970's was the seed that was to grow into the Connecticut maritime cluster. He was a pillar of the Connecticut Maritime Association, which published this tribute:


Ole Skaarup, Chairman of Skaarup Shipping in Greenwich Connecticut, was an industry icon. In business, politics and entertaining, Mr. Skaarup was frequently larger than life, always original, and deeply patriotic.
It was Mr. Skaarup's move from New York City in the early 1970s that gave birth to the now enormous Connecticut Maritime cluster. Mr. Skaarup chose Connecticut for its proximity to New York but, more importantly, for its schools and charm as he and his wife Gerda Emilie raised their three girls.
But that is only a small part of his legacy, which included service in the U.S. Army, where he was instrumental in loading the ships bound for France during the invasion, a task he often referred to as his most fulfilling achievement. He concluded his military service as a Major. After the war, he designed and built what many call the first modern dry bulk carrier with the Wallenberg family as partner.


He built Skaarup Shipping on a model he held true in his heart and mind, on the principles of delivering transportation service to the customer, to the shipper. His best deals were long term charters where ships were built to serve specific trades and commodities and then reliably delivered for decades. He took enormous care of his ships and their crews. Once he invited former Congresswoman Helen Bentley, an outspoken critic of open registry shipping aboard his Liberian Flag Melvin Baker, then a 30-year-old vessel, which was finally scrapped at age 53, after moving over 38 million tons of cargo in her lifetime. He gave Congresswoman Bentley white gloves as he toured her through the spotless engine room. They became mutual admirers even if neither changed the other's thinking.


But he could also be an astute market timer, and was a trusted business colleague to numerous banks, expending and contracting his fleet of ships as markets moved.
His passion for solving charterer challenges helped fuel his equally strong passion for designing ships and cargo systems. His self-unloaders were only one example. Following the fall of the former Soviet Empire, when the peace dividend turned towards revitalizing U.S. shipyards, he combined his design concepts with another passion, begging and preaching and lobbying Washington to take U.S. shipping and shipbuilding seriously. He believed strongly that a nation should have a vital shipping industry and that U.S. yards could compete on an international stage.


He would visit Congressmen whenever he was in Washington and testified before presidential commissions. His was frequently a lone voice of reason telling Washington that shipping is important. But Mr. Skaarup never tired of the fight and, at one point, had both the former Director of the US Shipbuilding Council, John Stocker. and former Federal Maritime Commissioner and articulate Washington insider, Rob Quartel, on his staff and team.
For many in the shipping community, Mr Skaarup will be remembered for his enormous talent at public speaking, music and joke telling -- a powerful skill he would use to cheer large or small crowds. He would commandeer a piano at a small taverna on Hydra and sing ribald songs with a crowd standing around the piano. Or he would play a recital at his home in Greenwich for a fortunate few, his fingers moving with his love of music across the keys.


And then, of course, there were his tour de forces at the CMA annual Gala dinners, where he would hold a crowd of nearly 1,000 in rapt, frequently hysterical, attention as he poked fun at his dear friends from the maritime community. He was the CMA's first Commodore, a role he took on in his generous way to assist the fledgling community's growth. He always demanded the Association do more, and would threaten not to attend the annual conference and Gala Commodore dinner. But then he would make a grand entrance, French horn in tow, or dressed as an Admiral, or ready to be jump started by Richard duMoulin following what Ole always called D1, referring to the time at an ABS meeting during which he did, in fact die, a first time, only to be resuscitated.
There appears to be no second resuscitation and so we are all left with a terrible hole where a man for whom life was truly rich and special once spurred us on to be better than we might otherwise have been..

Our President warned them, but would they listen? (Updated)

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Wild video captures elderly driver Jerry Ross, 72, crashing into group of cyclists on Georgia road

An elderly motorist is accused of driving through a group of bicyclists in Georgia — knocking one over and fracturing his spine — before speeding off in a hit-and-run that was caught on camera.

Jerry Wayne Ross, 72, flashed a smile in his booking photo as he faces charges for the alleged hit-and-run with his Honda Pilot, all caught on video, on April 23 in Cherokee County, Ga., according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

The North Georgia Cycling Association was on its weekly Thursday night ride when the older driver was accused of driving up on the group in a suspected road-rage incident.

Leaving aside the wet behind the ears reporter’s description of a 72-year-old as “elderly”, these road-hoggers were put on notice back in 2023 that their bad behavior would no longer be tolerated once our illegally deposed king was returned to the White House. When can we expect this hero to receive his pardon?

Trump Vows That If Elected He Will Legalize Running Over Bicyclists

U.S. — Trump gained another 12 points in the polls today after he announced that his first act as President would be to legalize hitting bicyclists with your car.

"Yes, that's right, folks, when I take my rightful place as America's favorite President once again, everyone will be allowed to run over those bad, terrible people who wear tight shorts and ride in the middle of the road when you're trying to pass by in your limousine," said Trump in a recent speech. "The roads were made for big, beautiful automobiles and gorgeous, gorgeous, American-made cars, not for losers who ride bicycles like they're better than me. I say run 'em over!"

Sources say the crowd cheered wildly in approval of the campaign promise.

Critics were quick to say this was just one of many warning signs suggesting that Trump will be a fascist dictator. "Our worst fears have been realized," said CNN's Jake Tapper. "Bicyclists like me are the highest and most noble of God's creatures, and Trump wants to murder us all. He must be stopped!"

UPDATE:

In the video posted below, the leader of the bicycle complains that the driver was behind them, blowing his horn, “for at least two minutes”. The speed limit in the road, as seen in the video, is 45 MPH, so that’s a long time and a lot of distance for these tighty-witey pants-wearing goons to clog the roadway and refuse to open the lane. Some might argue that the death penalty is disproportionate to this sort of rudeness, but a gentle tap with the bumper of an SUV doesn’t seem out of place, no?

148 Bonnie Meadow Road sells again, this time for $16.5 million

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MTM productions presents …. a revised history

When Rob and Laura Petrie purchased 148 Bonnie Meadow Road for $10.250 million back in the day, Laura immediately set about transforming it, expanding and renovating the rooms with mad abandon. Sadly, even before the work was finished, Rob discovered his inner, feminine side, and ran off with his male secretary, leaving Laura to raise their four children alone in the huge house to fend for themselves. Tragic..

But they persevered. Laura found work as a television actress, and the children, after some rough spells of misbehavior, were all finally released from the assorted penitentiaries they’d been held in around the country and became social influencers, reaping millions.

All things must come to an end, as it did for Laurie Petrie, who died in 2017, leaving her executors to deal with the house on Bonnie Meadow. It was eventually put on the market in 2023 at $21.9 million, and finally sold for $16.9 million in March 2025. That purchaser, apparently disturbed by hearing repeated cries of “Honey, I’m home!” coming from the basement late at night, promptly moved out and put it back on the market last August, priced at $16.750 million. He didn’t get what he asked for, but the house did sell for $16.5 million this morning, thus closing the latest episode in this continuing saga.

You can run, but you can't hide

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David Strom on the Democrats next great move:

The billionaire tax is not on income but on assets, especially on unrealized capital gains. That is to say, notional money that could evaporate if a big bet on a company goes bad. He knows it is a horrific idea, just as the $25/hour national minimum wage is, but he also knows that the mood of the Democratic Party is radical socialism and practically revolutionary, so "Eat the Rich" is a good pitch to the base. 

And Jonathan Turley, on the same topic:

Eat the Rich: Sanders and Khanna Introduce Federal Billionaires Tax

“Enough is enough.” With those words, Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt) launched a push to impose a 5% annual wealth tax on America’s billionaires. With Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Cal.), the legislation, “Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act,” echoes the growing “eat-the-rich” mantra on the left — seeking to replicate a disastrous push in California that has led to an exodus from that state and an estimated loss of $2 trillion in taxable assets.

It is also flagrantly unconstitutional.

Under the plan, Congress would target 938 billionaires to tap them for $4.4 trillion. That money would then be redistributed as a $3,000 direct payment to every man, woman, and child in a household making $150,000 or less – $12,000 for a family of four.

The timing of the move is telling. Not only is it calculated before the midterm elections, in which the Democrats hope to retake power, but it follows the push by California Democrats and unions to impose a similar wealth tax in that state.

Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has supported the state law, which includes a ruinous provision for startup entrepreneurs. The law would not only be retroactive to try to trap wealthy taxpayers who have fled the state, but also base wealth calculations on the voting shares of corporate executives. Often, with start-ups, entrepreneurs hold greater voting shares than actual ownership. However, just in case they need more incentive to leave the state, they will be taxed as if their voting shares represented actual wealth.

The practical problem is that the wealthy, like their wealth, are mobile. As a result, many are fleeing California. So now Khanna is joining with the nation’s leading Democratic Socialists to ensure there is nowhere to hide in the United States.  For billionaires in California, they could be double-tapped for ten percent of their wealth.

It has long been the dream of the far left. Years ago, Sen. Elizabeth Warren delighted Democratic voters in her run for the presidency by telling the rich she was coming after “your Rembrandts, your stock portfolio, your diamonds and your yachts.” In one debate, she dramatically rubbed her hands together after saying she would take some of the wealth of fellow candidate John Delaney, a self-made millionaire.

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There is little reason to believe that a wealth tax targeting billionaires will not, if upheld, be later extended to lower tax brackets, starting with multimillionaires. That is the signature of economic factionalism, which feeds an insatiable appetite for greater wealth seizure.

The Sanders-Khanna plan is notable in its express commitment to direct wealth redistribution. It also explains why the left has made the packing of the Supreme Court a priority. As Harvard professor Michael Klarman explained years ago, the radical agenda to change the system to guarantee Republicans “will never win another election” requires control of the Supreme Court to uphold such measures.

The problem is that the Constitution bars the implementation of such a federal wealth tax. When the 16th Amendment was ratified, it allowed for federal income taxes, and only income taxes: “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

The effort to expand federal taxation beyond income taxes will require either a constitutional amendment or an enabling, packed Court.

Nevertheless, these politicians will continue to dangle wealth distribution before voters. They will demonize figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk for their wealth while ignoring that these same figures are wealth and job creators, driving our economic growth. Instead, Sanders declared that “Billionaires cannot have it all.”

The irony of Rep. Khanna (who has been floating a run for President in 2028) turning on his own constituents in Silicon Valley underscores the appeal of wealth-redistribution campaigns. He is turning the very heart of his state’s economic growth as state deficits and out-of-state migration increase.

Related, and exactly the “mystery” I wonder at: how stupid are these people, who think that they’re not on the dinner menu?

Stephen Kruiser:

Hollywood Elites: Free Market Capitalism for Me, Socialism for Thee

Give me all of mine, but you can't have any of yours. 

Wealthy Americans who can afford to be socialism fetishists are a huge contributing factor to the rise of the progressive left and the decline of America it wants to bring about. It wasn't the poor and downtrodden who propelled Zohran "Commie" Mamdani into office in New York City. Generational-wealth Upper Eastsiders who have no appreciation for the real value of money voted for him, too. 

Some of the most full-throated Hollywood supporters of the Democrats are actors who became stars at a young age. They will all regale interviewers with stories about their "struggle years" and the regular jobs that they had to work. What they call struggle, most Americans call a typical workday. The reality is that most of them became millionaires in their twenties. Some had to wait until — Quelle horreur! — their early thirties before becoming what most of the population would consider rich. 

Socialist/Communist societies all have wealthy elites, of course. Maybe the Hollywood types are planning on being among them. However, if they'd read any history books not written by Howard Zinn, they'd know that it is the artists, writers, and entertainers who are the first to get the harsh gulag treatment. 

That's why there is still no thriving stand-up comedy scene in China. 

Lawyers have come a long way from John Adams, and that's not a compliment

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We have the product liability/class action mills, the political and “environmental” pestilence, but the ADA shysters are at the bottom of the dung heap.

There’s a number of these shysters in every large city, recruiting shills, filing thousands of lawsuits against small businesses for specious claims of ADA laws, extorting business owners every bit as efficiently as Mafia goons’ protection rackets, and pocketing huge sums for themselves and their paid crew of litigants.

LA Times: Seven People Filed 1,000 ADA Lawsuits in Southern California Last Year (and 9,000 in the past decade)

The LA Times published a story this week about a handful of people who've filed thousands of ADA lawsuits against local businesses in southern California over the past decade. The seven plaintiffs mention in the story filed 1,000 cases last year alone.

Anthony Bouyer has been on a suing spree around the San Fernando Valley.

On Sept. 24, the 55-year-old internet marketer confronted a counter at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot that was difficult to reach over in his wheelchair. He sued the business for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. In L.A. County, it was at least his 231st case of the year.

At the convenience store next door, he found a produce scale out of arm’s length. He sued them too.

Over the past decade, the same people have filed 9,000 lawsuits. The Times reports there is a state law in California which allows for payouts for ADA violations, which helps explain this trend. All seven of the plaintiffs mentioned in the story have been represented by the same law firm.

Manning Law, based in Orange County, has become the go-to for serial ADA plaintiffs, including Bouyer...

The firm’s owner, Joseph Manning, recently had his license suspended by the State Bar for allegedly making false statements about billable hours involving dozens of ADA lawsuits. The firm denied all wrongdoing and said its billing practice has been “modified” to the bar’s satisfaction.

Businesses who haven been targeted by this firm often decide to settle the claims as a nuisance. For instance, Zuheir Nakkoud who manages a liquor store in Sylmar, was sued after Anthony Bouyer showed up an bought a bottle of water at his shop. The letter he received asked for $14,000, apparently over how accessible his aisles were to people in wheelchairs. Nakkoud said he'd seen people in wheelchairs from a nearby dialysis center navigate his aisles without a problem but he ultimately decided to pay the $14,000 because fighting it in court would cost him even more money. That particular lawsuit was just one of three that Bouyer filed that day.

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Last year a Republican state senator put forward a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping this practice, or at least slowing it down, by giving businesses time to correct minor violations before they can be hit with penalties. But Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José) opposes the bill and it never got a hearing in the Assembly.

With few other options, some businesses decide to fight in court. When that happens, they often wind up being represented by Ara Sahelian, "a defense attorney who estimates he has litigated more than 100 cases against Manning Law." Sahellan faced off with one of these plaintiffs earlier this month.

At his home office, Sahelian, 69, who contracted polio at 6 months old and was left unable to walk, keeps thick black binders devoted to each serial plaintiff. Bouyer gets three. So does Perla Mageno, a Manning Law plaintiff who has sued hundreds of businesses under the ADA over websites she claims don’t work with her screen-reading software...

[One plaintiff, 100+ -times litigant Perla Mageno] sued because a picture on the website of a Tustin burger shop had not told her “this is an amazing burger” and “this is a graphic of a cheeseburger that has lettuce, tomato sauce coming out of the side.”

You can read more about the odious Miss Perla here, but the one claim described above also describes her perfectly.

Smart agent - second price cut in 17 days

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21 Amherst Road, NoPo, was reduced today to $1.699 million. Listed at $2.150 April 13, a broker open house was held and I’m guessing that the listing agent’s peers gave her their feedback (we do that; we’re a collegial bunch) because she immediately dropped it to $1.899. Still no action, so the price has been shaved again. In this market, that’s absolutely the right response — don’t wait around.