| Council
Expands Residential Smoking Ban
July 29, 2010 – The City Council on Tuesday strengthened
second-hand smoking protection in multi-family residential buildings with
a ban on smoking within a 25-foot radius of doors and windows. Smoking
is already not allowed in common areas, but this new restriction will
cover private balconies, patios and other areas from which smoke can travel
to other units and common areas.
County
Panel to Review de la Torre Investigation
July 29, 2010 -- The four-month police investigation of Board
of Education member and Pico Youth and Family Center executive director
Oscar de la Torre will get an independent review. Santa Monica Police
Chief Tim Jackman requested the investigation, a City press release stated.
City Manager Rod Gould selected the Los Angeles County Office of Independent
Review to do it.
A
Bollywood Night Thursday at the Santa Monica Pier
July 29, 2010 -- Never heard of Kailash Kher? You'd be in the
minority if you were one of the 1.8 billion people living in India, where
the revered singer is a household name.
EXTRA!!
Holbrook
May Run for Two-Year Seat
July 27, 2010 – Leaving his options open, incumbent Bob
Holbrook pulled papers Tuesday to run for a two-year seat on the Santa
Monica City Council. Holbrook had already pulled papers to run for a sixth
four-year term in the race for three open seats.
Airport
Commissioners Preach for a United Front Against FAA
July 27, 2010 - The FAA’s proposed flight route for certain
single-engine airplanes taking off from Santa Monica Airport (SMO) has
created a divide between Santa Monica residents and those living in surrounding
Los Angeles neighborhoods. While many in Santa Monica do not want the
recently tested route to become permanent because it takes aircraft over
homes and schools, several Los Angeles residents and leaders see it as
a benefit because they say it reduces the number of idling aircraft and
the pollution they create.
Public
Artwork Installed at Santa Monica Place Parking Structure
July 27, 2010 - Motorists entering Parking Structure 7 at the
newly-remodeled Santa Monica Place will be greeted with a glittering aggregation
of 335 mirror-polished stainless steel spheres to be installed Tuesday
night.
De
la Torre Walks the Walk
July 27, 2010 -- I read Frank Gruber's excellent article "Fools Rush
In, but Sometimes They Spend Four Months Doing It." ("WHAT
I SAY, Fools Rush In," July 26, 2010) In the nine years I have
known Mr. de la Torre through my work as a parent volunteer in the school
district and, later as a member of SEDAC, I have found him to be a man
who walks the walk.
Council
Takes up Diverse Measures
July 26, 2010 -- The Santa Monica City Council will take up measures
Tuesday to allow drop-down curtains in outdoor dining areas along Ocean
Avenue and make Santa Monica Place more welcoming when the remodeled mall
opens its doors August 6.
Santa
Monica Launches Internet Portal for Disabled
July 26, 2010 – It’s not easy for those who are disabled
to get around, even on the internet, where information is scattered in
different sites. To make it easier for the disabled to get access to important
information online, the City on Monday launched Accessible Santa Monica,
a new disability resources web portal at www.smgov.net/accessiblesm.
WHAT
I SAY --
Fools Rush in, but Sometimes they Spend four Months Doing it
July 26, 2010 --The Santa Monica Police Department's four-month
investigation into whether Oscar de la Torre, member of the School Board
and head of the City of Santa Monica-funded Pico Youth and Family Center
(PYFC), committed the crime of child endangerment, rates as the sorriest
episode of foolishness to come out of city government during the 10 years
I have been writing this column.
EXTRA!!
DA
Drops de la Torre Investigation
July 23, 2010 -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney will
not investigate whether School Board member Oscar de la Torre committed
felony child endangerment when he failed to immediately stop a fight in
an alley near Santa Monica High School.
Tenant
Protection Measures Approved for Ballot
July 23, 2010 -- As was expected based on last week’s approval
in concept, the City Council on Thursday voted to place three tenant protection
items on the Nov. 2 ballot. The vote was unanimous, with Council member
Robert Holbrook changing his view from last week.
CityTV
Nominated for Four Emmys
July 22, 2010 – CityTV Santa Monica has received four award
nominations for the 62nd Annual Los Angeles Area Emmys, including nods
for excellence in Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and Public, Municipal
and Operator Produced Cable.
Planning
Commissioners Give Input on AMC Theater Project
July 22, 2010 -- The proposed AMC movie theater project for Fourth
Street and Arizona Avenue received mostly favorable reviews at Wednesday’s
Planning Commission meeting. The issue of parking was raised since the
complex would replace a City-owned parking structure, and it has not been
determined how those 324 lost spaces would be replaced.
Take
a Musical Trip to Chile, Italy and Down Home America at the Santa Monica
Pier Thursday
July 22, 2010 -- The music of Jovanotti (aka Lorenzo Cherubini)
has been heard by millions on the soundtrack to The Sopranos, and he also
routinely fills stadiums in his native Italy and across Latin America.
On Thursday evening, music fans can catch him up close and personal at
the Twilight Dance Series Concert on the Santa Monica Pier.
Jazz
on the Lawn returns to City Hall this August.
Bring a picnic, blanket and beach chair, and enjoy the high energy
funk of Pinot on Sunday, August 1 and the Cuban and
African rhythms of Bobby Matos and his Afro-Latin Ensemble on
Sunday, August 8. Get up and move to the music then cool
off with a self-serve frozen dessert from The Big Swirl truck. Concerts
are from 5-7pm. Admission and parking are free.
For more information visit www.smgov.net/arts
or call 310-458-8350. |
July 21, 2010
School
Board Restores 3 Counselor Positions, Creates New One
July 21, 2010
No
Surprises in Santa Monica Council Race
July 21, 2010
Enjoy
Helping Local Schools
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