Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Sorted by date Results 551 - 570 of 570
How to Lose Control of “Our Land” The Yes on Measure LC Committee loudly complain that, if voters closed the airport under the terms of Measure D, nothing in that measure directly addresses the development process that would follow. This is true and it was done by intention - not by omission. Unlike Measure LC, Measure D does not attempt to skirt existing land use regulations in Santa Monica. As City Attorney Marsha Moultrie has noted on numerous occasions, the City already has in place robust processes and regulations tha...
I'm thrilled to be running for the State Senate in such an incredible district, which includes Santa Monica and other iconic neighborhoods like West Hollywood, Venice and the Beach Cities, a district that I've called home for seven years. I've spent my career as an advocate for the public interest, always with the mission of making people's lives better and giving a voice to those who aren't always heard. Now I'm running for public office – not a role I saw myself in when I f...
On November 4th, voters will head to the polls and face critical choices that impact both the future of our State and our community here in Santa Monica. Local voters will determine who will fill the shoes of long-time political titans L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman, and who will take over the scandal-ridden positions of L.A. County Assessor and Sheriff. A major water bond proposal is also on the ballot, as well as one to improve the...
Publisher's note: Ben Allen and Sandra Fluke are running a hotly contested campaign for the 26th state Senate district, which covers much of West L.A., Santa Monica, and the South Bay. Sandra Fluke is a consumer rights attorney, and Ben Allen lectures at UCLA, as well as practicing law and serving on the Santa Monica School board. We asked each candidate to explain why they should succeed State Senator Ted Lieu and represent the Westside as one of California's 36 State...
It’s that time of year again: your mailboxes are filling up with mail from candidates, causes and slates! After careful consideration, here are the Observer’s endorsements, in the order they appear in your ballot: Governor: Jerry Brown. Jerry is irascible, smart, cranky, and wily. He has shown that he has the experience, wisdom, but also the independence to lead. He has deserved your vote for reelection. Lieutenant Governor: Gavin Newsom. This is a sleeper of a race. Gavin is smart and innovative and deserves to be ree...
Dear Editor, In the Oct. 6-12 issue of the Observer there was a first page article in reference to Mayor Pam O’Connor and alleged campaign law violations. In Ms. O’Connor’s reply she states that she is a single working woman and she does not have $90,000.00 to contribute to her campaign and she also refers to other public service work in which she is involved. And she indicates that there may have been $4,000.00 worth of mistakes and over 10 years that is only $400.00 per year. First of all, no one put a gun to her head...
By now everyone knows about the drought, although some people seem to be in denial about the problem it presents. The governor has asked for a 20% reduction in use, and our City has followed suit and asked residents to reduce water use by 20%. In the meantime, new developments–some of them especially water-intensive– continue to make their way through the approval process. Even as residents try to reduce their consumption, the city’s overall consumption is well on its way to new heights. Santa Monica gets most of its water...
September 25, 2014 Dear Supporter of SMCLC, In a significant victory for residents’ First Amendment rights and a rebuke to Mayor Pam O’Connor and City Manager Rod Gould, a federal judge in Los Angeles just ruled that Elizabeth’s case against the City and Gould may proceed toward trial. http://smdp.com/riel-case-city-gould-moves/142040 Elizabeth was summarily dismissed from a city position after Mayor O’Connor intervened, improperly -- and in violation of Santa Monica and state law -- to pressure Mr. Gould to fire her. Ms...
As California enters deeper into drought and global warming, grass lawns and playing fields, with their high watering demand, are becoming the next obvious victim. In Santa Monica’s case, the grass playing fields have already been disappearing for the last 20 years. Because of our relative shortage of playing fields, the grass fields simply could not take the destruction caused by the hundreds of cleats everyday, so schools and parks have slowly shifted over to plastic playing fields. In Santa Monica, the plastic playing f...
Dear Editor, Anyone who follows the airport issue knows that while City staff does a great job actually running the airport, the City Council-appointed Airport commission is trying to strangle the airport out of existence with hostile leasing policies and other attempted restrictions. That’s why Measure D provides that no new restrictions can be imposed on the airport without a vote of the people. Most voters in Santa Monica support the airport. Measure D will make sure that the airport can’t be closed by “other means...
In the wake of the unfortunate shark incident in Manhattan Beach, where a hooked white shark bit a swimmer, the city of Manhattan Beach deliberated last night about potential management actions to minimize harmful interactions among anglers, wildlife and ocean users. The City Council had already enacted a temporary 60-day pier fishing prohibition beginning July 7, and decided last night to continue the discussion about best management practices to its next meeting. Dozens of p...
Competing initiative seeks to keep voters silent and ensure business as usual for any redevelopment scheme. Upset with the idea of voters being consulted before any decisions to close and redevelop the 227 acre Santa Monica Airport can be taken, the City Council has disclosed their long-awaited response to the Voters Decide Charter Amendment by seeking to deny Santa Monica the right to vote and keep business-as-usual politics going on this crucial decision. “15,700 voters signed the Voters Decide petition to place the...
Wow! 15700 signatures collected at local markets, to preserve SMO for aviation. Which you already knew, if you’ve been to a market anywhere near Santa Monica recently. As you probably also know, residents around the airport have spearheaded a drive to close the airport and build, well anything else. Their first choice would be to convert the airport to a large park. As if the airports 227 acre land grant weren’t worth 227 Billion dollars, or thereabouts, to developers. Rather than comment further on the topic, we’re going...
Please sign the petition now: Save Bergamot Station Arts Center from Overdevelopment at change.org Petition to Preserve Bergamot Station If you’ve participated in Writers Boot Camp screenwriting coursework in LA, visited our national headquarters or attended events in our space, or simply support the arts, then you’re familiar with the unique character and importance of our Santa Monica home, Bergamot Station. As a tenant for 16 years so far at Bergamot Station, Writers Boot Camp has been blessed to be part of a dynamic com...
Many voters may question a candidate's actual ability to address critical state issues and truly advocate for his or her constituents. That is because political candidates often seem to spend their time addressing pet issues of powerful special interest groups that are of little concern to the general public and largely give lip service on the important issues. Ben Allen, who is running for the California State Senate to represent the 26th District (which encompasses parts of...
Dear Editor: Subject-Bergamot Art Center Community Meeting May 6th I attended the Bergamot Art Center meeting on May 6 and I have the following comments: 1. The existing Bergamot Arts Center is extremely fragile. It can only exist if it has on-site parking, easy access and lower rent rates. Without these three legs it will collapse. 2. The proposed hotel and commercial office space would eliminate at least one if not two of these legs. Therefore the proposed hotel and commercial office space with the traffic and congestion...
March 4, 2014 Sandy Banks' March 4, 2014 column in the Los Angeles Times about a dog Karma Rescue recently saved deserves a response from our group. Since its founding in 2003, Karma Rescue has found forever-homes for over 2,200 homeless dogs in Los Angeles. Our activities should send a clear message about our mission: An education program sends volunteers to juvenile prisons and Los Angeles schools to educate kids about becoming animal allies in their communities. Our...
Dear Editor, As a resident of Santa Monica for 17 years, I would like to bring your attention to a very important and ever-growing problem of a necessity of STOP signs where alleys meet the sidewalk. I have noticed a significant rise in pedestrian/driver conflict over the past years. Drivers don’t stop while are flying out of alleys. Pedestrians have the right of way so they typically don’t look or they run/ride right through on the sidewalk. Personally, I have been hit twice by cars rushing out of the alleys and my 10 yea...
February 20, 2014 Dear SMCLC Supporter, A week ago the Santa Monica City Council, on a 4-3 vote, approved one of the largest developments in recent Santa Monica history: the Hines project at 26th and Olympic. There is now a community-wide effort to qualify a referendum for the ballot so Santa Monica residents can vote on whether this project should go forward. According to its own Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the Hines project will add approx. 7,000 new daily car trips...
Letter to the Editor regarding proposed "Safe Routes to School" changes to Michigan Avenue near Santa Monica High School: I have been involved with this project since then trying to see the traffic analysis and mitigation plan that they said they would do. Of course they were delayed in doing it. After being told repeatedly by the City Planner that I would be able to see it when it was completed, she then came back and apologized and told me it wouldn't be available until a...
