Court Halts Lincoln Place Evictions
In a sweeping published opinion, a state appeals court ordered a halt to the eviction of tenants at Lincoln Place Apartments in Venice by owner AIMCO Venezia, LLC. yesterday. In December, 2005, 86 Lincoln Place residents, including 21 children, were locked out of their homes in what was allegedly the largest eviction lockout in a single day in Los Angeles history. Eviction cases against remaining senior and disabled tenants were pending, awaiting yesterday’s court decision. A... Read More
City Council Okays Santa Monica Place Remodel
At its September 11 meeting, the City Council spent a lot of money, gave a collective thumbs up to the Santa Monica Place makeover, approved a number of measures, made a few appointments and responded to pleas of some residents for parking salvation. On a spending spree, the Council approved a pre-construction design-build agreement with T.L.D. Construction, Inc. for $270,500 for the Pier Central Restroom Project, authorized amendments to Memorandums of Understanding with the... Read More
The Rise and Fall of the Civic Center
The City staff and City Council have devoted more time and attention on the Civic Center than to any other project in Santa Monica. It’s the largest, costliest and most ambitious project the City has ever undertaken and, from the beginning, City officials clearly saw it as Santa Monica’s centerpiece. Bur they didn’t initiate it, the RAND Corporation did — for purely pragmatic reasons. Project RABD (Research and Development) was founded in Santa Monica in 1948 at... Read More
Playa Vista’s Phase Two Is On Hold
According to LAObserved (www.LAObserved.com), NBC4 News has reported that the three-judge panel of the state’s Second District Court of Appeal sided with local groups and the city of Santa Monica and ordered that construction activity stop on phase two at the huge Playa Vista development, citing a flawed environmental impact report. The court ruled that the city of Los Angeles erred in 2004 in approving the second phase of construction. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge... Read More
City’s Long Traffic Jam
Theplanning and community development department held a workshop on March 15, 2005 for the City Council and Planning Commission. A staff report described the subject Of the workshop as “Presentation and Discussion of Possible Goals for the Circulation Element [in the General Plan] and Alternatives for Measuring Traffic Impacts and Goal Attainment.” It went on to say, “…As part of the update to the Circulation Element, the City will be establishing performance goals and... Read More
The High Cost of Everything
The following item appeared on the Consent Calendar at Tuesday’s Council meeting. “1-J: Community Outreach Consulting Services for Charnock Well Fields Restoration Project – recommendation to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a three year professional services agreement with Harris & Company, in the amount of $250,000, for community outreach and public information services required during the planning, pre-design, environmental documentation... Read More
Whither the Weather 9/14 -9/20
Bt Ava Tramer Beaches Clear and comfortable Highs: 64-75; Lows: 55-60 Inland Gradually cooling Highs: 81-92; Lows: 56-61 Deserts Sunny and cooler Highs: 96-105; Lows: 68-77 And Santa Monica… It looks like summer may finally be drawing to a close. Cooler Air is back from summer camp, and was spotted hitting all the back-to-school sales earlier this week (he found a great pair of sneakers at JCPenney for only $12.99!). Cloud Cover was spotted at Staples purchasing a day planner... Read More
Trapped in a Coen Brothers Movie
The rise and fall of American places is as much a staple of American literature and film as the rise and fall of heroes. Just as mindless greed, a uniquely American affliction, brings heroes to their knees, it leeches the integrity out of places, reducing them to mere merchandise. As Americans rolled west across this vast and gorgeous continent in the 19th century and took whatever they could turn into money, John Muir, a Scot, warned that this land was as fragile as it was... Read More
Open Letter to the City Council
August 28, 2007 RE: City Council Agenda Item: 7-A (Emergency Interim Ordinance re Development Agreements for Projects Exceeding 7500 square feet/15 housing units in LMSD/M1) Dear City Council, The Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) cannot support the staff’s recommendation as to the establishment of a “Development Agreement process for changes in land use on parcels that exceed 32,000 square feet in the LMSD and 15,000 square feet in the M1 districts.” We... Read More
Open Letter to the Residents of Santa Monica and Malibu
Yesterday, like many thousands of parents in Santa Monica and Malibu, I was busy at my children’s schools, helping them settle in for their new year, and making sure I had done my job to ensure that all the details were in place to ensure a smooth start for all. As I walked through the schools, reconnecting with old friends and watching my sons navigate between nervousness and excitement, I was once again, overwhelmed by what has now become an annual revelation – that of... Read More
