What Now?

Tweet Though a whole lot of residents are unhappy with the state of things in Santa Monica here and now, and Tuesday’s ballot offered some authentic alternatives, a majority of voters opted for what is, however imperfect, rather than what could be. A majority of voters chose to re-elect all four incumbent Council members. Three of the four — Richard Bloom, Ken Genser and Herb Katz – have, collectively, spent nearly 50 years on the dais and have yet to astonish us, but... Read More

Whither the Weather

Tweet By Ava Tramer Beaches Mostly sunny Highs: 65-77; Lows: 53-60 Inland Partly cloudy Highs: 73-87; Lows: 44-53 Deserts Warm with some clouds Highs: 76-89; Lows: 53-63 They say we voted for change on Tuesday. But in Santa Monica, we have yet to see anything out of the ordinary. To me, it looks just like the past eight years: sunny and warm, day after day, year after year. Where is this so-called change? SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Whither the Weather", url: "http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/2008/11/whither-the-weather-3/"... Read More

Removal of Historic Tree on Hold

Tweet On Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, Santa Monica logger Walt Warriner is scheduled to report to the City Council on the status of a tree located in the Veterans Monument in Palisades Park. The tree was slated for removal, until the City was informed of its historic significance by Treesavers member and veteran> Herbert Silverstein. The City has spent a month, re-evaluating plans for the tree’s removal as well as collecting Details of the dedication. A plaque... Read More

Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project In Works

Tweet The City of Los Angeles, Metro, and the County of Los Angeles are considering the feasibility of creating a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Wilshire Boulevard. The project area includes portions of Wilshire Boulevard from just west of the 110 freeway to the Santa Monica City line, excluding the City of Beverly Hills. A joint document, consisting of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA), is being conducted for the Wilshire BRT project to meet state and Federal... Read More

SMMUSD Slates First Special Education Forum

Tweet The first Special Education forum will take place at the John Adams Middle School campus from 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday, November 15 A joint effort of the PTA Council Special Education Committee, District staff and leadership, and the Special Education Advisory Committee, the Fall Forum will provide information and support to parents and staff in an informal, social setting. “This is an important step for the District and special education families. Parents and staff... Read More

We Did Not Prevail

Tweet Phil Hendricks Bond Fatigue Committee – 2008 We did not prevail – this time. Everyone involved in the NO on AA campaign worked exceptionally hard against an entrenched machine that engaged in deception, distortion and fabrication. Add to that that AA’s promoters had to spend about half a million dollars, or about $200.00 for each of their 24,000 Yes votes. They took that money from developers outside of Santa Monica. They also funneled funds to their PAC... Read More

Santa Monica Opts for Status Quo

Tweet America took a giant step forward yesterday (see following story), while Santa Monica ran in place. Voters chose incumbents over challengers by and large, rejected a sensible residents’ ballot measure, while giving City Hall and Santa Monica College what they wanted. The four City Council incumbents topped the field of 13. As he did four years ago, Bobby Shriver, with 18,755 votes, ran well ahead of the two SMRRs – Richard Bloom (16,024) and Ken Genser (15,179) –... Read More

America Is Back

Tweet The symmetry was overwhelming. America, the work-in-progress that had been conceived nearly two centuries earlier by our founding fathers, died in Grant Park in Chicago in 1968, when a police mob attacked a peaceful crowd of opponents of the Vietnam war. The cops, in battle dress, moved into the crowd, beating everyone in their path mercilessly, pelting them with tear gas. Bloodied, wounded, crying, gasping, people ran every which way, trying to escape, but there was no... Read More

VOTER’S GUIDE

Tweet If, as has been predicted, there will be a record turn-out at today’s election, you may find it useful to print the guide and/or the endorsements that follow to take along – assuming you are a resident who cherishes this idiosyncratic beach town. PRESIDENT Barack Obama CONGRESSMAN Henry Waxman STATE SENATOR Fran Pavley STATE ASSEMBLY Julia Brownley STATE MEASURES 1A Hi Speed Train UES 2 Standards for confining farm animals YES 3 Children’s Hospital Bond Yes 4... Read More

THE DISPATCH ENDORSES: PART II

Tweet THE SCHOOL BOARD The ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times,” is relevant. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, which, like all the boards in town, is dominated by Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights members, has had some very interesting times recently, It’s a daunting task and an extraordinary responsibility – overseeing the education of our children – when things are going well, and things haven’t gone well... Read More