Schwarzenegger’s Shame
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian body builder turned movie star turned mogul turned very rich man turned governor, becomes very emotional when he credits America in general and California in particular for his extraordinary rise from shy, penniless immigrant to world-famous celebrity and governor of America’s most populous, diverse and liberal state, and the world’s eighth richest economy. It’s a great performance, right out of one of those sentimental old B movies... Read More
More Questions Than Answers
By George Wolfberg President, Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association I attended an emergency meeting of the PCH Task Force this afternoon. As you may know, the task force was created many years ago by former Assemblyperson and State Senator Sheila Kuehl to provide a forum for issues relating to the Coast Highway from the McClure Tunnel through Malibu. I have encouraged Senator Fran Pavley to continue the committee and am pleased to say she has. The Bluffs restoration is the... Read More
Clinic Protests State Health Care Cuts
For the past month, Westside Family Health Center, a non-profit community clinic in Santa Monica, has held a rally every Wednesday to protest the state’s budget cuts. ( See lead story “Schwarzenegger’s Shame”) The current budget crisis has made it increasingly difficult for individuals, families and communities to get the health care they need. In addition to the rallies, the Center is collecting signatures from patients and outreach contacts and sending them to state... Read More
FILMS 4 CHANGE: Revolutionary Road Friday
Adapted from the revelatory novel by Richard Yates, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD is an incisive portrait of an American marriage seen through the eyes of Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April (Kate Winslet) Wheeler. Yates’s story of 1950′s America poses a question that has reverberated through relationships ever since: can two people break away from the ordinary without breaking apart? Frank and April have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live... Read More
Blood Drive This Week
The American Red Cross of Santa Monica and KLOS/95.5 radio will host their 28th Annual blood drive on three days — Thursday, July 30 and Friday, August 31, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. People wishing to give blood should to make an appointment. Residents can call the Red Cross at 1 800 448 3543 or go to www.GiveLife.org. Spanish –speaking residents should call 1 866 .767 8432, or go to www.cruzrojaamericana.org. Persons... Read More
To the Mayor, Council and Staff:
The Treesavers organization supports the organization of an independent Santa Monica Tree Commission. In this, we join with the Recreation and Parks Commission who unanimously voted for this on January 15, 2009. They recommended that “City Council establish a Tree Commission with the responsibility for providing oversight and direction on the preparation of an urban forest master plan.” On May 12, 2009, City Council approved a contract with Artecho Landscape Architecture... Read More
Saint John’s Nurses To Be Blessed
The registered nurses of Saint John’s hospital in Santa Monica, the California Nurses Association and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA) will hold a public blessing of the nurses on Wednesday, July 29. Members of the public who would like to participate should gather at 9 a.m. at the corner of 22nd Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica. The Nurses Association issued the following statement: “While the hospital administration is refusing to... Read More
Whither Forecasting
By Ava Tramer Beaches Partly cloudy Highs: 69-76; Lows: 61-65 Inland Sunny Highs: 95-101; Lows: 64-68 Deserts Clear and hot Highs: 110-116; Lows: 80-86 And Santa Monica… Do-It-Yourself Weather Step 1. Look outside. Step 2. Observe sun, partial clouds, and mild temperatures. Step 3. Count the number of days in the week (this should equal seven if you have counted correctly). Step 4. Complete the following equation in order to arrive at your weather report for this... Read More
Cops, Firefighters Dominate Pension Roster
On July13, we published “ SM Employees Hit Pension Jackpot” (see below) We did not list the former employees’ Santa Monica occupations. However, a reader has now filled in most of the blanks, and so we are running the annotated list. As you will see, most of the pensioners are former SMPD and SMFD officers, along with a couple of former City Managers, a pair of deputy City Attorneys, a rent control administrator, and, lo, a research librarian. James Butts $18,239.03... Read More
Shame On The Republicans
Last Thursday, during a debate on restricting public funding of abortions in the District of Columbia, Congressman Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican, said, “If you think of it in human terms, there is a financial incentive that will be put in place, paid for by tax dollars, that will encourage women who are single parents, living below the poverty level, to have the opportunity for a free abortion, “If you take that scenario and apply it to many of the great minds... Read More
