SCI ARC FINALLY FINDS HOME
Tweet The Southern California Institute of Architecture recently bought the century-old former rail freight depot on Santa Fe Avenue that it has occupied for some years. In the Arts District, in downtown Los Angeles, the building is a quarter of a mile long and only about 37 feet wide. Sci Arc paid $23.1 million for the building, saying the mortgage payments will be less than the rent it has been paying. One of the most distinguished schools of architecture in America, Sci Arc... Read More
PLANNING THE FOREST OF YOUR FUTURE
Tweet SEASCAPE,(City of Santa Monica Publication, Current issue): Urban forests are dynamic systems in a constant state of change. Santa Monica is fortunate to have a thriving urban forest. In fact, Santa Monica was named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 30th consecutive year, and received its prestigious Growth Award. DISPATCH: Our urban forest is in “a constant state of change” owing to the City’s apparent need to demolish large numbers of trees for... Read More
DEVELOPER HAS LAST WORD…AGAIN
Tweet By Ty Wapato On April 20 at City Hall, the Santa Monica Planning Commission gave the Architectural Review Board a virtual slap in the face when it ignored the board’s objections to the design of the condominium complex that developers are proposing at 301 Ocean Avenue. The ARB stated its objections when it denied approval of the project at its March 7 meeting. It was nearly identical to the slap that City Council gave to the Landmarks Commission on June 9, 2009 on... Read More
AUTISM INSURANCE REFORM ON DOCKET
Tweet Two hearings on autism insurance reform legislation will be held next week in Sacramento. The Assembly Health Committee hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday for AB 171 and the Senate Committee on SB 166 will be held Wednesday at 1:30. Passage of this legislation would be a real breakthrough. 1 in 110 children is diagnosed with autism. Its causes are unknown, and there is no cure, but it can be treated, which makes passage of the proposed bills vital. Santa Monica’s... Read More
WALK NOW FOR AUTISM SPEAKS
Tweet 1 in 110 children is diagnosed with autism. 1 in 70 boys is in the autism spectrum. A new case is diagnosed every 20 minutes. But there are no means of detection and there is no cure for autism. Research and awareness are vital now. We must speak for the children now. Walk Saturday, April 23, for Autism Speaks at the Rose Bowl. Family teams, corporate teams, individual walkers, agencies, organizations, virtual walkers, volunteers and sponsors are invited to join Autism... Read More
Protest Targets Obama Policies
Tweet At 3:30 p.m. today, a protest of President Obama’s policies will be held at Sony Pictures Studios, main gate, 3980 Overland Avenue, Culver City — between Washington and Culver Boulevards. The President is coming to Los Angeles to kick off his billion-dollar presidential reelection campaign and “sell” his budget plan. The ANSWER Coalition and other organizations will demand that the President end wars and occupations in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine... Read More
Take a Look, Obama
Tweet Editor: President Obama is scheduled to dine at the Tavern restaurant in Brentwood today. Here’s a suggestion. Please, Mr. President, look out the window while you are at dinner. You will see the 450-acre Veterans Administration campus. If you squint, you will see three empty buildings that could house some of the thousands of mentally ill homeless veterans living and dying on Los Angeles streets. These VA buildings, erected as housing for mentally ill vets, have been... Read More
L.A. City Council Enters S.M. Airport Debate
Tweet The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Los Angeles City Council members voted “11 to 0 to support federal legislation or an administrative action that would close six flight schools and alter the current departure route that crosses the Penmar Golf Course and runs along Rose Avenue in Venice to the beach. “Concerned about safety and aircraft emissions, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday called for federal legislation that would change the takeoff route from Santa... Read More
URGENTLY NEEDED: COMMON SENSE
Tweet As we previously reported, the City planners believe there is a “hole in the heart of Santa Monica,” (see story below) which can only be filled by money – millions and millions of dollars. We disagree. There’s a traffic/building jam in the “heart of the city.” All that’s missing is common sense. For decades, City Hall has been piling stuff into the “heart,” which is bounded, according to the planners, by Broadway to the north, Pico to the south, Fourth... Read More
OBAMAJAM THURSDAY
Tweet President Obama is scheduled to land at LAX at about 2:45 P.M. Thursday. He then has to get to the Sony lot for a 4:30 fund-raising appearance, then up to Tavern in Brentwood for dinner and another fundraiser. He’s staying overnight in the L.A. area — they don’t announce where, but at least some of the previous overnights have been at the Beverly Hilton. The city is advising that the traffic impacts should extend from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Good luck out there. Obama... Read More
