TO SANTA MONICA URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE
Copies to: Santa Monica City Council, City Manager, Planning Commission, Task Force on the Environment, Recreation and Parks Commission, city staff, interested citizens, media representatives We are writing to express concern about recent events that are having the unfortunate effect of discouraging public participation in the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force’s process and... Read More
To Friends of St. John’s Nurses
Since you have been with us through the long struggle for union recognition at Saint John’s, we thought you would appreciate an update on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve faced recently. In late July, we notified management that we would be ready to begin negotiations in August. Management responded with a single date in September. That kind of set the tone... Read More
GROCERY CHAINS, WORKERS REACH “TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT”
Von’s, Albertsons and Ralph’s grocery workers were scheduled to go out on strike today, but late last night a “tentative settlement” was reached, the strike was averted – at least for the moment, and the stores opened this morning with their employees at their usual posts. The workers will vote on the settlement Saturday. Von’s had announced that it would close... Read More
HOUSE VOTE ON AUTISM BILL IS TUESDAY
The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) will be heard on the House floor tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, September 20th, for a final vote. In order to ensure that our Congressman, Henry Waxman, votes for this vital bill, please call and email him and ask him to vote yes for Reauthorization. Ideally, his phones will ring off the hook until the vote is taken. Rep. Waxman’s... Read More
RALPH’S WOULD CLOSE DURING STRIKE
LA Business Observed is reporting Ralph’s will close all its stores if there’s a strike. Now that’s an interesting tactic – and quite different than during the strike/lockout eight years ago when the three major chains (Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons) stayed open, using non-union personnel. “During a strike, it is difficult to create a good shopping experience... Read More
A PLETHORA OF ICONS
Like James Corner, who’s designing the Palisades Garden Walk in the Civic Center, Peter Walker, who’s designing the Esplanade at the western end of Colorado Avenue, is a “world-class” landscape architect. As noted in “Santa Monica Talking Hype, Not Truth” (see below), the Santa Monica City Council is crazy about “world class” people and “world class” stuff.... Read More
CARS IN CANYON RANSACKED
George Wolfberg, president of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, received two reports of crimes Wednesday night in the upper canyon. They involve vehicles, basically unlocked vehicles, which, as he says, “are always tempting. It is important to report these to LAPD, even if it appears nothing was taken, so our local officers are aware.” One report said, “Multiple... Read More
SM Conservancy Awarded Significant Grant
The Santa Monica Conservancy has been awarded a $7500 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from its Los Angeles County Preservation Fund. The funds will be used to support a portion of the rehabilitation costs for the adaptive reuse of Santa Monica’s 1890s Shotgun House as a Preservation Resource Center. The Shotgun House is a survivor from the early days... Read More
SMC TRAFFIC TROUBLES PERSIST
While residents on and near Pearl Street praise local law enforcement for traffic control assistance around SMC, other areas heavily affected by local school traffic are completely ignored, causing gridlock, frustration and headaches for neighboring residents. Among the worst traffic in Sunset Park is the two-block long stretch of Maple St. between 14th & 16th. In addition... Read More
TOO MUCH
We have lived in the Pico Neighborhood for over 30 years. The Bergamot Transit Village development is huge. The revised Papermate site pending development is still too large and will negatively impact all of the surrounding areas with the increased traffic and congestion. With this development project, in addition to all the other pending projects, the density of commercial buildings... Read More
