The necessity of the proposed Santa Monica City College Master Plan 2010 needs to be re-evaluated for many reasons, not the least of which is the desperate state of the Santa Monica & Malibu School District’s financial situation.

With so many financial constraints placed on the school districts, it would be a virtual slap in the community taxpayers’ faces for the City College to begin COSMETIC demolition and reconstruction to its campuses, when the local schools are being forced to lay off teachers and cut back on programs.

Has it not occurred to any of you that the money would be better spent in the form of assistance to the schooling of our younger children, who will be precluded from a full educational experience, due to lack of state funds to support them?

While the money may be ‘earmarked’ for college expansion/beautification projects, we all know that where there is a will, there is a way! You, the College Trustees, need to join forces with the COMMUNITY to assure a high quality education for the children who reside here.

The communities are coming to the realization that, the constant/automatic bond requests for the Santa Monica Community College “improvements,” to accommodate a student population that is 85% or more non-resident, are excessive, unreasonable and may be more related to salaries and egos.

Additionally, demolishing Corsair Stadium is not indicated according to the Stadium Seismic Study of 2006, wherein only RETROFITS to the existing stadium were recommended.

The effects on the surrounding neighborhoods, relative to demolition and reconstruction of the stadium and the Liberal Arts building, will be enormous, and the proposed plan is inconsistent with the City’s goals of recycling and living green!

The draft EIR includes a letter from the SCAQMD dated June 4, 2010 that notes that the College failed to assess air quality impacts during the projects’ construction and operation. This OVERSIGHT is indicative of a lack of concern for the health, safety and comfort of the neighboring residents and their children, and is of great concern to us all.

REMODEL AND RETROFIT needs to become your mantra, and hopefully you all will listen and take appropriate action!

Sincerely,

Joanne Curtis
Sunset Park Resident and Homeowner

On Thursday June 10th, 2010 Pugh + Scarpa received the 2010 National American Institute of Architects Firm Award during the Awards Ceremony at the National American Institute of Architects Convention in Miami, Florida. Above is the link to a short video that was shown during the ceremony. This award is the highest honor an architecture firm can receive.