MAKING
NEWS
IN 2000
Living Wage Wars
When the City Council announced it would study a proposed Living Wage ordinance for tourist industry workers, the Chamber of Commerce countered with Prop KK, which would apply only to employees of companies doing business with the City. In spite of a million-dollar campaign, Prop KK was defeated. The City continues to study the proposed ordinance.
Everyone Runs for the Council
A large field of candidates ran for four seats on the City Council in the fall election, but, in the end, the three incumbents and a former Council member won.
Public Safety Facility On Hold
Work began on the long-awaited new Public Safety facility behind City Hall, but it was put on hold when bids came in $10 to $13 million higher than City estimates. The matter wasn't resolved until late last fall.
Traffic
No matter where you went in Santa Monica in 2000, you couldn't escape it -- traffic, gridlock, brake lights. There were multiple causes -- major City projects, such as the seemingly endless sewer line replacement on PCH and Ocean Avenue, commercial development projects spilling into the streets, and the City's installation of "traffic calming" devices, and, of course, too many people. According to the City, over 250,000 people came to Santa Monica every day. To date, there is no relief in sight, but last week the City Council created a Downtown Traffic Task Force which is supposed to come up with a solution by July.
$73 Million Settlement Will Rid South Bay Of Carcinogens
After 10 years of litigation, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department
of Justice, and other...
Travelers Aid Society Needs Volunteers
The Travelers Aid Society of Los
Angeles has served "people in transit" for
over 75 years. Based at...
Residents' Groups Set Priorities For The New Year
There are nine active neighborhood
organizations in Santa Monica...
Sponsors Sought For Readathon
Every January, the Will Rogers
Elementary School PTA holds a Readathon...
Historic Preservation Element Draft Is Ready For Public Comment
The City of Santa Monica's Planning
Department's Draft Historic Preservation Element,
which is part of the City's General Plan, is now
available...
SMC Student Is Killed in Venice
On the morning of December 24,
20-year-old Juan Martinez was found shot...
Rubin Fasts To Protest Election
Jerry Rubin, Santa Monica peace and
environmental activist, will begin a two-week,
water-only fast on Saturday, January 6...
Second RAND Trustee Is Named To High Post In Bush Cabinet
President-elect George W. Bush has
selected another member of the RAND Corporation board
of directors to serve...
Orphan Of The Week
Property Rights
If you've been in Los Angeles for
any length of time, you know the area, or an area very
much like it...
Attorney John Murdock: Striking A Balance
By his own admission, John Murdock
is fighting what in the long run may be a losing
battle, but that doesn't mean he's going to stop
fighting...
Speilberg Equine Complex Draws Fire From Neighbors
Leading Hollywood director Steven
Speilberg's plans to build a five-story, 27,000
square-foot indoor riding ring...
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