TUESDAY

04.24.18Volume 17 Issue 134

WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2

CRIME WATCH ..................................PAGE 3

DROUGHT WORRIES ......................PAGE 4

MYSTERY PHOTO ............................PAGE 9

COMICS ............................................PAGE 10

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KATE CAGLEDaily Press Staff Writer

Police say a Connecticut manwas driving drunk with his twoteenage sons when he ran a redlight and plowed into a Metro ExpoLine Train crossing LincolnBoulevard early last Wednesdaymorning. Anthony Manuel BeltranSr. is charged with driving underthe influence, child endangermentand furnishing alcohol to a minor.

The 54-year-old man is in jailon a $410,000 bail pending future

Police arrest man whoallegedly hit Expo train

KATE CAGLEDaily Press Staff Writer

Mayor Ted Winterer never expected toreceive an angry email about closing the oftencongested Interstate 10 Fourth Street off-ramp.There were a number of reasons public outcryseemed unlikely: he didn’t intend to do it, hehad no authority to do it, and he had no ideawhy he would want to.

Nonetheless, there it was on Nextdoor: animpassioned warning from a resident that theCity Council was imminently poised to closethe off-ramp that connects the Sunset Freewaywith downtown Santa Monica.

“We might do a lot of dumb things on CityCouncil but that’s not even our freeway off-ramp. It’s Caltrans,” Winterer recalled Saturdayduring a wide-ranging discussion on city poli-cy and government in the 21st Century. The

crowd laughed at the story, but multipleCouncilmembers lamented they are often frus-trated by inaccurate posts and comments onsocial media.

“Somehow, we have to get through the noiseout there that breeds the distrust that we have toovercome,” Winterer said. “The idea thatwe...don’t have the public’s best interest at heart.”

Without uttering the phrase with all its cur-rent political baggage, the discussion turned tothe problem of fake news. SeveralCouncilmembers said some misinformationonline has been carefully crafted to cause pub-lic outrage in the city by the sea.

“Public mistrust is all too easy to create withfalse information,” said Councilmember KevinMcKeown. “One of the externalities we facegoing forward is the fragmentation of the pub-

SEE ARREST PAGE 5

KATE CAGLEDaily Press Staff Writer

Rent control reformers submit-ted over half-a-million signaturesMonday to put the AffordableHousing Act on the Novemberballot, a voter initiative that wouldrepeal the Costa-Hawkins Act. Ifit passes, cities would regain theability to expand rent control intheir jurisdictions and limit howmuch property owners can chargetenants.

“Local government should havecontrol over their own city,” saidLos Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at apress conference where heannounced his support for the con-troversial initiative. Costa-Hawkinsprohibits cities from extending rentcontrol to new construction andmandates rents can be reset to mar-ket rate when tenants move out(vacancy decontrol). The 1995 lawupended Santa Monica’s CityCharter, which dictated a rent ceil-ing in any unit built before 1978.

Councilmember Mike Bonin,

who represents the area of LosAngeles encircling Santa Monica,also threw his weight behind theinitiative Monday. Bonin calledthe homeless problem an “eco-nomic refugee crisis,” citing risingrents as a major contributor to thenumber of people sleeping on thestreets in LA’s 11th District.

“Put this damn thing on theballot,” Bonin said to cheers fromsupporters outside LA’s City Hall.

In Santa Monica, the local RentControl Board (RCB) has dis-cussed the possibility of a compan-ion initiative to expand rent con-trol here if the statewide initiativepasses. Earlier this month, theRCB’s top lawyer warned the ini-tiative could have immediateimplications if it passes inNovember because of the way theCity Charter was rewritten afterCosta-Hawkins. If the law sudden-ly disappeared, J. Stephen Lewissays new tenants could conceivablyargue for 1970’s rent.

SEE REFORM PAGE 11

SEE COUNCIL PAGE 6

Kate CagleCITY COUNCIL: City Manager Rick Cole adds notes to an idea board at a City Council retreat Saturday.

State law keeps elected out ofthe fray on Facebook, Nextdoor

Rent Control reform gets signatures for November ballot

BELTRAN

Calendar2 TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

What’s Up

WestsideOUT AND ABOUT IN SANTA MONICA

For help submitting an event, contact us at310-458-7737 or submit to events@smdp.com

Tuesday, April 24City Council MeetingRegular Meeting of the Santa MonicaCity Council. City Hall, 1685 Main St.5:30 p.m.

Seven Steps to ManagingYour MemoryDr. Andrew Budson, professor of neu-rology at Boston University, usesclear language and short patient sto-ries to teach seven simple steps forimproving memory. Budson willanswer many questions on topicssuch as changes in memory due toAlzheimer's versus normal aging,memory loss and medications, andtests and evaluations. MontanaAvenue Branch Library, 1704Montana Ave. 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Write AwayGain feedback and encourage-ment in your writing efforts fromfellow writers in this supportivewriter's meet-up. Fairview BranchLibrary, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd.Noon - 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 25Santa Monica CertifiedFarmer's Market (Downtown)Wednesday Farmers Market iswidely recognized as one of thelargest and most diverse grower-only CFM's in the nation. Somenine thousands food shoppers, andmany of Los Angeles' best knownchefs and restaurants, are keyed tothe seasonal rhythms of the week-ly Wednesday Market. Downtown.8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Appy Hour DeviceWorkshop for SeniorsBring your smartphone or tabletand receive small group help toget you started with using yourdevice. Montana Avenue BranchLibrary, 1704 Montana Ave. 4 p.m.- 5 p.m.

Art @ Tongva: DanceCommission An evening of newly choreographeddance work created especially for thethe park by a local choreographer.Tongva Park, 1615 Ocean Ave.7:30p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 26Sustainable QualityAwards EventThe Sustainable Quality Awards(SQA) inspire local businesses toadopt sustainable practices and sup-port Santa Monica as a sustainablecommunity. The event includes a live-ly networking power hour receptionfeaturing delicious sustainable bites,followed by an awards ceremony andsit down lunch. Le Meridien DelfinaSanta Monica Hotel, 530 Pico Blvd. 11a.m. - 2 p.m.

Citizenship ClassesAn ongoing series of classes taughtby Adult Education Center instruc-tors, who help students complete andsubmit their application, and preparethem to pass the official review.Enrollment is through the SMMUSDAdult Center (310) 664-6222. ext.76203. Pico Branch Library, 2201Pico Blvd. 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

L.E.A.R.N.: Learn, Excel,Achieve and Read Now atPicoOne-on-one access to volunteersavailable to help students with home-work assignments and reading com-prehension. Bilingual volunteersavailable. Pico Branch Library, 2201Pico Blvd. 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 27Crafty Kids: Earth DayFind out ways to take care for ourplanet. Start your own garden.Montana Avenue Branch Library,1704 Montana Ave. 3:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m.

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DAILY POLICE LOG

The Santa Monica PoliceDepartment Responded To 335Calls For Service On Apr. 22.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE CALLS CHOSEN BY THE

SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

Party complaint 1000 block 12th 12:01 a.m.Loud music 16th / Oak 12:04 a.m.Disturbing the peace 1400 block 17th12:13 a.m.Disturbing the peace 2600 block 26th12:31 a.m.Fight 2700 block Main 12:44 a.m.Party complaint 1200 block 24th 2:19 a.m.Public intoxication 400 block Montana2:37 a.m.Strongarm robbery 00 block Pico 2:49 a.m.Burglar alarm 1500 block 4th 3:11 a.m.Auto burglary 2300 block 6th 3:12 a.m.Loud music 1400 block 6th 3:49 a.m.Petty theft 1500 block 2nd 5:23 a.m.Battery 500 block Olympic 5:43 a.m.Trespassing 200 block Santa Monica 6:57 a.m.Trespassing 2800 block Lincoln 8:15 a.m.Battery 1700 block Ocean Ave 8:58 a.m.Burglary 100 block Pacific 9:30 a.m.Rape 23rd / Wilshire 10:09 a.m.Petty theft 2400 block 14th 10:56 a.m.Burglar alarm 900 block 7th 11:03 a.m.

Drunk driving Neilson / Strand 11:51 a.m.Petty theft 1000 block Wilson 11:55 a.m.Hit and run 14th / Washington 12:07 p.m.Petty theft 1700 block 4th 12:35 p.m.Person down 1500 block 7th 12:51 p.m.Burglary 1300 block Harvard 1:02 p.m.Trespassing 1800 block Franklin 1:26 p.m.Petty theft 1200 block 4th 1:33 p.m.Burglar alarm 1000 block Stanford 2:02 p.m.Traffic collision 11th / Pico 2:05 p.m.Armed robbery 1600 block Ocean Front3:10 p.m.Petty theft 1300 block Palisades PArk3:14 p.m.Hit and run 400 block PCH 4:41Hit and run Lincoln / Marine 4:45 p.m.Burglar alarm 2400 block Lincoln 5:50 p.m.Traffic collision Stewart / Olympic 6:13 p.m.Identity theft 900 block 4th 6:22 p.m.Traffic collision 300 block Olympic 6:29 p.m.Battery 2nd / Broadway 7:14 p.m.Drunk driving 1200 block PCH 7:19 p.m.Hit and run 200 block Broadway 7:50 p.m.Petty theft 700 block Broadway 8:12 p.m.Family disturbance 2500 block Kansas8:34 p.m.Burglar alarm 2400 block Main 8:34 p.m.Public intoxication 3rd / Strand 8:51 p.m.Lewd activity 2000 block Yorkshire 9:27 p.m.Trespassing 900 block 2nd 9:48 p.m.Trespassing 2600 block Main 10:12 p.m.Petty theft 6th / Broadway 10:36 p.m.

DAILY FIRE LOG

The Santa Monica Fire DepartmentResponded To 21 Calls For

Service On Apr. 22. HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE

CALLS CHOSEN BY THE SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

Emergency medical service 2700 blockNeilson 3:05 a.m.EMS 1300 block Euclid 8:02 a.m.EMS 1700 block Ocean 8:20 a.m.EMS 1800 block 16th 8:47 a.m.EMS 2400 block Wilshire 9:16 a.m.Dumpster fire 1300 block 7th 9:48 a.m.

EMS 1600 block Ocean Front 10:22 a.m.Automatic alarm 400 block Santa Monica10:52 a.m.EMS 1600 block Arizona 10:54 a.m.EMS 500 block Marine 11:42 a.m.EMS 5th / Colorado 2:24 p.m.Automatic alarm 1200 block 15th 2:29 p.m.Traffic collision Lincoln / Washington 2:48 p.m.EMS 900 block PCH 3:16 p.m.EMS 3rd St Prom / Santa Monica 3:54 p.m.EMS 1700 block Ocean 4:42 p.m.EMS 1500 block Santa Monica 5:28 p.m.EMS 2400 block Chelsea 7:06 p.m.EMS 300 block Santa Monica 7:15 p.m.EMS Main / Pacific 8:25 p.m.EMS 300 block Pico 9:04 p.m.

Crime Watch is culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ON APRIL 12, 2018 AT ABOUT 3:10 P.M.While patrolling the area of 1200 block of 4th Street, officers saw a subject that was lyingacross the sidewalk and not moving. Officers contacted the subject to check on his well-being. Officers determined the subject displayed symptoms of being under the influenceof heroin. A computer check of the subject revealed he had a NO BAIL warrant for hisarrest from Los Angeles Police Department. A search of the subject led to the recoveryof a syringe needle containing heroin and other narcotics paraphernalia. The subject wasplaced under arrest. Cedric Marcellis Vandeweghe, 30, was booked for possession ofheroin and possession of narcotics paraphernalia. No bail was set.

CRIME WATCHB Y D A I L Y P R E S S S T A F F

State4 TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

OPINIONS EXPRESSED are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Santa Monica Daily Press staff. Guest editorials from residents are encouraged, as are letters to the editor. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to letters@smdp.com. Receipt of a letter does not guaranteepublication and all content is published at the discretion of the paper. All letters and guest editorials are subject to editing for space and content. All submissions must include the author’s name, address and phone number for the purposes of verification.

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KELLY P. KISSELAssociated Press

Dry weather will prolong the wildfirethreat through summer in the southwesternUnited States, even though weekend showerstemporarily relieved drought conditions inparts of the area, forecasters said Monday.

The drought is rooted in a dry spell thatbegan in October and is considered“extreme” from southern California to cen-tral Kansas. Conditions are even worse in theFour Corners region and the Oklahoma andTexas panhandles, warranting their descrip-tion as “exceptional.”

“The proverbial spigot shut off,” saidBrian Fuchs, a climatologist at the NationalDrought Mitigation Center at the Universityof Nebraska in Lincoln. “Drought isn't nec-essarily a signal for wildfires, but it can exac-erbate the conditions that do take place.”

Climatologists consider the months fromOctober to April to be a “recharge” period,with showers and snow replenishing watersupplies in the Southern Plains. However,the most recent significant rain in the areacame in early October.

“The memory of that precipitation haslong went out the back door,” Fuchs said.Temperatures have largely been above nor-mal over the same period, triggering evapo-ration that can carry a lot of moisture awaybefore it has a chance to soak into theground. There is very little snowpackremaining except on the highest peaks.

A map Fuchs presented during a confer-ence call with reporters showed a sharp dis-

tinction on either side of a line from nearFort Worth, Texas, to near Chicago. Moistareas of Arkansas and Missouri were within100 miles of arid conditions in Kansas andOklahoma.

“Even normal precipitation ... would behelpful,” Fuchs said.

The dry air has likely contributed to someweather anomalies: Several towns in westernOklahoma have seen wild temperatureswings, and Oklahoma hasn't had a tornadoyet this year, though a later start to the tor-nado season doesn't mean it could be anyless troublesome.

“It just takes one tornado to have a disas-trous year,” said Todd Lindley, the scienceand operations officer at the NationalWeather Service office in Norman,Oklahoma.

Gary McManus, Oklahoma's state clima-tologist, said the low temperature recordedat a station at Alva on April 17 was 33degrees — with frost in the area. Hours later,the same station recorded a high of 101.Similar temperature swings were recorded inthe Oklahoma Panhandle and could beattributed to the dry air, not any of the sta-tion's proximity to wildfires.

“We are very desert-like,” he said.Wildfires have scarred many areas of

Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahomaand Texas. Oklahoma forestry officials saidMonday that the Rhea fire, which had burned448 square miles (1,160 square kilometers)was 74 percent contained but not expected tospread beyond existing fire lines because ofhigher humidity and lighter winds.

After brief relief, forecastsindicate drought will continue

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STEVE LEBLANCAssociated Press

President Donald Trump has courted coalminers and cast doubt on whether fossils fuelcontribute to climate change, but that hasn'ttranslated into hostility for renewable energy— particularly offshore wind.

Using federal offshore leases, wind powerprojects along the East Coast, including offthe shores of Massachusetts, New Jersey,Connecticut, Virginia and New York, arepressing ahead with the goal of transformingthe electric grid and providing energy topower millions of homes.

The administration is looking to renew-able energy sources to help create “energydominance” that will guarantee America is aleading global energy exporter and can't beheld hostage by foreign energy-producingpowers, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says— even as Trump's plan to expand offshoredrilling has drawn harsh criticism fromenvironmentalists and coastal state gover-nors of both parties.

“On designated federal lands and off-shore, this means an equal opportunityfor all sources of responsible energydevelopment, from fossil fuels to the fullrange of renewables,” Zinke said in arecent op-ed in The Boston Globe. “As welook to the future, wind energy — partic-ularly offshore wind — will play a greaterrole in sustaining American energy dom-inance.”

To help streamline the effort, Zinkewrote, he wants to give developers more flex-ibility by letting them postpone detaileddesign decisions until later in the planningprocess to let them take advantage of the lat-est technology.

West Coast states are also hoping to turntheir offshore winds into energy. Oneplanned project along the NorthernCalifornia coast would create a 100-150megawatt floating wind farm more than 20miles offshore. Projects have also been eyedoff Hawaii, in the Gulf of Mexico and evenin the Great Lakes.

Renewable energy supporters are backingthe development of offshore wind power —with a few caveats.

Offshore wind can help reduce carbonemissions, but it's critical to ensure theydon't harm underwater ecosystems, espe-cially the endangered North Atlantic rightwhale, said Sean Mahoney, executive vicepresident of the Conservation LawFoundation.

Long in the planning and discussion

phase, the push for offshore wind power ispicking up steam.

In New York, Democratic Gov. AndrewCuomo has called for more projects and saidthe state will solicit in 2018 and in 2019 acombined total of at least 800 megawatts —with a long-term goal of developing 2.4gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, enoughto power up to 1.2 million homes.

In New Jersey, the Danish offshore windcompany Orsted, which is also working onprojects in Massachusetts and Virginia, hasset a goal of supplying enough energy for 1.5million homes. Democratic Gov. PhilMurphy has said he wants New Jersey togenerate 3,500 megawatts of offshore windenergy by 2030.

And in Massachusetts, Republican Gov.Charlie Baker is hoping to generate 800megawatts of offshore wind power as afirst step toward a goal of 1,600megawatts. Three projects — VineyardWind, Bay State Wind and DeepwaterWind — are all vying to produce some orall of the 800 megawatts.

Vineyard Wind wants to build its windfarm on a 160,000-acre area south of theisland of Martha's Vineyard and 14 milesfrom the nearest shore. The project —partly owned by Portland, Oregon,renewable energy developer AvangridRenewables and CopenhagenInfrastructure Partners of Denmark —would consist of turbines spaced at leasteight-tenths of a mile apart.

Bay State Wind, an initiative of Orstedand the utility Eversource, would beabout 20 miles south of Martha'sVineyard and could power 500,000homes. Orsted and Eversource are alsohoping to build a 200-megawatt windfarm 65 miles off New London,Connecticut. In Virginia, Orsted is part-nering with Dominion Energy on a windproject off Virginia Beach.

Deepwater Wind is also looking to buildin federal waters southwest of Martha'sVineyard. The company, which also hope toprovide 200 megawatts of wind power toConnecticut, can already claim braggingrights to having opened the nation's first off-shore wind farm off Rhode Island's BlockIsland last year — a five-turbine project gen-erating about 30 megawatts.

Even as the various projects and othersmove ahead, Zinke has announced that twoadditional areas off Massachusetts totalingnearly 390,000 acres are now available to beleased for commercial wind energy devel-opment.

Trump likes coal, but that doesn'tmean he's hostile to wind

court dates. Beltran could not be reachedfor comment.

Officers responded to the crash at 12:23a.m. on April 18 on Colorado Avenue.Paramedics rushed all three people in the carto the hospital with significant injuries. Lt.Saul Rodriguez with the Santa Monica PoliceDepartment told the Daily Press one of theteens suffered major head trauma and is still incritical condition but is expected to survive.

“He is able to talk but we haven’t inter-viewed him yet,” Lt. Rodriguez said, explain-ing detectives are still gathering evidence toknow more about what led up to the crash.The other teen was released from the hospi-tal and reunited with his mother Friday.

Rodriguez said the teens had also been

drinking the night of the accident and thatboth are under the age of 18.

“Everyone in the car was intoxicated,”Rodriguez said.

SMPD’s Major Accident Response Teamsaid the train was traveling west through theintersection when Beltran ran a red lightheading north, hitting the train. Rodriguezsaid none of the train passengers had signif-icant injuries.

Police revealed few details about why theythink Beltran, who lives in Waterford,Connecticut, was in the area.

“I don’t know why he was here in SantaMonica,” Lt. Rodriguez said. “I’m not surethe purpose of his visit.”

The case is still open. Anyone with infor-mation should contact Investigators Pace orOlson at (310) 458-8954.

kate@smdp.com

ARRESTFROM PAGE 1

lic dialogue.”As the 2018 race for City Council gains

steam, most elected leaders have tried to stayaway from impassioned threads on Facebookand Nextdoor. While some Councilmembersincluding Mayor Pro-Tempore Gleam Davisand Sue Himmelrich share stories and “like”posts on Facebook, others are completelyremoved from the conversation.

“Quite frankly I have a tough enough timejust answering emails,” Councilmember TonyVazquez said. “I don’t need to be onFacebook and Twitter and Instagram.”

Elected officials in California are restrict-ed by outdated laws like the 1953 Brown Act,which governs public meetings. In the elec-tronic age, the Act effectively bans emailchains, group texts and Facebook commentsthat involve more than one CityCouncilmember. The public must be noti-fied in advance anytime a quorum of mem-bers discuss policy.

“This Council is very good and very welltrained on the Brown Act,” City AttorneyLane Dilg told the Daily Press. “They areright that on Nextdoor and Facebook thereare complications with the Brown Actbecause of the potential for it to be called a‘serial meeting’ if it looks like they are some-how making a decision.”

Ten years after the launch of Facebook, theAct has not been updated to address onlinecommunication on public social media web-sites. City Manager Rick Cole — who has a

public blog and a weekly electronic newsletter— admits elected leaders have been slow toadapt old laws to new technology.

“I think people are really skittish aboutventuring into an area that’s so fraught withinherent challenges,” Cole told the DailyPress. “We haven’t figured out how to makedemocracy work online.”

At Saturday’s meeting, Cole said communi-cation between the Council, city staff and thepublic is often hostile, antagonistic and obso-lete. He said the city should seek new ways to“lower the temperature” of public discourse.

“I have a thick skin after 36 years in pub-lic service but when residents are overtlyhostile toward (city) staff on a continuingbasis it’s just human nature some of that isgoing to seep back...when they’re routinelycastigated as corrupt and evil they begin towrite people off and I think that’s a loss forall of us,” Cole said.

In an interview Monday, Winterer saidthere was some discussion to whether some-one from the City’s communication’sdepartment should fact check claims onsocial media. He says at the moment, theysimply don’t have the time.

Winterer, who says he rarely logs ontoFacebook anymore because of the vitrioland privacy concerns, said there may not bemuch benefit to a city fact checker anyway.

“We live in an era where people don’t letfacts get in the way of their opinions,”Winterer said. “It could be potentially futileto correct some of this information outthere. Tough call.”

kate@smdp.com

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DON THOMPSONAssociated Press

More ex-convicts could become emer-gency services workers and caregivers underlegislation proposed in California Mondaythat advocates say could help millions of for-mer felons get jobs.

The three-bill package would generallybar state agencies from denying or revokingprofessional licenses solely because theapplicant has an arrest or conviction for anonviolent offense more than five years old,unless it is directly related to the duties ofthat specific business or profession.

California narrowly defines violentoffenses, and advocates said at a news con-ference that the measures could help nearlyeight million Californians get jobs such asbarbers, cosmetologists, or caregivers for theelderly, sick or disabled.

Advocates estimate that about 30 percentof jobs — nearly 1,800 occupations —require professional licenses. However, thebills exempt licenses related to foster care orissued by the Bureau of Cannabis Control.

Opponents fear the bills could jeopard-ize public safety and endanger vulnerablepopulations.

“We can't say we want to rehabilitate peo-ple and then block them from the jobs thatthey need when they're released,” saidDemocratic Assemblyman David Chiu ofSan Francisco. He noted the state

Department of Corrections andRehabilitation trains inmates in automotiverepairs, construction, cosmetology and fire-fighting, but they are then denied licensesafter they get out of prison.

The legislation is part of a national“fair chance” effort. The NationalConference of State Legislatures says atleast a dozen states are considering billsto reduce licensing barriers for peoplewith criminal records.

The measures follow existing laws inCalifornia and elsewhere requiring mostpublic- and private-sector employers todelay background checks and inquiriesabout job applicants' conviction recordsuntil they have made a conditional joboffer.

All three California bills are set for theirfirst committee hearings Tuesday.

AB2138 is opposed by building and con-tractors associations which say the numberof applicants rejected because of criminalconvictions already is low.

AB2293 is opposed by emergency med-ical services associations that say it couldendanger public health and safety. Existingstate law already allow ex-convicts to behired if their convictions are unrelated totheir duties, the groups note.

There is no recorded opposition toAB3039, which would streamline considera-tion of caregiver licenses for applicants withcriminal histories.

California bills seek toease hiring of ex-convicts

8 TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

ARTIST:Isabella Boucher8TH GRADERLincoln Middle School

Celebrate April as Fair Housing MonthSanta Monica City Attorney | Consumer Protection Division | 310.458.8336 | www.smconsumer.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018

Puzzles & Stuff9Visit us online at www.smdp.com

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S SUDOKU

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S CROSSWORD

Medical History■ This week in 1822, Charles M.Graham of New York was issuedthe first U.S. patent for artifi-cial teeth. The record and itsdetails were lost in an 1836Patent Office fire, as was anearlier related patent byWilliam R. Eagleson for settingnatural and artificial teeth.False teeth had, in fact, beenaround for decades. GeorgeWashington had at least foursets of false teeth, though nonewere wooden despite mytholo-gy. Washington's first dentureswere comprised of human teethset into carved hippopotamusivory, with a hole preciselyplaced to accommodateWashington's single remainingnatural molar.

FFaallssttaaffffiiaann1. of, relating to, or having the qualities of Falstaff, especially hisrobust, bawdy humor, good-natured rascality, and brazen braggadocio:Falstaffian wit.

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Zack Hill By JOHN DEERING & JOHN NEWCOMBE

Dogs of C-Kennel

Strange Brew

Agnes By TONY COCHRAN

By JOHN DEERINGHeathcliff By PETER GALLAGHER

By MICK & MASON MASTROIANNI & JOHNNY HART

Happy people tend to make promises they won't want to keep when the happiness has worn off. And sadpeople make decisions that make absolutely no sense in a better mood. Therefore, the happy shouldn'tpromise, and the sad should not decide. If you can keep this from happening, it will be a successful firstday of Venus in social Gemini.

Venus Shift to Gemini

ARIES (March 21-April 19)Curiosity is among your most useful talents,as it will lead you to experience wonder, tri-umph, satisfaction and dissatisfaction.(Those last two will be equally important toa fulfilling life.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)You're good at uncovering the facts, hearingthe facts through the fiction and giving thefacts in an unbiased way. Today's talent fortruth will make you an invaluable part of aquest for justice.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)You have developed some mental tricks to helpyou get around obstacles, avoid conflict andrise above trouble. You may not even be fullyaware of exactly how you do this, but someonewill notice and follow your lead today.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)None of the saints were canonized for countingother people's sins. It just doesn't work thatway. Those who focus on the sins of others arestill making sin their focus.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)It is possible to train your mind to be strongerthan your emotions. You'll seek this kind ofmastery. Clearly, emotions run amok do notcontribute in a positive way to what you're try-ing to build in your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)The temptation to share prematurely will bethere. Exciting things are coming together, forsure, but it's still early. Work quietly and lateryour success will speak for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)Some people are easier to be around than oth-ers, but that doesn't make a relationship anymore or less correct. An uncomfortable rela-tionship can be the greatest teacher on earth,inspiring your highest and quickest evolution.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)From a distance, the rolling fog is mysterious,beautiful, mystical... but when you're in thethick of it, it can be maddeningly disorienting.Seek higher mental ground. Avoid states ofperplexity by rising above them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)Seeing the problems that really do exist isn'tpessimism — far from it. This is actually a formof optimism. If you didn't think there might besomething to be done about it, you wouldn'thave the guts to see it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)The creative process is your joy. The productsthat come of it can bring some fleeting satis-faction as well, but it's almost unmentionablein comparison with the great feeling thatcomes from being in the flow of your work.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)You may not have all the skills you need to makesomething happen yet, but you're getting them.Try again. Also, keep a record of your efforts soyou can avoid making the same mistake twice.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)While joy feels better, sadness can be beautiful,too. It can wash over you like a wave in amoment of connection that makes you appre-ciate and value your life.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (April 24)

It's been a while since you saw truly serene circumstances, but this year brings several momentsof profound peace and beauty. You'll appreciate them, too, because of all the bustle and hard workrepresented in other moments. There will be five significant gatherings, meaningful to your groupand your legacy. Libra and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 14, 3, 39, 6 and 12.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD BYTHE SANTA MONICA ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

ON APPLICATIONS FOR VARIANCES

TIME: 10:30 a.m., May 8, 2018

LOCATION: Council Chambers, Room 213, Santa Monica City Hall,

1685 Main Street, Santa Monica

A Public Hearing will be held by the Zoning Administrator of the City of Santa Monica at

the above noted time and place in regard to the following requests:

FENCE WALL HEDGE MODIFICATION, 17ENT-0304, 2536 5th Street. The applicant

requests approval of a hedge height modification to allow for a 15’ foot high hedge along

the front property line parallel to Ocean Park Boulevard and a 7.5’ foot high fence along

the east side property line within the front yard setback. The subject property is located in

the Ocean Park Low Density Residential (OP2) zoning district. Pursuant to Santa Monica

Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 9.21.050, fences, walls, and hedges cannot exceed a

maximum height of 42 inches within the required front yard setback as measured from the

lowest finished grade adjacent to either side of the fence, wall, or hedge. SMMC Section

9.43.080(B) allows an applicant to request a modification to this height limitation in the

front yard setback. [PLANNER: Michael Rocque] APPLICANT/OWNER: Gilena Simons.

HOW TO COMMENTThe City of Santa Monica encourages public comment. You may comment at the Zoning

Administrator public hearing, or by writing a letter. Written information will be given to the

Zoning Administrator at the meeting.

Any person may comment at the Public Hearing, or by writing a letter to the City Planning

Division, Room 212, P.O. Box 2220, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2220. Plans are available for

public review at the City Planning Division. For more information, please contact the City

Planning Division at (310) 458-8341. Pursuant to California Government Code Section

64009(b), if this matter is subsequently challenged in Court, the challenge may be limited to

only those issues raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspon-

dence delivered to the City of Santa Monica at, or prior to, the Public Hearing. The meeting

facility is wheelchair accessible. For disability-related accommodations, please contact (310)

458-8341 or (310) 458-8696 TTY at least 72 hours in advance. Every attempt will made to

provide the requested accommodation. All written materials are available in alternate format

upon request. Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Lines #1, #2, #3, Rapid 3, #7, #8, #9, Rapid #10,

and #18 service City Hall and the Civic Center area. The Expo Line terminus is at Colorado

Avenue and Fourth Street, a short walk to City Hall. Public parking is available in front of City

Hall, on Olympic Drive, and in the Civic Center Parking Structure (validation free).

*Esto es un aviso sobre una audiencia publica para revisar applicaciones proponiendo desar-

rollo en Santa Monica. Esto puede ser de interes para usted. Si desea mas informacion, favor

de llamar a Carmen Gutierrez en la Division de Planificacion al numero (310) 458-8341.

Lewis warned the RCB rollbacks could“cause significant economic dislocation.”

Despite the warning from Lewis, the RCBsaid there was too little time to draft a compan-ion ballot measure to amend the City Charterand expressed doubt the Affordable HousingAct will pass. On April 12, they voted unani-mously to table the discussion indefinitely.

“They seem to have an incorrect politicalassessment because poll after poll shows asignificant number of voters in this state sup-port rent control and support repealingCosta-Hawkins,” said Amy Schur, the cam-paign director for the Alliance ofCalifornians for Community Empowerment,the group behind the initiative.

Schur says Garcetti’s support is a majorboon for the grassroots initiative. The groupwill now focus on training hundreds of vol-unteers throughout the state to advocate forthe initiative. She says California has 17 mil-lion renters, many of whom would like to seerent control in their local communities.

“It’s not a surprise that the mayor of thelargest city in the state recognizes that enough

is enough,” Schur said in an interview withthe Daily Press. “Skyrocketing rents are notsustainable and the only way cities are goingto have the tools they need to address the sit-uation is by repealing Costa-Hawkins.”

The City Council has the ultimate say inwhether to put a companion initiative on theballot.

Local and state landlord groups such asthe California Apartment Associate (CAA)argue rent control forces mom-and-poplandlords out of business and reduces thefinancial incentive to build new housing,worsening the current crisis.

“It’s a high stakes battle,” said StevenMaviglio, with Californians for ResponsibleHousing, a group opposing the initiative.“We think this will pour gasoline on the firethat is California's affordable housing crisis.It will result in a housing freeze that will hurtthe people it’s intended to help.”

Instead, his group supports the Veteransand Affordable Housing Bond Act whichwould set aside $3 billion for affordablehousing and $1 billion for home loans forveterans and other measures that allowhousing development throughout the state.

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SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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SMC.EDUCLASSES BEGIN JUNE 18, 2018Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees

Barry A. Snell, Chair; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Rob Rader; Dr. Andrew Walzer; Chase Matthews, Student Trustee; Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, Superintendent/President