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Santa Monica Daily Press
January 1-2, 2005
A newspaper with issues
Volume 4, Issue 43
NEWS OF THE WEIRD BY CHUCK SHEPARD
Chutzpah: John Michael Dunton’s infant daughter died in September when Dunton accidentally left her in his minivan, having forgotten to drop her off at the baby sitter’s before work. However, upon learning that no criminal charges would be filed against him, Dunton appeared at a press conference, boasting that a jury would have acquitted him, anyway, and then imploring automakers to invent something to keep parents from forgetting about their kids. In a June lawsuit in Albany, N.Y., Mark Hogarth, 45, asked a court to protect his constitutional right to privacy by exempting him from child-pornography laws so that he can reclaim 269 lewd photos of himself, taken when he was a kid, but which his nowdeceased father had hidden away in another country. In his petition, he said that his father approved of, but did not participate in, the photo sessions (some of which featured other children) and that Hogarth would like to keep the pictures as, basically, mementos of his childhood.
TODAY IN HISTORY In 1959, Fidel Castro led Cuban revolutionaries to victory over Fulgencio Batista. In 1979, the United States and China held celebrations in Washington and Beijing to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In 1984, the break-up of AT&T took place as the telecommunications giant was divested of its 22 Bell System companies under terms of an antitrust agreement. In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two new countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect.
Presidents past and present dominate headlines in 2004 By Daily Press staff
News in Santa Monica is never boring. High-profile politics, individuals and issues propelled Santa Monica into the spotlight in 2004. Bobby Shriver, a Kennedy family scion, ran for local office and won after he felt mistreated by City Hall over the height of his hedges. The corner of 20th Street and Arizona Avenue became a media frenzy when Ronald Reagan’s body was brought to a local funeral home as the first stop during the president’s week-long memorial. Also in 2004, a local community leader announced she was stepping down at Santa Monica Community College, and despite crime being at a 40-year low, three homicides occurred within city limits. For the first time in the history
of Santa Monica politics, the chamber of commerce officially played a role in local elections by endorsing candidates, two of whom gained office. One of the biggest developments to hit the city in decades was unveiled a few months ago, which if approved, could dramatically change the downtown skyline. Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg donated $21 million to restore a beach club originally built for William Randolph Hearst’s mistress, actress Marion Davies. And Saint John’s Health Care Center opened up its main hospital after a decade of rebuilding following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The Santa Monica Daily Press revisits the top 10 news stories of the year. Friday highlighted the top five news stories of the year. Today, a list of the No. 6 through
No. 10 news stories of 2004. Here’s a list of the top news stories of 2004: 1. Bobby Shriver wins City Council race 2. Smokers snuffed out at beaches 3. City Hall forced into $6 million schools contribution 4. Mall developer unveils plans for high-rise towers downtown 5. $21 million given to City Hall to restore beach club
NO. 6: ELECTION 2004 The election of 2004 was of historic and unprecedented proportions. Bobby Shriver, brotherin-law of Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger and a Kennedy family member, was the top vote-getter after raising more money than anyone else in city politics history. And for the first time, the Santa
File photo Voters turned out en masse in November to chime in on the Presidential election and crucial city races.
Monica Chamber of Commerce officially involved itself in local elections by endorsing candidates. Santa Monica’s ruling party, Santa Monicans For Renters’ Rights, which has had its candidates in office for the better part of three decades, felt a real challenge this year as a result of the chamSee YEAR IN REVIEW, page 6
INDEX Horoscopes Early to bed, Libra
2
Surf Report Water Temperature: 57°
3
Community Red-letter day
3
Opinion Something wicked this way comes 4
Q-Line Mop and they’ll glow
4
National Amendment unlikely
5
Comics Hardy har har
12
Classifieds Need a job?
13-15
People in the News A fine catch
16
Red Cross keeping the light on to assist tsunami survivors By Daily Press staff
Due to the overwhelming outpouring of support for the victims of the Southeast Asia earthquake and tsunami, the Red Cross of Santa Monica has opened a toll-free hotline to assist residents who want to donate to the disaster victims. So far, Santa Monica residents have donated in upwards of $133,000 toward the effort, according to John Pacheco, executive director the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter. “It’s been just amazing,” he said. “The outpouring has been so significant that our regular phone
lines aren’t able to handle it.” The hotline will be open over the New Year’s holiday to help process donations and provide updated information on the disaster. The Santa Monica chapter also will be open for those who wish to make donations in person. To donate, residents are urged to call 1-866-733-5010. Donations can also be made in person at the Red Cross office located at 1450 11th St., or online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross Southeast Asia Earthquake/Tsunami
Relief Effort. In support of the effort, the American Red Cross already has deployed personnel to hard-hit Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Additional volunteers and employees trained in disaster relief and tracing are preparing to leave within the next few days. The Red Cross is preparing to ship $350,000 in relief supplies such as plastic sheeting, family-size tents and hygiene kits. The best way to get help to Southern Asia is with cash contributions to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. With
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funding, most relief supplies can be purchased in the affected areas. Contributions not only help the economies of the affected countries, but also save huge shipping costs and ensure that the supplies are culturally appropriate. The complexities of this disaster, the number of countries and people affected, the vast geographical area, and the roster of agencies and governments involved in the response are virtually unprecedented. For this reason, American Red Cross involvement and needs will change and expand over time, officials said.
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