INSIDE SCOOP
COMMENTARY
ENVIRONMENT
BUDGET PROPOSAL COULD HIT PARKS HARD PAGE 3 LANDMARKING IS A FRONT PAGE 3 ECO-SLEEPING PAGE 9
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008
Visit us online at smdp.com
Volume 7 Issue 54
Santa Monica Daily Press One tough sell BOLTS SHOCK COLTS SEE PAGE 12
A resident wants to house homeless in small modules BY KEVIN HERRERA I Editor in Chief DOWNTOWN If sleeping in closet-like capsules is good enough for Japanese businessmen, then it should be good enough for Santa Monica’s homeless. That’s what resident Randy Walburger thinks, which is why he has developed an urban camping plan that he believes can move those without shelter into temporary housing faster than what is being done currently. The only problem is finding the money and the space to make it happen. Under Walburger’s proposal, which he has been sending to just about anyone who will listen, including City Hall staff and representatives with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, those living on the streets would be housed in plastic modules stacked on top of one another and placed in parking lots or land yet to be developed, where case workers could connect with the down-and-out and provide them
Since 2001: A news odyssey
with counseling, job training and other services. The urban campsites would include showers, toilets and lockers to store personal items. “Many homeless people have caseworkers but not a bed to sleep in at night, forcing them to go into hiding when the sun goes down,” said Walburger, who almost became homeless himself a few years back when he lost much of his money in the sock market, causing him to become severely depressed. “If people are caught lying down, they can get a ticket,” Walburger said. “That ticket quickly turns into a warrant because they can’t get to court or pay the fine, so ultimately, lying down becomes a jailable offense. That’s where we are today and I want to change that.” By using modular construction, Walburger believes entire campsites could be easily assembled and disassembled at a low-cost. Sleeping modules would be constructed out of sturdy, waterproof polyethylene plastic, insulated with 3-inches of fire retardant acoustic foam. The inside dimensions would be 7-feet long by 3.3-feet wide and 3-feet tall. Each capsule would contain a twin bed, a light and a small shelf. The modules would be ventilated front to back so the air flows through. Each module would have a louvered screen window that would serve as the front door. Each would also
THE HEAD FOR THE HILLS ISSUE
Photo Courtesy Randy Walburger
COMFY: Resident Randy Walburger wants to create plastic modules like the one pictured here to help house the homeless.
have a lock box to place personal items. Each campsite would need to have electrical and water hook-ups. A campsite serving 12 people could be assembled on less than 550 square feet, Walburger said. There would be two toilets, one shower, one dressing room and a sink. Not just anyone would be allowed to stay there. Walburger said case workers with agencies like OPCC and St. Jospeh Center would select candidates who are commitSEE MODULES PAGE 10
COMMUNITYPROFILES NANCY LINEHAN CHARLES
On the stump for real change Local resident campaigned for Hillary Clinton in Iowa BY MELODY HANATANI I Daily Press Staff Writer
STANDING STRONG
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com Union workers Raymond Robertson (right) and William Walter (left) protest the use of non-union workers in the music industry at the Geffen Building on Friday afternoon. They demand that the Vivendi/Universal Music Group honor union labor.
DUBUQUE, IDAHO In a crowded room illuminated by the flashing bulbs of news cameras and the cheers of political supporters, Nancy Linehan Charles finally came face-to-face with a former first lady. Just three days earlier, the Santa Monica resident and Hollywood actress had joined Hillary Clinton’s campaign trail through the Iowa Caucus in hopes of helping the New York senator secure the Democratic nomination this summer. It was Dec. 29 and Clinton was scheduled to make a speech at a campaign rally in Dubuque, a city located about three hours from the state capital. Charles, who has a role in the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War,” was among the supporters waiting for Clinton, in one hand clutching a poster she had promised to get autographed for a physically disabled girl lost in the crowd. SEE CP PAGE 11
platinum
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339
It’s all about you... The client 331 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica 2 Hours Free Parking (Behind Store) Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm • 310.451.1349
• www.readersjewelers.com
TAXES ALL FORMS, ALL TYPES, ALL STATES
AUDITS • BACK TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • SMALL BUSINESS
SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA
(310) 395-9922 100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800 Santa Monica 90401