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JANUARY 22-23, 2011
Volume 10 Issue 61
Santa Monica Daily Press
DEALING WITH THOSE ANNOYING CAR ALARMS SEE PAGE 4
We have you covered
THE COURTS ISSUE
Appeals court sides with FAA in jet ban case BY NICK TABOREK Daily Press Staff Writer
SMO A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has declined to review an FAA ruling that determined City Hall is barred from enforcing a ban, passed by the City Council
in 2008, prohibiting class C and D jets from landing at the Santa Monica Airport. The ruling, issued on Friday, was the latest blow to local officials’ attempt to bar larger private jets from using the facility. Since at least 2002, Santa Monica officials have favored limiting runway access to only smaller class A
and B aircraft, arguing larger jets pose a safety hazard because SMO lacks a sufficient buffer zone between the end of its runway and homes in surrounding neighborhoods. Some homes are just 300 feet away from the 5,000-foot landing strip. “I am disappointed by the D.C. circuit's
decision, but I am not surprised,” said City Attorney Marsha Moutrie. “The city fought this case long and hard. I believe staff and outside counsel did good work and mounted a strong defense of the ordinance. But, in SEE FAA PAGE 10
2 SMPD officers cleared by jury in discrimination suit BY NICK TABOREK Daily Press Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES A federal jury in Los Angeles has cleared two Santa Monica police officers of racial discrimination but deadlocked on other allegations in a civil case stemming from a March 1, 2008 arrest at Yankee Doodle restaurant on the Third Street Promenade. According to City Hall attorneys, the plaintiff in the case, Paul Burke, became involved in a fight with another restaurant patron after watching a televised Ultimate SEE SUIT PAGE 12
Jury deadlocks in Moose Lodge sentencing BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
GETTING A FACELIFT
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com Mindshare employees Brian Diamond (center) and Darshan Rangnath finish up the stairway as others from their investment group finish painting the inside of the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club on Friday morning. The media network crew spent their time giving the club's recreation center a much-needed facelift.
host of projects that brought buildings back to life. The ceremony will start at 2 p.m. at the historic Church in Ocean Park. “It is very gratifying to see the efforts of
agreement on whether or not to recommend the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for a hard-core gang member who murdered five people, including two Santa Monica men at the Sunset Park Moose Lodge. The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated about three days before informing the judge that it was hopelessly deadlocked on what sentence to recommend for William Vasquez, who prosecutors called a “hunter of human beings.” The jury was split 8-4, with the majority
SEE AWARDS PAGE 12
SEE JURY PAGE 10
Santa Monica Conservancy honors preservationists BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
DOWNTOWN A collection of Craftsmanstyle bungalows and a commercial building designed by renowned architect Paul
Williams are just some of the landmarked structures that will be featured Sunday when the Santa Monica Conservancy presents the 2011 Preservation Awards. The awards will be presented to residents, organizations and businesses for a
DOWNTOWN LA Jurors could not come to an
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