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Volume 13 Issue 63
Santa Monica Daily Press
MAILBOXES GOING BYE-BYE SEE PAGE 3
We have you covered
THE UNDER THE BIG TOP ISSUE
Using your mobile to be more mobile City Hall purchasing traffic technology BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.
SEE CONSENT PAGE 8
Fabian Lewkowicz www.fabianLewkowicz.com ON STAGE: Santa Monica Mayor Pam O'connor speaks during the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's State of the City event on Monday.
State of the City focuses on Santa Monica’s bright future BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
SM BEACH Mayor Pam O’Connor talked about the good changes and the things that never change in her 2014 State of the City
address on Monday. Hosted by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and held under the Cirque du Soleil big top, the event was attended by leaders from local government and the business community who spoke highly of
the city by the sea’s prospects. O’Connor started by taking the audience back in time with newspaper clips from 1984 when the L.A. Raiders won the SEE CITY PAGE 10
Claim filed against L.A. over Venice boardwalk death THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES The husband and parents of an Italian newlywed who was killed when a car struck people on the Venice boardwalk has filed a claim against the city of Los Angeles. Monday’s claim contends the city didn’t
provide adequate barriers to keep cars off of the beach boardwalk. Alice Gruppioni died and a dozen people were hurt in the Aug. 3 incident. Prosecutors say the driver, Nathan Campbell, deliberately drove around barriers and mowed down people on the famous tourist spot. His attorney says it was an
accident and Campbell has pleaded not guilty to murder. The claim seeks funeral expenses and unspecified damages. If the city rejects the claim, the family can file a lawsuit. City attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says he hasn’t seen the claim and can’t immediately comment.
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Fishermen complying with SoCal restrictions THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES Two years after sanctuaries were created to help preserve marine life populations off Southern California, officials say fishermen are largely complying with the restrictions. The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that Fish and Wildlife wardens last year issued about 145 citations for violations of the Marine Protected Areas. That’s a tiny percentage of the roughly 4,000 tickets issued for various violations across the eight-county district that includes the sanctuaries. The Southern California Marine Protected Areas forbid or limit fishing in 50 zones spanning 15 percent of state waters from Santa Barbara County south to Mexico. They are intended to help depleted species like rockfish and spiny lobster. Since the sanctuaries took effect in 2012, recreational fishermen who fought their lost access have suffered a series of defeats in court.