WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011
Volume 10 Issue 88
Santa Monica Daily Press SAFER WATER? SEE PAGE 7
We have you covered
THE UPGRADE US ISSUE
SMMUSD supe warns against ‘sabotage’ BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
SMMUSD HDQTRS Superintendent Tim Cuneo warned school board members in a confidential memo of possible trouble from three former Special Education Program Task Force members he predicted would “sabotage” district negotiations with City Hall concerning funding from Measures Y and YY, a half cent sales tax increase approved by voters in November. The City Council moved to withhold $530,000 from the school district until problems with special education, identified in a 2008 independent audit, were addressed. The council gives the school district roughly $7 million annually as part of a joint-use agreement and could give $6 to $7 million more as part of Measures Y and YY. To address the council’s concerns, the task force was formed to study reforms and report back to the superintendent. In the memo, which the Daily Press received Monday, Cuneo named three for-
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com
SAY CHEESE: Tourists take photos on the Santa Monica Pier last week. A new report finds that the local tourism industry is on the mend.
Clearer skies ahead for Santa Monica’s tourism industry BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
SEE MEMO PAGE 12
Friends mourn local yachters killed by pirates CHRISTINA HOAG & GEORGE TIBBITS Associated Press
ST. MONICA Four American yachters killed by Somali pirates early Tuesday were longtime sailors whose passion for the high seas outweighed any fear of the risks, friends said. The yacht’s owners, Jean and Scott Adam of Marina del Rey near Los Angeles, along with Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle, were shot to death after pirates SEE COUPLE PAGE 10
DOWNTOWN Santa Monica’s hotels are nearly 85 percent full and the price per room is rising to levels not seen since before the great recession of 2008, good news for City Hall, retailers and restaurants, many of whom rely heavily on the estimated $1 billion spent by visitors annually. The city by the sea is fairing far better than many other destinations in the region with an average daily room rate of $255.73 at the end of 2010 compared to $245.84 in ‘09, according to figures released by Colliers PKF Consulting, which tracks hotel trends and statistics. While that represents a 4 percent increase, it is still far bellow the ‘08 rate of $285.85, but all signs are pointing toward a continued climb back to normalcy, said Brandon Feighner, an associate with Colliers PKF. “Historically, Santa Monica has always faired well,” he said. “One of the ways Santa
Monica has been able to maintain a high level of occupancy … is the incredible barriers to entry. There’s not available land to build new hotels, keeping occupancy levels high. You don’t have new competition cannibalizing the market.” The city by the sea also attracts a diverse group of visitors, from the strong group meeting market to the leisure traveler with a family. The high quality of hotel options is also a plus, along with Santa Monica’s proximity to LAX and other popular destinations. “You have a nice mix of affordable to luxury so you are able to capture demand across all segments and all rate levels,” Feighner said. Santa Monica had the highest occupancy rate of any other city in the region monitored by Colliers PKF with 83.6 percent. The closest was the area near LAX with 80.75 percent. Room rates in Santa Monica were also near the top. Beverly Hills was the most expensive, with $360.46.
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339 In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
City Hall received just over $31 million in 2008-09 and 2007-08 in tax revenue generated by hotel stays. Experts predict a more robust 2011 with planners anticipating an increase in attendance at their events, according to Colliers PFK. Some are predicting some limited growth in the number of events planned. Fifty percent of planners surveyed said that the economy is no longer affecting their choice of destinations and meeting venues. Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau president Misti Kerns credits Santa Monica’s rebound to the hotel managers who did not panic and dramatically reduce rates, instead choosing to maintain quality services while offering smaller discounts or incentives. “They had a plan and followed it through. Now it’s paying off,” said Kerns, whose bureau operates on a budget of $2.4 SEE TOURISM PAGE 11
SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP? TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • CORPORATIONS
SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA
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100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800Santa Monica 90401