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Volume 11 Issue 92
Santa Monica Daily Press
WHAT’S IN THE INBOX? SEE PAGE 4
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THE BY THE NUMBERS ISSUE
Homeless count holds steady in 2012 Service providers cheer success, worry about the future in light of economic tough times BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
CITY HALL Santa Monica’s homeless population remained steady between 2011 and 2012 despite the sluggish economy some
service providers feel is pushing people closer to the brink of homelessness. Over 200 volunteers combed the city on Jan. 25 tallying every homeless individual encountered on the street, in cars, RVs, tents or other forms of temporary shelter.
Homeless who had found shelter that night in temporary housing, jail or a hospital were also counted. Volunteers found 264 homeless on the streets, 53 in cars or encampments and an additional 453 in temporary shelters for a
point-in-time total of 769 individuals. No families were found outside. That’s a slight uptick from the 740 volunteers counted in 2011, although most of the SEE COUNT PAGE 8
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP
Samohi’s Walker wins state title BY DANIEL ARCHULETA Managing Editor
LEMOORE, Calif. It took two tries, but
CITY HALL Continuing efforts to manage Santa Monica’s traffic are expected to take another step forward Tuesday if the City Council approves a new traffic signal detec-
Samohi wrestler Jessica Walker can finally call her self a state champ. After falling in the final last year as a junior, Walker was able to outlast Northview’s Maddy Tyrone, 1-0, on Saturday at the CIF Girls’ Wrestling State Invitational Championships in Lemoore, Calif. “I feel accomplished with the win,” Walker said. “It’s something I’ve been working for.” Walker said the low score was due to her opponent’s apparent stall tactics. Walker rallied for an escape while Tyrone had her in her grasp for the match’s only scoring. The two were familiar with each other, having wrestled a handful of times in the past with Walker coming out on top each time. “Her coaches were telling her to slow it down,” Walker said of Tyrone’s tactics. The tactic didn’t do the trick and the junior from Samohi added to her CIF-Southern Section title she won two weeks ago. Walker’s exploits at the state tournament bring an end to Samohi’s season. There are nationals yet to come, which Walker has qualified for, but she will instead focus on the upcoming track and field season. Her specialties are discus and the shot put.
SEE CONSENT PAGE 7
SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 10
Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com
ROAD RULES: A new camera system being considered for select intersections will make it easier to detect the presence of bikes and cars.
New traffic camera system to cost city BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD 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.
Andrew Thurm
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