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Santa Monica Daily Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015
Volume 14 Issue 103
WEEKLY CONSTRUCTION UPDATES SEE PAGE 3
NTSB:
Landmarks Commission approves Chain Reaction testing
Harrison Ford’s plane lost power BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
SMO Harrison Ford’s World War II-
Courtesy image
HOT: Officials are telling marathon runners to be prepared for heat.
Weather concerns heat up ahead of LA Marathon
Matthew Hall matt@smdp.com
FULLY CHAINED: Some of the statue’s chains could be removed to facilitate safety testing.
BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN
Daily Press Staff Writer
Daily Press Staff Writer
MAIN STREET “Chain Reaction” is finally getting a
With temperatures expected to approach record highs on race day, LA Marathon organizers and first responders are taking numerous precautions amid mounting concerns about heatrelated issues for runners. Marathon organizers issued a weather advisory Monday afternoon warning that the expected temperatures “pose a high level of risk” to the roughly 26,000 participants, the second-largest field in the event’s 30-year history. Last year’s marathon, the hottest in the race’s history, saw temperatures in the low 80s and more than a dozen runners sent to area hospitals with heat-related CITYWIDE
check-up. The Landmarks Commission tightened up the recommendations from city officials before approving testing on the controversial structure located on Main Street near Pico Boulevard. Landmarks Commissioners were concerned with the suggested language, which included “the safe removal of all chains” to allow access to the interior of the sculpture — a gift to City Hall in the early 1990s from the Pulitzer Prizewinning cartoonist Paul Conrad. Because “Chain Reaction” is a designated landmark, the Landmark Commission has to give permission for any changes to be made to the structure. In 2012, city officials said that the aging sculpture posed a threat to public safety. Costs
to repair the sculpture, they said at the time, could be $400,000. City Council asked the public to raise funds to save the sculpture and supporters, with the self-designated nickname of the Chain Gang, collected more than $100,000. One year ago, council voted to accept that cash and cover the difference. Since then, the Chain Gang has grown tired of the chain link fence that will surround the sculpture until it’s deemed safe. City officials kicked off the Landmarks Commission meeting on Monday by noting that they were not in favor of removing all the chains but only those that are necessary. “Only the minimal amount of chain links for adequate access shall be disturbed and not necessarily removed for purposes of allowing, for the additional structural testing,” Landmarks Commissioners amended the final certificate to say. “Removal of the chain link SEE STATUE PAGE 8
era plane lost engine power before crashing into the Penmar Golf Course next to the Santa Monica Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report released Monday night. Ford’s crash made national headlines after it was reported that the actor was transported to the hospital in critical condition last Thursday. Ford is now said to be in fair to moderate condition. About a minute after taking off from runway 21 at the airport, at 2:22 p.m., Ford’s Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR experienced engine failure and he requested permission to return to the airport, the NTSB report said. The SMO traffic control tower controller granted permission and Ford started a left turn back toward the runway. His plane then struck the top of a tall tree before hitting the ground about 800 feet from the approach end of runway 3. NTSB refers to the incident as a forced landing on the golf course and listed Ford, which it only identifies as “the pilot,” as seriously injured. The plane, whose wings and fuselage were damaged, according to the report, was later taken to a secure location for further examination by the NTSB. “Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight,” the report said. NTSB’s final report could take months or even years to complete. The last SMO-related crash occurred nearly a year and a half ago, on Sept. 29, 2013, resulting in
SEE HEAT PAGE 3
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