Santa Monica Daily Press, April 05, 2008

Page 1

WEEKEND EDITION Visit us online at smdp.com

INSIDE SCOOP

COMMENTARY

GETTING TIPSY FOR A GOOD CAUSE PAGE 3 FINAL FOUR OR BUST PAGE 4

APRIL 5-6, 2008

Volume 7 Issue 124

Santa Monica Daily Press

HOWLAND READIES HIS BOYS SEE PAGE 18

Since 2001: A news odyssey

THE TREE UPDATE ISSUE

Scaling back the original plan City Hall decides to reduce number of trees to be relocated in downtown area BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

STILL STANDING — FOR NOW: Twenty-three ficus trees in Downtown are still scheduled to be removed and turned to mulch because they have been deemed structurally deficient.

Special ed issues explode at meeting

DOWNTOWN City officials have reduced the number of ficus trees to be uprooted and relocated as part of a streetscape improvement project on Second and Fourth streets from 31 trees to seven, according to a flyer being distributed to residents and business owners. Initially up to 31 trees were targeted for relocation within the project area

and other locations throughout the city, but after surveying underground utilities, seven ficus trees were found to be good candidates for relocation to the proposed Palisades Garden Walk park on the former RAND Corp. site. The remaining 24 trees will not be touched, joining 120 new ginkgo bilobas and other species for a grand total of 254 trees on eight blocks, said Kate Vernez, assistant to the City Manager. “We want these trees to thrive,” Vernez said. Twenty-three ficus trees are still scheduled to be removed and turned to mulch because they have been deemed structurally deficient. The bulk of the streetscape project includes widening and repairing sidewalks and enhancing lighting along the two commercial corridors, however,

the trees have received the most attention from activists and the media. Santa Monica Treesavers, who are fighting the removals in court, said City Hall’s decision to relocate seven trees instead of 31 is a direct result of their activism and their filing of a restraining order in an attempt to save as many trees as possible. City officials said that is not the case. They contend that 31 was just an estimate and that the real number of trees to be relocated would be determined once workers went underground. “We’re grateful that the city has decided to remove less trees, however, I know the Treesavers would like to see all the trees remain except for those that pose a danger to the public,” said SEE TREES PAGE 13

COMMUNITY

BY MELODY HANATANI I Daily Press Staff Writer SMMUSD HDQTRS In the end, it was a confrontation that appeared to be years in the making. Tears were shed, accusations were made and private horror stories were shared during an emotion-laden discussion about special education at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday. It was a conversation based on the highly-anticipated results from an independent evaluation of what has become a controversial piece of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District for more than a year — the issue of settlement agreements and confidentiality clauses in Individualized Education Plans, which outlines specialized services that special ed students receive. Lou Barber and Associates presented its findings from the nearly four-month-long analysis of the program, concluding there was concern in the district’s over-utilization of settlement agreements, fueling a perception of secrecy at the central administration level and leading to a sense of mistrust by parents. “I think you run a wonderful school system here for most children,” Lou Barber said at the meeting. “The problem is there are some children who are not getting the services they should be getting in the program.” Several special education parents have expressed concerns about an alleged culture of fear and hostility con-

AIMING HIGH: With his friends behind him and the spray paint still drying in the sun on Thursday afternoon, Ryan Diaz drops

SEE MEETING PAGE 11

an empty spray paint can into a trash bin. Residents are asking for community improvement grants to add secured trash bins so that people can't take the used cans and paint on walls not designated for graffiti artists.

Group wants funds to keep Venice tidy STORY BY MELODY HANATANI PAGE 14

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

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