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Some want smoking banned in apartments FROM SMOKING PAGE 1 within 20 feet of public entrances, exits, and windows in Santa Monica. The outdoor smoking ban, which went into effect on Thanksgiving Day 2006, encompasses outdoor areas of assembly, such as the Third Street Promenade, Farmers’ Markets, outdoor dining areas, bus stops and ATM lines. While the majority of people at the meeting appeared to favor some sort of restriction in apartments and condos, some pointing to health problems developed as a result of second-hand cigarette smoke, there were concerns in how the ordinance would be enforced and whether it would open the door for easy evictions. “If you write an ordinance that does not have teeth in it, then you’re wasting time and not achieving the goals,” Bill Dawson, the vice president of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, said. Dawson, whose management company represents several properties in Santa Monica, also said the ordinance might lead to strained relations between residents, causing tenant versus tenant issues. Among the rules considered for the ordinance is a requirement that landlords disclose to future residents whether smoking has occurred in the unit. Several landlords questioned who would be responsible for tracking such information, whether it would fall on the Rent Control Office or the landlords themselves. Dawson said he feared that if a landlord unintentionally gives mistaken information on the unit, it would leave the door open for litigation.
“I don’t want to be a smoking police,” he said. Another major issue raised during the meetings was the eviction process, some concerned that landlords would use smoking violations as a reason to get rid of rent controlled tenants. The current smoking ban ordinance categorizes violations as infractions, with fines at $100. Radinsky said when it comes to smoking in apartments and condos, a breach could be considered along with other tenant violations. Patricia Hoffman, one of the co-presidents of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, said the political organization opposes any new grounds for eviction. Several residents said that smoking, regardless of whether it’s in common areas or in units, can travel to their homes. One woman said she has spent hundreds of dollars on filters because a woman living one floor below is a smoker. Michelle Matisse, a Santa Monica apartment tenant, suggested that smoking also be banned within 20 feet of all common areas. “I would like to see all tenants protected, but this is going to be a slow process,” Matisse said. “There should be protection for people against second-hand smoke.” Paul Scott, the president of a condo association in Santa Monica, said smoking has become an issue in his building, suggesting that the ordinance be applicable to both condos and apartments. “We’re tired of them infringing on our right to clean air,” he said. melodyh@smdp.com
McCain calls Obama inexperienced FROM SENATORS PAGE 3 reminder that the Republican, at age 71, is seeking to be the oldest elected first-term president. “We face an opponent, John McCain, who arrived in Washington nearly three decades ago as a Vietnam War hero, and earned an admirable reputation for straight talk and occasional independence from his party,” Obama said earlier this month.“But this year’s Republican primary was a contest to see which candidate could out-Bush the other, and that is the contest John McCain won.” Over the next six months, both McCain and Obama will seek to define themselves positively and each other negatively as they try to plant lasting impressions in voters’ minds. Experience and change, age and race — Obama is seeking to become the first black president — all will be factors in the expected McCain-Obama matchup, as will vast differences in their policy positions. For now, McCain’s approach is somewhat scattershot; he appears to simply take advantage of openings Obama seems to create. A more deliberate effort, almost certainly with TV ads, is certain to follow in the coming weeks or months. McCain gave a glimpse of his newfound zeal to assail Obama at events this week. During a Memorial Day speech in New Mexico, McCain suggested that Obama took a politically expedient position on a veterans bill. A day later in a nuclear nonproliferation speech in Colorado, McCain slapped at Obama for saying he’d be willing to meet with
the leaders of rogue states like North Korea and Iran. He didn’t name Obama in either case but the references were clear. McCain was far more direct Wednesday. He opened a town-hall style event in Nevada with a lengthy critique of Obama’s competency on foreign policy, and questioned his leadership abilities. He again hammered Obama, who has called for a troop pullout, for last visiting Iraq in 2006. “This is about leadership and learning,” McCain said. “We’ve got to show him the facts on the ground.” He also asserted that Obama is more willing to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad than with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. Additionally, McCain raised Obama’s chairmanship of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee subcommittee and said: “He has not held one single hearing on Afghanistan where young Americans are in harm’s way as we speak. My friends, this is about leadership.” Taking questions, McCain sprinkled other jabs at Obama in his responses. “One of the differences between me and Senator Obama is that he wants to continue this spending spree,” McCain said, dinging the Democrat for voting in favor of a farm bill that included billions of dollars for special projects. Asked about education, McCain went off topic and used the opportunity to lecture Obama again on leadership: “Listen and learn. Listen and learn. That’s what great commanders do. That’s what great leaders do. You listen and you learn.”