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TUESDAY
06.28.16 Volume 15 Issue 185
@smdailypress
Crossroads teams earn state-best GPAs Boys swimming, girls tennis squads honored by CIF
WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2 RUSTY’S WINNER ............................PAGE 3 DAVID PISARRA ..............................PAGE 4 FIREWORKS SCARE PETS ............PAGE 5 CRIMEWATCH ..................................PAGE 8
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Santa Monica Daily Press
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State budget provides development incentives BY MATTHEW HALL Daily Press Editor
Governor Jerry Brown has signed a new state budget that guarantees developers the ability to build housing projects if they meet preexisting zoning standards. The budget contains a provision known as “by right” construction and is tied to new spending to incentive affordable housing. The new rules will allow developers to bypass discretionary approvals (like a public vote or a vote by the City Council) if a project meets conditions defined by a municipal-
ity’s Zoning Code. According to a press release sent by the Governor’s office, the budget reflects $3.6 billion in state and federal funding and award authority for many affordable housing and homelessness programs, including increased funding for CalWORKs rapid rehousing and emergency homeless shelters. Of that, $400 million will be set aside from the General Fund for allocation to affordable housing programs. “The funding will be coupled SEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 3
Accessibility programs keep beaches open for all BY CAMILLE DE BEUS Daily Press Intern
Courtesy Photo
STUDENT ATHLETE: Students at Crossroads must maintain high grades to remain on teams.
BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
As the Crossroads boys swimming team went through its stretching routine this season, coach Tara Shima would interject with a question: “You all got A’s today, right?” But, Shima said, she didn’t need to provide much guidance on schoolwork. Her athletes already took pride in their scholastic duties, as evidenced by their distinction as the most academically dedicated bunch of male high school swimmers in the state. Crossroads produced highest collective grade-point average in the state this year in boys swimming with a 3.81, the California Interscholastic Federation announced this month. The Santa Monica private school’s girls
tennis squad also garnered CIF honors with a team GPA of 3.93. “I was really proud of them,” Shima said. “There were times they needed to go because they needed to do their homework, and they learned to manage their time. The way they balanced obligations was far more mature than a lot of high school kids. We had a very young team, and for them to figure out how to do that was impressive.” The CIF academic awards program began in 1996 to honor sports teams for their grades on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Only classes with college-readiness credit are considered, Shima said. Crossroads was one of just four schools this
Todd Mitchell
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SEE GPA PAGE 6
As a City By The Sea, Santa Monica has long drawn people to its famed beaches and the City uses a variety of tools to ensure access for everyone. With a fleet of free beach wheel chairs and paved paths leading to the water, Santa Monica has a history of keeping the ocean accessible and recent additions like a pair of electric wheel chairs and an accessible playground build on that tradition. “The city made a commitment quite a while ago, to really set objectives to making the beach accessible,” said Community & Cultural Services Department Beach Administrator Judith Meister. “We’ve been able to do that and will continue to do so.” Officials said the city has a responsibility to keep the beaches open.
“We have an inherent duty to make our beaches accessible to all, because of their beauty,” Recreation and Parks Commission member Kurt Schwengel said. “We have, in my opinion, the most beautiful beaches in southern California, and it’s a shame that not all people are able to access them.” For individuals that need a surface more stable than sand, the city has five walkways leading from Oceanfront Walk to the ocean. There are five walkways located at Ashland Avenue, Ocean Park Blvd., Bay Street, Arizona Avenue, and Montana Avenue. City Hall began work on the paths about 20 years ago and they see steady use. “I don’t have any numbers, but I can see the walkway from my front window and my balcony, and it’s a nonstop stream of people walking SEE BEACH PAGE 7