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Volume 8 Issue 221
Santa Monica Daily Press CLIPPERS TRADE RICHARDSON SEE PAGE 12
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THE HOT, HOT, HOT ISSUE
New signs let riders know buses arrival BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
Fabian Lewkowicz FabianLewkowicz.com
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS: About 100 protesters rallied against Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts on Monday at the Santa Monica Airport, which the governor uses frequently to fly to Sacramento from his home in Brentwood. The state is facing a $26.3-billion budget deficit.
Protesters act out against state budget cuts BY NATALIE JARVEY Special to the Daily Press
SM AIRPORT On the day that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was expected to reach an agreement with legislators on how to solve California’s $26.3-billion budget deficit, members of the community took to the streets to protest potential cuts. The rally was held on Monday on the corner of Bundy Drive and Airport Avenue just outside the Santa Monica Airport, the airport Schwarzenegger uses to commute to Sacramento from his home in Los Angeles. “Whether the budget goes down today or next week, the crisis won’t be over for millions of poor and working Californians and youth who will see drastic cuts to services and education when they need it the most,” said Marqueece Harris-Dawson,
executive director of Community Coalition, an organization based out of South Los Angeles. Protesters from several community organizations, such as the Korean Resource Center and South Central Youth Empowered Through Action, and labor groups showed up in black, carrying tombstones that marked the death of state-funded programs such as Cal Grants and inhome care for the sick and elderly. They beat their signs in the air as leaders with microphones yelled, “The people united will never be defeated.” Leaders in Sacramento have reached a stalemate in budget discussions over such issues as plans to take money from local governments, education funding and state welfare services. After canceling a meeting scheduled last
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DOWNTOWN Planning a trip around town just got easier. The Big Blue Bus recently installed a series of new signs that notify awaiting passengers when their ride is scheduled to arrive, part of an effort aimed at improving technology and communication between the public transportation agency and its growing customer base. Displayed overhead at four stops along Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard in Downtown, the new electronic signs relay real-time information to riders on which line is due next and the estimated time of arrival. All motor coaches in the system have been outfitted to transmit information of their exact locations via radio channel to the Big Blue Bus, passing that along to select bus shelters. There are approximately 14 signs that have been installed at UCLA, the Rimpau terminal and in Santa Monica with plans to expand to Santa Monica College and other high volume stops, Linda Gamberg, spokeswoman for the Big Blue Bus, said. “Our mission is to provide excellent service and innovation to our customers,” she said. Dennis Lingard, a 64-year-old Santa SEE SIGNS PAGE 8
Sunday, talks have started again and many senators are hopeful that a decision will be made within the next several days. But protesters said any budget solution will involve cuts that would cause higher school drop-out rates, increased levels of crime and an inability to care for the most vulnerable. “We need our state leaders to put the youth of California ahead of their selfish agenda,” said Taylor Griffin, an 11th grader at Dorsey High School, about proposed education cuts. Carlos Cazares, a teacher at El Serrano High School who was recently fired due to budget cuts, echoed Griffin’s argument, adding that it’s important for students to see that the government cares about pro-
FIFTH STREET Two mid-street crosswalks in Downtown may be removed by City Hall because of a decrease in pedestrian traffic and concern for the lack of flashing warning lights. However, some say the street will be more dangerous without them. “First, to be really clear, we’re not removing any crosswalks without community
SEE PROTEST PAGE 8
SEE CROSSWALKS PAGE 9
City Hall to consider removing crosswalks BY CATHERINE CAIN Special to the Daily Press
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