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Volume 8 Issue 254
Santa Monica Daily Press SUSHI DONE RIGHT SEE PAGE 7
We have you covered
THE RIP IT AND SHIP IT ISSUE
Promenade food carts expected back this fall BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
There are 278 parks within the state sys-
DOWNTOWN Out of all the parts that make up the Third Street Promenade, from the artists to retail carts to the merchants that line the strip, there’s one that’s been absent for the past few years. That missing piece of the puzzle — food carts — is due to return this fall. There was a time when shoppers on the promenade could grab a quick bite without stepping foot inside, buying a hot dog, shaved ice or donuts from different vendors who dotted the outdoor mall. While the retail mobiles have remained since, their partners in food have not been present on the city’s busiest commercial corridor since 2006 when cart operator Provenzano Resources Inc. (PRI) began redesigning the food cart program. “We’re hoping that we can be underway pretty soon,” Deborah Kravitz, a partner in PRI, said. “It’s taken a bit longer than we thought.” The reason for the delay can be attributed to the overhaul in state health regulations for permitting food carts in 2007, which forced PRI to make a number of changes to its proposal. The Los Angeles County Health Department in December 2006 approved PRI’s commissary, which is the offsite food prep and cart storage facility located in the basement of Parking Structure 2, allowing the company to move forward with the next step in the process — getting each of the carts permitted by the state. But just as PRI was about to submit its application, the state introduced new permitting guidelines, which included changes in areas like food transport and preparation. As a result, Kravitz had to go back to the drawing board and create a new set of designs for the carts to meet new requirements. Kravitz said the carts have gone through several design changes since the new regula-
SEE PARKS PAGE 13
SEE FOOD CARTS PAGE 12
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com
JUST FOR KICKS: President of the Will Rogers Polo Club Andrew Bossom (left) practices at the Will Rogers polo field on Friday afternoon.
The last days of recreation Officials to close 100 state parks and are looking for sustainable funding solutions BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
WILMONT As hundreds of hikers head out to their favorite trails this weekend, they would be wise to stop and smell the roses, or whatever foliage is around, for the hike could be their last — in the state park that is. Faced with devastating budget cuts totaling $53.6 million, the California Department of Parks and Recreation is being forced to close or reduce services at state parks, with some state officials estimating that 100 parks will be off limits to visitors. The bad news for nature lovers is expected to come soon after Labor Day, with officials looking at key factors such as
the number of visitors and revenue generated to determine which parks to close. In response, State Sen. Fran Pavley (DSanta Monica), the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, held an informational hearing Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica to solicit ideas from the public on how to protect the parks by developing “sustainable” funding sources instead of relying on the erratic general fund. “A resource that we love and treasure is at risk,” said Pavley, who reminded the roughly 50 people who attended the hearing that each Californian is technically an owner of the state parks system. “State parks are always on the hit list [during
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budget discussions]. … It is difficult [to find funding when] you are competing against limited resources.” Pavley called on the public to “think outside the box” to find funding solutions that can work in the short term — around two to three years — to bridge the gap, during which time more long-term measures can be developed. Hopefully the economy can rebound in that time as well to lessen the blow, but there are no guarantees, Pavley added. HOW WE GOT HERE
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