Santa Monica Daily Press, September 17, 2009

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Volume 8 Issue 270

Santa Monica Daily Press A TASTE OF LEMONADE SEE PAGE 7

We have you covered

THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PROMENADE ISSUE

Promenade celebrates 20 years BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer

DOWNTOWN The Santa Monica Pier isn’t the only local icon to celebrate a landmark anniversary recently. A week after the world-famous pier turned 100, the Third Street Promenade marked its 20th year on Wednesday, celebrating an outdoor pedestrian mall that has inspired similar shopping districts across the country. “It’s amazing, 20 years later the vibrancy is really the envy of many communities throughout the world.” Kathleen Rawson, the CEO of the Bayside District Corp., said. Bayside District Corp, a private/public company that manages Downtown, held a birthday press conference on Wednesday morning in which they showcased a cake that illustrated the southern block of the promenade, featuring fixtures — street performers, couples and parents — that surrounded a topiary dinosaur that served as the centerpiece. “The Third Street Promenade has really become the heart of our Downtown and really a major focus for the people who live here and the visitors to this community,” Mayor Ken Genser said. “Santa Monica would not be what it is without the Third Street Promenade.” Once a regular street open to vehicular traffic, Third Street between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard was converted into a pedestrian mall in 1965. But the area fell into hard times by the early 1980s, suffering from customers lost to the then newly constructed Santa Monica Place and a lack of business once nighttime came. “There was almost nobody there in the daytime and absolutely nobody at night,” Denny Zane, who served as councilmember at the time, said. When Santa Monicans’ for Renters Rights captured the majority of the City Council seats in 1981, there were several high prioriSEE PROMENADE PAGE 12

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

VISUAL TREAT: Mayor Ken Genser, joined by City Manager Lamont Ewell (right), Bayside District Corp. board chairman Bill Tucker and Bayside CEO Kathleen Rawson (left), cuts the cake celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Third Street Promenade following a press conference on Wednesday.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Williams’ injury a rallying point Family and friends begin fundraising efforts BY DANIEL ARCHULETA Managing Editor

WESTWOOD Just days removed from sustaining a serious spinal injury, Santa Monica High School’s Cody Williams appears to have the entire school community pulling for him. Since injuring himself during Samohi’s season opener last Friday against Leuzinger, Williams has been receiving treatment at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with his mother faithfully at his side, a family

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spokesperson said. He underwent surgery on Saturday and began the early stages of therapy this week, his aunt Tricia Smith said. She added that he has some movement in his arms and upper torso, but declined to elaborate on the seriousness of the injury until doctors can further evaluate how he is responding to the surgery. “He’s healing well,” Smith said. “He’s very tired. (Doctors) are watching him closely. “He has a long road to recovery ahead.” While he battles to overcome an injury that often times leads to paralysis, those

close to him are cautiously optimistic in regards to the final prognosis, which may take 6 to 12 months to evaluate. “Everybody is hoping for the best,” Samohi Athletic Director Norm Lacy said. “I look forward to him walking out next year to do the coin toss during the first game of the season.” Once word spread of the injury, a groundswell of support grew including fundraising efforts and kind words from SEE WILLIAMS PAGE 13

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