WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Volume 13 Issue 259
Santa Monica Daily Press
CURIOUS CITY SEE PAGE 4
We have you covered
THE BUILD A BRIDGE ISSUE
City Goals: Fire Department BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
CITY HALL For the Fire Department, many
Editor's Note: Every year, city departments set goals and objectives. In August, City Hall released information about how each of the 15 departments progressed toward these goals during the 2013-14 fiscal year. Over a several week period, the Daily Press will take a look at the goals that are being achieved (according to City Hall) and the ones that aren't.
goals involve expansion or collaboration with other departments this year. The Fire and Police departments are in the process of consolidating their communication centers, a move officials say is in line with the industry's best practices standards. The target for completion of that project is June of next year and the task is
60 percent complete, according to department officials. Some of the consolidation initiatives are on hold while the department hires a consultant. On the fire side, staffing remains a challenge for its current communication center, which operates independently from the police, according to department offiSEE FIRE PAGE 9
Ed Board candidates cordial at Mid City forum BY DAVID MARK SIMPSON Daily Press Staff Writer
MAIN LIBRARY With so much focus on the three contested City Council seats, it's easy to overlook the four seats on the Board of Education. Mid City Neighbors opted to make education the focus of their candidates forum at the Main Library on Monday night. Topics were wide-ranging but Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board candidates spent much of the 40minute forum considering environmental issues in the Malibu schools. SEE DEBATE PAGE 8
Pier bridge construction at least five years away
HAVASOLE
BY MATTHEW HALL
Courtesy Photos
Editor-in-Chief Rikki Mendias has launched a charity organization to provide homeless individuals with quality shoes. Mendias began his organization after realizing his shoe collection could serve a higher purpose. He had over 100 pairs of sneakers that he began donating and the experience moved him to create a group that collects gently worn footwear for distribution. According to Wendy Adamson, Mendias' mom, the seeds of the group were planted when Mendias was a child. The pair were receiving assistance from the Santa Monica based Clare foundation and Adamson was unable to afford to buy her son a new pair of shoes. When a former Clare resident heard about the situation, she volunteered to buy Mendias new shoes and Adamson said the memory of that kindness stayed with the family. It grew into the HavASole project and the group recently distributed more than 100 pairs of shoes on Colorado Ave. before traveling to a nearby children's center. To get involved, donate or support the project, visit www.havasole.com.
SM PIER The start of construction for a new bridge for the Santa Monica Pier is at least five years away according to a report from City Staff. In previous discussions, officials were told a new or rehabilitated bridge linking the Pier to Ocean Ave. could begin construction in 2016 or 2017. However, the Santa Monica Pier Corporation Board of Directors were told at their Sept. 15 meeting construction won't begin until years of environmental and design review are complete. SEE BRIDGE PAGE 7
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