Santa Monica Daily Press, December 19, 2008

Page 1

ENTERTAINMENT

INSIDE SCOOP

COMMENTARY

LOCAL

FRIENDS KEY TO INDIE FILM PAGE 3 SCROOGE FINALLY GETS IT PAGE 5 CRIME WATCH PAGE 6

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2008

Visit us online at smdp.com

Volume 7 Issue 342

Santa Monica Daily Press FLYING ONTO THE SCREEN SEE PAGE 12

Since 2001: A news odyssey

THE COVETING A LEFTY ISSUE

Church janitor accused of molestation BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief

DOWNTOWN A janitor at a local church has been charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a 13-year-old and could face life in prison if convicted, authorities said Thursday. Richard Austin Simmons, II plead not

guilty to the charges on Tuesday during an appearance at the Airport Courthouse. His bail was set at $3 million, according to court records released by the Los Angeles Superior Court. Simmons, 49, worked at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on 19th Street, which is where he allegedly came in contact with the victim. The complaint alleged Simmons, a

Los Angeles resident, molested the teen for nearly a year, lasting from July 1, 2007 to Feb. 28, 2008. Simmons was found guilty of oral copulation with a minor in 1985. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 31, said Deputy District Attorney Brad McCartt. Sgt. Renaldi Thruston of the Santa Monica Police Department said officers were

made aware of the allegations on Dec. 12 when the victim’s mother filed a complaint at the Public Safety Facility. Officers went to Simmons’ home and placed him under arrest. Representatives from the church could not be reached for comment. kevinh@smdp.com

Baykeeper sues Malibu City Hall over development BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer

MALIBU A local environmental advocacy

However, they say hospital administrators have hired “union busters” to intimidate nurses, a charge the hospital denies. The nurses held a candlelight vigil with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) instead of a daytime protest

group is waging a legal battle against Malibu City Hall over its recent approval of a proposed, large-scale commercial development that opponents argue will pollute nearby waterways. The Santa Monica Baykeeper filed a lawsuit Monday claiming the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) conducted for the La Paz project in the Civic Center area failed to meet California Environmental Quality Act requirements, inadequately describing the effects the development would have on Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach. “It’s of critical importance that these impacts be addressed before they start to build it and that is the intent of the EIR,” said Tom Ford, executive director of the Marina del Rey-based organization. A court date has not been set for the lawsuit. The council last month approved two versions of the Malibu La Paz Ranch project — a roughly 99,000 square-foot option that includes commercial office and retail, and a 112,000 square-foot proposal that nearly mirrors the smaller counterpart except it comes with a development agreement that would give 20,000 square feet for a new City Hall and $500,000 to city government. The larger proposal would also require approval from the California Coastal Commission.

SEE NURSES PAGE 7

SEE SUIT PAGE 8

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

TAKING STEPS: Nurses from Saint John's Health Center and local religious leaders march to the hospital on Wednesday night where they held a candlelight vigil to draw attention to their effort to unionize. Nurses claim hospital administration is intimidating them by hiring ‘union busters.’

Nurses taking it to the streets BY ROB LAWRENCE Special to the Daily Press

MID-CITY It was unusually cold on Wednesday night, but the rain, wind and chilly temperatures did not deter nurses from Saint John’s Health Center and local clergy from holding a candlelight vigil to

raise awareness about their fight to unionize. Resident nurses at Saint John’s have been trying to organize since October, and join the California Nurses Association so they can negotiate better contracts and keep their salaries competitive with other area hospitals.

Gary Limjap

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