OpinionCommentary 4
A newspaper with issues
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2008
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
My Write
Send comments to editor@smdp.com
Bill Bauer
Let it snow Editor:
Well it seems like since Obama's election good things are already beginning to happen. The oceans are getting cooler scientist say, the record snowy weather across America especially in New Orleans, and other things could be a signal that prosperity is in air. All this may just be a coincidence but it is worth giving a thought or two. When Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 and begin his presidency in ‘93, we had the "Winter Storm of ‘93" that paralyzed the South and other regions with record snow fall. The Bill Clinton presidency was a time of peace and prosperity for America. Regardless of what you think about President Bill Clinton, many of us remember that 1993-2000 were great years for America. Could history repeat itself with the election of Obama? Only time will tell for sure! Some cultures believe that snow is sign of coming prosperity and a fresh start. When it snowed early this year in Baghdad some speculated that the snow was a sign of peace. After years of the climate growing warmer, record natural disasters, wars, terrorism, and bad economic times, we are all ready for a change for the better. To the far left leaning Democrats that are upset with Obama for inviting Rick Warren to say a prayer at his inauguration, learn to forgive guys. Obama has given people who said bad things about him, didn't endorse him, didn't vote for him, and even said he was not ready to be President a place beside him in his cabinet. If Obama is willing to appoint people to his administration that he has not always agreed with, why can't you all just let Pastor Warren say a prayer even though you don't agree with him on some issues? That is why Obama won red states that no Democrat has won in 40 or 50 years because he reached out to those who don't always agree with him. That is something that the far left and the far right need to adopt as one of their ways of handling the business of government. Lincoln came under fire for trying to unite the North and the South. Obama is coming under fire for trying to unite Democrats and Republicans. A strong America must be a united America. A house divided cannot stand! One change we all need is to not let things we disagree on cause us to overlook the fact that we are all Americans, we are all God's creation, and we all must learn to work together. Let it snow, let it snow!
J. Shaw Santa Monica
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You don’t know what your kids are saying online. Or who they are saying it to. A lot of times neither do they. Protect your kid’s online life. To get a full list of acronyms or report an incident, call
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ross@smdp.com
Send comments to editor@smdp.com
2008 Sammies: Well done, par for the course and hideous DUCK, IT’S SAMMY TIME! THIS YEAR’S
categories are: "A Job Well Done,” “Par for the Course” and “Hideous Beyond Words.” JOB WELL DONE
The “Upset of the Year” Sammy goes to Robert Kronovet. This Republican property manager/realtor defied all odds and was the first non-Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights endorsee to win a seat on the Rent Control Board since rent control came in 30 years ago. The “Helping the Homeless” Sammy goes to West Coast Care for relocating over 500 homeless individuals “back home” since coming to Santa Monica in October, 2006. By working directly with the Santa Monica Police Department’s Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) team, WCC provides counseling and outreach services. WCC’s efforts in conjunction with the HLP team have resulted in less homeless on our streets and extraordinary success through providing life changing assistance in safe environments among family and friends for those who need it the most. The Sammy for “Best Neighborhood Group Leader” goes to Zina Josephs, Chair of Friends of Sunset Park. Zina is a workhorse. Her regular e-mail blasts to FOSP members about everything from airport updates to crimes in progress are amazing. Nothing escapes Josephs’ notice and she isn’t afraid to fight for her neighborhood. Well done, Zina. The "Hardest Working Reporter” Sammy goes to our own Melody Hanatani. She often covers and reports on up to three stories a day. Her reportage is always concise, interesting and informative. The Sammies for “Best Non-news Santa Monica Blog” go to the Santa Monica Distress Monitor (http://smdistress.blogspot.com/) and Westside Bubble (http://westsidebubble.blogspot.com/). Both blogs track the Santa Monica and adjacent residential real estate market. Distress Monitor blogmaster “Warchest” focuses on specific properties and blogs whether agent/sellers are on the mark, over-optimistic or delusional. Westside Bubble also reports on specific properties but is more statistically oriented and often features pricing and inventory graphs. PAR FOR THE COURSE
HDOP:
PUBLISHER Ross Furukawa
The “Mountain Out of a Molehill” Sammy goes to the Santa Monica Treesavers who formed to fight a City Hall plan to remove unsafe ficus trees and relocate other healthy trees in the downtown area. Having lost that fight, they are now pressing for a city-recognized citizen tree commission. Oy gevald! The Sammy for “Lessons Never Learned” goes to the folks in cultural affairs for “Glow” — billed as “an all-night extravaganza of media, art, performances, music, and
sculpture” on the Santa Monica Pier and beach. When 100,000 folks turned up July 19 for the all night “rave on the sand,” the city dodged a bullet when the ultramellow crowd didn’t cause any serious incidents. The pier was so crowded that many activities had to be shut down for safety reasons. You’d think that after experience with the Fourth of July fireworks and the unruly mobs and chaos it brought to the beachfront (which is why they’re not held any more) 20 years ago, the city would have learned its lesson about free night time beach events. The “Same Old Crap” Sammy goes to the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. With only one new member on board (out of seven) after the election, you can bet nothing much will change despite all the bluster about a “New Guard." New Guard, my bottom. We’re facing two more years of fiscal incompetence, non-governance, excuses and foot shuffling. Will voters ever learn?
EDITOR IN CHIEF Kevin Herrera editor@smdp.com
MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com
STAFF WRITER Melody Hanatani melodyh@smdp.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com
Morgan Genser news@smdp.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Bauer, David Pisarra, Meredith Carroll, Kenny Mack, Jack Neworth, Lloyd Garver, Taylor Van Arsdale, Dane Robert Swanson, Ryan Hyatt, Steve Breen, Elizabeth Brown, Merv Hecht, Ron Scott Smith Mike Heayn, Brian Hepp Mariel Howsepian, Cynthia Citron, Amanda Cushman, Steve Parker and Phyllis Chavez
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Fabian Lewkowicz
NEWS INTERNS Catherine Cain, Saba Hamedy, Rob Lawrence, Teddy Lashnick news@smdp.com
PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNS Raymond Solano, Rachel Dardashti news@smdp.com
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER HIDEOUS BEYOND WORDS
The “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire” Sammy goes to Terry O’Day and Judy Abdo, cochairs of Save Our City, the political group that opposed Measure T, the antigrowth/anti-traffic measure on the November ballot. SOC set a new standard for false, deceptive and misleading political campaigns. “[Measure T] will hurt renters and destroy affordable apartments, devastate schools, cut vital services and won’t reduce traffic” were outright fabrications. The business interests and pretend power players behind SOC with their “win at any cost” mentality (even if it meant abandoning integrity and credibility) share this Sammy But, the coveted “Pinocchio” Sammy goes to former State Sen. Sheila Kuehl who sold out voters and repeated the lies and outright nonsense — apparently after taking the word of close friends opposing the measure. The “Litterbug of the Decade” Sammy goes to Herb Silverstein, a losing City Council wanna-be, whose campaign flyers were tied to trees and pasted on bus benches all over Downtown. Not just content to deface public property, Silverstein’s lawn signs popped up election eve on public parkways throughout the city — also a violation of municipal code. He claimed he was “proenvironment” as a Treesaver candidate, but he was worse than a graffiti tagging crew The Sammy for the “Shabbiest Trick for Election Attention” goes to the council candidate/Treesaver activist who chained himself to a tree and was arrested for his efforts. I won’t mention his name but you all know who the self-serving publicity hog is. Happy New Year! Left something out? Tell BILL all about it at mr.bilbau@gmail.com.
Rob Schwenker schwenker@smdp.com
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Martinez juliem@smdp.com
Robert Hertel roberth@smdp.com
ADVERTISING TRAFFIC FACILITATOR Amber Kessee amberk@smdp.com
OPERATIONS MANAGER Connie Sommerville connies@smdp.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER Robert Summa summa@smdp.com
CIRCULATION Keith Wyatt Osvaldo Paganini circulation@smdp.com
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OPINIONS EXPRESSED are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Santa Monica Daily Press staff. Guest editorials from residents are encouraged, as are letters to the editor. Letters will be published on a space-available basis. It is our intention to publish all letters we receive, except those that are libelous or are unsigned. Preference will be given to those that are e-mailed to editor@smdp.com. All letters must include the author’s name and telephone number for purposes of verification. Letters also may be mailed to our offices located at 410 Broadway, Suite B, Santa Monica, 90401, or faxed to (310) 576-9913. All letters and guest editorials are subject to editing for space and content.