INSIDE SCOOP
COMMENTARY
STATE
SMALL PLANE CRASHES AT SMO PAGE 3 BEING A MOM IS A NICE LINE OF WORK PAGE 5 TALKING BUDGET PAGE 10
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009
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Volume 7 Issue 359
Santa Monica Daily Press ON THE MEND SEE PAGE 14
Since 2001: A news odyssey
THE SORRY TO SEE HIM GO ISSUE
Councilman Katz dies at 78 BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
DOWNTOWN Councilmember and former Mayor Herb Katz, an accomplished architect who dedicated more than three decades to public service, died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 78 years old. The Sunset Park resident, who was recently re-elected to the City Council in November, passed away in the early afternoon with family and close friends at his side, city officials said. During his time in Santa Monica, Katz served on more than a dozen different community organizations and City Hall committees, including the Board of Directors for
the Santa Monica YMCA, the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board. His time for the past nine years was spent on the council where he applied his planning and design background to the many development matters that came before the dais. It was also there where he challenged officials with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in 2007 when parents came forward regarding problems in the special education programs. Katz had children in special education and was very passionate about protecting the rights of students and their families. Colleagues said Katz made an impact on both the council and the greater community.
“Community service was one of his hallmarks,” Councilmember Pam O’Connor said. “He gave it his all and he did a great job.” Katz began his long career as a public servant in 1974 when he was appointed to the Architectural Review Board, later serving as its chairman in 1979. That was followed by an eight-year stint on the Planning Commission where he served as the head for five years. He was first elected to the council in 1984, serving until 1992 when he took some time off before returning in 2000. In late 2007, Katz was selected to serve as mayor for SEE KATZ PAGE 11
KATZ
Smiley, City Hall settle for $500K BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
DOWNTOWN City Hall will pay a former cap-
known for his racially-themed jokes will help raise funds for a school with a large minority population. The PTA is hosting the event to help offset budget cuts impacting the dual-lan-
tain with the Santa Monica Police Department and his attorneys $500,000 as part of a settlement agreement, according to public records. Mark Smiley, a 25-year-veteran of the SMPD, filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit in July 2008 against City Hall and his superiors for allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against him. Smiley, who was put on paid leave in November 2007 pending the results of a criminal investigation, claims SMPD Chief Tim Jackman and Deputy Chief Phil Sanchez falsely accused him of lying about the number of hours he worked, resulting in the misappropriation of city funds in the amount of $58,000. Smiley was seeking at least $10 million for damages suffered, which included humiliation, embarrassment, mental anguish and damage to his reputation, according to a complaint filed with the Los Angeles
SEE MENCIA PAGE 12
SEE SETTLEMENT PAGE 12
MAJOR DAMAGE
Photo courtesy Buzz Harris Santa Monica police officers and firefighters extricate a man and a woman who were involved in a car accident late Tuesday night in the 300 block of Alta Avenue. Fire officials said the Porsche was badly damaged and the two riding inside were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Teachers to protest Carlos Mencia benefit BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
SAMOHI Comedian Carlos Mencia might have a strong following from his hit cable television show, but a group of local educators are taking exception to the edgy jokes
and racial satire coming to Barnum Hall. The Santa Monica-West Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of MexicanAmerican Educators said it plans to picket the comedian’s Sunday night performance benefiting Edison Language Academy, arguing there is irony in that an entertainer
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