WEDNESDAY

01.31.18Volume 17 Issue 63

WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2

MARIJUANA BANK ........................PAGE 3

CURIOUS CITY ................................PAGE 5

CRIME WATCH ..................................PAGE 8

MYSTERY PHOTO ............................PAGE 9

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ANGEL CARRERASDaily Press Staff Writer

The Santa Monica-MalibuUnified School District will have aboard meeting this Thursday,February 1 in Malibu. Highlightedon the agenda’s docket are pro-posed termite treatment andinter/intradistrict transfer resi-dency checks:

ESTABLISHING A STANDARD FOR TERMITE TREATMENT

This item will determine astandard for eliminating termitesin its schools. The District wantsto use non-toxic/low toxicmethod spot treatments as wellas whole-building treatmentwhen justified.

MATTHEW HALLDaily Press Editor

Local community advocateMary Marlow and CouncilwomanSue Himmelrich have filed a ballotinitiative for the 2018 election thatwould limit councilmembers tothree terms.

The measure would provideindividuals with up to 12 years(three terms of four years each)over the course of their lifetimeand only applies to Council as elec-

tions for school board and theSMC college board are governedby state law. Limits would beginfrom the time of the measure wasapproved by voters allowing cur-rent councilmembers to serve anadditional 12 years starting inNovember.

Ballot measures have a tight time-line to qualify for this year’s election.

Once the City reviews the meas-ure, proponents will have up to 180days to gather enough signaturesto qualify for the ballot. Those sig-

natures must be verified andapproved with enough time for theCity and County to approve themeasure. August 10 is the deadline.

Councilman Kevin McKeown saidterm limits wouldn’t solve any of theproblems associated with elections.

“We’ve watched term limits turnSacramento over to lobbyists andspecial interests,” he said. “Levelingthe playing field for new candidatescalls for getting money and privi-lege out of politics, not restrictingvoters’ choice to retain experi-

enced, effective representatives.I’ve championed clean public cam-paign finance laws in SantaMonica, only to be stymied byentrenched money, which distortsdemocracy. We need to providefinancial support for genuine citi-zen representatives to lead ourcommunity, not just the corporate-sponsored or self-funding wealthy.”

Councilwoman Himmelrich,who is one of the measures backers,

SEE FUMIGATION PAGE 6

KATE CAGLEDaily Press Staff Writer

New tenants moving into rent-controlled buildings in SantaMonica will not have to pay sur-charges on past bond measures,after the Rent Control Board voted5-0 to end pass-throughs on localvoted indebtedness. The surchargeswill also end for new property own-ers, meaning they can no longerpass massive tax increases down totenants when buildings turn over.

The decision is not retroactive,meaning tenants who are currentlypaying surcharges will continue todo so unless their building is sold toa new owner. The new policy forland owners will go into effect forsales after March 1. Boardmembershope the new policy will help solvean unintended consequence ofProposition 13: massive tax increasespassed down to tenants when theirexpensive real estate switches hands.

“There’s a lot of protection forexisting property owners,” saidBoardmember Nicole Phillis at theJan. 25 meeting. “This was donewith a lot of forethought because wedon’t want to put mom and popproperty owners out of business.Those are the types of landlords thatwe care a lot about. They developrelationships with their tenants. Weacknowledge that on this board.”

San Francisco is the only otherrent control jurisdiction inCalifornia that allows the pass-throughs, according to city staff.The surcharges were intended toequitably distribute voter approvedtax increases by spreading out thecosts among tenants. There are

SEE SURCHARGES PAGE 7

SEE MEASURE PAGE 7

SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZE ST. JOHN’S Courtesy PhotoSaint John’s Health Center was commended for its role in the community. See Page 3 for more information.

Rent Controlabolishes

surchargesfor new tenants

Fumigation recommended

for termite problems in local schools

Ballot measure filed to establish term limits for City Council

Calendar2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

What’s Up

WestsideOUT AND ABOUT IN SANTA MONICA

For help submitting an event, contact us at310-458-7737 or submit to events@smdp.com

Wednesday, January 31Santa Monica CertifiedFarmer’s Market Many of Los Angeles’ best knownchefs and restaurants, are keyed tothe seasonal rhythms of the weeklyWednesday Market. Downtown.8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Movie Screening: TheGlass CastleA young girl comes of age in a dysfunc-tional family of nonconformist nomadswith a mother who’s an eccentric artistand an alcoholic father who would stirthe children’s imagination with hope asa distraction to their poverty. MontanaBranch Library, 1704 Montana Ave. 6p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Innovation Lab withHacker FundWant to build a technology projectthat helps your community?Mentors from the Hacker Fundincubator help you turn your ideainto action by providing advice onhow to get started as well as tech-nology development, fundraising,and marketing. Main Library, 601Santa Monica Blvd. 6 - 8 p.m.

Thursday, February 1Citizenship Classes An ongoing series of classes taughtby Adult Education Center instruc-tors. Pico Branch Library, 2201Pico Blvd. 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Design in 3D: Heart-Shaped BoxUse Tinkercad to design a heart-shaped box for 3D printing. MainLibrary, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 6 p.m.

Chrysalis Workshop:ResumesInstructors from Chrysalis leadworkshops to help you get on theright track to employment. MainLibrary, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Influencer Economy:Launch, Share & Thrivein the Digital AgeLA-based author Ryan Williamsexplains his step-by-step guide totelling your authentic brand story.Main Library, 601 Santa MonicaBlvd. 7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

Current EventsDiscussion GroupJoin us for a lively discussion ofthe latest news with your friendsand neighbors. Fairview BranchLibrary, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd. 1p.m. - 2 p.m.

L.E.A.R.N.: Learn, Excel,Achieve and Read NowOne-on-one access to volunteersavailable to help students withhomework assignments and readingcomprehension. Bilingual volunteersavailable. Pico Branch Library, 2201Pico Blvd. 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday, February 2The TESS Mission:Exoplanet Targets for WebbThe Transiting Exoplanet SurveySatellite (TESS) will search thenear-solar neighborhood of over200,000 stars for planets crossingbetween TESS and the parent star.The evening events are at 8 p.m.and are preceded by “The Night SkyShow” at 7 p.m., offering astronomynews, a family-friendly “tour” of theconstellations and the chance to askastronomy-related questions.Second floor of Drescher Hall (1900Pico Blvd.). Tickets are available atthe door and cost $11 ($9 seniorsand children) for the evening’sscheduled “double bill,” or $6 ($5seniors age 60+ and children age 12and under) for a single Night Sky orfeature show or telescope-viewingsession. For information, please call(310) 434-3005 or seewww.smc.edu/eventsinfo orwww.smc.edu/planetarium. Allshows subject to change or cancel-lation without notice.

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Local3Visit us online at www.smdp.com

CitywideLos Angeles Board of Supervisors Recognizes Providence Saint John’s

Last week Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl honored Providence SaintJohn’s Health Center with a scroll sharing the story of the hospital’s history, mission androle as an example for public health institutions across the county.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl presented Marcel Loh, chief executive, with a scroll to recog-nize the hospital’s contribution to the county of Los Angeles. Loh accepted the honor,“On behalf of all our caregivers, thank you for recognizing our commitment to compas-sionate care in the community especially for the poor and vulnerable.”

Seventy-five years ago, the Catholic Sisters of Charity Leavenworth founded a communi-ty hospital that has grown into a “nationally renowned hospital devoted to leading-edge med-icine delivered with unwavering compassion and personalize care” Kuehl said. She contin-ued, “A great hospital is not only a place for healing, it is a community asset, providing med-ical care, employment and education to the individuals and families who are served by it.”

Providence Saint John’s is a 266-bed hospital with physicians, nurses, volunteers andsupport staff who work as a team to provide the best possible medical care to its patientsand the community. Saint John’s also is home to the world-renowned John Wayne CancerInstitute, dedicated to clinical research and medical advancements in cancer care.

SUBMITTED BY LAUREN LEWOW, EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

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BY MICHAEL R. BLOODAssociated Press

California officials announced Tuesdaythat they will take a detailed look at the pos-sibility of creating a taxpayer-backed bank tohandle what could be billions of dollars inrevenue generated by the state’s legal mari-juana industry.

State Treasurer John Chiang stoppedshort of endorsing the idea but said his officewould work with the state attorney general toexamine how a weed bank might function.

Legal pot sales kicked off in California onJan. 1. However, many banks don’t want any-thing to do with pot money for fear it couldexpose them to legal trouble from the feder-al government, which still lists marijuana asillegal.

That means a lot of pot business is con-ducted in cash, sometimes tens of thousands

of dollars, which is risky for cannabis work-ers and the public.

Is a public bank a solution?“Maybe,” said Chiang, a Democratic can-

didate for governor.Completing the study is expected to take

about a year.However, the idea comes with formidable

risks that were outlined in a state report lastyear, including unknown startup costs, theprobability of losses for several years ormore that California taxpayers would haveto cover and trouble obtaining federal regu-latory approval.

Another problem: The Trump adminis-tration has signaled a potentially moreaggressive approach to marijuana prosecu-tion by U.S. prosecutors.

That federal action “casts into turmoil anewly established industry that is creatingjobs and tax revenues,” Chiang said.

A taxpayer backed bank for potmoney? Maybe in California.

National4 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

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 to the Editor can be submitted to letters@smdp.com. Receipt of a letter does not guaranteepublication and all content is published at the discretion of the paper. All letters and guest editorials are subject to editing for space and content. All submissions must include the author’s name, address and phone number for the purposes of verification.

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BY ANDREW TAYLORAssociated Press

A week after a standoff forced a three-daygovernment shutdown, congressional budg-et talks remain bogged down by Democrats'demands to protect "Dreamer" immigrantsand GOP conservatives' concerns about abooming federal deficit.

The deadlock is deflating hopes that law-makers will reach a breakthrough beforeanother shutdown deadline next week.

At risk are up to $80 billion in increasesfor the Pentagon this year alone, and nearlyas much money for domestic programs.Almost $100 billion worth of overdue assis-tance for hurricane-slammed Puerto Rico,Texas, and Florida is being held up.

The knot involves about $1.2 billion inagency operating budgets for the fiscal yearthat began in October, along with hurricanerelief, President Donald Trump's $18 billion-plus border wall, and other odds and ends.

The measure has been hung up formonths as lawmakers in both parties strugglefirst with a deal to increase tight limits onspending that are left over from a failed 2011budget agreement. It takes both Republicansand Democrats to lift the limits, called spend-ing "caps" in Capitol-speak. But talks haveproceeded slowly and are now awaiting agree-ment on legislation to address younger immi-grants currently protected from deportationunder the soon-to-expire Deferred Action forChildhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

But there are other problems afoot.Conservatives say Republican andDemocratic proposals on the table would bal-loon the deficit, sending it over $1 trillion.

"That's a non-starter for conservatives,"said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairmanof the hard-right House Freedom Caucus.

The House Tuesday instead passed — forthe third time — a $659 billion Pentagonfunding measure. The bill would break theexisting budget cap for defense by $73 billion— almost $20 billion more than the budgetTrump proposed last year. The 250-166 voteHouse vote broke mostly along party lines.

The move was aimed at turning up theheat on Senate Democrats, several of whomface difficult re-election bids in states wonby Trump.

Republicans are trying to cast Democratsas holding money for U.S. troops hostage toobtain sympathetic treatment for immi-grants facing deportation, as well as a varietyof other Democratic priorities.

"Senate Democrats are playing politicswith defense spending that is so vital to ournational security needs," said House SpeakerPaul Ryan, R-Wis. "We just don't see this asirresponsible. It's dangerous. You do havetraining accidents happening more and

more these days."It's unclear exactly what would happen if

negotiations fall apart, but one possibilitywould be continuing current spending lev-els. That would upset the Pentagon's manyallies on the Republican side. It would alsoupset Capitol Hill's once-dominantAppropriations committees, which havewatched in frustration over the past fewyears as Congress has increasingly struggledto perform its most basic task of funding thegovernment.

Operating at a budget freeze, thePentagon says, would imperil training andother components of military readiness,along with acquisition of new weapons sys-tems and equipment. On the domestic side,it would mean arresting the growth in med-ical research and efforts to fight opioidabuse, among other bipartisan priorities.

It would also mean Washington's dys-function could become even moreentrenched.

"It's really important that something hap-pen because the more times that you don'tfind a way to get together the more difficultit is the next time around to get together,"said former Appropriations CommitteeChairman David Obey, D-Wis.

"If we can't figure this out — it's beenpunted, punted, punted and punted — howare we going to manage to get through thenext three years under this president?" askedWashington Sen. Patty Murray, a keyDemocrat on the Appropriations Committee.

The delays guarantee that lawmakers willneed to pass yet another stopgap spendingbill — the fifth since September — nextweek to prevent another government shut-down next Friday. While Senate Democratsdon't appear to have any interest in sparkinga second government shutdown by filibus-tering next week's temporary funding bill, itappears House Republicans will have toagain struggle to summon the unity toadvance the legislation on the strength oftheir votes alone.

In all of this languishes a House-passed$81 billion emergency aid bill for hurricane-hit states and territories. Democrats likeMinority Leader Chuck Schumer of NewYork say the bill needs billions more forPuerto Rico, and he hasn't been shy aboutsaying delays in considering the legislationin the Senate give him leverage.

Republicans like Texas Sen. John Cornynsay Schumer is holding hurricane aid"hostage," but Majority Leader MitchMcConnell, R-Ky., hasn't moved to forceSchumer's hand. Schumer was a centralforce in advancing more than $60 billion inSuperstorm Sandy relief six years ago andwould be vulnerable to charges of hypocrisyif he actively blocked the current measure.

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OpinionCommentary5Visit us online at www.smdp.com

A WORK IN PROGRESSWe all are, hopefully. But progress is

something we’re desperately in need of, andright now. We’re spinning in circles. Andwhen that happens, you’re just digging ahole. That you might not get out of.

We have so many problems to deal withnationally, and here in Santa Monica, andthey seem to be increasing exponentially. Ilisted a paragraph’s worth of local issues inlast week’s column, and that wasn’t the half ofit. We fight them one by one and I don’t thinkthat’s the right way to go about it. One battleis won or lost, then whack-a-mole, somethingelse jumps up that demands our full attentionagain. Discouragement, fatigue, even despaircan set in. The same holds true for the wayWashington has devolved.

I keep trying to figure out how we can dothings differently, both here and for ournow-disgraced nation, something so differ-ent it will make a difference. Some new (orold) way of thinking. Because I have a feel-ing we’re rapidly running out of time.

So much that is being done can’t beundone. If we spend nine figures on an officeannex, that money is gone. That’s a ton oftax dollars, a helluva lot of money for a cityof less than 100,000. And it won’t be someawe-inspiring architectural masterpiece thatpeople will go out of their way to see; in fact,you won’t even be able to see it that well atall, behind City Hall. It’s offices. But groundhas been broken. Now it’s too late to build itfor $40-50M, just as functional and very sus-tainable. What philosophy guided that deci-sion? Don’t you think we might have beenable to find a really good use for those tensof millions of dollars?

FOR AMERICAIf you sell off our precious parklands, to

energy and logging companies, by the timethere may be an opportunity to reverse that,wells have been drilled and pipeline laid(which will surely, eventually, leak and spilland despoil), trees stripped away frommountainsides and gigantic holes carved toextract minerals. They are now fracking nearthe ancient ruins in Chaco Canyon in NewMexico. It will take generations for the landto heal itself. You and I won’t see it.

Whatever we build in Santa Monica,however tall and wide, our great-great-grandchildren will still be living with it.Shouldn’t we really think twice, and maybemore than that, before rushing into the kindof massive construction we’re inflicting onour small city, no matter how good the rea-sons may seem? Who counts, in these deci-sions? How about panicking a bit more,now, today, about our looming pensionexplosion, that could lead this well-off cityto financial ruin, that could change every-thing for Santa Monica, drastically. Howmany more six-figure staffers should wehire? We could go from rich to broke beforeyou know what’s happened.

WHAT TO DO?I think we need radical rethinking.

Overview and perspective. Unprecedentedaction. Or inaction, when appropriate. Butwe can’t go on the way we have been. We can

dig in our heels, say those are the bad guys,out to enrich themselves by destroying ourbeautiful, historic, low-rise seaside city, andwe must fight them tooth and nail (or, thoseare the NIMBYs, lost in the past, unwillingto plan for an inevitable future in the bestway) — or we can look beyond that. Moston “the other side,” want what they feel is thebest for Santa Monica, but we often disagreeprofoundly on the path there.

We need some guide we can always pointto. I think what we need is a Master Plan.And no, I don’t have one. Yet.

We need a master plan for the future andthe development of this city, that our deci-sion makers will abide by. One that assessesthe present, and recognizes the past. No, notthe General Plan we now have, done in 1957,or its LUCE (apropos acronym?), updated in2015 but to some controversy. I think itshould be done by architects and city plan-ners and maybe social scientists, but itshould spring from the establishment of aphilosophical master plan. Something thatcan be applied to every issue that comes up,even ones we haven’t thought of. Somethingthat in its spirit can guide every decision. Ofcourse that’s a tough one to get agreementon. But let’s have that battle once, instead ofthis 30 Years’ War.

If, for example, we can agree that the mostimportant thing to consider in any decisionare the people who live in Santa Monica —not the ones some want to bring here, not theones who will fill tens of thousands of unitsif we build them, not the developers, the ide-ologues, the land speculators, the non-resi-dent kibitzers, the urban planners, the car orbike advocates — well, does that seem crazy?A city whose representatives act in the bestinterests of the people who live there?

If we can agree that the beach is whatdefines Santa Monica, geographically andhistorically and, well, obviously, as well asopen skies and sea breezes, let’s agree this is abeach town, THE beach town for LA, andapply that to the skyscraperizing of ourDowntown and the canyonization of LincolnBoulevard. If a walkable city is what peoplelike and what we’ve always had, let’s figureout what to do with all those nasty cars.

As a nation, I think America is in danger oflosing its heart, and soul. That breaks myheart. In Santa Monica we still cling to both, Ifeel. (Look at all our efforts on behalf of thehomeless. Not effective, but we’re trying.) Butunless we stop this bulldozing path we’re onand come up with a real plan for the hearts ofour residents and the soul of this city, myoptimism may also ship out to Detroit.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are drivers in SantaMonica getting worse, much worse?

QUOTES OF THE WEEK: “A great city is not to be confounded with apopulous one.” — Aristotle“A great city is that which has the greatestmen and women.” — Walt Whitman

CCHHAARRLLEESS AANNDDRREEWWSS has lived in Santa Monicafor 32 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else inthe world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke tohim at therealmrmusic@gmail.com

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According to the report, Roosevelt wasinfested and subsequently fumigated, withmore schools in line to be fumigated asneeded.

After receiving backlash over the use oftoxic pesticides during fumigations last year,the district used a heat based treatment atWebster Elementary School in Malibu. TheDistrict then hired experts to compare thetwo treatments.

According to the staff report, the indica-tions are the heat treatment was not totallyeffective with new signs of termites appear-ing since the treatment. The report also saidthere was no evidence the gas treatment leftany residue.

“The staff recommendation is to establishfumigation as the district standard forwhole-building termite treatment,” said thereport. “Heat and non-toxic/low-toxic local-ized/spot treatments will still be usedbetween major treatments and in caseswhere it is justified.”

The report said Spring and Summertreatment is proposed for Franklin,McKinley, Point Dume, Muir/SMASH andMalibu High School.

INTRADISTRICT PERMITS, INTERDISTRICT PERMITS, AND RESIDENCY CHECKS

This item will provide info to the Boardand public concerning how the District goesabout conducting its intra/interdistrict resi-dency checks.

Intradistrict permits let students attendschools within the same district other thantheir nearest neighborhood school.Interdistrict permits let students attend

schools in other districts.State law requires children attending

public school to attend a school in thedistrict where their parent or legalguardian lives unless they receive transferapproval.

Staff said it is the District’s responsibilityto verify residency.

“The need to verify residency isprompted in various ways that include,but are not limited to, returned mail, hightardiness and absenteeism, reports fromother parents and community members,reports from individuals who previouslysigned affidavits, and student self-reports,”said the report.

If parents are unable to prove their stu-dent’s residency via documentation they willbe questioned. If for some reason the line ofquestioning concerning residency fails,Campus Security Officers could physicallygo out to observe if transfer students are attheir place of living.

Campus Security Officers will verify stu-dents residencies by “knocking on doorsand/or ringing apartment codes” as well astalking with “on-site property managementand/or neighbors,” said the report. TheDistrict notes that Campus Security Officerswill identify themselves and provide busi-ness cards.

The district adds that residency checks“often are” inconclusive.

Other items in the agenda includeEnglish Learner program review findings,track and field replacement for LincolnMiddle School, updates to student well-ness programs and campus improvementprojects.

angel@smdp.com

Local6 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

FUMIGATIONFROM PAGE 1

DO YOU

OWN A

BUILDING

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currently surcharges linked to Measures X, S,BB and AA. Landlords could also pass alonga stormwater management user fee, theclean beaches and ocean parcel tax, and a2008 School District Special Tax.

The median monthly surcharge is $20.73,however, some tenants have seen their billsskyrocket after their apartment building is soldand, thus, reassessed. For example, tenant NaniGranell, who lives at the corner of Montanaand Ocean Avenue, says her surchargesreached $121 after her building on OceanAvenue sold to new ownership for $22.5 mil-lion. More than 130 properties changed own-ership in 2017 along, according to city staff.

Critics point out the end of surchargescomes too late for tenants like Granell.

“Unfortunately, it leaves more tenantsexposed and doesn’t remedy the situationthat was presented over the last two years

and I think there are going to be a lot ofunhappy tenants as a result,” said rent con-trolled tenant Bill Davis to the Board.

“It doesn’t solve the problem,” said land-lord Michael Millman, who says low-incometenants should be able to apply for a hard-ship exemption. “The problem is there aresome financially strapped tenants who needa lifeline, who need to be rescued.”

The Rent Control Board says they stillplan to address the needs of those tenants attheir Feb. 22 meeting. That night they willhave a preliminary discussion of whatprocess to use moving forward. Even short-term tenants have complained they weresurprised to see surcharges added to theirrents, which they assumed accounted for theowner’s overhead.

“We aren’t anywhere close to solving thisissue tonight,” said Boardmember ToddFlora. He told nervous landlords to “take iteasy” and current tenants to “be patient.”

kate@smdp.com

said she is running for reelection this year.City Hall has debated adding a measure

to the ballot that would require a superma-jority to approve some developments butnothing has been formally announced so far.

The City is also fighting a lawsuit filed byOscar de la Torre that would force SantaMonica to implement district-based voting.That suit is scheduled to go to trial in July.

In addition to any ballot measures, the 2018election will include 14 seats up for election onthe City Council, Santa Monica MalibuUnified School Board and SMC Board.

The nomination period for candidateswill be July 16 through August 10 with a pos-sible five-day extension for each race if anincumbent does not file. The nominationperiod requires candidates to fill out therequired paperwork and gather signatures.

This year’s elections include four seats onSchool Board (Oscar de la Torre, CraigFoster, Laurie Lieberman and RichardTahvildaran-Jesswein), three on City Council(Kevin McKeown, Pam O’Connor and SueHimmelrich), three on the Rent ControlBoard (Nicole Phillis, Steve Duron and ToddFlora) and four for the Santa Monica CollegeBoard (Nancy Greenstein, Louise Jaffe, BarryA. Snell and Andrew Walzer).

All four school board incumbents havetold The Daily Press they are running forreelection.

“As a product of our school district, a for-mer employee of SMMUSD and a parent oftwo of our students, I have a personal com-mitment to serving on the school board,”said Oscar de la Torre.

“I am planning to seek re-election,” saidLaurie Lieberman. “Obtaining a quality edu-cation remains key to becoming a good citi-zen and to leading a successful life. Ourschools are doing a lot of great work. Wecontinue to improve, to look for ways toengage all students and to help them learnand flourish in the rapidly changing worldin which we live. There are ongoing proj-ects, policies and challenges to which Ibelieve I can continue to contribute positiveand valuable leadership. I’m running for re-election to continue supporting what ourdistrict does well and to evaluate, reflect andhelp make changes and innovate where weneed to do better.”

Councilwoman Pam O’Connor is thethird incumbent up for reelection this yearand has said she is considering her options.

Planning Commissioner JenniferKennedy has filed preliminary paperwork toestablish a fundraising committee butdeclined to comment on her plans to run forCouncil.editor@smdp.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

Local7Visit us online at www.smdp.com

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LOCAL SPORTS SCHEDULEWednesday, January 31

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Local8 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

DAILY POLICE LOG

The Santa Monica PoliceDepartment Responded To 344 Calls For Service On Jan. 29.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE CALLS CHOSEN BY THE

SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

Petty theft 300 block Pico 1:35 a.m. Shots fired 1500 block Ocean 2:20 a.m. Petty theft 400 block Colorado 2:36 a.m. Assault w/deadly weapon 1100 blockPacific Coast Hwy 2:58 a.m. Arson 1600 block Broadway 3:02 a.m. Auto burglary 1300 block Pacific CoastHwy 4:47 a.m. Petty theft 1700 block Ocean Front Walk4:53 a.m. Speeding 25th / Wilshire 6:24 a.m. Traffic collision 5th / Santa Monica 6:30 a.m. Traffic collision Cloverfield / Virginia 7:35 a.m. Battery 1700 block Ocean 7:50 a.m. Identity theft 1000 block 9th 8:48 a.m. Burglary 2500 block Main 8:55 a.m. Auto burglary 2400 block Lincoln 8:59 a.m. Auto burglary 1300 block Ocean Park 9:10 a.m. Person down 2500 block Santa Monica9:14 a.m. Threats 600 block Santa Monica 9:16 a.m. Encampment 2000 block Ocean 9:29 a.m. Theft recyclables 2400 block 33rd 9:38 a.m. Auto burglary 400 block Ashland 9:46 a.m. Encampment 1400 block the beach 10:15 a.m. Burglary 300 block 23rd 10:19 a.m. Traffic collision 15th / Arizona 10:33 a.m. Auto burglary 3100 block Lincoln 10:48 a.m. Fraud 600 block California 10:51 a.m.

Lewd activity 1900 block Pico 11:34 a.m. Auto burglary 3300 block Barnard 12:04 p.m. Encampment 1600 block Interstate 1012:05 p.m. Assault w/deadly weapon 1500 block 2nd12:10 p.m. Petty theft 1400 block 15th 12:39 p.m. Petty theft 900 block 16th 1:01 p.m. Assault 700 block Ozone 1:46 p.m. Fraud 800 block 22nd 1:50 p.m. Battery 600 block Santa Monica 1:50 p.m. Traffic collision 1400 block Lincoln 1:51 p.m. Assault w/deadly weapon 2600 blockOcean Front Walk 1:57 p.m. Attempt burglary 2200 block Ocean 2:04 p.m. Speeding 1500 block Pacific Coast Hwy2:32 p.m. Indecent exposure Lincoln / Pico 3:15 p.m. Petty theft 1500 block Berkeley 3:27 p.m. Encampment 1700 block 12th 3:34 p.m. Person with a gun 800 block 6th 4:08 p.m. Drunk driving Lincoln / Interstate 10 4:25 p.m. Indecent exposure 400 block Broadway4:59 p.m. Burglary 1200 block Lincoln 5:01 p.m. Hit and run 20th / San Vicente 5:08 p.m. Threats 2500 block Pico 5:12 p.m. Person with a gun 18th / Wilshire 5:13 p.m. Assault 2200 block Virginia 5:14 p.m. Person with a gun 1300 block Wilshire5:20 p.m. Burglary 1100 block 11th 5:29 p.m. Traffic collision 11th / Maple 5:31 p.m. Battery 300 block Santa Monica 6:13 p.m. Petty theft 2800 block Pico 6:16 p.m. Petty theft 500 block Santa Monica Pier6:25 p.m. Burglary 100 block Wilshire 7:01 p.m.

DAILY FIRE LOG

The Santa Monica Fire DepartmentResponded To 40 Calls For

Service On Jan. 29. HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE

CALLS CHOSEN BY THE SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

EMS 1900 block 11th 1:06 a.m. EMS 2900 block Neilson 2:43 a.m. Trash/dumpster fire 1600 block Broadway3:02 a.m. EMS 1500 block 2nd 6:10 a.m. EMS 400 block 17th 6:36 a.m. Traffic collision with injury Cloverfield /Santa Monica 7:36 a.m.Traffic collision with injury Cloverfield /Virginia 7:41 a.m.EMS 1000 block 19th 8:48 a.m. Automatic alarm 1300 block 2nd 9:08 a.m. EMS 2500 block Santa Monica 9:14 a.m. EMS 800 block 4th 9:41 a.m. EMS 900 block 6th 10:32 a.m. EMS 15th / Arizona 10:33 a.m. EMS 2600 block Expo Line 10:54 a.m.

EMS 1600 block Ocean Front Walk 11:06 a.m. EMS 1500 block 2nd 12:04 p.m. EMS 1300 block 20th 12:05 p.m. EMS 1700 block Cloverfield 12:09 p.m. EMS 2400 block Wilshire 12:15 p.m. Automatic alarm 1500 block California12:32 p.m. EMS 600 block Santa Monica 1:51 p.m. EMS 200 block Broadway 1:58 p.m. EMS Centinela / Expo Bike Path 1:59 p.m. EMS 2000 block Ocean 14:23:54 EMS 1900 block 20th 3:39 p.m. EMS 900 block 2nd 4:08 p.m. EMS 1900 block Pico 4:16 p.m. EMS 11th / Maple 5:32 p.m. EMS 1300 block 18th 6:11 p.m. EMS 300 block Santa Monica 6:15 p.m. EMS 800 block Wilshire 6:36 p.m. EMS 2500 block 3rd 6:39 p.m. EMS 1500 block 2nd 7:18 p.m. EMS 0 block Pico 7:40 p.m. EMS 2000 block 20th 8:50 p.m. EMS 2000 block Arizona 9:09 p.m. EMS 2000 block Main 9:17 p.m. EMS 3400 block Ocean Park 10:36 p.m. EMS 1300 block 15th 11:10 p.m.

Crime Watch is culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ON JANUARY 15, AT ABOUT 12:35 P.M.Officers responded to radio call for service at Pier 1 Imports- 3000 Wilshire Blvd regard-ing a theft in progress. A store employee had locked the doors with suspect still inside.Officers arrived and detained the suspect. Officers determined the suspect entered thestore carrying a large duffle bag. A store employee monitored the subject as he select-ed merchandise – area rug – from the sales floor and put it in his duffle bag. The suspectwalked towards the front door without paying for the merchandise. The store employeeconfronted the suspect. The employee locked the door and told the suspect she was call-ing the police. The suspect then spat at the employee striking her leg and shoes. PuffMar Pataki, 24, from Los Angeles was arrested for battery. Bail was set at $20,000.

CRIME WATCHB Y D A I L Y P R E S S S T A F F

SURF FORECASTS WATER TEMP: 58.5°

WEDNESDAY – POOR – SURF: 1-2 ft knee to thigh high occ. 3ftMinor SSW swell shows. Deep AM high tide.

THURSDAY – POOR – SURF: 1-2 ft knee to thigh highModest WNW swell shows. Deep AM high tide.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

Puzzles & Stuff9Visit us online at www.smdp.com

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S SUDOKU

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S CROSSWORD

Get Me That, Stat!■ Almost 9 million children and370,000 pregnant women are cov-ered by the federal Children’s HealthInsurance Program. Lawmakersmissed a September 9 deadline toextend funding and efforts to renewsupport have thus far failed. Statesare preparing plans to let thoseaffected know coverage may run outby end of year.

Life in Big Macs■ One hour of massaging some-one while standing burns 272 calo-ries (based on a 150-pound per-son) or the equivalent of 0.4 BigMacs. For the recipient, there’sminimal calorie consumption. Onthe other hand, they’re getting amassage.

oobbsseeqquuiioouuss1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference;fawning: an obsequious bow.2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.3. obedient; dutiful.

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Comics & Stuff10 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

Zack Hill By JOHN DEERING & JOHN NEWCOMBE

Dogs of C-Kennel

Strange Brew

Agnes By TONY COCHRAN

By JOHN DEERINGHeathcliff By PETER GALLAGHER

By MICK & MASON MASTROIANNI & JOHNNY HART

Patsy Cline invited the “Blue Moon of Kentucky” to keep on shining on the one who’s gone and proveduntrue. That Kentucky moon was also blue in Seattle and Sydney and San Juan Capistrano, and it shoneequally on the truthful. Tonight the blue moon comes back around, supersize, playful and dispersing gen-erous and joyful love.

Blue Moon of Kentucky and Other Places

ARIES (March 21-April 19)Glittering generalities sound impressive tothose who desperately want them to be true andthe utterly gullible. You’ll hear past the hyper-bole, see beyond the sparkly stuff and help peo-ple understand what’s real and reasonable.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)You have something so special. Many wouldlove to claim it. And the weird part is that youhardly see it anymore. You’ve had it for solong! Adjust your perspective so you can bet-ter love what is already yours.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)Today you’ll be rather susceptible to flattery,but so what? You also deserve to be paidattention to. You worked hard to get where youare. So how about you soak it all up? Don’tdeflect compliments. Just say thank you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)The saying goes, “Never let them see yousweat.” But if you make it look too easy, they’llheap more work on you. Of course, you don’twant to seem like a hectic mess, either. You’llfind the middle ground on the matter.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)Moods come and go like weather. You’re like aregion unto yourself. There are typical weatherpatterns for the region of you, and then some-times there’s unseasonable anomalies. That’swhat’s happening now.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)Add this to your routine: a generous pat on theback, from you to you. Of course this is bestdone privately, but rest assured it’s not the leastbit self-centered to recognize your own talents.If you don’t do it, how will others know to?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)Philosophizing has its time, place and purpose.The big-picture thinking can seem like an indul-gence when there’s so much practical work tobe done, but go on and indulge, because it willbe essential to getting things right.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)Since you’re still not totally sure about yournext move, don’t make one. You can afford tohang out in this phase a while longer. Writedown the ideas. Talk it out. Ask questions.Research. Brainstorm.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)You have your agenda; they have theirs.Honestly, there may not be a compromise thatwill make you both happy, so don’t waste toomuch time in negotiation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)You may get an unusually large number ofrequests made of you today, and a fewdemands will be thrown in there, too. Thisis what comes with getting suddenly pop-ular.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)Go often to the well of positive energy. You’llfind it in quotes, books and songs. You’ll find itin the small talk you make with strangers andin the fellowship of friends.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)You might be surprised at what you’re will-ing to do to please a person who happens tobe exceptionally charming, attractive andfunny. Also, you might be surprised at whatpeople are willing to do for you for the samereasons.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 31)

This year you strive for reasonable idealism. You’ll serve your values well and you’ll also aim for afew impossibilities, because pushing yourself has historically led to remarkable achievement. Thisyear you’re even better under pressure than ever before. Love will be your constant companion.Gemini and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 44, 3, 30 and 15.

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BY JONATHAN J. COOPERAssociated Press

The California Senate passed legislationTuesday that aims to protect taxpayers fromfacing higher federal tax bills, the first con-crete action in a Democratic state to pushback against last year's tax overhaul signedby President Donald Trump.

Opening another front in their ongoingwar with the Trump administration andRepublican-led Congress, CaliforniaDemocrats are looking to insulate the high-er-income taxpayers who provide a massiveshare of the state's revenue and ensure theydon't leave for lower-tax states.

The new federal tax bill caps a deductionfor state and local taxes at $10,000, whichhits wealthier taxpayers in high-tax stateslike California the hardest.

The California bill would allow people tomake a charitable contribution to the state inlieu of state income taxes, then reduce theirstate taxes by 85 percent of their contribution.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon,the bill's author, hopes the bill would letpeople get around the federal changes bydeducting their state taxes as a charitablecontribution instead.

"This new law deliberately targetsAmericans in blue states...that didn't vote inlarge numbers for Donald Trump," said deLeon, a Los Angeles Democrat who hasmade legislative battles with Trump a centralplank of his challenge to U.S. Sen. DianneFeinstein, a fellow Democrat.

The legislation, which now goes to theAssembly, was backed by all Democrats andRepublicans Anthony Cannella of Ceres andScott Wilk of Santa Clarita, in a 27-7 vote.Four of the Senate's 13 Republicans did notcast a vote.

Several Republican critics said the billmay not be legal, potentially exposing tax-payers who take advantage to higher taxesand a fight with the IRS.

"This is a missile shooting at Washington,

D.C., and it will not stand," said Sen. JohnMoorlach, a Republican from Costa Mesa inOrange County.

More than a third of California taxpayersused the state tax deduction in 2015, claim-ing an average of $18,438 — the third high-est after New York and Connecticut, accord-ing to IRS data.

De Leon estimates that 3 million taxpay-ers would be eligible to benefit from thecharitable contribution option.

Crafting a tax plan that can keep bothtaxpayers and the state whole — and alsosurvive a legal challenge — has been a com-plex balancing act for De Leon and tax-lawprofessors he consulted.

Efforts in California and elsewhere to getaround the federal tax law, if successful,could significantly increase the federaldeficit. Lawmakers who crafted the GOP taxplan capped the state and local tax deduc-tion in order to limit the deficit impactsfrom a sharp drop in the corporate tax rate.

Lawmakers in left-leaning states havedecried the federal tax overhaul and vowedto try to mitigate its impacts.

In New York, Democratic Gov. AndrewCuomo has floated the possibility of allow-ing taxpayers to make a charitable contribu-tion in lieu of their taxes, but he has not sub-mitted a formal proposal to lawmakers.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticuthave announced plans to sue Washington,potentially arguing the tax law violatesstates' rights and is unfair because it singlesout Democratic states for political reasons.The suit has not yet been filed.

Some Republican-led states are alsoexpecting their residents to face higher statetax bills because they've tied their tax laws tothe federal tax code. Idaho and Nebraska, forexample, are considering legislation state taxcuts as a result.

___Associated Press writers David Klepper in Albany,New York; Kimberlee Kruesi in Boise, Idaho andGrant Schulte in Lincoln, Nebraska contributed.

California Senate passes billto work around tax overhaul

12 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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