FRIDAY

12.29.17Volume 17 Issue 41

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

MEDICAL POT PROGNOSIS ..........PAGE 3

PERSONAL FINANCES IN 2018 ..PAGE 4

EFFICIENT FOOD BANK ..............PAGE 7

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

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Food,showers,

tents: Doesthe helphelp the

homeless?AMY TAXIN AND GEOFF MULVIHILLAssociated Press

Mohammed Aly does not seewhy he shouldn’t try to ease thelives of Orange County’s homeless.But the authorities — and many ofhis neighbors — disagree.

Aly, a 28-year-old lawyer andactivist, has been arrested threetimes as he campaigned on behalfof street people. Recently, he wasdenied permission to installportable toilets on a dried-upriverbed, site of an encampment ofroughly 400 homeless.

“It is a question of basic empa-thy,” he said.

But his detractors are engagedin a debate up and down the WestCoast as the region struggles tocope with a rising tide of home-lessness. They say Aly and otherwell-meaning residents who pro-vide the homeless with tents, toi-lets and hot meals are enablingthem to remain unsheltered.

And they note, nuisances liketrash and unsanitary conditionsfester and aberrant behavior con-tinues.

In California, the San DiegoCounty community of El Cajonpassed a measure that curtailsfeeding the homeless, citing healthconcerns. Los Angeles city officialshave closed and re-opened rest-rooms for those on Skid Row amidsimilar controversies.

The issue is hotly debated inOrange County. In the seaside

KATE CAGLEDaily Press Staff Writer

Jazz musician Steph Johnson islooking back on a year filled withcathartic experiences.

Ever since she started hostingband rehearsals for musical mem-bers of San Diego’s homeless com-munity in 2016, she’s watched howmelody can make over a life. Infact, over the past year she’s helped22 people get into housing throughthe group. For those who remainon the streets, a few hours of musicwith their friends carries themthrough rough nights.

While other non-profits rally toget the homeless things: tents, hotmeals and gently used clothing –Johnson is helping her band findtheir voices through the power ofmusic.

“Really, people need communi-ty and friendship,” she said on achilly December morning outsidethe Santa Monica Public Librarywhere local homeless residentswere attending a resource fair. Adozen members of her choir,Voices of Our City, had awoken at6 a.m. and made the journey northhoping to inspire others to lift theirvoices and find fellowship. Thegroup represented just a fraction ofthe fifty or so singers who usuallyshow up to Johnson’s jam sessions.

They compose just a tiny frac-tion of a regional crisis.

“It’s unfortunate that this man-

Southern California is a weekinto winter but it’s feeling a lot likesummer.

High pressure and weak off-shore flow is keeping temperatureswarm — as much as 12 to 18

degrees above normal.The National Weather Service

says that means there will be 80-degree readings in the valleys andinterior coastal sections throughFriday and near-shore tempera-

tures will be in the 70s.The warmth has been accompa-

nied by extreme dryness — just .01inch of rain in downtown LosAngeles this month — but there’s achance for relief.

Two forecast models show rainin the middle of next week. Theweather service says the modelshave been inconsistent recently butthe fact they both now agree offerssome hope for a bit of rain. SEE HELP PAGE 5

SEE MUSIC PAGE 5

Kate CaglePERFORMANCE: Steph Johnson would like to expand her homeless choir program to Santa Monica.

San Diego Choir Director hopes SantaMonica musicians catch her tune

Southern California’s winter feels a lot like summer

Calendar2 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 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

Friday, December 29Guest House openFree tours of the Marion Davies GuestHouse begin at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1p.m. No reservations needed.Annenberg Community Beach House,415 PCH.

Saturday, December 30Design in 3D: Open LabExplore 3D printing possibilities atthe Library. Prepare your own three-dimensional plastic objects for 3Dprinting. Staff will be available to helpwith basic troubleshooting. MainLibrary, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 11 a.m.– 1 p.m.

Pico Farmer’s MarketFresh seasonal produce sold direct byCalifornia’s farmers. Parking for themarket is available in the lot alongPico Blvd., at meters along Pico Blvd.or adjacent to Virginia Park in theparking lot on north/east corner ofPico and Cloverfield. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Downtown Farmers MarketThe Saturday Downtown FarmersMarket, also known as the OrganicMarket, opened in May 1991. With thepassage of the California OrganicFoods Act of 1990, consumers wereeager for more organic produce andanother market for weekend shop-ping. The Organic Market boasts thelargest percentage of CertifiedOrganic growers of the City’s fourmarkets. 2nd @ Arizona Avenue, 8:30a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Guest House openFree tours of the Marion Davies GuestHouse begin at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1p.m. No reservations needed.Annenberg Community Beach House,

415 PCH.

Sunday, December 31 Santa Monica CertifiedFarmers Market The Main Street market hosts a vari-ety activities including bands, a bi-weekly cooking demonstrations, artsand crafts, a face painter, a balloonanimal designer as well as seasonalCalifornia grown fruits, vegetables,nuts, meats and cheeses. 2640 MainSt. @ Ocean Park, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30p.m.

Monday, January 1HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tuesday, January 2Website Building I: BasicHTML This hands-on workshop teaches youhow to create a basic website usingHTML5. No prior coding experiencerequired. Main Library, 601 SantaMonica Blvd., 6 – 8 p.m.

Ocean Park Film Series:Some Like it Hot (1959)Film historian Elaina Archer screensand discusses this film, starring TonyCurtis and Jack Lemmon, who playtwo male musicians who witness amob hit then flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women.(Film runtime: 121 min.) Ocean ParkBranch Library, 2601 Main St, 6 – 8:30p.m.

Drum and Dance withRhythm Child! Enjoy quality family time at thelibrary during winter break and wel-come 2018 with a bang! Ages 3 to 11.Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd,2:30 – 3:15 p.m.

Healthy Lunches for Seniors!WISE & Healthy Aging offers a weekday lunch program for Santa Monica residents age 60 and older. Your trusted community source for a nutritious meal.Registration Required!

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Associated Press

When Elias Zaldivar was an 18-year-oldcollege freshman and decided he was in themarket for marijuana, he knew just how toget it, and it didn’t involve canvassing thecorridors of his campus in search of thatstoned-out dude who sold pot from hisdorm room. Instead, he went straight to adoctor.

On a busy Hollywood street, Zaldivarquickly located a clinic specializing inmedicinal pot referrals. He video-confer-enced with a doctor from the waiting roomand, following their 10-minute chat, a recep-tionist handed him an official-looking letterwith an embossed gold seal that allowed himto buy medical marijuana at any Californiadispensary.

Zaldivar, now a 21-year-old mixed mar-tial arts coach, has renewed his medical mar-ijuana recommendation each year since,always using the same health claim. He stillchuckles while recalling what he explainedto the doctor to get him to issue him thatfirst prescription: “I told him I had anxiety.”

In the two decades since Californiabecame the first state to allow cannabis formedicinal use, it’s been an open secret thatpretty much anyone who wants marijuana atjust about any time can find a doctor whowill recommend it for almost any reason.

Technically, the doctor doesn’t provide aprescription but a “letter of recommenda-tion,” because it’s illegal for a physician toprescribe a substance banned by the federalgovernment, no matter what state law says.

Once that recommendation is secured, aperson can also apply for a state-issued med-ical marijuana card that, although notrequired, is more convenient to carry to adispensary and, in the eyes of some holders,gets them taken more seriously as peoplewho need pot to stay healthy.

Although some doctors who take theexamination process seriously charge farmore, the fees at most of the in-and-out-the-door-in-10-minutes places is about $40.

Now, with recreational marijuana set tobecome legal Monday in California for any-one 21 and over, some people will be tossingtheir state-issued cards.

Revenue from the sale of medical mari-juana is expected to drop from an estimated$2 billion in 2016 to about $1.4 billion nextyear, according to a study published this yearby the University of California AgriculturalIssues Center. At the same time, according tothe study, the legal sale of recreational mari-juana should bring in more than $5 billionas recreational pot captures about 62 percentof sales, while the black market retains about30 percent.

Already Zaldivar and others say they seethe market forces at work. In the monthsleading up to legal recreational pot sales,they’ve noticed many of the heavily guardedmedical dispensaries they frequent are let-ting them stroll in without their state-issuedIDs.

“As they’ve gotten closer and closer to

being legalized, they are not even asking forthe recommendation letters anymore,” said22-year-old Adam Salcido, who works for acompany that helps put on popular eventslike Hempfest and Cannabis Cup. He got hismedical marijuana card to treat stomachproblems he said he’s suffered since child-hood, and plans to keep it for now.

Like Salcido, many people do use mari-juana to treat serious medical problems.

“Some physicians, like myself, who seemostly very ill patients — such as those withepilepsy, cancer and other serious conditions— will likely not see a drop-off as we areinvolved in managing the cannabis treat-ment, not only providing a letter for access,”said Dr. Bonni Goldstein, a pediatrician whobegan treating both children and adults withcannabis 10 years ago after she saw its med-ical benefits.

One age group caught between medicaland recreational marijuana are those 18 to20. Medical is legal for anyone 18 and older,so some in that range are likely to continueproviding fictitious health conditions sothey can get a state medical card and “legal-ly” buy pot.

There also could be a financial incentivefor some to seek a medical card even if theydon’t have a health problem because medicalmarijuana will be taxed at a lower rate thanrecreational marijuana. However, for a casu-al user, the cost and effort needed to get thecard probably won’t be worth the savings.

But as the movement away from dispen-saries continues, and as some dispensariessimply morph into full-service pot stores,selling things like candy bars, cannabis-infused wine, pre-rolled joints for the on-the-go crowd, and munchies for the stonedset, some physicians say it’s likely to put thesqueeze on those pot doctors who havegrown accustomed to just skyping theirpatient-physician consultations and email-ing their prescriptions, er, recommenda-tions.

“You really have physicians following twopaths here. On one path are those physicianswho continue to practice quality medicine,and on the other are those who just see thisas a way of making a lot of money,” said Dr.David Bearman, who has been prescribingmedicinal marijuana almost since Californialegalized it in 1996.

He was inspired in part to co-found theAmerican Academy of CannabinoidMedicine to separate doctors like himselffrom the guy he saw put a girl in a bikinioutside his clinic with a sign announcingmedical marijuana cards were available therefor only $39.99.

“This is why the legalization of cannabisfor recreational use is so important,” saidGoldstein, who like Bearman consults withpatients face-to-face for an hour or moreand only after they’ve provided medicalrecords proving they have a serious condi-tion she believes cannabis can help alleviate.

“Let the medical patients be medical,” sheadded, “and let the recreational users use itrecreationally.”

Legal weed hurts prognosis for California

medical pot market

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SARAH SKIDMORE SELLAP Personal Finance Writer

No one wants to be caught off-guardwhen it comes to their finances. So TheAssociated Press asked several experts toshare their opinion on what will happenwith some key issues in 2018 that will direct-ly impact your personal financial well-being.Here’s a look at their forecasts:

Q. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM GAS PRICES?A. Gas prices are still quite low, historical-

ly speaking, and were fairly steady in 2017.But 2018 may be a bit more rocky, accordingto Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysisat the Oil Price Information Service.

Kloza estimates the average price for reg-ular gasoline will end 2017 around $2.39 agallon. A typical family might consume 90gallons of regular gas each month, so theircost in 2017 has been around $215 permonth.

Overall, Kloza expects the average pricenationwide to rise to around $2.45 for 2018.That’s still well below the more than $3 a gal-lon that Americans faced from 2011 to 2014.Like every year, prices will vary greatly byregion and season.

A word of warning though — hurricanesor recessions could disrupt even the bestestimates.

Q. WHAT WILL THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE IN2018?

A. The current strength in the job marketshould carry into 2018. This is particularly

true if you are in a high-demand field likehealth care, technology or e-commerce, saidAndrew Chamberlain, chief economist atjobsite Glassdoor.

“Today’s labor market is probably thetightest in a generation so that puts workersin a strong bargaining position with employ-ers,” said Chamberlain.

Companies in high-demand fields shouldoffer pay raises and other incentives to helpattract and retain workers. Those not inhigh-demand fields may see some improve-ments in workplace conditions too.

Experts like Chamberlain are warningjob-holders not to get lulled into compla-cency by the unusually long U.S. economicexpansion. As economists say: times aregood until they aren’t. Chamberlain said thisis a good time to prepare for an inevitabledownturn by socking away money in sav-ings, polishing your resume and keepingyour list of work accomplishments handy.

Q. WHAT ABOUT TAX CHANGES?A. This is the big question mark for many.

The tax overhaul bill, which passed CongressWednesday and is awaiting the signature ofPresident Donald Trump, would take effectin 2018.

You may see changes almost immediatelyin your withholdings from your paycheck.The IRS said earlier this month that it isclosely monitoring the bill and expects toissue initial withholding guidance inJanuary, which would allow taxpayers tobegin seeing the benefits of the change asearly as February.

However, other big changes from theoverhaul — such as a lower tax rate or elim-ination of some deductions — won’t be fullyevident until you complete your taxes in thespring of 2019.

Generally speaking, the legislationreduces levies on the wealthiest Americans,while making more modest tax reductionsfor most others. The tax cuts for individualsare temporary, expiring in 2026. And while itdoubles the standard deduction used bymost Americans, that will also end in eightyears.

Q. WILL WAGES GO UP NEXT YEAR?A. In short: most likely.Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at

Pantheon Macroeconomics, said that thetight labor market is expected to remaintight. That means companies will be hardpressed to find and retain workers, and inturn, will likely raise pay.

Unemployment in the U.S. is already at a17-year low of 4.1 percent and the economyis growing at a good clip, over 3 percent atlast measure. But Shepherdson and othereconomists think this growth period is nearits end, which is typically when the bestgains come for workers.

He describes next year as the “sweet spot”for individuals to get raises that leave themfeeling better off.

The only thing that could throw off thislower unemployment trend — which drivesthe wage growth — is if significant numbersof workers who’ve been on the sidelines tryto rejoin the workforce.

“That is possible, but it’s very low (risk),”he said. “If we were going to see a big surgewe would have seen it by now.”

Q. HOW IS THE HOUSING MARKET SHAPING UPFOR 2018?

A. This year’s turbulent politics, naturaldisasters and more should play out in thehousing market in 2018, said RalphMcLaughlin, chief economist for housingwebsite Trulia.

There will be less enthusiasm for homebuying and more enthusiasm for selling, hesaid. That will help ease two major head-winds in the current market: low inventoryand high prices.

However, there will be lower demand forhomes prone to natural disasters, followingthis year’s string of hurricanes, wildfires andfloods.

There will also be a geographic reactionto the tax plan. The shrunken deduction forhome interest and property taxes coulddampen enthusiasm for homes in expensiveand high-tax areas such as parts of theNortheast and much of the West. However, amajor increase in the standard deductionshould help boost demand in the Midwestand South, where few mortgages and prop-erty tax bills are large enough to warrantitemized deductions.

Trulia expects prices to rise across thecounty at a slower rate as the market starts tocome into more balance. And for renters,the rate of rent will increase further but at amore modest pace thanks to new construc-tion.

News4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

What to expect for your personal finances in 2018

SANTA BARBARA

Containment reaches 91 percent around hugeCalifornia fire

Firefighters are close to completing containment lines around the remnants of the hugeand costly wildfire that scorched two Southern California counties this month.

Officials say the so-called Thomas Fire is 91 percent contained Thursday, with remainingactive heat sources well inside the perimeter of the 440-square-mile burn area in coastalVentura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles.

The fire erupted Dec. 4 and quickly became a wind-driven inferno, destroying 1,063structures and damaging 280 others.

By late this month, firefighting costs topped $174 million as the wildfire becameCalifornia’s largest on record.

The Los Angeles Times reports that only halfway through the state’s current fiscal year,the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has already spent $699 millionbattling wildland blazes, including October’s Northern California firestorms.

CARPINTERIASanta Barbara County marijuana farm burglarized

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s Department says a report of trespassing and vandal-ism at an orchard outside Carpinteria led to discovery of a burglary at a neighboring mari-juana farm this week.

Deputies found that the orchard had been accessed to cut a hole in the fence around theadjoining property.

The department says the investigation led to a local motel and discovery of drug para-phernalia, methamphetamine, more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms) of marijuana and mar-ijuana plants, burglary tools and other items identified as property of the burglarized farm.

A man and woman were arrested.

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enclave of Dana Point, neighbors fear anightly meal is drawing homeless to a statebeach where teens play beach volleyball andfamilies picnic and surf. And on the riverbed30 miles north, a van fitted with showerstalls pulls up to help those living in thetrash-strewn encampment, which neighborsworry is becoming more entrenched in anarea where they once jogged and biked.

“There’s no doubt that giving them stuffthere prevents them from a desire to move,”said Shaun Dove, a 46-year-old soon-to-beretired policeman who lives less than a mileaway.

The number of homeless living in OrangeCounty has climbed 8 percent over the lasttwo years. In the United States, homelessnessrose slightly in the last year to nearly554,000, pushed up largely by increases onthe West Coast, federal data shows. Theincrease is driven by soaring housing costs,as well as a drug crisis and need for mentalhealth services.

Advocates say the homeless have becomemore visible as police have cracked down onrules barring camping, driving people tospots like the riverbed, which is countyproperty.

Everybody knows the solution is morehousing; there aren’t enough beds availablein a county with a median home price near$700,000.

In Dana Point, the nightly meals beganmore than two decades ago at local churchesbut were moved to the beach parking lotafter a late night stabbing between twohomeless residents.

The homeless say as much as they appre-ciate the hot meals, the food isn’t keepingthem on the streets.

“It doesn’t help me tomorrow. It doesn’t,”said a 55-year-old man who refused to givehis name. “But it helps me today.”

Volunteers say the homeless are drawn tobeaches because of the open space andaccess to water and restrooms and that feed-ing people can build trust and lead them toadditional services.

But Brian Brandt, a 55-year-old lawyer,doesn’t let his six children go down to thebeach alone after seeing volatile outburstsamong the homeless and frequent policecalls.

“I don’t want to be seen as a bad guy —‘OK, look at this heartless dude,’” he said. “Idon’t feel safe. I don’t feel like my kids aresafe.”

Toni Nelson, who co-founded a neigh-borhood group, is also critical of the meals.She has joined with housing advocates to tryto raise money to house the homeless withties to the community, figuring if about athird of the city’s residents chip in $68 theycan cover much of the need for a year.

So far, dozens have signed up to give. Butthey still have a long way to go.

Robert Marbut, a consultant on home-lessness, believes it’s misguided to providehousing or other services without heavyincentives for recipients to be in treatmentprograms for mental health problems,addiction or other issues.

“Anytime you give out services withouttreatment,” Marbut said, “that’s enabling,period. ... You’ve got to serve the food in aplace where mental health is being provid-ed.”

People say they ended up at the riverbedencampment for different reasons rangingfrom drug addiction to a lost job.

Many nearby residents said their neigh-borhoods have suffered since the camp hasgrown. Hypodermic needles have beenfound in the park and shopping carts rattleon otherwise quiet streets.

Anaheim officials said any aid should bepart of a broader effort to help people find away out of the riverbed. “The goal shouldn’tbe to make it slightly more comfortablethere to live that way but rather, how can weget those folks to a better place?” said cityspokesman Mike Lyster.

Orange County has shelter beds but theylargely fill up. And many homeless said theydon’t like a shelter curfew or rules barringpets and prefer their privacy, even outdoors.

County authorities say they want to clearthe riverbed and have provided those livingthere with showers and case managementservices to help those who want it.

Larry Ford, a 53-year-old veteran, said heappreciates the assistance but food andshowers don’t tether him to the string oftents.

“Look at this,” he said, pointing togarbage by his feet. “What is this enablinghere?”

Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

made disaster doesn’t get the same attentionthat something like a fire would,” Johnsonsaid before taking the stage at the mainlibrary branch. With a live band and warmedup voices, the group performed upliftingsoul classics.

Johnson’s choir, which will be featured ina PBS Documentary next year, started in2016 when she and some fellow musiciansbrought meals to the homeless. When shetold them she sang and played guitar, shemet people who wanted to sing too. Shedecided to create a safe place for them to dojust that.

A few months later, after getting somelocal press, they held their first concert. Thechoir members, used to being stepped over,ignored and walked passed, were stunned

when 350 people showed up to hear themsing. At first, the choir members were nerv-ous looking out into the crowd. Eventuallynerves turned into pure joy.

“This whole beautiful exchange hap-pened where they realized people were therefor them,” Johnson said. “They stood taller.They were so grateful.”

More than eighteen months after thechoir began, Johnson is hoping to inspireother musicians to reach out in their owncommunities by lending some time, expert-ise and practice space. Johnson believesmusic is the best way to bring rhythm andharmony to those experiencing the turmoilof living on the street.

“I think people want to do somethingand they want to help and they just don’tknow how,” Johnson said.

Kate@smdp.com

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News6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

JONATHAN J. COOPERAssociated Press

For decades in California, a sacrosanctrule has governed public employees’ pen-sions: Benefits promised can never be taken.

But cases before the state Supreme Courtthreaten to reverse that premise and openthe door to benefit cuts for workers.

The lawsuits have enormous implicationsfor California cities, counties, schools, firedistricts and other local bodies facing asharp rise in their pension costs.

The ballooning expenses are an issue thatGov. Jerry Brown will face in his final year inoffice despite his earlier efforts to reform thestate’s pension systems and pay down mas-sive unfunded liabilities.

His office has taken the unusual step ofarguing one case itself, pushing asideAttorney General Xavier Becerra and mak-ing a forceful pitch for the Legislature’s rightto limit benefits.

At issue is the “California Rule,” whichdates to court rulings beginning in 1947. Itsays workers enter a contract with theiremployer on their first day of work, entitlingthem to retirement benefits that can neverbe diminished unless replaced with similarbenefits.

It gives workers security that their retire-

ment will be safe and predictable after acareer in public service. But it also ties law-makers’ hands in responding to explodingpension costs.

It’s widely accepted that retirement bene-fits linked to work already performed cannotbe touched. But the California Rule is con-troversial because it prohibits even prospec-tive changes for work the employee has notyet done.

“Lots of people in the pension communi-ty are paying attention to these cases and arereally interested in what the CaliforniaSupreme Court is going to do here,” saidAmy Monahan, a University of Minnesotaprofessor who studies pension law.

Pension systems around the country arefacing unprecedented pressures from gener-ous benefits, severe losses during the GreatRecession, mostly anemic investment earn-ings since, and retirees living for longer.

California’s two major pension funds,which have more than $570 billion in assetsbetween them, have enough money to payfor only about two-thirds of their anticipat-ed costs.

As a result, both the California PublicEmployees Retirement System and the StateTeachers Retirement System will collect bil-lions of additional dollars from state andlocal governments, putting pressure on

those budgets.The pending cases stem from a Brown-

backed 2012 pension reform law that soughtto rein in costs and end practices viewed asabuses of the system. One of those eliminat-ed benefits was a right to buy up to five yearsof credit when retirement benefits are calcu-lated, so a person who worked 20 yearswould get a monthly check as if he’d worked25 years.

Brown, in a brief filed in November,argued benefits have been too generous.

“For years, self-interested parties, overlygenerous promises whose true costs wereoften shrouded by flawed actuarial analyses,and failures of public leadership had causedunsustainable public pension liabilities,” hisoffice wrote. A ruling is expected beforeBrown leaves office in January 2019.

The 2012 law also limited the types ofincome that can be used to calculate pensionbenefits in an attempt to limit “pension spik-ing,” or driving up final salaries to increasepayments in retirement.

A group of Marin County employeessued separately over the changes, arguing thebenefits couldn’t be altered. The CaliforniaCourt of Appeal in San Francisco disagreedin a ruling that strikes at the heart of theCalifornia Rule.

“While a public employee does have a

‘vested right’ to a pension, that right is onlyto a ‘reasonable’ pension — not animmutable entitlement to the most optimalformula of calculating the pension,” JudgeJames A. Richman wrote. The case is nowpending at the Supreme Court.

Dave Low, chairman of Californians forRetirement Security, a union coalition, saidthe Supreme Court upholding the lower-court ruling would be a “major setback” forpublic employees.

“If they base their decision on precedent,I don’t think that there’s much for the publicemployees to worry about,” Low said. “Thekey will be if the Supreme Court decides tobreak away from decades of precedent anddozens of decisions.”

Twelve states observe a variation of theCalifornia Rule, said Greg Mennis, directorof the Public Sector Retirement Systemsproject at Pew Charitable Trusts. One ofthem, Colorado, has walked it back a bit, hesaid, requiring “clear and unmistakableintent to form a contract before pensionswill be contractually protected.”

A change to California’s interpretation ofits rule would not automatically change legalprecedents in other states, but it could pro-vide a spark for lawmakers to test changesthat they previously considered unfeasible,said Monahan, the Minnesota law professor.

Cases could open door to pension cuts for California workers

Westside Food Bank’s Efficient Operation

GENEVIEVE RIUTORTWestside Food Bank

Westside Food Bank distributes over 4.5 million pounds of food each year to local peoplein need through the food service programs of their 70+ member agencies. About half of thefood comes from donations - from the local community via food drives, from the CaliforniaAssociation of Food Banks’ “Farm to Family” produce project, and from the Extra HelpingsWestside prepared and perishable food rescue program. The rest of the food is purchased onthe wholesale market at the best available bulk food prices and these purchases help to roundout the nutritional value of the overall distribution. These charts show how they buy and dis-tribute food.

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DAILY POLICE LOG

The Santa Monica PoliceDepartment Responded To 307Calls For Service On Dec. 27.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE CALLS CHOSEN BY THE

SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

Encampment 300 block Santa Monica Pier12:35 a.m. Encampment 1400 block 2nd 12:39 a.m. Encampment 200 block Santa Monica Pier1:14 a.m. Burglary investigation 200 block Montana3:40 a.m. Traffic collision Foxtail / San Vicente 8:13a.m.Vehicle parked in alley 1500 block 6th8:37 a.m. Petty theft 200 block Santa Monica 8:39a.m. Lewd activity Centinela / Santa Monica8:40 a.m.Encampment 1600 block the beach 9 a.m. Vandalism 2000 block 11th 9:04 a.m. Vandalism 1900 block 10th 9:16 a.m. Auto burglary 15th / Wilshire 9:26 a.m. Theft recyclables 900 block 3rd 9:34 a.m. Person with a gun Main / Strand 9:47 a.m. Grand theft 1000 block 20th 10:11 a.m. Burglary 1900 block Cloverfield 10:12 a.m. Traffic collision 400 block Pacific CoastHwy 10:17 a.m. Traffic collision 900 block 21st 11:04 a.m. Petty theft 900 block 17th 11:09 a.m. Burglary 2200 block Cloverfield 11:11 a.m. Petty theft 600 block Broadway 11:12 a.m. Assault 1300 block 2nd 11:15 a.m. Burglary 200 block Wilshire 11:27 a.m. Petty theft 1200 block 3rd Street Prom11:28 a.m. Burglary 100 block Ocean Park 11:50 a.m. Defrauding innkeeper 1500 block Lincoln11:51 a.m. Burglary 1100 block 17th 12:22 p.m. Petty theft 1300 block 2nd 12:24 p.m. Battery Ocean / Arizona 12:36 p.m. Person down Yale / Wilshire 12:43 p.m.Vehicle parked in alley 1400 block 26th12:50 p.m. Vehicle parked in alley 1800 blockDorchester 12:51 p.m.

Auto burglary 700 block 16th 12:53 p.m. Vehicle parked in alley 1300 block 17th12:55 p.m. Petty theft 1300 block Stanford 12:57 p.m. Traffic collision Ocean / Pico 1:43 p.m. Traffic collision Moomat Ahiko / Ocean2:15 p.m.Burglary 1700 block Hill 2:21 p.m. Traffic collision 500 block Interstate 102:31 p.m. Assault w/deadly weapon 3rd /Washington 2:31 p.m. Vandalism 12th / Pico 2:42 p.m. Encampment 1300 block 14th 3:44 p.m. Battery 2400 block Kansas 4:04 p.m. Speeding 20th / Pearl 4:17 p.m. Hit and run 200 block Santa Monica Pier4:23 p.m. Burglary 1600 block Broadway 4:36 p.m. Illegal weapon 200 block Santa Monica4:39 p.m. Burglary 2400 block Chelsea Pl 4:58 p.m. Identity theft 2200 block Wilshire 5:16p.m. Strongarm robbery 4th / Colorado 5:40p.m. Burglary 2400 block Virginia 5:46 p.m. Traffic collision 23rd / Oak 5:55 p.m. Person with a gun Main / Ashland 6:33p.m. Vandalism Main / Hill 6:33 p.m. Bomb threat 1200 block 3rd Street Prom6:34 p.m. Petty theft 100 block Wilshire 7:05 p.m. Petty theft 2600 block Wilshire 7:08 p.m. Auto burglary 200 block Santa MonicaPier 7:17 p.m. Traffic collision Centinela / Pico 7:31 p.m. Vandalism Neilson / Ocean Park 7:52 p.m.Petty theft 300 block Santa Monica 8 p.m. Identity theft 200 block Broadway 8:11p.m. Traffic collision 3rd / Washington 8:36p.m. Identity theft 200 block Broadway 8:39p.m. Grand theft 4th / Colorado 9:38 p.m. Auto burglary 2400 block Chelsea Pl 9:59p.m. Stolen vehicle 1500 block 10th 10:18 p.m. Fight 300 block Santa Monica Pier 10:21p.m. Domestic violence 1000 block Lincoln 11:27p.m.

DAILY FIRE LOG

The Santa Monica Fire DepartmentResponded To 37 Calls For

Service On Dec. 27. HERE IS A SAMPLING OF THOSE

CALLS CHOSEN BY THE SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS STAFF.

Emergency Medical Service 1300 block15th 1:01 a.m. EMS 600 block Ocean 1:23 a.m. EMS 900 block Pico 2:39 a.m. Automatic alarm 1500 block 6th 3:45a.m. Automatic alarm 1500 block 6th 4:07a.m. EMS 1300 block Euclid 7:31 a.m. EMS 1300 block 15th 7:41 a.m. EMS 1400 block 16th 8:48 a.m. EMS 2200 block Ocean Front Walk 9:08a.m. EMS 2800 block Washington 9:18 a.m. EMS 3100 block Neilson 10:38 a.m. EMS 1400 block 4th 10:39 a.m. EMS 2400 block 3rd 10:54 a.m.

EMS 800 block Bay 11:13 a.m. EMS 1500 block Pacific Coast Pier 11:14a.m. EMS 800 block 2nd 11:30 a.m. Automatic alarm 1200 block 24th 11:58a.m. EMS 2400 block Wilshire 12:35 p.m. EMS Yale / Wilshire 12:42 p.m. EMS 1100 block 9th 12:49 p.m. EMS 1600 block Ocean Front Walk 2:12p.m. EMS 3rd / Washington 2:34 p.m. EMS 1100 block 7th 2:37 p.m. EMS 3300 block Barnard 3:25 p.m. EMS 1500 block 9th 3:26 p.m. EMS 1400 block Ocean 3:32 p.m. EMS 4th / Colorado 5:45 p.m. EMS 2600 block Barnard 17:51:33 EMS 3rd / Washington 6:43 p.m. EMS 400 block Colorado 7:09 p.m. EMS 1600 block Appian 7:40 p.m. EMS 500 block California 7:56 p.m. EMS 1500 block 6th 8:07 p.m. EMS 3rd / Washington 8:32 p.m. EMS 1500 block Princeton 9:22 p.m. EMS 800 block 2nd 10:35 p.m. EMS 1300 block 17th 10:51 p.m.

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Local8 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 Visit us online at www.smdp.com

YOUR OPINION MATTERS! SEND YOUR LETTERS TO • Santa Monica Daily Press • Attn.Editor: • 1640 5th Street, Suite 218 • Santa Monica, CA 90401 • letters@smdp.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017

Puzzles & Stuff9Visit us online at www.smdp.com

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S SUDOKU

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S CROSSWORD

Number Cruncher■ A single Johnsonville originalbratwurst sausage (112 grams) con-tains 270 calories, 198 from fat. Ithas 22 grams of total fat or 34 per-cent of the recommended total fatintake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.■ It also contains 60 milligrams ofcholesterol (20 percent); 810 mgof sodium (34 percent); 2 grams oftotal carbohydrates (1 percent); 1gram of sugar and 15 g of protein.

Never Say Diet■ The Major League Eating recordfor jellied cranberry sauce is 13.23pounds in 8 minutes, held by JulietLee. Warning: Most of theserecords are held by professionaleaters with apt nicknames; therest by people who really shouldfind something better to do.

WELL NEWS B Y S C O T T L A F E E

SudokuFill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each numbercan appear only oncein each row, column,and 3x3 block. Use logic and processof elimination to solve the puzzle.

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Comics & Stuff10 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 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

We all have flaws. And though most of us prefer our own shortcomings to those of others, our mistakes,once owned, do make us more compassionate toward the other imperfect humans. The Taurus moon bringsus back down to earth, where we’re more likely to help instead of condemn each other for our failings.

When the Moon Comes Down to Earth

ARIES (March 21-April 19)Usually clouds gather before the storm, so theaware person knows when to duck for cover orget out an umbrella, as the case may be. You’lluse the analogy in the realm of emotion today.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)You know who gets angriest at the smallthings? Beings who are even smaller. But thesmall things can’t help what size they are, andthe tiny beings can’t, either. So you’ll respectall and try not to judge things by scale.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)It can be daunting to meet people in a broadcontext, but as the context gets narrower, peo-ple feel safer. While it’s easier to relax aroundfriends of friends than with the general public,today it will pay to search wider than that.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)While a dog’s affection may not be conclusiveevidence of a person’s fine character it doesfeel wonderful to be sloppily, enthusiasticallyand unconditionally appreciated. Dogs aren’tthe only ones who will deliver thusly.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)Today features different people, going at dif-ferent paces, with different tolerance levelsand definitions of “high pressure.” You’ll be ascontent as you are patient.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)The good fortune will come from getting outand interacting. Tonight you may find yourselfcommunicating differently with someone asyou begin to sense this person’s deepeningaffection.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)Tending to your inner self is as essential toyour existence as feeding yourself. Right nowit’s about paying greater attention to what youneed, how you feel and, most importantly, whatyou have to give others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21)There’s someone who’s been thinking of you. Infact, yours is the first face that pops to mind inthe morning and the last one that comes in clearat night. What do you wish for this person?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)Mastering anger will be the advanced skill towork on. Danger and anger are only one letterapart. While it’s healthy to express your feel-ings, anger should only be let out in a safe con-text. Anger also defuses with a delay.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)You’re wanted and needed in new places. Agroup of people you’re not too familiar with willreadily accept you as one of their own. It willbe a struggle not to over-commit your time.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)Though it takes intelligence to know anotherperson, it takes wisdom to know yourself.Wisdom often comes from the pain thataccompanies mistakes, but not today. Today itcomes from listening better and better.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)There are questions that those who prefer thebliss of ignorance just shouldn’t ask. And any-way, you’re starting to get information througha kind of osmosis of feeling, so maybe asking isunnecessary.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 29)

It’s like you and life are in a conversation. Sometimes it’s deep; sometimes it’s silly and totally offthe rails. But it’s a conversation you love either way. You’ll be freed of a burden in the early part ofyour solar return. You’ll make an impression with your style. The relationships you nurture willreward you richly. Leo and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 3, 33, 38 and 13.

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FRAZIER MOOREAP Television Writer

So-called “Peak TV” remains the blessingand the curse for viewers in 2017, with thetally of scripted series now totaling some500. Where to begin saluting all the greatshows? Here are 10 to salute, recall fondlyand, for viewers who missed any of them,catch up with:

“American Gods” (Starz). A former con-vict is hired upon his release by a charismat-ic con man and finds himself in a hiddenworld where a battle brews between OldGods and New Gods. The stated premise forthis dazzling series makes no more sensethan the series itself will for many viewers.No matter. The trippy, eye-popping visuals(along with brilliant acting) never gives theviewer time to feel confused.

“The Americans” (FX). For its fifth sea-son, this thriller about Russian spies posingas 1980s-era all-American marrieds (KeriRussell and Matthew Rhys) took an illumi-nating look at the American Dream whilegaining unsought relevance as the Cold Warof that distant age is bestirring anew.

“Big Little Lies” (HBO). Money can’t buyhappiness in the cushy seaside NorthernCalifornia community where this miniseriesunfolds. Every wife and mother has a beefwith other locals while the men mostly mis-behave. Then someone dies violently. It’s agripping mystery and social dissection thatputs women in the forefront, with anextraordinary cast including Nicole Kidman,Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon andShailene Woodley.

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (CW). Thisromantic-musical-comedy-drama neverfails to find insight and humor in the plight

of a smart, attractive young woman who alsohappens to be a bit loony in matters of love.Co-created and starring the radiant RachelBloom, it is funny, poignant and super-charged with musical production numbersthat would find a warm welcome on anyBroadway stage (how DO they create andfilm those witty sequences week afterweek?).

“The Deuce” (HBO). In this ambitiousdrama series, the denizens of the Deuce(shorthand for Manhattan’s 42nd Streetwasteland) trace intertwined narratives setagainst an exactingly re-created Big Apple ofcirca 1970s. The rich spectrum of characters(ranging from prostitutes and pushers tomobsters and dirty cops, and even a college-dropout-turned-barmaid) explore the mod-ern evolution of pornography. David Simon(“The Wire”) is a writer-creator, and thespectacular cast includes Maggie Gyllenhaal

and James Franco. A remarkable, eye-open-ing flashback.

“Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX). StarringSusan Sarandon and Jessica Lange as BetteDavis and Joan Crawford, two screen starsdeemed over the hill by studio lords, “Betteand Joan” is set a half-century ago. But thissumptuous miniseries zeroes in on theageism, sexism and misogyny afflictingHollywood (and society overall) right now,as well as then.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu). ElisabethMoss portrays one of the few remaining fer-tile women in the cruel futuristic dystopia ofGilead, a totalitarian society where humanrights are trampled and this special caste ofwomen is forced into sexual servitude in adesperate attempt to repopulate a ravagedworld. A cautionary tale when the novel was

Loads of TV shows were great in 2017; here are the 10 best

SEE TV PAGE 11

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published in 1985, this TV series adaptationgained even more urgency after last year’spresidential election. A stirring cautionarytale indeed!

“The Opposition with Jordan Klepper”(Comedy Central). Move over, Breitbart,Alex Jones and “Hannity.” Klepper is on thecase. Adapting to the current media ethoswith its ever harsher, ever more absurdistpitch, Klepper in effect hosts a superchargedversion of “The Colbert Report,” whose timeslot he inherited in September (and not amoment too soon) when he unveiled hisfake rantcast. His nightly show captures thepresent moment as shrewdly as Colbert didon his bygone Comedy Central show. Likethe voices he mocks, TV-Klepper is againstall ideas and movements along with the con-spiracies he sees lurking behind each ofthem. His show is bitterly funny and right ontarget at a time when everything is in uglydispute, especially reality.

“Ozark” (Netflix). When not advisingclients on their 401(k) plans, humdrumChicago financial adviser Marty Byrde laun-ders cash by the millions. But then he getsjammed up with the Mexican drug cartel hecleans that money for. So he and his familyskedaddle to the Missouri Ozarks, a saferbase of operations where he hopes to setthings right before he, his wife and kids allend up dead. Jason Bateman heads this mar-velously twisty, sometimes scary, often funnythriller as the Byrdes scramble to stay sol-vent, and alive.

“The Vietnam War” (PBS). It may seemodd to describe an 18-hour Ken Burns andLynn Novick docuseries as a crash course,but this heartbreaking, insightful master-piece moves quickly as it tracks every step ofa disastrous military misadventure that stillhaunts the nation, and, judging from thecountry’s ongoing involvement in Iraq,seems to have taught the nation little. It’s anessential TV event for everyone who livedthrough the Vietnam era, and especially forthose who have come along since.

The Beach

Inaugural Polar Bear Swim End 2017 on a refreshing note by participating in the City of Santa Monica’s 1st Annual

Polar Bear Swim. On Saturday, December 30, come to the historic AnnenbergCommunity Beach House where you can take a dip or buoy swim in the cold Pacific, thenwarm up in the heated Beach House pool. Ocean swimmers will swim in groups out to thebuoy.

In addition to the swim, there will be poolside activities, including s’mores, warm bev-erages, games and photos with our very own polar bear mascot. Creativity and costumesare encouraged! Bring your friends and family out for a great time.

Don’t forget your swimsuits and towels! The pool is heated. Registration is $10 foradults, $5 for seniors and adults 60+, and $4 for youth 1-17. Registration is now open atAnnenbergbeachhouse.com.

Saturday, December 30, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Annenberg Community Beach House, 415Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402

For more information, visit Annenbergbeachhouse.com.CONSTANCE FARRELL, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

CitywideRing in the New Year Safely. Let BBB do the driving

Big Blue Bus wants you to start off the New Year safely by offering free bus rides onNew Year’s Eve. Hop on any Big Blue Bus from 9 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2017 until 1a.m., Monday, January 1, 2018, and your ride is free.

Riders should plan ahead. Rides can enter their location and desired destination inGoogle trip planner (located on the BBB homepage) to find out where to catch the bus,and the time it leaves. It’s a good idea to plan your return trip ahead of time as not allbuses have late night service. Remember to get to the bus stop 10 minutes before thebus is expected to arrive. If traveling before 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, be sure to havethe $1.25 bus fare ready, Big Blue Bus paper or Token Transit pass, or TAP card preloadedwith Stored Value or a valid Big Blue Bus pass.

Please note that not all BBB lines provide late-night service. Refer to schedules whenplanning your trip.

Transit Store & Customer Service Hours: Closed Saturday, December 30, 31 andJanuary.

Please note: Customer Service phone lines and the Transit Store will resume normalhours of operation on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

MODIFIED SERVICE FOR THE NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYNew Year’s Eve - Sunday, December 31: Regular Sunday service.New Year’s Day - Monday, January 1: All BBB routes operate on a Sunday schedule.

Hilgard Terminal will be closed. Routes 1, 2, & 8 use Charles E. Young/P2 Hub instead.Some Rapid 12 morning trips use Charles E. Young/P2 Hub, all others will continue to useGateway Plaza. Route 17 will terminate at the VA Medical Center. Route 18 will terminatein Brentwood. Rapid 10 and Routes 16, 43 & 44 will not be in service.

UCLA Riders: Hilgard Terminal will be closed between 8pm on Saturday, December 23and 7am on Tuesday, January 2. Routes 1, 2, 8, 17 & 18: All weekday trips (day and night)will use the Charles E. Young Dr./P2 Transit Hub. Hilgard Terminal will reopen on Tuesday,January 2.

Riding to UCLA — Customers can board/disembark on Westwood Bl. at Weyburn Ave.,or on Charles E. Young Dr., between Westholme Ave. and Manning Ave. Please note thefollowing stop closures: Westwood Blvd. at Le Conte Ave., Le Conte Ave. at Tiverton Dr. ,Hilgard Ave. at Manning Ave., Hilgard Ave. at Westholme Ave. and Hilgard Terminal

Riding to Santa Monica —Customers can board/disembark on Charles E. Young Dr., between Westholme Ave.

and Manning Ave., or on Westwood Blvd. at Weyburn Ave. Please note the following stopclosures: Hilgard Terminal, Hilgard Ave. at Westholme Ave., Hilgard Ave. at Manning Ave.and Le Conte Ave. at Tiverton Dr.

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