Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 343
California Should Allow Vets, Others to Use Psychedelic drugs Just like prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol in the 1920’s gave rise to the likes of Al Capone and American organized crime, our multi-decade war on drugs is a failure and has resulted mainly in empowering inner city gangs and turning our southern neighbor (Mexico) into a permanent war zone. We are already seeing that, with the decriminalization of cannabis, illegal-drug-related crime is disappearing, appropriate r...
Will a Misinformation Campaign Lead to a Main St. Closure on the Weekends Dear Editor: Main Street Merchants have been lobbying City Council for over a year to Close Main Street to all traffic on weekends. They wrote a letter to city council last December 21st, claiming: “This pilot program has widespread approval from businesses and Ocean Park residents.” Since when do Lobbyists for Main Street Businesses speak on behalf of Ocean Park Residents? Their next strategy was to partner with Ocean Park Association to create polls to support the...
The City Council of Culver City last week voted in favor of a government-mandated premium pay ordinance for health care workers in the city, and the measure is scheduled for a second vote on Monday, June 14. The so-called “hazard pay” ordinance singles out Southern California Hospital at Culver City and would require the hospital to provide an additional $5 per hour to its workers for 120 days, taking effect on July 14, should the city succeed in their unconstitutional attempt. If it pas...
A miracle just happened for the residents of Santa Monica that can save our city forever: Councilmember Kevin McKeown, who has served for decades in this role, just unexpectedly announced his resignation effective 2 weeks from now to a shocked Council and city. Why is this a miracle? Because Kevin had been leading the efforts to enrich wealthy developers by using “equity” and “anti-racism” as a BS excuse to upzone the entire city (including single family R1 zoned communities) for high density...
Dear Editor, On Monday, May 10, the Culver City Council voted 3-2 to put on the June 14 agenda a discussion to eliminate R1/single-family home zoning. This was in response to an organized group that incorrectly believes eliminating single-family zoning will create affordable housing and help alleviate racial inequity in Culver City. Their plan would allow developers and land speculators to build up to 4 units (or more?) on almost any single-family home lot. There is an affordable housing crisis,...
This petition against me is categorically false, mean-spirited, and harmful to our exemplary school district. The recall is baseless and does not serve our students or the voters of Santa Monica and Malibu. Here are a few important facts about our school district: unlike every other district in Los Angeles County, all students in SMMUSD (prek-12) will have access to five day a week, in person instruction by April 26th with teachers and staff who have been fully vaccinated. As neighboring...
Dear editor, Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the United States, it's time for our leaders in Washington to put aside partisan bickering and do something to help. President Biden's American Rescue Plan to stop coronavirus and deal with the pandemic's impact on our nation does just that. And the American people agree. Real American unity is more than about politicians agreeing on a piece of legislation – it's about getting vaccines in arms, safely reopening schools for i...
Dear editor, In his first few months as Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell has given us a preview of how Republicans will behave for the next four years. They will use every tool at their disposal, like the filibuster, to cling to power and stop progress. They used it to block civil rights legislation in the 60s. They used it to block background checks for gun sales in 2013. And they'll use it to block EVERYTHING Democrats want to do in 2021. Republicans have changed the rules to entrench...
Dear editor, No one wants to be back in the classroom more than educators. Nothing would make me happier than to welcome every one of my students back to my classrooms in a way that keeps us all safe. But as California struggles to deal with constant and unpredictable changes to control the pandemic, a phased-in approach that responds to local conditions and transmission rates is the only responsible return to in-person instruction. To reopen schools the state must ensure all in person...
Dear Editor: On February 23, 2021 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of establishing "Hero Pay" for grocery and drug store employees. The pay would be $5.00 per hour in additional pay and would apply to publicly traded employers and employers who have over 300 employees nationwide and more than 10 employees per store. The additional pay would be in effect for 120 days from the date the ordinance is passed. In its current form, the ordinance would only apply to...
Dear Editor, I’m a tenant and when this started, I knew it was good for the poor, but bad for the landlords…ESPECIALLY those who have bad tenants. I’ve read some nightmare stories about those who don’t pay their rent now and certainly aren’t going to have it when the time is up and they have to pay it. Lot’s of these landlords may lose their homes unless something is done about it. I mean, how are you supposed to pay the mortgage when they aren’t paying their rent? I’ve made a point of paying...
Dear Editor; Last night Culver City Councilmember Dan Lee insultingly called all the Culver City Police RACIST! What saddens me is that no other council members called him out for his outrageous remarks because they are too timid and intimidated by this race hustler because they don't want to be attacked by the loony left and cancel culture! I'm calling on all people to demand that Culver City Councilmember Dan Lee apologize for his bigot and race hustling remarks! Robert Zirgulis President,...
Dear Editor, I have to agree with Mr Z. I am getting really tired of our elected officials calling our excellent police department racist. It sickens me the way that they have highjacked that word to push their radical agenda. Further, I found Mr Sarabia’s report absolutely biased and to liken police departments in the USA to slave catchers etc is incendiary, childish and unprofessional. This is the effect of Critical Race Theory being taught as fact in schools when it’s as factually based as...
To the Editor: In a letter published in the Observer (Jan. 7 – 13, 2021) Will Swaim makes the rather absurd claim that public employee unions “are by far the most powerful and lavishly overfunded political actors in California.” That dubious distinction goes to the oil and gas industry. The top lobbying clients nationally and in the state of California in the oil and gas industry are Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries Royal Dutch Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute. More illog...
Dear Editor, Take this pop quiz: What do Governor Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo have in common? Not one of them has missed a paycheck – even as they demand the closure of small businesses. Everyone has dismissed the concerns of constituents who are crushed by government-ordered lockdowns. And every one has been caught flouting the rules they impose on the rest of us. C...
Dear Stephen, When I was growing up, Christmas Eve always had a singular sense of the sacred. My grandparents, who were Italian immigrants, spent the evening cooking and setting up their large nativity scene. A sense of holy anticipation seemed to fill every space in our home, as did the intoxicating scent of my grandmother’s sauce. That memory has been so sustaining for me as we moved through the last days of Advent. With so much fear, uncertainty and isolation swirling around us, this has been...
DEAR EDITOR,, On a Saturday morning, during the month October 2020; more than 80 cars are lined up on the streets adjacent to a medical office building in Culver City, California. It is noted that the lines are moving slowly. Some cars have additional passengers whereas some are occupied by the driver only. Residents from the nearby apartments are out on their patios and some are looking through their windows wondering what is going on in their neighborhood. One lady shouts to an employee “Is t...
As parents and grandparents we want and need to do everything possible to keep our family safe. Halloween is and always has been my favorite holiday. BUT this year due to the pandemic things are different and we have to act accordingly. SADLY THAT MEANS NOT GOING OUT TRICK-OR-TREATING THIS YEAR. Try making a fun alternative activity for your children. Have your costumed children have a scavenger hunt with clues to find candy. Make a piñata and break it open. Hide candy (like an Easter egg...
Dear Editor What many in our community have found out since progressive majorities were put onto the local city council and school board, is that even if candidates can pass voters’ litmus-tests on political and social issues, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee those candidates will make good financial stewards for our city or school district. This election, though, voters have a chance to review the past record of one such school board member: Kelly Kent. Dr Kent has been on the board for the...
Dear Editor, As a thirty-five year resident of Culver City, I've seen lots of changes - some good and some bad. But never yet have I witnessed the City losing its moral compass . . . until tonight, June 25, 2018. The City Council convened to discuss and revisit the recent events whereby the four Progressive council members banded together to disallow Goran Eriksson, the one remaining moderate member his rightful turn as vice mayor/mayor and instead handed it over to Meghan Sahli-Wells, queen-bee Progressive and backer of the new members, in...
Re: Realignment of City Budget due to COVID-19 Shutdown and Losses in Revenue In light of the pandemic and its devastating impacts at all levels of society, the Culver City Coalition for Fiscal Responsibility (CCCFR), on behalf of local residents, tenants, business operators and housing providers, call upon our city leaders to expeditiously reevaluate funding priorities. With the city’s recent declaration of a Fiscal Emergency, which has been further exacerbated by a shutdown-induced d...
Dear Editor, We all grew up in Culver City and we graduated from Culver City High school in the past five years. Now, as adults and part of the Culver City community, we look forward to and expect Culver City Unified School District to thrive for many years to come. Scott Zeidman is the perfect candidate for the Culver City Board of Education. Scott is not only exceedingly caring and responsible, but he constantly has stressed academics to all of us. Culver City High School alumni Matthew...
Dear Editor, These are the ecomments I submitted to the city council regarding Action Item a last Monday evening, 8-17-120: "Honorable Mayor, vice mayor and members of the council. Given that permanent rent control program in Culver City is a virtual fait accompli, I’d like to address two issues which still may be considered and accommodated. One is a provision, which the city of Los Angeles has, to give some further rent cap relief to owners who provide all the utilities to their rentals. I hav...
Last night city council deliberated on the task force to "reimagine public safety". This drew out the usual "defund the police" crowd. Rather than have a bunch of us speak at the meeting and draw it out, we decided to have one person speak on behalf of all of us. Keith Jones gave our statement last night on defending CCPD. Transcript: Good Evening Mayor Eriksson, Members of the Council & City Clerk Jeremy Green, My name is Keith Jones, I am speaking tonight on agenda item A-2 on behalf of...
By Maryann Gray I am a Santa Monica resident who lives near the Brentwood Urgent Care center, which is on 26th Street just north of Wilshire (1156 26th). In recent weeks, Brentwood Urgent Care has started offering COVID-19 testing. Testing is important, but a large number of people waiting for their tests, some of whom are surely COVID positive, congregate outside the Center, blocking the sidewalk. Even if they lined up neatly, the sidewalk is less than 6 feet wide in that location, which makes...
