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On May 1, hundreds of thousands of Latinos marched through the streets of Los Angeles demanding immigration reform. At the same time in Beverly Hills, thousands of women took to the streets demanding plastic surgery.
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Six former employees of Honda of Santa Monica have pleaded “no contest” to overcharging customers. The defendants will have to pay approximately $10,000 each in fines. Had the judge wanted to severely punish them, he could have sentenced them to sell only American cars.
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The redevelopment of the Marion Davis Beach Estate into a public beach club has hit a snag. A nearby homeowner’s group has negotiated commitments from the city regarding maintenance and security, but the city is unwilling to commit to the agreement in writing. City attorney Marsha Moutrie believes government should have flexibility in managing its properties. “Flexibility” is a term of art in which the City of Santa Monica reserves its right to lie.
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Santa Monica city officials estimate that they can save several million dollars per year using civilians, rather than firefighters, as dispatchers. Fire Department union representatives oppose the idea citing the experience of firefighters as being critical to the job. By that logic, physicians should be answering the phones at Santa Monica Hospital.
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Santa Monica is retrofitting its parking meters to accommodate the use of debit cards. Less cash being left in meters will reduce losses from vandalism and associated maintenance costs. The City believes that theft of the public’s money should be the exclusive province of government.
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The Santa Monica School Board is recommending lengthening the Kindergarten school day from five to six hours. While the Board and school principals favor the plan, predictably, teachers are opposed; labeling the recommendation, (Are you ready?), “the long day proposal.”
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Teacher representatives somehow managed to keep a straight face when they explained that teachers were opposed to the six hour day fearing (Are you ready again?) “student burn out.”
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I guess you never want to subject a five-year-old to too much juice drinking, recess and nap taking.
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As high risk jobs go, Santa Monica policeman is about as low risk as it gets. Their toughest job many days is finding parking at Izzy’s Deli.
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But inside the chest of even a Santa Monica cop beats the heart of a macho man. And so, the Santa Monica police have lobbied for and gotten approval from the City Council for funding to repaint the city’s patrol cars from the traditional, friendly blue and white, to the more serious and intimidating black and white colors used by most police agencies. Jay-walkers on Montana and itinerant corner fruit vendors beware.
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In other high-risk activity, Santa Monica police regularly bust masseuses at local massage parlors. After getting a massage, the cops are invariably propositioned for sex. The undercover officer then calls for backup and arrests the masseuse. Backup, in these situations is critical, as one can’t be too careful when confronted by a small Korean woman brandishing a bath towel.
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Now when a local librarian was recently attacked by a homeless man, there were police around. Those massages take time after all.
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I attended a lecture and book signing by Robert Greene, author of “The 48 Laws of Power”, “The 24 Laws of Seduction”, and “The 33 Strategies of War.” Perhaps his next book will be “The 27 Laws of Writing Best Sellers.”
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I asked Mr. Greene what practical effect reading, researching for and writing these books has had on his life. He said, “Well, I used to live in a crummy apartment in Santa Monica and now I own a home in Los Feliz.”
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