THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005 Volume 4, Issue 107 FREE Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues NEWS OF THE WEIRD BY CHUCK SHEPARD Go fly one ■ The Las Vegas Sun reported in SMC students January that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency has begun phasing in an underpublicized policy of ending all walk-in traffic. Eventually, all immigration offices, to improve efficien- cy, will do business only by appointments are feeling the made over the Internet (even though many immigration clients, most notably migrant workers, obviously do not have convenient Internet access). ■ Alan Johnson was arrested in Taunton, Mass., in November and parking pinch charged with burning his girlfriend’s 19- month-old boy with a cigarette lighter while baby-sitting. Johnson’s explana- campus at 1900 Pico Blvd., voiced tion: The boy went into a seizure, and City Hall to eliminate free Johnson, recalling his lifeguard training, concern last week in front of the thought the solution was to raise the parking zone near campus City Council over 150 parking boy’s body temperature to alleviate the meters that were installed earlier seizure. ■ Ms. Sandu Florenta, 18, a Romanian, BY RYAN HYATT this year on Pearl Street between was arrested for shoplifting at a Tesco Daily Press Staff Writer 16th and 17th streets. store in Wrexham, Wales, in December “If the city of Santa Monica with “four packs of frozen lamb, three fresh chickens, three packs of stock CITY HALL — Some of the last prides itself on being progressive, cubes, finger chillies, a packet of burg- free parking spaces available in you would think it would help ers, garlic, peppers, socks and under- wear, plus almost five pounds of oranges Santa Monica are about to disap- address student parking needs,” and apples” in a special sack under her pear, unless City Hall and Santa said Jeronimo Saldana, SMC’s robes. She told police that not many Monica College can agree to a Associated Students president. stores in Romania have carts, and thus, this is how people shop. compromise. “But the council seemed indiffer- Members of Santa Monica ent to our request.” TODAY IN HISTORY College’s Associated Students, an City transportation planner and Kim Calvert/Special to the Daily Press elected body that addresses stu- Warm weather and plenty of sunshine made it perfect kite-flying weather at In 1950, scientists at the University of dent concerns at SMC’s main See PARKING, page 6 the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday. California at Berkeley announced they had created a new radioactive ele- ment, “californium.” In 1958, the U.S. Navy launched the Vanguard 1 satellite. City Hall wins battle In 1966, a U.S. midget submarine located a missing hydrogen bomb that had fallen from an American bomber into the Mediterranean off Spain. over $218K legal bill QUOTE OF THE DAY By Daily Press staff development projects. The Santa Monica Housing “History is not life. But since only life makes history, SM COURTHOUSE — A Superior Council and the California the union of the two is obvious.” Court judge has ruled against Santa Housing Council filed suit against LOUIS D. BRANDEIS Monica developers in a battle over City Hall in November 2002, say- U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE (1856-1941) nearly $220,000 in lawyer bills. ing it was failing to observe a state INDEX Santa Monica Superior Court law that requires government bod- Judge Linda Lefkowitz decided ies to provide detailed reasons as Horoscopes last month City Hall should not to why development projects are Hang with friends, Aquarius 2 have to pay the Santa Monica reduced or denied when they oth- Surf Report Kim Calvert/Special to the Daily Press Housing Council, which had erwise conform to code. City Hall recently put up parking meters outside of Santa Monica College, but accused city officials of illegally Water temperature: 62° 3 students don’t have to feed them yet. rejecting and downscaling some See LEGAL BILL, page 7 Opinion On the edge 4 The modern American family: always moving, never slowing State The gay marriage fight 10 (Editor’s note: The intimate moments that once were the glue of through the nation’s worst rush have you done?” American family life are disappearing amid job demands and nonstop hour traffic. The Zeiss family is late for National activities. Researchers examining the fragile family structure allowed Jake Zeiss is 9 years old. His hockey practice. After that, it’s Senate to vote on Arctic drilling 12 The Associated Press an exclusive look at video and data from four years paperwork is multiplication tables. fencing lessons for Madison, of observing 32 families. The AP also observed one family firsthand.) He gropes for a pencil that has Jake’s 10-year-old sister. Their Comics dropped down the dark, sticky father, Gary, will meet them at the Laugh-in 16 BY JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA After seven hours of back-to- crevasse of the back seat. And he’s gym — hopefully by 8 p.m. AP Science Writer back meetings, he volleys for an tempted by a new yo-yo. It’s the Kim Zeiss has transformed her Classifieds hour with his tennis pro. Still per- kind that beeps and lights up. SUV into a rolling Wal-Mart, with Ad space odyssey 17-19 LOS ANGELES — Jake Zeiss spiring, he slides back into his “Jakey, is that a good use of cases of snacks and drinks buried bolts from his west LA bungalow Mercedes, gobbles a nutrition bar your time?” hollers his mother, beneath backpacks and sports People in the News before 8 a.m., red hair damp and and does paperwork on a lap desk Kim, as she swerves past a loafing Denmark’s Dogg pound 20 shirttail flapping. while his chauffeur burrows Honda. “How many problems See FAMILY, page 8 GABY SCHKUD BEST ON THE WESTSIDE SEE HOW GOOD ZERO CAN TASTE The name you can depend on! SINCE 1972 Offering French Fries Serving sellers and buyers MUSIC LESSONS w/ZERO grams of Trans Fat on the Westside. INSTRUMENTAL & VOICE The 1st in Santa Monica! 2444 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 102 Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310) 453-1928 1433 Wilshire Blvd at 15th St (310) 586-0308 www.santamonicamusic.com 1901 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica 310-394-1131 Page 2 ❑ Thursday, March 17, 2005 ❑ Santa Monica Daily Press HOROSCOPE Five generations of family jewelers Custom Design • In House Manufacturing Serving the Community of Santa Monica for Five Generations Specializing in Platinum, Gold and Engagement Jewelry. Gregory Edward Avedis Hang with friends, Aquarius Eddie Avo 331 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica 310.451.1349 www.readersjewelers.com Santa Monica Daily Press JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: You should call: (310) ★★★★★-Dynamic ★★★★-Positive ★★★-Average ★★-So-so ★-Difficult ARIES (March 21-April 19) LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) 828-2233 ★★★ Pressure builds because of a ★★★ Despite a very upbeat conversation change of plans or news that heads in your direc- or two, you will need to revamp plans. Don’t make tion. Rethink and adjust. Make calls and try to this a big deal. Use care with machinery and connect with those who might be affected. touchy people. Problems could arise out of the Tonight: Even if others are painting the town blue. Tonight: Out late. Limousine Rides At Taxi Rates green, head home early. Mercedes-Benz Taxi Service TAURUS (April 20-May 20) SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ ★★ Evaluate what it would mean to lose Teamwork could fall apart, despite Local SM company for Pick Up someone’s support. You might feel the difference your efforts to stay on top of a situation. Someone you count on could be touchy. Your ingenuity will Vehicles are properly insured, certified & licensed financially and/or emotionally. Schedule a talk to clear the air rather than have a problem with this help you move through his or her bad mood. Once Free Reservations! Corporate accounts welcome person. Tonight: Hang out with a favorite friend or you detach, a problem no longer seems so big. two. Tonight: Do the unusual. All Major Credits Cards accepted GEMINI (May 21-June 20) SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) % ★★★★ Another person’s challenge might ★★★ You might be the source of a hassle stun you. The only way to win a power play is not and causing more problems than you realize. Try 20 Senior Discount to play. Question yourself as to why you attract going within instead of dealing with others and this type of conflict. What is unresolved in you? problems externally. A discussion could be unusu- Claim your power. Tonight: You will go overboard. ally enlightening. Tonight: Be with your favorite person. CANCER (June 21-July 22) ★★ Take your time today. In fact, you might want to be unusually low-key. Reorganize CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★ your day, realizing your limits, both physically and You might be going over worst-case timewise. Close your door if you want to get any- scenarios in your mind. Ideas pop up that impact thing done. Tonight: Wherever you are, you beam your work and home life. You might be overwork- in others. ing and overthinking things. Take a break from all this self-criticism. Make this a normal day. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Tonight: Nap, and then decide. ★★★★ You can deal with a child’s or loved one’s difficult attitude. Find a way to cre- AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) atively bypass this person’s behavior and help ★★★★ You’re full of ideas and fun. Just him or her see the bigger picture.