THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 73 FREE Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues L O T T O Law that targets SUPER LOTTO PLUS 26-9-20-3-42 Meganumber: 23 rent control abusers Jackpot: $10 million FANTASY 5 12, 13, 15, 33, 23 back in business DAILY 3 Judge lifts injunction vail in a pending lawsuit that chal- Afternoon picks: 8, 4, 7 lenges the controversial law. Evening picks: 8, 7, 9 on law designed to “The problem with the prior DAILY DERBY remove abusers law was that it gave unfettered 1st Place: 3, Hot Shot power to the landlord,” Judge 2nd Place: 10, Solid Gold BY JOHN WOOD Bascue said. “I find, on its face … 3rd Place: 4, Big Ben Daily Press Staff Writer the new regulation complies with Race Time: 1:41.18 the law, as written.” SM COURTHOUSE — A Passed last March under politi- NEWS OF judge has lifted a temporary cal pressure from lobbyists in THE WEIRD injunction against a controversial Sacramento, 3304 lets local land- by Chuck Shepard housing law, allowing landlords to lords charge market rates on ten- Police in Franklin Township, N.J., once again increase the rent on ants who use their rent-controlled charged a 20-year-old man with part-time tenants living in rent- units for part-time use such as shoplifting two pythons from the controlled units. vacation homes, offices or storage. The rationale behind 3304 was that Animal Trax pet shop and driving Santa Monica Superior Court Judge James Bascue, who issued rent control was designed to keep away with them. The man’s poor the injunction in November, cred- housing costs low, but has been judgment was not the reason ited officials for changing hijacked by some renters who use police caught him, but when they Regulation 3304 so the rent con- the inexpensive units for some- did later encounter the stolen trol board — and not landlords — thing other than living in them. snakes in the man’s house in has the authority to set higher Prominent real estate investor January, he admitted that one of rents. Judge Bascue said the rent Robert Bisno last year filed a law- the snakes had wriggled out of his control board now is likely to pre- See INJUNCTION, page 7 pocket during the getaway, wrapped itself around his leg, and After 20 years, police John Wood/Daily Press bit him in the “groin area.” A man lights up a cigarette at the Santa Monica Pier Wednesday QUOTE OF afternoon. Officials are considering making it a crime to smoke THE DAY seek justice in murder on the pier. “I’ve only met Suspect was free nearly Smokers could be snuffed four perfect people in two decades before my life and I didn’t like “We flew witnesses any of them.” being arrested in from Michigan at Santa Monica Pier – Unknown By Daily Press staff tion on the pending law. BY CAROLYN SACKARIASON and Chicago at great Daily Press Staff Writer Community activists say the DOWNTOWN — Smoking pier is one of the few remaining INDEX public expense.” cigarettes could soon be a crimi- A former Santa Monica bar piers without a policy restricting nal act beyond just the parks, in Horoscopes owner accused of killing one of smoking. To back up their posi- front of public buildings and the his customers in 1984 will face a — LT. RAY COOPER tions, they claim the following: . .2 beach in Santa Monica. Now judge today after being on the lam Santa Monica Police Detective ■ A May 2003 report by Santa smokers could be targeted at the Local for two decades. Monica Pier staff reported 450 pier as well. Antonio Aranda Pedraza was fires on the wooden pier in a single Local dems support Kucinich . .3 his Los Angeles home with a large Concerned individuals and charged with murder June 28, year, with 15 characterized as amount of money. But at some organizations were expected to 1984, six days after Javier Opinion point, he returned to the United address the Pier Restoration “substantial.” There are currently Gamboa Garcia was shot multiple States and was finally arrested by Corp. board on Wednesday night, more than 125 burn holes on the Get off the phone . .5 times in front Jalisco Cafe on Los Angeles police officers last advocating for a smoke-free pier caused by smoldering ciga- Olympic Boulevard near 18th July on drug charges. He alleged- Santa Monica Pier. rettes. Seal Beach and Santa Business Street. The cafe no longer exists, ly sold narcotics out of a parking Last fall, the Santa Monica Barbara both passed smoking poli- and neither did Pedraza — in the . .6 lot where he worked. City Council directed city staff to cies on their wooden piers in eyes of the law — until now. While Pedraza allegedly gave draft an ordinance banning smok- response to smoking-related fires. Pedraza allegedly fled the National police a false name when he was ing on public beaches and the The Venice Pier also is smoke-free. scene and hadn’t been seen by ■ arrested, his fingerprints revealed Santa Monica Pier. The City The pier attracts 3 million Alaska about to be tapped . .11 authorities since. Police suspected Council is now looking to the visitors a year, many of them fam- he fled to Mexico after they found his true identity. Authorities then People in the News PRC, in its role of managing and ilies with young children. The his car abandoned in Santa found he had an outstanding preserving the pier, for its posi- See SMOKING, page 8 Guber sells mountain retreat . .16 Monica. He’d also reportedly left See MURDER, page 8 Introduces THE UNDER $10 Music Lessons... 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