2009 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award SM to U.S. Chamber of Commerce LAX 310-444-4444 20th $30 Hybrid • Mercedes-Benz Anniversary not valid from hotels or with other offers • SM residents only • Expires 8/31/10 SantaMonicaTaxi.com THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 Volume 10 Issue 167 Santa Monica Daily Press ALUMNI HONORED SEE PAGE 3 We have you covered THE AND AWAY WE GO ISSUE City Hall rushes to spend $100M in RDA money BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Redevelopment Agency already has on hand Garden Walk, Pico Neighborhood Library “Given the continued uncertainty at the Daily Press Staff Writer — roughly $50 million in cash and $60 mil- and the Colorado Esplanade. state level, we think it’s an opportune time to lion in loans — to fund affordable housing, It also gave permission for the establish these commitments,” said Andy CITY HALL In an attempt to protect redevel- light rail improvements, the Civic Center Redevelopment Agency to seek approxi- Agle, director of housing and economic opment money from a potential state raid, Joint Use project with the school district, mately $36.5 million in tax allocation bonds development. the City Council voted to commit approxi- improvements to the Santa Monica Pier and to continue funding projects. That “uncertainty” is a threat by Gov. mately $100 million to construction projects a fire station, as well as several design-build Santa Monica’s bonds have a double-A rat- Jerry Brown to liquidate all redevelopment at its budget meeting Tuesday night. contracts for approved projects. ing, according to Standard and Poor’s, which The vote locks in money the Those contracts include the Palisades makes them more attractive to investors. SEE RDA PAGE 9 New sentencing date set in Juarez murder trial BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief DOWNTOWN L.A. Family members of Michael and Anthony Juarez, brothers who were brutally shot and killed more than a decade ago while visiting a cousin’s clothing store in Santa Monica, will have a chance next month to confront one of two gang members found guilty of the murders. Jessie Garcia is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on June 13 in a Downtown Los Angeles courtroom. His cousin, David Robles, was sentenced to life without parole in May. The two were convicted in April on two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the deadly shooting at the Westside Clothing store on Oct. 27, 1998. Brandon Wise [email protected] Prosecutors argued that Garcia and BIG IMPROVEMENT: Heal the Bay’s annual water quality report card gave the ocean around the Santa Monica Pier an A-grade. Robles helped carry out the murders on behalf of the Mexican mafia, which was out to settle a dispute over drugs and money. Santa Monica’s beaches pass with flying colors Robles acted as the getaway driver while Garcia and two other men, who have not BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD “unique,” because it attacked the problem of year’s report card to an A-grade this year. been identified, walked into the store and Daily Press Staff Writer contaminated water from several fronts. Gold reiterated his hope that more commu- opened fire. The Juarez brothers, who were Using funds raised by voter-approved nities would choose to follow Santa Monica’s visiting from out of town, were hit several SM PIER The Santa Monica Pier ditched its Measure V, which garnered $2.3 million this example and fund water-improvement efforts. times, along with two other men who sur- dunce cap and received an A-grade Wednesday year alone to improve water quality in the Those grades are based on daily and vived that attack. Detectives said the intend- from environmental watchdog Heal the Bay area, City Hall fixed an aging sewer pipe weekly samples that are analyzed for certain ed target of the attack was not at the store at for its water quality, reflecting nearly $2 mil- beneath the pier, installed netting to prevent kinds of bacteria that are present when fecal the time of the shooting and that the Juarez lion in investments from City Hall to clean up pigeons from roosting under the structure, waste is in the water. brothers had no ties to gangs. the water around the iconic attraction. repaired a storm drain and changed the way That pollution can cause illnesses like DNA evidence, along with eyewitness tes- In a brief but information-packed press it dealt with waste from the pier itself. stomach flu, ear infections, upper respirato- timony, helped identify Robles and Garcia, conference, Heal the Bay Executive Director The results were a dramatic jump from Mark Gold called Santa Monica’s progress being the fifth-most polluted beach in last SEE REPORT PAGE 7 SEE TRIAL PAGE 7 WE LOVE PROPERTY Seamus D. 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OFFICE: 949-791-1300 x1315 310-394-1131 | OPEN 24 HOURS [email protected] DRE # 01128992 Calendar General, Cosmetic, & Implant Dentistry 2 THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 We have you covered MODERN, COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE Gentle Dentistry | Sedation Available | Digital Technology | Smile Makeover | Flexible Financing * CALL FOR FREE Teeth Whitening DETAILS *after completion of exam and & COSMETIC CONSULTATION ($400 VALUE) cleaning/ new patients only Ali Mogharei DDS ( ) 310 829-2224 2222 SANTA MONICA BLVD, SUITE 202, SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 What’s Up Check our monthly promotions on our website www.santamonicatoothdr.com Westside OUT AND ABOUT IN SANTA MONICA Friday, May 27, 2011 ‘Giselle’ Thursday, May 26, 2011 The Broad Stage 1310 11th St., 7:30 p.m. Celebrate Los Angeles Ballet’s Open house at the ‘Y’ Breakfast • Lunch fifth season with “Giselle.” The YWCA Santa Monica/Westside Come try our Chicken and Waffles, beloved full-length romantic bal- 2019 14th St., 6 p.m. let makes its LAB debut. For The local YWCA is hosting three Now Open Pizza Waffles & Waffle Sliders more information, call (310) 434- open house gatherings to show ~ Illy gourmet coffee ~ 3200. This production also takes for Dinner! off the facility’s “mini” face lift Weekdays: 8am to 5pm | Weekends: 8am to 5pm | Closed Mondays place on Saturday at 6 p.m., and Friday & Saturday and to spread the word about Sunday at 2 p.m. dinner hours 5–9pm 2408 Wilshire Boulevard | 310-453-2787 new programs. There will also be 24th & Wilshire – Free Parking in back open houses on Friday at 12 ‘Sand in the Air’ p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. Morgan-Wixson Theatre For more information, 2627 Pico Blvd., 8 p.m. call (310) 452-3881 ext. 111. When a young doctor in a remote factory town on the Tex- Wedding finder Mex border is accused of sexual Main Library misconduct in his consulting 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 7 p.m. rooms he learns that corporate — 8 p.m. politics can override the course Just in time for wedding season, of justice in “Sand in the Air.” Pamela Wilson, host of KPFK With satirical humor, the play radio’s “Treasures of the West,” explores the ever-increasing lim- discusses popular Los Angeles- its and distortions of personal area wedding locales. For more freedom in a world manipulated information, visit smpl.org. by corporate and political controls. The play is inspired by Kids On Stage an actual Texas court case. Kids On Stage Theater For more information, 2627 Pico Blvd., 5 p.m. & 6 p.m. call (310) 828-7519. Kids On Stage presents “Adventure to Neverland.” Join ‘Locked and Loaded’ Wendy, Peter and his favorite Santa Monica Playhouse fairies in this heart-warming and 1211 Fourth St., 8 p.m. funny musical adaptation of a “Locked and Loaded,” Todd children’s classic story. Peter Susman’s first published play, battles his own shadow and stars stage and screen personal- Captain Hook brings more ities Paul Linke, Andrew Parks, laughs than screams. Lost mer- Tarina Pouncy, Terasa Sciortino maids, wild boys and indians and Sandra Thigpen and is round out the cast. Suitable for helmed by award-winning direc- all ages. For more information, tor Chris DeCarlo. For more call (310) 314-0035. information, visit santamonicaplayhouse.com. To create your own listing, log on to smdp.com/submitevent For help, contact Daniel Archuleta at 310-458-7737 or submit to [email protected] For more information on any of the events listed, log on to smdp.com/communitylistings Inside Scoop Visit us online at smdp.com THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 3 COMMUNITY BRIEFS MAIN STREET Parade to honor local lifeguards Grand marshals for the fifth annual Fourth of July parade on Main Street will be Santa Monica’s lifeguards, led by Capt. Angus Alexander, a 31-year veteran who oversees operations at the Central Section Lifeguard Headquarters, located just south of the Santa Monica Pier. The theme for this year’s parade, presented by the Ocean Park Association, is “Fourth of July at the Beach,” with sponsors such as RAND Corp., Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica College, the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m.