TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005 Volume 4, Issue 69 FREE Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues DAILY LOTTERY SUPER LOTTO Suicide case settled for 125K 10 19 30 41 45 Meganumber: 9 Jackpot: $16 Million BY JOHN WOOD FANTASY 5 Daily Press Staff Writer “Essentially, this is a cost-of-defense 13 17 18 24 28 DAILY 3 CITY HALL — The mother of a settlement, even though the number seems Daytime: 3 4 6 23-year-old Ocean Park woman Evening: 6 5 5 who hanged herself in Santa rather high. It was a relatively modest DAILY DERBY Monica Jail three years ago will be settlement for a wrongful-death claim.” 1st: 03 Hot Shot paid $125,000, elected officials 2nd: 12 Lucky Charms decided last week. 3rd: 06 Whirl Win RACE TIME: 1:43.07 Myeamma Claiborne, an exotic —ANTHONY SERRITELLA dancer and college student, had Deputy city attorney NEWS OF THE WEIRD been out drinking on Main Street BY CHUCK SHEPARD the night she was arrested for pub- lic intoxication and resisting mental breakdown. They added Santa Monica-based attorneys Zimbabwe, facing a severe food short- arrest. She was taken to an empty Claiborne should have undergone Don Randolph and Frances age, is considering an unlikely pro- holding cell for women on the sec- a medical exam rather than be Campbell, who worked the case Photo courtesy gram to bring rich foreign visitors to the country, according to a govern- ond floor of the old jailhouse placed in jail. on a contingency basis, said Myeamma Claiborne (right), as a ment announcement in November. behind City Hall, where she used The Santa Monica City Council police know suicide is most com- teenager, pictured with her mother, The information minister proposed an her own jeans to hang herself. last week agreed to pay $125,000 mon among women in local jails. Jean Prosser. Claiborne killed herself “obesity tourism strategy,” in which at age 23 in Santa Monica Jail after overweight visitors (especially Lawyers representing to Jean Prosser, Claiborne’s moth- They are told to pay special atten- Americans) would be encouraged to Claiborne’s mother claimed er. In exchange, Prosser agreed to tion to inmates who are intoxicat- being arrested for public intoxication “vacation” in Zimbabwe and “provide authorities were negligent and drop her lawsuit against City Hall, ed, and those who are withdrawn and resisting arrest. Prosser argued labor for (government-confiscated) treaded on Claiborne’s civil rights Santa Monica Police Chief James and distraught. authorities didn’t take note of her farms in the hope of shedding weight.” Americans, the proposal noted, spend by failing to monitor her adequate- T. Butts Jr., the arresting officer “She was all of those things,” daughter’s suicidal tendencies, and $6 billion a year on “useless” dieting ly. They said officers were told and the jailer working the night of officials last week agreed to settle a aids and could be encouraged to work Claiborne was in the middle of a the suicide. See SUICIDE, page 4 negligence lawsuit. off pounds and then flaunt “their slim bodies on a sun-downer cruise on the Zambezi (River).” TODAY IN HISTORY Stair madness City officials wary In 1946, Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was chosen to be the first secre- tary-general of the United Nations. of state budget cuts In 1968, during the Vietnam War, Saigon’s police chief (Nguyen Ngoc BY KIM CALVERT however, doesn’t cover education Loan) executed a Viet Cong officer with Special to the Daily Press funding, which continues to be a pistol shot to the head in a scene captured in a famous news photo- controlled by the state. graph. CITY HALL — Officials here are “Before the state legislature In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini bracing themselves for what Gov. makes any cuts, I think it’s impor- received a tumultuous welcome in Tehran as he ended nearly 15 years of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pro- tant to determine priorities and exile. posed state budget cuts will do to make sure we find the revenues needed to cover them,” said Santa QUOTE OF THE DAY city coffers, but a voter-approved measure should provide some Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor. “Marriage always demands the finest level of protection. “Certainly we don’t want wasteful arts of insincerity possible between Passing with a margin of 84 spending, but the governor two human beings.” Kim Calvert/Special to the Daily Press percent last November, shouldn’t force people in city gov- VICKI BAUM AUSTRIAN-BORN AUTHOR (1888-1960) Exercise enthusiasts are anxious to have their built-in stair machine back. Proposition 1A significantly ernments to find ways to fill in the The Santa Monica Canyon stairs have been closed for repairs since restricts the state’s authority over gaps.” INDEX November, and it’s unknown when they’ll reopen. Santa Monica resident local government finances. It pre- O’Connor said she was particu- Horoscopes and long-time stair climber Teddy Hamilton, 68, has been doing eight sets vents the state legislature from larly concerned about schools. Do what you want, Scorpio 2 on the wooden stairs leading down to the canyon for more than 30 years. taking local tax dollars that “Local revenue is supposed to Surf Report ‘Tell City Hall to pull their finger out and get these stairs fixed,’ Hamilton municipal governments need for help fund education,” O’Connor Water Temperature: 59° 3 said. ‘They’ve been like this for too long.’ Hamilton said the wooden stairs fire and paramedic response, law said. “We contribute revenues to are better than the concrete stairs located a half block west. enforcement, health care and other Opinion See BUDGET, page 4 Ditch that clutter 6 vital services. The proposition, State Schwarzenegger's popularity dips 10 National Samohi band director awaits his day in court Developing election guidelines 12 BY JOHN WOOD Monday, and lawyers said they on two felony charges stemming years before his August 2004 Comics Daily Press Staff Writer would continue exploring ways to from Hammer’s alleged sexual arrest and was widely respected in Yuk it up 13 settle the matter before trial. encounter with a 15-year-old girl. the local music community, Classifieds AIRPORT COURTHOUSE — An Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ryan is expected to decide declined to discuss the case. He Ad space odyssey 14-15 underage-sex case against Santa Judge William C. Ryan ordered then if the case should go to trial. spoke during court proceedings People in the News Monica High School band director Hammer to reappear in court on Hammer, who worked in Santa Tom Brokaw is booked 16 Carl Hammer was delayed on Feb. 25 for a preliminary hearing Monica public schools for nine See HAMMER, page 5 GABY SCHKUD LEARNING MUSIC EXERCISES Features The name you can depend on! THE MIND! PLAYING MUSIC THE UNDER $10 Serving sellers and buyers RELIEVES STRESS WE TEACH YOU HOW TO PLAY! DINNER SPECIAL on the Westside. Served from 4pm - 10pm 2444 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 102 (310) 453-1928 Santa Monica, CA 90403 1433 Wilshire Blvd at 15th St 1901 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica (310) 586-0308 www.santamonicamusic.com 310-394-1131 Page 2 ❑ Tuesday, February 1, 2005 ❑ Santa Monica Daily Press HOROSCOPE this valentines day Do what you want, Scorpio LVE JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: ★★★★★-Dynamic ★★★★-Positive ★★★-Average ★★-So-so ★-Difficult ARIES (March 21-April 19) LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Confirming plans and information ★★★ Jupiter in your sign goes retrograde, needs to become a high priority in your day. perhaps putting a serious end to the easy, effort- Others seem to change their tune, and you have less events of late. Hopefully, during this period become used to their harmony for several you considered what made your life better. Pursue months. Flex becomes a necessity. Tonight: this course. Don’t make agreements. Tonight: Pay Understand another point of view. bills; Don’t incur them. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★ You hit your share of roadblocks. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ Watch for yellow lights rather than have a head- You might feel and act like the on mental collision with a key associate. Your cat’s meow, but others don’t respond as if you are. Visit us today and see positive attitude could go down the drain if you The jolt could force many of you to regroup. Work take risks. Use diplomacy. Tonight: Back to on communication. Don’t make assumptions for the difference family makes. square one. the next few months, please. Tonight: Do what you want. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) ★★ What has been an unusually creative SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) 331 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica period could slow down. But don’t think that your ★★ Hide out, especially if your instincts 2 Hours Free Parking (Behind Store) lucky rabbit’s foot lost its magic. Use this time to point in that direction. What you thought was a 310.451.1349 • www.readersjewelers.com Eddie Guerboian consolidate recent gains. Though work needs to slam-dunk proves to be a lot more difficult or even be your highest priority, allow yourself some time a foul. Be careful. Play your cards close to your to reflect on other areas of your life. Tonight: Easy chest. Better yet — play ostrich! Tonight: Vanish does it. while you can. CANCER (June 21-July 22) ★★★★ Muster up your imagination. You CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★★ will need this gift to jump some of the hurdles Aim for what you want.