A CENTER-CUT, NO-FAT REVIEW OF WHAT WAS SAID THIS PAST WEEK BY FOLKS THE WORLD OVER AND RIGHT AT HOME It’s like paying foxes to do a thoughtful, unbiased study on how best to use hens.” — Co-Chair of the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City Diana Gordon regarding the city’s use of consultants to evaluate the economic impact that the Residents’ Initiative to Fight Traffic would have if approved by local voters in November.
The work of the parents has resulted in a policy that will strengthen reporting and accountability on the part of both teachers and administrators to ensure the safety of our children.” — Board of Education President Oscar de la Torre regarding a new school district policy that will mandate that the superintendent be notified of all sexual abuse allegations involving students.
Twice a week, a trainer led me around the gym, telling me that, yes, I could run faster, lift more, and achieve everything I wanted to achieve. I wanted to look like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl, but eating right and five hours a week at the gym just isn’t enough. So I quit.” — SMDP columnist Mariel Howsepian writing in “West Dressed.” [Santa Monica] is the only region without any rail service. We need to get that light rail built so we have some relief. It’s a vital artery that needs to be put in place. No project should be ahead of it.” — MTA chair and Santa Monica City Council member Pam O’Connor regarding funding for the Expo Line.
Childhood obesity is a serious crisis for L.A. County, as more than one in five students in the fifth, seventh, and ninth grades are considered obese.” — Jonathan E. Fielding, Los Angeles County director of public health.
I’m not the only one in the gym with “distractions.” People show up with magazines, CD players, Blackberrys and iPods. Maria brings a portable DVD player and watches episodes of “I Love Lucy.” I saw Lou (not his real name), a cigar smoking tenant, actually eat chips while on the treadmill. As he perspired the gym smelled like a cigar. (Works for smoked salmon, why not humans?)” — SMDP columnist Jack Neworth writing in “Laughing Matters.”
Although there are quite a few celebrities in Santa Monica, it is definitely a much more mellow scene” — Brandy Navarre, co-owner of the leading paparazzi agency x17, regarding the lack of paparazzi-related problems in the area.
While it has often been reported that Arizona Sen. John McCain and his current wife met at a military reception in Hawaii, Mrs. McCain reveals exclusively to Good Housekeeping that, in fact, she was a single mom, raising three young girls, when she and her future first husband had their initial encounter. All of her daughters had hair of gold, just like her, though the youngest one got a perm that resulted in curls, setting her apart from her siblings and mom and their pin-straight hair.” — SMDP columnist Meredith C. Carroll writing in “Meredity Pro Tem.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 28, 2008. Read the original PDF.