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# A Center-Cut Review of What Was Said This Week
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/s-t-r-a-y-talk-20080816/
- Published: 2008-08-16T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:43:49.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

A CENTER-CUT, NO-FAT REVIEW OF WHAT WAS SAID THIS PAST WEEK BY FOLKS THE WORLD OVER AND RIGHT AT HOME “It was never about the money. This was about my heritage, my beliefs, which make me who I am. It was about self respect. If I cannot be who I am and respect the things I believe in, than I am losing everything.” — Big Blue Bus driver Adhi Reddy, regarding a lawsuit he recently settled with the city that allows him to wear a turban as part of his work uniform. “I think we really have our sights set on a league championship. This year could be the year we put together a run in the playoffs.” — Zach Cuda, Santa Monica High School head football coach. “With a long string of school district screw-ups — the latest concerning the accuracy of student dropout figures supplied to the California Department of Education (due to supposedly mixed up exit codes) — and a decade long history of fiscal mismanagement, it’s obvious why BOE incumbents should be retired.” — SMDP columnist Bill Bauer writing in “My Write.” “At this point … cities throughout the state are very troubled by the fact that these proposals are even being considered and are being very vocal in their opposition to them.” — Carol Swindell, the director of finance for City Hall, regarding the current budget impasse in Sacramento. “I understand the city.” — Mayor Herb Katz, regarding what qualifies him to run for re-election to the City Council. “The combination of her knowing what needs to happen in the classroom and in the central office is convincing, She has a proven track record.” — Oscar de la Torre, the board president, regarding newly appointed Lincoln Middle School principal Suzanne Webb. “Along with swimming, and diving, another glamour sport is gymnastics. But I always feel sorry for the women gymnasts. I say women, but they are really little girls, none of whom seem to weigh over a hundred pounds. They’re all so serious but not in a healthy way. When they lose it’s devastating. The American girls came in second to the Chinese and you’d have thought they’d received a terminal diagnosis. And former coach Bela Karolyi reminds me more of Bela Lugosi.” — SMDP columnist Jack Neworth writing in “Laughing Matters.” “They have an energy and enthusiasm about the storytelling that is infectious... people feel good about working on their movies.” — Actor Bill Pullman regarding Randall Miller and Jody Savin, the couple that co-wrote “Bottle Shock.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081608.pdf?ref=smdp.com)