CITY HALL City officials are revising a proposed ban on single-use plastic bags after the passage of Proposition 26 in this month’s election raised questions about whether the City Council retained the authority to outlaw plastic.
Dear EarthTalk: I work at a fast food place and I am appalled by the amount of unpurchased food we throw away. The boss says we can’t give it away for legal reasons.
CITY HALL — Residents who are attempting to stop a controversial condominium project from being built on Ocean Avenue, just steps from picturesque Palisades Park, were thwarted earlier this week when the City Council denied an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision giving the Dallas-based deve
CITY HALL — In a move that will dramatically reduce the number of cabs on Santa Monica streets, the City Council Tuesday awarded five taxi franchises and put a cap on the total number of cabs operating within the city at 250.
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas.
Dear EarthTalk I’ve heard of global warming, of course, but what on Earth is “global dimming?” Max S. Seattle, Wash. Global dimming is a less well-known but real phenomenon resulting from atmospheric pollution.
Dear EarthTalk: Merino wool undergarments tout themselves as being kinder to the environment than other wools or synthetics. How is this so? — Stella Cooley, Bangor, ME Since the 1970s, professional athletes and weekend warriors alike have sworn by base layers made out of synthetic “fibers” that wou
Dear EarthTalk What are the environmental benefits of the hydroponic growing of lettuce and other crops? Bruce Keeler Oakland, Calif. While organic agriculture is all the rage, growing by leaps and bounds to meet increased consumer demand for healthier food, another option that’s less well known but
CITY HALL — Southern Californians may be notoriously pathetic when it comes to dealing with a little wet weather, but a small (and growing) number of them are raising the bar by doing their part to keep rainwater from flowing into the Santa Monica Bay with their own rain-storage devices.
Dear EarthTalk I’m considering going for a teeth whitening, but is this safe to do? Clara Reid Kent, Wash. In the U.S., teeth whitening products are not regulated by the U.
CITY HALL — After years in the works, the City Council is set to take a step toward greatly limiting the number of taxi cabs allowed to operate in Santa Monica.
Dear EarthTalk Are there efforts to increase bike lanes and paths around the nation? I’d like to be able to bike more instead of drive, but I’m concerned about safety.