Dear EarthTalk: Should I fear radiation exposure associated with medical scans such as CT scans, mammograms and the like? — Shelly Johansen, Fairbanks, AK The short answer is…maybe.
CITY HALL — Calling the existing bridge that connects Ocean Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier “structurally deficient and functionally obsolete,” officials are making plans to replace the 61-year-old structure, a project they hope will be almost entirely funded with federal transportation grants.
Dear EarthTalk Is the dairy industry really trying to stop soy milk makers from calling their products “milk?” They must feel very threatened by the preponderance of soy milks now available in supermarkets.
Dear EarthTalk I always thought cotton was eco-friendly, but I recently heard otherwise. What’s so bad about cotton? And where can I find organic cotton clothing? Jamie Hunter Twin Falls, ID There’s a lot “bad” about |conventionally grown cotton — cotton grown with the aid of synthetic chemicals, th
NOMA — Instead of tossing leftovers into the garbage, a select group of residents living north of Montana Avenue can now place their scraps of filet mignon and lobster tails in their green, yard waste bins so the food can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for gardening under a city-sponsored recy
Dear EarthTalk I know that local food has health and environmental benefits, but my local grocer only carries a few items. Is there a push for bigger supermarkets to carry locally produced food? Maria Fine Somerville, MA By eating locally sourced foods, we strengthen the bond between local farmers a
CITY HALL — Smokers who enjoy an occasional drag out on their patios better light up while they still can. That’s because the City Council on Tuesday voted to strengthen Santa Monica’s already strict anti-smoking laws, adding a restriction that bars people from lighting up within 25-feet of a door o
OCEAN AVENUE — Santa Monica continues to have some of the most polluted beaches in California, with the Santa Monica Pier failing to meet clean water criteria nearly half the time, according to an annual study released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve noticed that wildflower blooms in the mountains have been coming earlier and earlier in recent years. Is this a sign of global warming? And what does this mean for the long term survival of these hardy yet rare plants? Ashley J.
CITY HALL — Gleam Davis may not have Michael Jordan and Larry Bird on her side, but, at least in Santa Monica politics, she’s got a pair that’s just as potent: Former mayor and one-time Chamber of Commerce president Nat Trives and former mayor and Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights co-founder Denny
Dear EarthTalk I heard that some wind farms use fossil fuels to power their generators when the wind won’t. Doesn’t that defeat their whole renewable energy purpose? Why not let the wind power it or not? Also, I’ve heard that the low-frequency sounds generated by these turbines can harm people and a
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.
