By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica once again captured world-wide attention in 2004 with its politics and high-profile players.
Those two elements combined garnered the attention of citizens around the globe when Kennedy family scion Bobby Shriver — who was upset at how City Hall handled the crime of his too-tall hedges — entered the City Council race and won. And news organizations around the world descended upon Santa Monica when former President Ronald Reagan’s body was embalmed at a local funeral home.
Known for its progressive politics and unprecedented laws, it may not have come as a surprise to many around the country that Santa Monica City Hall banned smoking at the beach. Or that a group of very vocal and determined parents forced City Hall’s hand and secured an annual $6 million to fund local schools for the next five years.
For the first time in the history of Santa Monica politics, the chamber of commerce officially played a role in local elections by endorsing candidates, two of whom were elected.
And, of course, development is always an issue worthy of discussion among Santa Monicans at the local watering holes and coffee shops. One of the biggest developments to hit the city in decades was unveiled a few months ago, which if approved, would raze the Santa Monica Place mall and dramatically alter the city’s downtown skyline.
Philanthropist Wallis Annen-berg donated $21 million to restore a beach club originally built for William Randolph Hearst’s mistress, actress Marion Davies. And Saint John’s Health Care Center opened up its main hospital after a decade of rebuilding from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
Despite reported crime being at an all-time low, three homicides occurred in the city in 2004.
The Santa Monica Daily Press will revisit the top 10 news stories of the year over the next two days. Today’s issue highlights the top five.
This weekend, look for the No. 6 through No. 10 top news stories of 2004.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2004. Read the original PDF.