RESIDENTIAL SECURITY SUGGESTIONS

June 28, 2008 on 10:50 pm | In Fascinating Information, Federal Government, Legal, Of Local Importance, Problem, Problem Solving, The City of Santa Monica says, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

RESIDENTIAL SECURITY SUGGESTIONS
 

This information is provided for the safety of our community.  We ask residents to share this information with each other.
 

·         Lock your doors and windows even when you will only be gone for a short period of time. Warm weather presents the temptation to leave doors or windows open. Don’t give in to the temptation!  Windows that are partially open should have a lock to prevent someone from fully opening the window and climbing in.
 

·         Do not keep your cash and jewelry in predictable places (nightstands, drawers). Purchasing a safe is a better alternative.  
 

·         Move valuables (laptops, purse) away from outside view (windows) so you don’t risk tempting someone.
 

·         Lock your garage at all times.  It should be secured with a good hardened-steel hasp and padlock.
 

·         Make your house look occupied when you are gone. Burglars are much less likely to consider a house they feel is occupied.
 

·         Use variable timers to turn your lights and radio/television on and off. Set your radio to a talk radio station. This keeps anyone casing your home guessing.  
 

·         If you have an alarm system, be sure to use it.  Like other safety measures, it is a deterrent.
 

·         Be cognizant of suspicious activity.  Trust your instincts.  If someone seems suspicious in your neighborhood, do not hesitate to call the police. If you think you have been burglarized, and someone may still be in your home, do not investigate on your own.  Go to a neighbor’s home and call 9-1-1.  Let a police officer ensure your safety.
 

·         Start or join a neighborhood watch. Your neighbors are your best allies.  They may be able to see a burglar before you ever know someone is attempting to enter your home.  And as a neighbor, you should not try to confront the suspect.  We prefer that you call 9-1-1 and provide our Communications Center as much information as possible to help our officers locate the suspect.
 

Call 9-1-1 if a crime is in progress.  For non-emergencies, please call the Communications Center at (310) 458-8491.
 

Be sure to contact the Community Relations office if you wish to have a Crime Prevention Coordinator conduct a Security Survey of your home or business or assist you in starting a Neighborhood Watch in your area.  To set up an appointment, call (310) 458-8474. For more information and additional safety tips, visit the Crime Prevention Safety Tips sections on our website at www.santamonicapd.org.
 

http://www.santamonicapd.org/Bulletins/PublicBulletin-08-003.htm

 

http://www.walkscore.com/

June 25, 2008 on 11:38 pm | In Fascinating Information, Green, Market Trends, Of Local Importance, Problem Solving, Statistics, Uncategorized, websites | 20 Comments

Cityfolk will appreciate http://www.walkscore.com/ 

walkscore score

What is Walk Score? http://www.walkscore.com/  helps people find houses and apartments in walkable neighborhoods, like Santa Monica. Walk Score shows you a map of what’s nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Living in a walkable neighborhood is good for the environment and good for your health.
 

Walk Score looks at the distance to walkable locations near an address, calculates a score for each location, and combines all of the scores into a single measurement. Lerner said research shows that the average person is willing to walk less than a quarter mile to destinations they visit frequently, such as a grocery store.
 

A Walk Score of 25 or less means you’ll probably need to get in the car to take care of the smallest errand, while a Walk Score in the 90 to 100 range indicates a “walker’s paradise” where just about everything is in walking distance and many residents get by without owning a car

walkscore map for Ocean Park

Walk around Ocean Park

THE SANTA MONICA SOLAR SQUAD WANTS TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY + ENERGY

June 16, 2008 on 9:39 am | In Fascinating Information, Green, Of Local Importance, The City of Santa Monica says, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

*********************************************************************************
  
 

From: susan.munves@solarsantamonica.com
Subject: Summer Solar Activities: Update # 15
 Can you help us spread the word?
 
If your organization has an upcoming meeting or event, our Solar Squad would be happy to show up as special guests to distribute information and hand out “solar” magnets.  (Or, you can get a full-fledged presentation about the program from a staff  member.)  Contact Virginia Nicols by email (mail to: vnicols@ecomotion.us) or phone at (949) 450-7153.
 
If you have or are a student at home looking to volunteer for a fun, meaningful summer activity, contact Tiffany Tay at EcoMotion (mailto:ttay@ecomotion.us). We’ll welcome more Squad members with a t-shirt and training!
 
 
In any case, don’t delay.  Our Summer Squad six-week blitz is designed to help people get their solar installed before the solar investment tax credit disappears at the end of the year.
 
____________________
 
 
Big Electric Bill?
 
 

If your business has an  electricity demand of 200 kW  or above, Solar Santa  Monica wants to alert you to a new Demand  Response program that  will PAY YOU for cutting demand when called upon. If your business has an  electricity demand of 200 kW  or above, Solar Santa  Monica wants to alert you to a new Demand  Response program that  will PAY YOU for cutting demand when called upon.
 
 

Some highlights:
 
* multiple offices or locations can be combined
 
* payment can range from $7-10/kW/month,
 
 

if your business has an  electricity demand of 200 kW  or above, Solar Santa  Monica wants to alert you to a new Demand  Response program that  will PAY YOU for cutting demand when called upon. Some highlights:
 
 

* multiple offices or locations can be combined
 
 

* payment can range from $7-10/kW/month,
 
 

  depending on the program you sign up for
 
* no investment is required — This is a new turnkey service   offered by a third-party contractor. They will come to your
  site, help you decide what you can realistically bid in,   get you connected, track your savings.  This program is
  perfect for big offices.
 
For more information, contact Randy Palombi, General Manager ConsumerPowerline via  email (mailto:rpalombi@consumerpowerline.com) or call him at (714) 572-3141.  Be sure to say Solar Santa Monica sent you!
Get all the details @ www.solarsantamonica.com
 

 SolarSM-Banner-narrow.jpg
 

 

GREEN BUILDING FOR ALL IN SANTA MONICA

June 15, 2008 on 4:48 pm | In Fascinating Information, Green, Market Trends, Of Local Importance, Problem Solving, Statistics, The City of Santa Monica says, Uncategorized | 23 Comments

The City Says All New Construction in Santa Monica Subject to Green Building Requirements
 

If you thought it was tough to build in Santa Monica before….well now there’s a whole new level of requirements for all new construction. The Santa Monica City Council has voted to approve a slate of amendments to the City’s Green Building Requirements which  apply to all new construction and significant remodels in the city. 
 

New requirements include an expansion of the compliant green construction materials, increased energy efficiency requirements, improved landscape water conservation, and a higher landfill diversion rate for waste from construction and demolition projects.
 

Green Building in Santa Monica - Colorado Court

Historically, Santa Monica has had green building requirements for commercial, industrial, and residential project of four or more stories.  The new green building requirements would apply to all new construction in the city, including single-family and duplex residential projects. 
 

Some specific requirements include using solar heating to heat pools, limiting turfgrass (traditional sod) planting to 20% of the landscaping, diverting 65% of C&D waste from the landfill, and installing high efficiency irrigation systems.  More detailed info can be found at www.smgreen.org. 
 

If you’ve been reading this blog at all you know that the City of Santa Monica has a commitment to “…Protecting the environment, improving quality of life, and promoting sustainability.”
 

Therefore, the City has adopted a set of requirements and recommendations to encourage the development of “green” buildings without forcing excessive costs or other burdens upon property owners + developers. There is an official document dubbed the Green Building Guidelines to explain possible ways of achieving green building goals.
 

The City says, “The approved measures will lower the cost of home ownership, reduce the burden on the utility infrastructure, curtail the production of greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease the city’s overall water demand.”
 

Here are the new ordinances courtesy of http://www.smgreen.org/mainpages/newordinances.html
To know all about Santa Monica green building requirements go here:
http://www.smgreen.org/requirements/index.html
 

And by the way, did you get the note that said your water bill was going up in August?
 

santa monica.gif

Info courtesy of:
http://www.smgov.net/news/releases/archive/2008/epwm20080514.htm
http://www.smgreen.org/
http://www.smgreen.org/requirements/index.html
http://www.smgreen.org/mainpages/newordinances.html
http://www.smepd.org
http://www.3619motorave.jodisummers.com/
**
 For More Information, contact:
Brenden McEneaney
Green Building Program Advisor
brenden.mceneaney@smgov.net
www.smgreen.org
310.458.8549
   

 

HOUSING STARTS REBOUND

June 15, 2008 on 4:32 pm | In Fascinating Information, Multiunits, Statistics, Uncategorized, fUNNY...mONEY | 7 Comments

The Wall St. Journal  notes -

Housing starts made an unexpected rebound in April, reflecting gains in the volatile multifamily segment for apartments and townhomes. But starts for single-family homes fell, and analysts predict continued turmoil in the housing sector.

Get all the details on our economy @

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121094058802498537.html?mod=CommercialRealEstateMain_1

ANOTHER GREEN FIRST FOR SANTA MONICA - THE WORLD’S ONLY SOLAR POWERED FERRIS WHEEL

June 8, 2008 on 2:44 pm | In Fascinating Information, Green, Historic Properties, Landmarks, Of Local Importance, Santa Monica Landmarks, Statistics, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

ANOTHER GREEN FIRST FOR SANTA MONICA - THE WORLD’S ONLY SOLAR POWERED FERRIS WHEEL

by Jodi Summers

new Santa Monica Ferris wheel.jpg

We have done it again. Our new Ferris wheel is the only solar-powered Ferris wheel in the world. It has 160,000 LED lights and is 75% more energy efficient than the last one. It costs $1.5 million and has a better light show that Studio 54 ever did. Solar Powered Ferris WheelThe Ferris wheel is named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., a graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bridge-builder. He began his career in the railroad industry and then pursued an interest in bridge building. Ferris understood the growing need for structural steel and founded G.W.G. Ferris & Co. in Pittsburgh, a firm that tested and inspected metals for railroads and bridge builders. The George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr Ferris-wheel - first created. Ferris designed and built the first 264 foot (80 meter) wheel for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. The wheel was intended as a rival to the Eiffel Tower, the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris exhibition. This first wheel could carry 2,160 persons. The Ferris wheel was the largest attraction at the Columbian Exposition standing over 250′ tall and powered by two 1000 HP steam engines. There were 36 cars accommodating 60 people each (40 seated, 20 standing). It took 20 minutes for the wheel to make two revolutions—the first to make six stops to allow passengers to exit and enter; the 2nd a single non-stop revolution—and for that, the ticket holder paid 50 cents. The 165 m Singapore Flyer, is the world's tallest Ferris wheel.

http://smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=7934 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_wheel Turkish ancestor to Ferris Wheel - 17th Century.

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGAR MAKES THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT OFFICIAL

June 5, 2008 on 3:24 pm | In Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Legal, Of Local Importance, Problem, Problem Solving, Uncategorized, WOW | 9 Comments

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGAR MAKES THE CALIFORNIA DROUGHT OFFICIAL
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide drought after two years of below-average rainfall, low snow-melt runoff and a court-ordered restriction on water transfers.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide drought after two years of below-average rainfall. “We must recognize the severity of the crisis that we face,” the Governor noted, signing an executive order directing the state’s response to unusually dry conditions that are damaging crops, harming water quality and causing extreme fire danger across California.
 

 Schwarzenegger warned that residents and water managers must immediately cut their water use or face the possibility of rationing next year if there is another dry winter. Already, many communities require water conservation or rationing.
 

The statewide drought declaration is the first since 1991, when Gov. Pete Wilson acted in the fifth year of a drought that lasted into 1992.
 

Get the whole story @ http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/05/california.drought.ap/index.html

NOTICE OF PROPSED WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE INCREASES

June 4, 2008 on 2:01 pm | In Fascinating Information, Market Trends, Of Local Importance, The City of Santa Monica says, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

This letter from the City must have made you really happy when you got it in the mail….but those in the know, saw this coming six months agao…

NOTICE OF PROPSED WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE INCREASES
The City of Santa Monica has issued water and wastewater rate increases for a five year period beginning August 1, 2008. The proposed rate increase will provide funding for local and imported water, operation and maintenance, capital infrastructure costs, financial commitments to the City of Los Angeles for wastewater disposal, and appropriate reserve levels.

The city Council will hold a public hearing on this matter on July 8, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. In the City Council Chambers, 1685 Main St, room 213, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Written protests to the proposed rate increases may be submitted at the public hearing, or given to the City Clerk 1685 Main St, room 102, Santa Monica, CA 90401 in sufficient time to be received before the hearing. Please include the parcel address and number and write “Water and Wastewater Rate Increase” on your written protest.

The new structures will be based on commodity only thereby eliminating the bi-monthly service charges. The City says it will look like this:

City of Santa Monica chart of proposed water + wastewater rate increases August 2008

 

More info @ water.smgov.net.

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