Group warns of fireworks injuries
Consumers are being encouraged by the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons to avoid using illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July.
The use of consumer fireworks results in more than 9,000 injuries every year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Close to half of those injuries are head-related, 30 percent of which are eye injuries.
“Potentially blinding injuries can be avoided if families attend a professional public fireworks display instead of putting on a home fireworks display,” CAEPS President Kimberly Cockerham said.
State lawmakers approve homeowner bill
The state legislature passed the California Homeowner Bill of Rights on Monday, aimed at providing struggling homeowners with more protection against foreclosures.
The bill forbids banks from pursuing foreclosure on a home after the homeowner submits an application for a loan modification—a practice known as “dual tracking.”
If a homeowner is deemed potentially eligible for loan modification, then mortgage companies are required to provide a “single point of contact” for the applicant to reach directly instead of calling a customer service representative.
Butler, Bloom to square off in November
Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom is set to battle Assemblywoman Betsy Butler for the 50th State Assembly seat in November’s general election. Bloom and Butler, both Democrats, beat out Republican candidate Brad Torgan and Democrat Torie Osborn.
The Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office reported Tuesday that Butler, who currently represents the 53rd District, received 136 more votes than Bloom—16,089 to 15,947.
District backhands slapping suit
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is denying a damage claim for $1 million by a student who said a Malibu High School teacher slapped her in the face multiple times, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
The attorney representing Dionne Evans, a former ninth grade student, said Evans plans to file a lawsuit in a California court for unspecified damages. Evans was required to file the claim within six months of the incident before suing a public entity such as SMMUSD.
Evans told officials that on May 22, teacher Jennifer Gonzalez slapped her several times after asking her if she had seen the movie “Bridesmaids.” In one scene, a character attempts to “slap some sense” into another character.
CERT class gets new blood
Luke Pastor, 10, recently became the youngest-ever graduate of the Malibu CERT classes. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department to provide basic training in safety and lifesaving skills to the general public. The City of Malibu has developed its own, specialized team of CERT volunteers. The team meets regularly at City Hall and trains to support the activities of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as well as to be available to support the volunteer needs of associated agencies, such as the Sheriff’s and Fire Departments.
Pastor took the course with his three brothers and his parents, who all graduated recently. Following a major disaster, professional first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to fully meet the demand for services. Factors such as communications failures, road blockages and the number of victims may prevent people from accessing the emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice when calling 911. People will need to rely on each other to meet the immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time.
Classes are free and are held throughout the year. For more information, contact Brad Davis, Emergency Services Coordinator, at (310) 456-2489 extension 260 or bdavis@malibucity.org.
SMMUSD graduation rate beats state average
More than 87 percent of students who enrolled in a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District high school as a freshman in 2007 earned a diploma in 2011.
A report released Wednesday last week showed the SMMUSD 2011 graduation rate at 87.8 percent, more than 11 points higher above the state average of 76.3.
The high rate also reflects a four percent increase from the 2010-2011 school year.
Animal activists ask for deal after mountain lion death
A group of animal rights activists is seeking an agreement with the Department of Fish and Game that would allow outside specialists to help tranquilize large animals.
The attempt at an agreement comes after the shooting death of a mountain lion at the hands of Santa Monica Police on May 22.
Police shot and killed the mountain lion after struggling to sedate the animal in a courtyard at Santa Monica College.
Fish and Game workers are the only officials authorized by law to tranquilize mountain lions, but representatives from the group were trapped in traffic en route to the campus when the mountain lion was killed.
Nearby professionals with experience in animal tranquilization were forbidden from helping sedate the mountain lion.
California water quality ranks low in NRDC study
In a nationwide study conducted by the Natual Resources Defense Council, California’s beaches ranked 21st out of 30 states in water quality in 2011.
The state’s 497 beaches also accounted for a quarter of the 23,481 days beach closures occurred last year.
More than 90 percent of the advisories and closures issued in California were caused by high bacterial levels from human and animal fecal waste, according to the NRDC.