The City of Santa Monica’s Community Events and Food Distribution Ordinances have been upheld against a constitutional challenge by the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. The City regulations which, among other things, require a permit for group usage of parks by more than 150 persons (including food distribution to the homeless), were challenged by an organization known as Food Not Bombs and other plaintiffs as an unlawful prior restraint on speech. The federal appeals court rejected that challenge and held that the ordinances are permissible content-neutral time, place and manner regulations. In a 70-page opinion that addressed 14 different constitutional claims made by the plaintiffs, it ruled in the City’s favor on all but two. “Neither adverse ruling will significantly affect the City’s ability to maintain its permitting system,” said the City Attorney’s Office. “This ruling will protect the City’s ability to assure shared and safe use of the City’s parks and streets, preserve public spaces for all City residents and visitors and ensure accountability for damage caused by events.”
The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop is in business at 920 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, after having relocated from its Brentwood Country Mart location. The shop, open seven days a week, sells donated merchandise including clothing, furniture and accessories in the Westside quality tradition. Proceeds, of course, go to the American Cancer Society, which raises over $10 million per year from such enterprises. www.cancer.org
Zag, the Santa Monica-based company that provides online buying capabilities to automobile customers and dealers, announced that it has been included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Hot 100” list of fastest-growing companies. The list is open to firms founded no earlier than 2001, with 2005 sales of at least $1 million, fewer than 1,000 employees and an actively involved founder; PricewaterhouseCoopers ranks qualifying companies based on sales growth from the date of inception. Zag, founded by CEO Scott Painter, reports that it generated $2.8 million in 2005 revenue to earn the 68th spot on the Entrepreneur list. www.zag.com
Shutters on the Beach has named Dolly Shukla as its guest relations manager, effective this month. A Santa Monica resident fluent in conversational Swedish, French and Italian, she will handle special services and travel needs for guests, update staff on guest preferences “and help resolve any issues or problems,” according to the hotel. Shukla has more than 17 years experience in hospitality and professional training, including 13 years working in the airline industry. She also serves as a training consultant for specialty seminars and workshops at Santa Monica College, and worked in 2003 and 2004 as a job developer and career counselor specializing in the hospitality industry at the WorkSource Center in Marina del Rey. www.shuttersonthebeach. com
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