WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
Volume 10 Issue 254
Santa Monica Daily Press
FINAL WEEK OF PIER CONCERTS INSIDE
We have you covered
THE GOOD RUN ISSUE
City officials to meet with FAA over flight schools BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
SMO Santa Monica officials announced that they will be traveling to Washington, D.C. next week to take on the FAA regarding the operation of flight schools at Santa Monica Airport.
In an information item released on City Hall’s website Friday, Public Works Director Martin Pastucha and assistant to the City Manager Kate Vernez laid out City Hall’s response to the Aug. 29 incident where a student pilot crashed into a Sunset Park home. At 2:30 p.m. that Monday, an unidenti-
fied student pilot in a Cessna 172 rented from local flight school Justice Aviation attempted to make a landing at the airport after completing a cross-country flight to an airport in Santa Barbara. He failed and flew around to make another attempt when something went wrong,
according to Airport Manager Bob Trimborn. While in the air over the Sunset Park neighborhood, the pilot lost control for unknown reasons and crashed. He skirted SEE SMO PAGE 10
Accounting firm owner allegedly took nearly $700K BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
CITYWIDE The owner of an accounting firm
If approved, the bill under consideration this week could not be overturned by voters because it would be considered an urgency measure. Democratic lawmakers and retail busi-
that provided services for several political campaigns in Santa Monica appeared in federal court Tuesday on charges of taking almost $700,000 from a California candidate’s coffers. Kinde Durkee, of Durkee & Associates, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jay C. Gandhi at 2 p.m. at the Roybal Federal Building, but remains in custody until her next hearing on Friday. She was arrested in her office on Friday by the FBI on charges of mail fraud. According to a federal complaint released Tuesday, Durkee took out two cashier’s checks worth $300,000 and $377,181.24 respectively from the money market account of Solorio for Assembly 2010, a political action committee established for State Assembly candidate Jose Solorio. The two checks were then deposited in accounts for Durkee & Associates, but the withdrawals were never reflected in reports to the California Secretary of State. So, rather than the $729,135 that Durkee claimed was in the account, Solorio for Assembly 2010 had only $33,175, bank records show. The rest of the money was used to make payroll for members of her staff, as well as to pay Durkee’s own mortgage, $50,000 for taxes, her mother’s assisted-living facility and merchandise at Ariel’s Grotto in Disneyland.
SEE TAX PAGE 9
SEE DURKEE PAGE 9
CRUNCH TIME
Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com A two-car collision on Tuesday snarled rush hour traffic and dislodged a traffic signal at the corner of Colorado Avenue and Fourth Street.
Lawmakers seek stronger Internet sales tax law ADAM WEINTRAUB, Associated Press
SACRAMENTO Supporters of a bill that would force Internet retailers to begin collecting sales taxes immediately pressed lawmakers on Tuesday to pass the measure
before the end of the session this week. Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill as part of this year's budget to expand tax collection by Internet retailers effective July 1, but Amazon.com has spent more than $5 million toward a 2012 ballot referendum to overturn it.
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339 In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
Your New Personal Service Pharmacy PRESCRIPTIONS READY IN 10 MINUTES
Compounding • Vitamins • Homeopathic • Skin Care 1908 Santa Monica Blvd Ste. 4 | 310.315.9999
SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP? TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • CORPORATIONS
SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA
(310) 395-9922
100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800Santa Monica 90401