Green List Shines Spotlight on Locals

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With sprawling suburbs and clogged freeways, Los Angeles is rarely seen as an example of environmental consciousness. But several locals were recently named by British newspaper the Guardian as “50 people who could save the planet.” Sprinkled among the Leonardo DiCaprios and other Hollywood figures were Bob Hertzberg, former speaker of the California Assembly who founded venture capital firm Renewable Capital, and Monica Howe, outreach coordinator of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

“I was just flattered to be part of the same story as Leo and Al (Gore),” Howe said. “I am glad that they are paying attention to the biking issue and consider that to be something important.”

Hertzberg, whose firm has invested in electric car companies and wind farms, said it was telling that it took a foreign newspaper to recognize locals’ efforts.

“I wish it was a hometown paper, but that’s OK,” Hertzberg said. “I think I’ll have the opportunity to help out in L.A. That’s what I want.”


Bars and Bytes

Richard Rosenblatt, the Internet tycoon who sold MySpace to Rupert Murdoch and now shepherds his Santa Monica Web venture Demand Media, has a knack for finding the kinds of businesses that are newer than new.

But as a sidelight, he’s into a kind of business that’s quite old: He’s a bar owner.

“Back in 1994, when I first got into the Internet business, I said brick and mortar alone is the way of the past,” he said. “But I actually own four clubs and bars.”

They’re in San Diego, Venice and Santa Monica, all located on side streets.

“We wanted to take the locations off the beaten path and make them super cool,” he said.

They’re all called “Air Conditioned Bar,” a name that came from the first bar in San Diego. When Rosenblatt converted a dive and redesigned the fa & #231;ade, he kept a glowing “air conditioned” sign that had hung there since the 1940s.

“It’s really fun to own a bunch of clubs people love,” Rosenblatt said.

He also owns a bunch of Web sites people love. Demand Media owns 60 niche sites that draw 50 million unique visitors a month.


Resolute Resolutions

It’s about one month into 2008, and those pesky New Year’s resolutions are falling quickly.

But Karen Smurthwaite, architectural and design specialist for office furniture maker Allsteel, has managed to keep hers. So far.

Smurthwaite, a Woodland Hills resident, said she resolved to not drink red wine during the week. “It keeps me focused,” said Smurthwaite, who indulges in Merlot on weekends. But, Smurthwaite doesn’t see the resolution holding up all year.

“Not with this job and three little kids,” she said.


Staff reporters Booyeon Lee and Drew Combs contributed to this column. Daniel Miller can be reached at

[email protected]

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