Evaporating Aquarium
As part of its new $50 million wing, the California Science Center in Exposition Park planned to develop “a next-generation aquarium, beyond the traditional aquariums in Monterey or Long Beach,” according to the center’s Deputy Director Ann Muscat.
That didn’t set too well with county Supervisor Don Knabe, in whose district the new Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific sits.
Knabe got on the horn, called board members of the Science Center, and “lobbied hard” for a redesign of the project. “There’s no reason to put so many public resources into another aquarium when we have a world-class aquarium in Long Beach,” argued John Wallace, a Knabe spokesman.
Suddenly, the Science Center’s expansion plans are being altered, so that nobody (especially Knabe) will be able to accuse the new exhibit of being all wet. “We are looking at changing the mix of the exhibits and may use more dry exhibits,” Muscat said.
Conflicting Efforts
If Los Angeles residents notice that the air is a little more polluted around Labor Day, they might blame Bill Burke, chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Burke is organizing the first-ever professional Nascar races on the streets around Exposition Park, near downtown, on Sept. 5-7.
“It’s ironic that someone with his responsibility would be organizing such an event,” said Terry Tamminen, president of local environmental watchdog Santa Monica Baykeepers. “We count on people like him to do the right thing.”
Burke could not be reached for comment on the environmental impact of the race, which environmentalists say will pour pollutants into both the air and water system.
Beside the airborne gasoline fumes generated by the cars, environmentalists pointed to the rubber residue left on the road by the cars’ tires.
“During a race, the tires get changes several times on each car,” said Tamminen. “There is only one place that those treads go” down the drain and into the bay.
Curious Praise
Forbes ASAP magazine’s Aug. 24 story titled “Dr. Malik Hasan: Profile Of A Winner” seems a little out of date.
Hasan, of course, stepped down as CEO of Foundation Health Systems Inc. at the beginning of the month. Granted, magazines go to press long before they reach readers, but Hasan’s “winner” status comes on the heels of the Woodland Hills-based HMO posting a $200 million net loss for 1997. Also, the company’s stock has tanked falling from a high of $30 in May to about $17 as of last week.
The profile lays out work Hasan did to turn the company’s information systems around, but makes no mention of its financial troubles.
Overdue Tribute
If the Los Angeles Police Department’s response time were anywhere near that of the Police Historical Society, local crime victims would be in big trouble.
On Oct. 1, the society is holding its annual Jack Webb Awards, a black-tie event honoring LAPD heroes.
This year’s honorees: the 17 officers involved in the North Hollywood bank shootout. Considering the fatal shootout occurred more than a year and a half ago, why weren’t the officers honored last year?
“Everything was already set for last year’s program,” explained Scherr Lillico, event manager for the awards. “The program was too far along to do it (honor the North Hollywood officers) right.”
The shootout happened in February 1997, eight months before the 1997 event.
Last year’s honorees were: state attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Dan Lungren, actress Angie Dickenson, Atlantic Richfield Co. CEO Mike Bowlin, veteran newscaster Jess Marlow and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
