Officials welcome cycles, caviar and coffee with ribbon cuttings
A trio of sniping in Santa Monica welcomed new businesses into the community during the final week of March. On March 25, Oasis Restaurant at 1413 5th St. was celebrated by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce during its opening period curated by co-owners Mickey Barnes and Brenda Garcia. On March 27, the Chamber commended Richard Cao and Hansel Cisneros for the opening of Bandit E-Bikes, a bicycle service and repair shop. On March 28, the Medical Center of Santa Monica at 2021 Santa Monica Blvd., adjacent to Providence Saint John’s Health Center, welcomed a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf location.
El Segundo hires former SMPD Captain Saul Rodriguez as new Police Chief
Former Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) Captain Saul Rodriguez has been hired by the City of El Segundo as their new Chief of Police. With the exception of two and a half years spent as a transit police officer for LA County at the very beginning of his career, the majority of Rodriguez’s 30 years of law enforcement experience comes from time spent at the SMPD. Rodriguez joined the SMPD as a police officer in 1997 and over the course of his career has worked in areas like narcotics, patrol, criminal investigations, public information and recruitment. He was consistently promoted through the ranks to reach captain.
Female skydivers take leap for equality in new documentary
Project 19, a force for female advancement in skydiving, premiered its new documentary Project 19: The Leap for Equality recently at Red Bull North America’s Santa Monica headquarters. Project 19, named after the 19th Amendment that procured the right to vote for women, set out to claim skydiving records over the past several years, including 72-way and 80-way women’s vertical records. On the final day of the project, the ultimate goal of a 100-way formation was cut just short, as a built 97-way formation was unlinked by just fingertips.
Samohi student learns to live fearlessly despite diabetes diagnosis
Recently, Santa Monica High School senior Lucas Marcelo Milk was awarded the Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship, putting $1,000 toward his eventual college education. Milk, a captain of the Samohi track team and member of the school’s soccer unit, was awarded for achieving a healthy student-athlete life despite being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2019. The scholarship came courtesy of Skin Grip, which produces adhesives to keep glucose monitoring devices attached to those impacted by the disease, and was facilitated by scholarship hub Bold.org
Seasonal spectacle ‘Ice at Santa Monica’ exceeds expectations
This past winter’s “Ice at Santa Monica” seasonal skating activation was more successful than anticipated, according to a recent report presented by the Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. Marketing and Business Development Committee. Opened on November 1, 2023, the project at the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue was 25% bigger than any other previous year. The 2023-24 edition was a bigger, more open experience, with the entire ice rink structure constructed upon a wooden framework that had been laid flat over the uneven surface of the parking lot space using laser levels.
Santa Monica Animal Shelter readies itself for ‘kitten season’
Now is the time of year when the Santa Monica Animal Shelter is preparing to be overrun with an abundance of kittens, with each one of the cats looking for a forever home. A “kitten season,” Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation Chair Elizabeth Noble explained, is the time of year when there is a larger number of kittens and cats who are soon to have their litters brought into the shelter, and Noble added that every year “kitten season” is beginning earlier and lasting longer.
Brothers bring skate, surf culture back to local roots
The Bentivoglio brothers, Galeazzo, Sante and Francesco, are the driving force behind Bay Street Boards at 3216 Santa Monica Blvd. Approaching its 10-year anniversary, Bay Street is a local love letter to skateboarding and surfing culture, particularly on the Westside of Los Angeles where the brothers grew up. Bay Street relies on being a do-it-yourself outlet, with a big bulk of the business coming from repair efforts as well as rentals for surfboards and wetsuits.
Reconnecting to readers is a joy for national ambassador
On April 5, the Santa Monica Public Library Pico Branch at Virginia Avenue Park welcomed author Meg Medina, with the author introducing her platform “¡Cuéntame! Let’s Talk Books” to Santa Monica. The tour, which has gone nationwide and included a week-long visit to California, is a Spanish-English bilingual effort that encourages youth to connect with each other while talking about books. An additional event took place April 6 at the Santa Monica Public Library Main Branch, a “human library” event which platforms first-person stories and experiences of hardship, marginalization, bias and prejudice.
The Other Art Fair returns to Barker Hangar
From April 4 through April 7, the Other Art Fair returned to Santa Monica for its 11th annual Los Angeles edition, bringing together a diverse array of artists, live performances and experiences for art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Taking place at the iconic Barker Hangar, the art fair aimed to turn the traditional experience on its head by offering visitors an in-person opportunity to connect directly with emerging and independent artists from around the world, together with plainly listed artwork prices and a significantly less pretentious atmosphere.
Pulitzer-winning production premieres at Geffen
Taking on the challenge of transforming William Shakespeare’s all-time lauded Hamlet was playwright James Ijames, who has set the theater world ablaze with the modern-day adaptation Fat Ham, making its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse throughout April. The play follows Juicy, a young queer Black man who is confronted by his father’s ghost during a barbecue, demanding Juicy avenge his murder in true Hamlet style. First premiering in 2021, Fat Ham has quickly become a legendary show in its own right, earning the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, joining the likes of Hamilton and Rent in award recipients. Once the show hit Broadway in 2023, it received another wave of widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Best Play at the 2023 Tony Awards.
Former Santa Monica mayor proposes initiative to amend Measure GS
Two Santa Monica mayors are at odds over housing development and taxes after one filed paperwork to alter a real estate tax implemented by the other. Former Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor has filed a ballot measure with the city in an effort to amend Measure GS (that was proposed and funded by former Mayor Sue Himmelrich) to exempt the sale of multifamily housing from the city’s new third transfer tax. GS, known as a “mansion tax” was approved by voters in November of 2022. The measure imposes a $5,600 per $100,000 charge on real property sales or transfers exceeding $8 million. The generated revenue is used to support homelessness prevention, housing projects and schools. However, a lawsuit was filed challenging the validity of Measure GS, arguing that it violated the “single-subject” rule in the California Constitution. The City prevailed in that case with a judge ruling the tax is consistent with the law and could be implemented. O’Connor’s measure argues the tax is an impediment to new housing construction and seeks to exempt large apartment developments from the tax.
LA County health survey details struggles for Black, Latino adults
In its first release since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently unveiled the latest LA County Health Survey, with results skewing poorly as it relates to Black and Latino residents. The survey, covering trends in health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings and the needs of LA County residents, touched on the fact that Black and Latino adults continue to struggle in health sectors like disproportional access to care and economic security. Survey results found that Black adults experienced poor health outcomes related to hypertension, asthma and obesity; while Latino adults struggled with COVID-19 and healthcare access rates.
Comedy Fest lights up Bergamot
The best of comedy and entertainment professionals graced The Crow comedy club at the Bergamot Station Arts Center this past week as part of the Bergamot Comedy Fest. The opening night on Monday was centered around “Tomorrow’s Ladies of Late Night,” including an educational panel and a showcase followed by the festival’s opening party. Along with comic showcases throughout the week, panels featuring industry experts took place on topics like agents and managers, as well as breaking into comedy clubs.
thomas@smdp.com