Affordable housing developer to purchase popular pet store location for more senior housing
In a move that almost snuck under the radar last month, Santa Monica City Council voted 4-3 to support an effort by an affordable housing developer to purchase another large property along Wilshire Blvd as part of a larger housing development push that will now include dedicated units for senior citizens. Council voted to give direction to continue exclusive negotiations with Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (HCHC) based upon a revised 100% affordable development with large family housing in 1217 Euclid St. and senior housing with 40 permanent supportive housing units for seniors on 1211 to 1217 14th St. and Wilshire Blvd, provided that 1402 Wilshire Blvd. (the Unleashed pet shop building) can be acquired by HCHC, from a third party.
LA County DA challenger raises local funds as race heats up
The Los Angeles County District Attorney race between incumbent George Gascón and challenger Nathan Hochman has been brewing since the March 5 nonpartisan primary, with Hochman ramping up his campaign Sept. 5 in a fundraising soiree at the northern tip of Santa Monica. Hochman, a criminal defense attorney, talked about why the candidate should be in charge of the DA position’s massive budget and resources, stating he will fight for the "three major stakeholders" alongside the general public: Prosecutors, law enforcement and victims of crimes. Driving forces in the election are continued conversations over the Gascón-authored Prop 47 and sentencing enhancements on crimes.
Homeless man stabbed to death near Reed Park
A homeless man was killed on the morning of Sept. 6 in the alley between Reed Park and 6th St. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death on the 1100 block of 6th Court as a murder saying the victim appears to have been stabbed in the chest. The coroner completed their investigation at the scene about 1 p.m. and took custody of the victim. SMPD detectives spoke to nearby residents and business owners, but are still seeking any information.
Dogs, owners try to keep cool at pup-focused festival
Main Street was shut down between Ocean Park Blvd. and Strand Ave. on Sept. 7 to celebrate all things furry, as the Day of the Dog festival hit the city for the second annual occasion. With temperatures approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, pups of all sizes were intent on cooling down, using various sprinkler and water stations to stay hydrated. The festival also included a 100-foot pool party for dogs to give their whole body a reprieve from the heat, as well as an area where they could play in a makeshift snow pile.
Public safety takes center stage for Council candidates at weekend forum
Hosted by the Santa Monica Neighborhood Associations, minus the Ocean Park Association, a Sept. 8 Santa Monica City Council candidate forum was held in a sweaty Lincoln Middle School Auditorium due to a lack of air conditioning and 90 degree temperature outside. The candidates tried to keep cool under the spotlight, taking part in multiple rounds of questioning. Incumbents Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre are running under the Safer Santa Monica slate alongside Dr. Vivian Roknian and John Putnam. Opposing the group is the slate of Dan Hall, Natalya Zernitskaya, Ellis Raskin and Barry Snell. Rounding out the field were Santa Monica Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley and resident Wade Kelley. Dominating the forum were public safety topics like crime, homelessness and the needle distribution program at Christine Emerson Reed Park.
Triple Beam balances new concepts, accessible pizza on Main Street
Helmed by passionate pizza professionals, Triple Beam Pizza recently opened its fourth standalone Los Angeles location at 2905 Main Street, bringing Roman-style pies for dine-in, delivery and takeout. The Triple Beam pie is derived from the streets of Italy, with dough made in a 48-hour fermentation process and baked in special golden deck ovens. The thinner, more square pizzas come in classic flavors like pepperoni to more refined creations like roasted mushroom and shallot, acorn squash and corn esquite.
Pier celebrates 115 years with pink-themed party
A party 115 years in the making took place on Sept. 6, as the iconic Santa Monica Pier welcomed thousands of visitors for the locale’s 115th Birthday Celebration. The Pier, which opened on September 9, 1909, has thrived over the past century-plus as the entertainment and culture hub of Santa Monica. Along with a special movie screening of Barbie, the pink theme continued with musical performances for the crowd.
Newsom signs bill allowing Big Blue Bus bans for offenders
Recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, SB 1417 states that Santa Monica’s Department of Transportation is allowed to deny access to Big Blue Bus services for those who are "routinely cited" for policy infractions, as well as those who have been arrested or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony committed on buses or transit facilities. Going into law on Jan. 1, 2025, SB 1417 was authored by State Senator Ben Allen, who represents Santa Monica, and the City was a sponsor on the bill. Prohibition orders are issued after three infractions within a 90-day period, or after an arrest or conviction, and can last up to a year.
District special education team bolstered with coordinator hire
At the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education meeting on Sept. 5, Melodi Johnson was officially named as the district’s special education coordinator after nearly two decades in the field. Johnson’s career has included stops at Palisades Charter High School as special education coordinator and interim special education director, as well as various roles at Vista Non-Public School. In addition to administrative roles at Vista, Johnson also served as a middle school special day class teacher, working directly with students by managing individualized education plans.
SMPD takes to the court for annual fundraiser
The Santa Monica Police Department braved the heat on Sept. 7, giving back to the community through a shared love of basketball. At Christine Emerson Reed Park, officers joined in for basketball games during Coach Jackson’s Fourth Annual Hoop Fest, a fundraiser that raised $1,250 for a to-be-determined charitable cause. Anthony Jackson presided over the contests, which ranged from a kids game and a teenagers game to an "old timers" game and an adult contest.
Split council tightens anti-camping laws
Bedrolls and sleeping bags have been added to the list of items that define an illegal campsite in Santa Monica. The actual changes to city code are relatively small, as though the items are now listed as evidence of a campsite in the city’s anti-camping ordinance, neither item is prohibited outright nor can either item be cause of citation alone. Now, though, both are now part of the decision matrix used by officials when determining if someone has set up an illegal campsite inside city limits.
Suspect arrested after Ocean Ave. shooting
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, 19-year-old Isaac Santiago Ramos was arrested on Sept. 8 for shooting a man near the beach. Officers were called to the 1900 block of Ocean Ave. at about 1:30 a.m. for an assault with a deadly weapon call from a friend of the victim, reporting that a male suspect shot the victim several times and fled the location. Ramos was positively identified as the shooter and was in possession of a concealed handgun. The victim, who sustained several gunshot wounds, was transported to a local hospital for treatment where he is currently in serious but stable condition.
Homeless man fondles woman after breaking into her home
A homeless man has been charged with several felony crimes after breaking into a woman’s home and touching her while she slept. According to SMPD, the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old homeless man Anthony Townson, broke into a home on the 900 block of 7th St. at about 4am on Sept. 7. The female resident woke up to see Townson touching her leg while his penis was exposed. The victim was able to get away from the suspect and call police. Townson fled but was found and arrested nearby, and it was determined the suspect entered the apartment via an unlocked patio sliding door.
Heat wave dying down after rare 100-degree high
Temperatures are finally settling back to normal in Santa Monica, but the city’s recent heat wave was a historic one. From Sept. 5 through Sept. 9, according to readings from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, temperatures hit highs of at least 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The peak came on Sept. 6, as the fiery Friday reached the 100-degree mark for only the eighth time in the city’s recorded history.
34-story development proposed to become city’s tallest building
Four major development projects will look to transform Santa Monica, including two buildings that would become the tallest in the city. Boutique land use law firm Rand, Paster & Nelson, on behalf of property owner Madison Realty Capital, recently submitted project updates to the city. Two of the projects scale to other 30 stories in height, a 33-story multifamily building at 3025 Olympic Blvd and a 34-story mixed-use building on Nebraska Ave. Over 1,500 residential units were planned for the major makeover around the southeast corner of the city, between the 26th St/Bergamot and Expo/Bundy Metro stations.
Council challengers attack incumbents over lack of investigation into leaks
A group of challengers for City Council are accusing the incumbents of hiding wrongdoing inside City Hall as it relates to handling confidential information. The slate of Barry Snell, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin and Natalya Zernitskaya released a press release criticizing Mayor Phil Brock and Councilman Oscar de la Torre over a lack of investigation into a pair of leaks over the past four years. The slate hasn’t specifically said Brock or de la Torre were the source of the leaks, but they do say the pair of incumbents should have scrutinized the leaks and that if elected, the slate would conduct an investigation into the matter. There have been at least two verifiable leaks of closed session information in the past four years, once in 2021 and again this year.
thomas@smdp.com
