Metro states TAP-to-Exit already reducing Expo Line incidents
While only starting the process, Metro Los Angeles’ TAP-to-Exit pilot program is already paying dividends in Santa Monica, according to the organization. On September 20, Metro reported to the Daily Press that in its first week of TAP-to-Exit enforcement, reported incidents involving harassment, physical fights, drug use and vandalism dropped around 45% on the entire Expo line, which runs from Downtown Santa Monica all the way to Atlantic Station in East Los Angeles. Metro has also been collecting more unpaid fares, stating that over 50,000 unpaid exits were corrected since TAP-to-Exit debuted earlier this year at the North Hollywood B Line station.
Assistant principals chosen for SMMUSD elementary sites
At the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education meeting on Sept. 19, the board approved the appointment of Ashley Zartner as an assistant principal, splitting time between Edison Language Academy and McKinley Elementary School. Zartner’s 10-plus years of educational experience includes time as assistant principal at The Accelerated School. The board also approved Alix Pickett as the new assistant principal at Franklin Elementary School, with Pickett most recently involved in the UCLA Center X Math Project, facilitating professional development for Los Angeles Unified School District staff.
Fundraising for Council race crosses half a million with attacks intensifying
The latest round of fiscal disclosures in the race for Santa Monica City Council features a whopping $275,000 war chest controlled by the local hospitality union Unite Here Local 11 and a pair of vastly small purses from two local groups. The money will be funding a slate of challengers for council including Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Natalya Zernitskaya and Barry Snell. The other slate, featuring Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre, Vivian Roknian and Jon Putnam, recently received a pair of $100,000 donations from Douglas Emmett Properties and Jerry A. Greenberg.
Law curbing addictive social media feeds signed by Newsom:
On Sept. 20, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 976, otherwise known as the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act. Brought forth by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the bill prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an "addictive feed" to a minor without parental consent. The bill also prohibits social media platforms from sending minors notifications during school hours and late night hours. These regulations will not go into effect until January 1, 2027, in order to make time for likely court challenges from opposition groups.
Functional fitness hits Santa Monica at fast-rising Pvolve studio
The Santa Monica expansion of Pvolve opened its doors on August 1 at 3110 Main Street, with a grand opening occurring on September 21. Launched in 2017, Pvolve has been quickly gaining traction due to its workouts focusing on low-impact, functional movement. The company also has a Hollywood heavyweight in their corner, as Jennifer Aniston officially partnered with the brand in 2023. Running the Santa Monica studio is Paige Gilson, who stated that the "modality" of the workouts sets Pvolve apart from the crowded Los Angeles fitness market.
Unexpected delay of rules prohibiting gifts and bribes creates sparks at Council
In conducting agenda management during the Sept. 24 Santa Monica City Council meeting, Mayor Phil Brock requested that Item 10A, the introduction and first reading of an ordinance adding Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 2.32.291 prohibiting providing and acceptance of gifts by Councilmembers by delayed. At the Sept. 10 meeting, Council approved direction following initial approval of such an ordinance, using State law definitions and exceptions, but Brock stated that he’s "like it to come back at a later date with a more comprehensive approach to knowing what this is and what it does." Voting to postpone the item was along current political lines in a 4-3 vote, and will come back to the table when it is brought back as a discussion item.
Grant hosts annual world cultures event
Students and staff of Grant Elementary School put on an event on a global scale Sept. 27, hosting the annual World Cultures Day in the campus’ play yard. With a cavalcade of countries represented, the community took part in learning activities and ate food samples native to each land. Along with the booths, the play yard was rife with different games, such as football, basketball and soccer.
First FAA-certified electric aircraft arrives at Santa Monica Airport and we got to fly it
This past month, Eco-Aviation, a Santa Monica nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting all aspects of green aviation, including electric aircraft and sustainable airports, showed off the first FAA-certified electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, which has been contracted to the Proteus Flying School, also based at Santa Monica airport. According to the manual, the Velis Electro has a maximum noise level of 60 decibels, which is the equivalent of a normal conversation between two people standing about one meter apart or the average sound level in an office or restaurant. It is powered by a 58 KW (76 hp) liquid-cooled, E-811 electric engine driving a three-bladed, fixed-pitch composite propeller at a cruising speed of 90 knots (105 mph).
Michigan man convicted of murder near Santa Monica Pier in 2022
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Michigan native Mohamed Abou-Arabi was convicted in September and will be sentenced in December for killing Mujtaba Anwer Al Ashoor near Lot 1 North, near the Pier. Police were called to the scene on November 2, 2022 when a parking attendant noticed a male subject lying motionless in the driver seat of a vehicle and possibly bleeding. The individual inside the vehicle was clearly grievously injured in a knife attack and was confirmed deceased by responding firefighters. Using evidence collected from the vehicle and other investigative tools, the murder suspect was identified as Dearborn resident Abou-Arabi, age 24.
City Council will hear in-depth analysis over hosting 2028 Olympics volleyball
The first actual sign of progress over the seemingly controversial hosting of the beach volleyball competition in the 2028 Olympics will be seen in Tuesday’s City Council meeting in the form of an Item 7 Study Session discussion. According to a city staff report, the staff has engaged "in extensive negotiations with LA28 to secure this honor." A total of four agreements must be executed to formalize Santa Monica’s participation, with the Games Agreement being the first, laying the foundation and framework for all future agreements.
Google is opening only its sixth brick and mortar store on the Promenade
Trillion dollar tech titan Google is opening a brick and mortar store in the USA on the Third Street Promenade, at the site of the iconic Keller Building. This will be one of only six Google stores in the country and the first in Southern California. There are two in New York City, plus ones in Mountain View and Boston, and another one opening this fall in Oakbrook, Illinois.
thomas@smdp.com
