Permanent Supportive Housing project officially opens in Pico neighborhood
Top city officials and housing partners gathered on Oct. 2 to celebrate Santa Monica’s first Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project opening in nearly a decade. In an afternoon full of inspiring speeches and guest tours, The Laurel officially opened its doors for public consumption at 1413 Michigan Avenue. Hosting 57 formerly unhoused individuals in studio apartments, the four-story building is part of the city’s PSH program that both houses and gives wraparound services to those who received project-based vouchers.
Series of traffic accidents occur across the city in a matter of days
A series of four traffic accidents unfolded recently, including on September 29 at about 6:30pm, when a bicyclist was struck in the 1500 block of Pico Blvd near Santa Monica College. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, there was no DUI or hit and run, but information regarding the circumstances has not yet been released. In the early hours of October 1, there was a single vehicle rollover on the Pacific Coast Highway at the McClure Tunnel that affected traffic in both directions. The same morning, a vehicle traveling down Wilshire Blvd. lost control as it approached the Ocean Ave intersection, ultimately crashing through a section of the fence at Palisades Park before coming to a precarious stop with part of the vehicle actually dangling over the bluffs. The incident had no confirmed reports of injuries and authorities are investigating whether the driver was under the influence at the time of the incident.
Single occupant plus four cats rescued from apartment fire on Euclid Street
Following an emergency 911 call that described "heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor" and subsequent rapid response to the 1300 block of Euclid Street by both the Santa Monica Fire and Police Departments, one person and four cats were rescued. According to the SMFD, Engine 4 was the first to arrive on scene and they were able to confine the fire to its point or origin on the balcony and prevented extension into the unit, thus property damage was kept to a minimum. Within eight minutes all viable fire had been extinguished from a room, however, units remained on scene since potential extension remained a concern.
County Clerk snafu on school bond measures confuses school district voters
A snafu from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office has confused voters within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. With ballots being sent out to voters in Santa Monica and Malibu, voters notified that school bond measures intended solely within School Facility Improvement District #1 (Santa Monica) and District #2 (Malibu) both appeared on the ballot. Santa Monica’s Measure QS and Malibu’s Measure MM will both be on city ballots next month, with the RR/CC office stating that while they cannot modify voting materials, they will "ensure that only votes cast by eligible voters within the defined SFID boundaries are reported and certified."
Weekend assault refocuses election on public safety debate
A Santa Monica police officer shot and killed Deyaa Abdelhadi Halaibeh, 28, originally from New York State on October 5 after the suspect attacked the officer with a knife he stole from the Downtown Target store just five minutes before assault. While the officer was initially hospitalized for his wounds, he was subsequently released and is currently recuperating at home. SMPD Chief Ramon Batista and City Manager David White both expressed support for the officer, while Mayor Phil Brock said the incident is evidence that the city needs to prioritize public safety. Brock is running for election this year and has made public safety a theme for his campaign.
Security guard arrested for attempted murder of unhoused man at People Concern shelter
On the evening of September 17, unhoused man Eddie Gibbs III, age 32, and girlfriend Sharae O’Dell visited the People Concern shelter, inquiring about housing and receiving a shower at the property. Once arriving, security guard Brenton Isaiah Walker, age 25, with Global Protection Services became hostile with Gibbs attacking him at the property and eventually chasing him up the street toward the Big Blue Bus parking lot at 6th and Colorado. Once near the Big Blue Bus lot, Gibbs tripped and fell into the street, with O’Dell stating Walker pulled out a pocket knife and intentionally stabbed Gibbs "on the right side of his face almost from his temple to his top lip." The stabbing led to massive blood loss, with Gibbs eventually receiving 55 stitches at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Walker was arrested following investigation of the crime scene, charged with Mayhem and Attempted Murder.
Lincoln Property pitches 132-unit mixed-use development at 1640 5th St
Last month, Dallas-based Lincoln Property Company submitted an application to the City of Santa Monica to redevelop their site at 1640 5th Street. The proposal includes the construction of an eight story building that will incorporate 132-unit apartments, with a mix of studio, one, two, and three bedroom apartments, along with subterranean parking for 132 vehicles. Designed by KFA Architecture as a contemporary podium-type building, it will feature premium amenities including a courtyard and a rooftop pool deck.
Former Edison moms shift Spanish literature conversations in LA
Two mothers who met at Edison Language Academy have changed the conversation around Spanish-speaking literature in Los Angeles. Chiara Arroyo and Celine Navarrete, who bonded over their respective children being in the same Edison class over a decade ago, recently opened the 4,400-square foot of LA Librería in the heart of West Adams. The space has become Los Angeles’ top Spanish-language children’s bookstore, with a collection of 8,000 titles amassed from over 20 countries. The mothers started the endeavor after volunteering at an Edison book fair and being displeased at the selection of Spanish literature brought in for the dual-immersion school.
Five dead after plane from Santa Monica Airport crashes on Catalina Island
A plane owned by a local pilot crashed on Catalina Island on the evening of Oct. 8, killing all five people aboard. According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, their Avalon station received a 911 SOS emergency notification at about 8:08pm, saying the user’s cellphone had been involved in a collision with possible injuries and provided GPS coordinates. Flight tracking websites show the plane took off from Santa Monica Airport and landed at the Catalina airport at about 6:20pm. It took off from Catalina about 90 minutes later and disappeared from radar coverage shortly thereafter.
Despite uncertainty, Council agrees to continue negotiations for Olympic beach volleyball
Melissa Spagunolo, Community Partnerships Manager for the City of Santa Monica, gave a presentation to City Council on Oct. 8 about the pros and cons of hosting beach volleyball for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The cons were significant and sizable in number, including not knowing how operations would be affected on the Pier, known financial risks, and no revenue-generating opportunities like sponsorships and co-branding. The City is also required to give LA28 a priority option to purchase up to 100% of the City’s advertising space. Following Council comments that agreed it would be nice to play a part in history in 2028, they also agreed more work needed to be done.
Westside rental market noted as least competitive in California
In a new study analyzing the hottest rental markets in the United States, RentCafe ranked Western Los Angeles County last out of 11 tracked California markets, citing a much lower lease renewal rate for renters in the area. The least renewal rate, around 39%, pales in comparison to competitive California spots like Orange County and Silicon Valley. Another area where West LA was weak was in prospective renters per vacancy (9), far behind Eastern LA County’s 16.
Ballona Creek project moves past pilot stage after mass trash collection
On October 8, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the permanent implementation of the Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor Project, which was deployed in October 2022 with a goal to divert trash and other materials away from Santa Monica Bay. The staff report on the item stated that between October 2022 and April 2024, the Interceptor prevented over 248,000 pounds of trash and debris (124 tons) from reaching the ocean and local beaches. The amount is more than twice the anticipated production of the project, and locals shared observations that beaches near the Interceptor site have been noticeably cleaner since deployment.
thomas@smdp.com
