Rent prices slightly down while local real estate is ‘seller’s market’
Santa Monica renters are receiving slight relief, albeit in a still-pricey market for apartments, while the city’s housing trends have been deemed a "seller’s market." According to a May Los Angeles rent report from Apartment List, Santa Monica apartment prices dropped over the past month by 0.6%, with the median one-bedroom apartment price now standing at $2,340 while the median two-bed is $2,805. In real estate, Santa Monica has been deemed a seller’s market, according to a new Westside Los Angeles market update by Lombardi Real Estate Wealth Advisors. The median sold price for a single-family residence in Santa Monica this past month was $3.8 million, up 4.74% from March, and the selling price was 3.6 percent higher than listing price in the city.
Council extends local emergency status of homeless crisis while awaiting results of this year’s count
At the May 14 Santa Monica City Council meeting, council members voted unanimously 7-0 to extend the local emergency status of the current homeless crisis for another 12 months. In addition, City Director of Housing and Human Services Heather Averick provided a presentation that focused on the City’s successes within the crisis, including the Pathway Home program. Concern over the issue has been steadily rising with both local residents and business owners, but no mention was made of recent security concerns related to homelessness in the city or any of the issues that have caused disruption. Council is currently awaiting the results of the 2024 homeless count from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
Graduates are success stories for local group’s foster-focused mission
On May 16, the fourth annual Ready to Succeed (RTS) Graduation Celebration took place at Chief Clubhouse in West Hollywood, praising more than 70 RTS scholars that graduated from schools like UCLA, UC Berkeley and California State University Northridge. RTS, a Santa Monica-based nonprofit, launched in 2016 to meet the needs of those within the nation’s largest foster care system, filling the gaps in professional and personal development. Since launching with just five students, the program has expanded exponentially, securing paid summer internships during college of 94% of scholars.
Pico landlord facing multiple tenant harassment lawsuits
A Santa Monica landlord is facing multiple tenant harassment lawsuits over alleged mistreatment of renters in the Pico neighborhood. In cases filed by individual tenants and the City of Santa Monica, landlord Masoud Atef is accused of discriminating against disabled tenants, renting an illegal unit and failing to comply with the city’s rent control rules. The Santa Monica suit specifies that an immunocompromised tenant in the building made multiple requests to have Atef professionally remediate toxic mold in her unit and temporarily relocate her during the remediation. The complaint alleges that Stef refused the request and told the tenant that his building is not suitable for tenants with "special conditions," and that it is "not a wise choice for someone with respiratory issues" or for those who "require special care and attention."
New Roads tennis team scores school’s first CIF championship
On May 10, the New Roads Jaguars boys tennis squad ousted the previously-undefeated Oak Hills unit 11-7 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship. The monumental victory was the first CIF championship by any team in New Roads history, an affirmation of athletics’ importance to the school’s well-rounded educational efforts. Led by head coach Kramer Waltke in his third season at New Roads, the Jaguars were boosted by senior leaders Aidan Miller and Cy Arato-Orlovski, who served as the squad’s top two singles options.
Councilwoman Davis will not seek reelection
Councilwoman Gleam Davis has said she will not seek reelection this year opening up the always competitive City Council race to at least one new face. Four council seats are up for election this year, currently held by Davis, Mayor Phil Brock, Oscar de la Torre and Christine Parra. While Davis is out of the race, the other three said they have not decided if they are running again. Davis has served on the council since 2009 when it selected her to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Herb Katz and was elected to an additional two-year term in 2010. She was re-elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
School board holds revenue sharing discussion in potential Malibu split
On May 22, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education held a presentation of the property tax sharing agreement between SMMUSD, representing the interests of the future Santa Monica Unified School District, and the City of Malibu representing the future Malibu Unified School District. A process years in the making, the revenue sharing agreement (broken into a base year calculation and a subsequent annual calculation) is part of a term sheet adopted by the parties to separate SMMUSD into the two districts, which also includes operational and joint powers agreements. The board discussed when a final revenue sharing agreement, outside of a powerpoint presentation available on the district website, could be shared, saying it’ll be made public via board agenda during a first reading of the agreement.
Optimism and warnings during annual budget review
At the mid-point of the city’s two year budget cycle, the cost to operate the city has increased by just over 1% and while staff are cautiously optimistic about the future, resources remain tight for both ongoing expenses and special projects. According to a staff report presented to Santa Monica City Council, the proposed 2024-25 fiscal year budget totals $763.5 million, with $462.5 million allocated to the General Fund, reflecting a 1.3% increase over the previous year in what staff said was a careful balance between necessary expenditures and fiscal prudence. The budget assumes the long-term economic outlook is positive but acknowledges limited resources in the short term.
Hungry young minds bolster Franklin food fundraiser
The transitional kindergarten (TK) program at Franklin Elementary School finished its recent food unit with a "TK Food Market" event on May 28. The young students put on their chef hats to serve Franklin staff, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials and local parents; all while promoting a worthy cause. All the tips collected for serving items like fruit skewers and salad were donated to the Westside Food Bank, a local organization committed to fighting food insecurity.
Crossroads swimmers take titles
Crossroads School for Arts & Science’s Swim and Dive squads recently competed in postseason competition, ending in a milestone win for Miles Blackson-Dunbar. The sophomore captured the CIF Division 3 Championship in the Boys 50 Yard Freestyle, then went on to take the CIF State Championship in the same event with a 20.11 second finish. At one of the fastest high school swim meets in the nation, Blackson-Dunbar earned an All-American automatic qualifying time, and also earned an All-American consideration time in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a 45.22 second finish. Crossroads senior diver James Jones was also victorious in CIF Division 4 competition, defending her title, while junior swimmer Zach Tower also earned an All-American time in the 500 Yard Freestyle, finishing in 4:27.91.
Unpermitted performer arrested after swiping guitar in brazen daylight robbery
A local, unpermitted street performer was apprehended by police officers after stealing an electric guitar from a music store on Santa Monica Blvd. The theft occurred at 10:05am on May 24 at the Santa Monica Music Center, owned by Vice Mayor Lana Negrete. Surveillance video clearly showed the suspect walking into the store and nonchalantly walking out with a guitar while an employee was on the phone with a customer. Only hours later, after Negrete had posted images from the in-store surveillance footage on social media, the suspect was apprehended by the Santa Monica Police Department a few blocks north on Wilshire Blvd.
Band sends off seniors with Pops performance
The senior members of the Santa Monica High School band had a serenading sendoff on May 28, taking part in the band program’s annual "Pops" concert featuring highlights from movies, video games and popular music history. Performing during the showcase were the concert band and symphonic band, the symphonic winds, the wind symphony and the wind ensemble; all under the direction of Kevin McKeown and Terry Sakow. The evening was a celebration of a successful year for the band program, winning a multitude of awards from voting bodies like the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association and the California All-State Music Educators Conference.
Santa Monica Amusements to take over trapeze school Pier location
At the May 28 Santa Monica City Council meeting, direction was unanimously given to the City Manager to negotiate and execute a License Agreement with Santa Monica Amusements at 370 Santa Monica Pier, a spot currently occupied by the Santa Monica Trapeze School. Santa Monica Amusements, which also operates Pacific Park, intends to use the 10,000 sq ft Space for an obstacle "Rope Course," a junior version of the course, a 30-ft tall climbing tower and a Pier history museum. An agreement with Santa Monica Amusements would mean the end of an era for trapeze arts on the Pier, a 17-year relationship that began as Trapeze School New York, rebranded as Santa Monica Trapeze School this past year under the leadership of owner Kenna Stevens.
Steve Guttenberg gives talk at Zibby’s on Montana Avenue about his new book
Arguably one of the most well-known names in cinema in the 1980s, Steve Gutenberg has starred in a host of smash hit movies like Police Academy and Cocoon, and the actor came to Zibby’s Bookstore on May 30 to promote his new book Time to Thank. The book is about how Guttenberg had to step into a new role when his father was diagnosed with kidney failure. In it, he tracks the weekly 800-mile road trips from Los Angeles to Phoenix to care for his father, Stanley, and the ways in which his time on the road afforded him the perspective to reflect on his life.
JAMS jams out for high school transition ceremony
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District middle school students moving onto the next step of their education were celebrated on May 24 in a special "Middle School Rites of Passage Celebration" at the John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Performing Arts Studio and Courtyard. Rites of Passage ceremonies serve as communal cultural events that highlight the transition from middle school to high school, with this year’s event featuring several student speakers talking about their time at JAMS, Lincoln Middle School and Santa Monica Alternative School House.
Santa Monica’s man of music Paul ‘Chico’ Fernandez, dies at 83
Santa Monica resident, beloved jazz musician and father of Vice Mayor Lana Negrete, Paul "Chico" Fernandez, passed away on May 23 at Berkley East Healthcare Center, aged 83. Fernandez, along with his brother Victor, founded the Santa Monica Music Center over 50 years ago and together they built a thriving business that became a hub for musicians and music lovers alike. His talent on the drums captivated audiences on both big and small stages, including being seen in the background of movies like The Godfather and Naked Gun.
Longtime local favorite bar JP’s finally open after permitting delays
The new and improved JP’s 2.0 is now open at 925 Wilshire Blvd Suite C. Originally at 1101 Wilshire Blvd and now less than two blocks west, JP’s is practically a local landmark and is among the oldest standalone watering holes in Santa Monica. According to owner Alexander Kallberg, it goes all the way back to the 1940s and was originally a pharmacy called The Airlines. It eventually transformed into a bar before two brothers from Jamaica Plain in Boston bought the location in the 1970s, hence the JP’s name.
Activists celebrate potential plan for the Civic Center while City Hall remains silent
A new actor may audition for the role of Civic Auditorium savior in the coming weeks after City Council is reported to have pushed forward a proposal from a private organization to refurbish and reopen the long vacant property. According to an email from group Save the Civic, Council voted unanimously to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Revitalization Partners Group to begin the process of restoring and re-opening the Civic Auditorium. The proposal reportedly is to seismically upgrade, restore, program and operate the landmark Civic Auditorium as a performing arts and cultural center.
thomas@smdp.com
