Former addict comes clean about homelessness crisis in new book
After nearly a decade spent chronically homeless and addicted to drugs, Jared Klickstein achieved sobriety in 2018 and began work on his memoir Crooked Smile: What It Took to Escape a Decade of Homelessness, Addiction, & Crime which released on June 25. The book tells the tale of becoming addicted to heroin while attending UC Santa Cruz, dropping out due to his vice and venturing the streets of Los Angeles for nearly a decade. Klickstein mainly lived on Skid Row, but ventured to Santa Monica in order to commit a litany of crimes.
Seniors earn their stoles in Legato Latino celebration
As graduating Samohi seniors took their final walk at the school’s Memorial Greek Theatre, some were seen wearing special stoles reading Legato Latino, representing the club of the same name. These stoles were earned by seniors who excelled in academics as well as extracurricular events put on by Legato Latino and its sub-clubs, and were given the garments at a May 24 Latino Legacy Celebration.
Council approves $6M for two legal settlements
The City of Santa Monica approved $6 million to settle a pair of years old lawsuits in a recent meeting. In the older of the two cases, Plaintiffs Christina Choi and King Yue Wong allege a city employee, Monique Marissa Cancino, ran a red light while driving a city vehicle causing a collision at the intersection of Broadway and Cloverfield. The second settlement was for slightly more money but was also split between two plaintiffs, Cheyenne Robinson and Stormy Jane Eny-Edy, following accusations they were improperly detained and then seriously injured by a Sheriff’s deputy during the 2020 protests in downtown Santa Monica.
Mariners trio joins football captain as latest signees
During a signing day ceremony earlier this year, Saint Monica Preparatory then-seniors Kaya Ghobrial, Shadel French and Carolina Calzada put pen to paper on their college futures, joining the already signed Joshua Barnes. Ghobrial and French were a duo to be reckoned with on the basketball court, as the guard and center helped lead the Lady Mariners to two straight 20-plus win seasons and CIF playoff appearances. Ghobrial will be joining the Loyola Chicago basketball program, while French will be staying local at Glendale College. Calzada, one of the stars of the Mariners golf program, will be heading to King University in Bristol, Tennessee to continue her career.
Homeless man accused of trying to drown beach goer
The morning of June 24 saw multiple assaults on the 1300 block of the beach, leading to two charges of attempted murder for the accused perpetrator. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded to a call of a male subject (later identified as Jawann Dwayne Garnett of Los Angeles) assaulting multiple victims on the beach, just north of the Pier. During the assault, Garnett then attacked a female in her 70s who was walking near the waterline, pulling her into the ocean and holding her underwater. On June 26, the District Attorney filed charges on Garnett, including two counts of attempted murder.
Rick Caruso laments downtown vacancies as a ‘blemish’ on the city
The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce toasted to the town’s business leaders on June 20, hosting the packed "Toast of Santa Monica" program at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. In a "fireside chat" setting during the program with Chamber President and CEO Judy Kruger, Rick Caruso touched on the outlook for Santa Monica, Caruso touched on Macerich’s recent returning of Santa Monica Place mall to lenders, as well as vacancies on the Third Street Promenade, as sending a "bad message."
Promenade packed out for Pride event
The Third Street Promenade turned into a colorful showcase of LGBTQ+ pride on June 22, bringing in a packed crowd for the annual Pride on the Promenade event. Stretching the length of the Promenade, as well as happenings at Santa Monica Place mall, the pride showcase featured a cavalcade of local exhibitors and musicians strutting their stuff. The music stage featured the likes of Jeffrey Chan, Kao Wonder, Tori Kay and Big Kim.
SMRR makes endorsement following convention
Santa Monica’s traditional power block has coalesced around a slate of candidates for the upcoming election. Santa Monica for Renters Rights (SMRR), one of the city’s most influential political organizations, endorsed Dan Hall, Natalya Zernitskaya, Barry Snell and Ellis Raskin at their annual convention on June 23. SMRR endorsed the same slate as the Community for Excellent Public Schools, the Executive Board of the Democratic Club and Santa Monica Forward signaling that the city’s established power brokers are all backing the same group.
School district seeks bond measure November ballot for facility improvements
For the first time in six years, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will be seeking bond measures for school facility projects. During the June 20 meeting of the SMMUSD Board of Education, the board gave staff approval to develop bond measure resolutions for the November ballot. The two bond measures would be for $495 million in School Facility Improvement District #1 (Santa Monica schools) and $395 million in School Facility Improvement District #2 (Malibu Schools). The board will pass resolutions to place bond measures on the ballot during a meeting in July.
New exhibit holds artifacts, tales from Mexican California
The Santa Monica History Museum has partnered with the California Historical Society and Exhibit Envoy to tell the true stories of California’s past, uncovering the firsthand accounts that were nearly wiped from history. "Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life and Myth Making," an exhibit launched on June 23 at the museum, holds various artifacts and tales from California’s indigenous people, including the Tongva people who were integral in the founding of Santa Monica.
New focaccia-style sandwich shop on Montana will satisfy those with a lust for crust
What was once a pop-up, proof-of-concept for a slightly different slant on the simple sandwich shop has finally made it to a permanent brick and mortar location at 1518 Montana Ave. Bread Head Sandwiches offers a small, but mighty selection of fillings, however, the unique selling point is that they are all served in between slices of signature crispy focaccia-style bread. Bread Head Co-Owner Alex Williams said he began baking during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was given guidance from his business partner, Jordan Snyder, with different recipes.
While fireworks fizzle in city, SMC event gives public Independence Day spark
As the most patriotic day of the year approaches, Santa Monica officials are reminding residents to lay off one component of the holiday. In Santa Monica, fireworks are not permitted in the city, a rule coming from the City of Santa Monica Fire Code which states that "all fireworks shall be illegal in the City of Santa Monica including California State Fire Marshal ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks." Additionally, the code says that "no person shall possess, transport, sell or offer for sale any such fireworks."
Local orchestra keeps sounds of the summer alive and ‘aspirational’
The June 29 performance of the Westside Chamber Orchestra’s "Kinda Jazzy" brought the orchestra to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for the first of three summer shows, a series conductor Brian Stone says is "aspirational programming," performances that look for new perspectives or play something that isn’t the usual concert fare. The group began its summer series last year, filling the gap for other dormant orchestras and musical groups in Santa Monica.
Beeline made for the beach for the sensational summer festival, Pier 360
Taking place this past weekend, the highly anticipated Pier 360 summer festival was a celebration of beach life with a wide range of activities for all ages, including thrilling ocean sports competitions, captivating live music performances, delectable food and drinks, interactive games and brand sampling. The free festival was a way to welcome the summer season, Santa Monica Pier Corporation Executive Director Jim Harris said.
Fourth of July means fireworks and that means frightened pets
To prepare pets for the Fourth of July holiday, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles released a set of guidelines for pet owners. The guidelines include educating children on not scaring or teasing pets with firecrackers or sparklers, keeping pets indoors, keeping pets comfortable and refraining from restraining pets. Santa Monica Animal Shelter Foundation Chair Elizabeth Noble also encouraged pet owners to keep pets inside safe with windows and doors closed.
$76 ceiling imposed in annual rent general adjustment
The Santa Monica Rent Control Board unanimously passed a resolution in its June 13 meeting imposing a $76 dollar amount limit to the 2024 general adjustment of 3%. The board passed the 2024 general adjustment in May, which announced the 3% by which rent ceilings for eligible controlled units will be adjusted by, effective on September 1. The adjustment is equal to 75% of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index of the Los Angeles metropolitan region.
SMDP Staff Report
