Santa Monica’s homeless down by 6% from 2023
The 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count results were announced on June 28 and while the Westside of Los Angeles County, which includes Santa Monica, saw a nearly 20% decrease in the total population of people experiencing homelessness, the count for Santa Monica showed a 6% decrease from the 826 reported in 2023 by the Los Angeles County Homeless Services Authority to 774 people. Santa Monica’s count was broken down into: 479 people physically counted outdoors (including at city beaches), 173 people recorded in shelters (including at the city’s shelter SAMOSHEL), 61 counted in cars, vans and RVs, 21 counted in tents and 40 counted in other makeshift shelters.
Diverse staff, mental wellness key parts of district LCAP goals
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education is taking the opportunity to retool its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), formulating amended goals for the three-year cycle beginning in the 2024-25 school year. A major action item within the LCAP goals is the recruitment and selection of "diverse highly qualified staff," including the commitment by district Human Resources to "explore partnerships with local colleges and universities to establish pipelines into the teaching and administrative professions." Another priority, mental health and wellness, will include school sites receiving training in depression and suicide awareness to recognize signs and support students.
Fireworks, Pier festival bring summer vibes to locals
On the evening of June 29, Santa Monica College’s Corsair Field played host to the city’s "Celebrate America" fireworks show, with food trucks aplenty and live music by Westside Crew before the 20-minute show provided by Pyro Spectaculars Entertainment. On both June 29 and June 30, the Santa Monica Pier 360 festival featured a multitude of activities for all ages. Kids were able to test their physical abilities at the Ninja Nation Obstacle Course and an open skate park, while adults took part in volleyball games and aquatic competitions on the beach. Other amenities included live music throughout the weekend, a pop-up exhibit from the Museum of Beach Life and a pop-up roller rink.
Councilmembers unite over motion to condemn controversial sign on the Promenade
In a lengthy meeting on June 25, members of Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously 7-0 to prepare a resolution condemning the sign that was first placed on the front of 1335 Third Street by building owner John Alle in December 2022. The sign itself has gone through a number of iterations since it first appeared and currently, it reads, "Santa Methica is not safe. SM City Manager supports free needle & meth pipe distribution program in our parks and public spaces." While conversation on this subject tends to spark an opinion in almost everyone, the Council’s discussion about Alle’s infamous sign was straightforward and without disagreement.
Rogers reaches into recreation past to revitalize city parks
In April, Jenny Rogers was named the City of Santa Monica’s new Director of Recreation and Arts, becoming the point person for the city’s department behind parks, facilities and art projects. The department is a result of the city breaking the Community and Cultural Services Department into two wings: Health and Human Services and RAD, and Rogers was chosen to lead the latter due to her vast experience in community development in locations like San Francisco. July will be Rogers’ busiest month yet, a chance to shine a light on facilities during National Parks and Recreation Month, as well as promote camps, classes and summer events for children on school break.
With small reduction in local homelessness, officials decry Supreme Court decision
Local elected officials and homeless service providers are decrying the recent Supreme Court ruling on clearing homeless camps, saying the decision will criminalize individuals for situations beyond their control. The Oregon case decided on June 28 is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on homelessness, ruling 6-3 along ideological lines to strike down a ruling that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. The People Concern, who operate the homeless shelter and service center in Downtown Santa Monica, said they are troubled by the ruling and by allowing cities to invoke criminal penalties.
‘Restorative’ alcohol, drug use policy broached by school board
During the June 25 meeting of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, outgoing Director of Student Services Tara Brown presented potential changes to the district’s alcohol and drug policy, shifting from "traditional" policies to a more restorative justice-based system with "progressively scaled discipline" for alcohol and drug offenses. At the middle and high school level, the updated policy for first alcohol or drug offenses would replace an automatic three-day suspension with meetings and counseling sessions determined to understand why a student would be using substances. Subsequent offenses, traditionally a five-day suspension, would be replaced by a one-day suspension followed by counselor meetings regarding mental health and drug or alcohol dependency, as well as working on an individualized "action plan."
Man stabbed in beach brawl, five arrests made
A man was stabbed on the afternoon of June 29 near Lifeguard Tower 14 during a beachfront brawl. According to the Santa Monica Police Department, it was reported that one of the people involved in the fish was stabbed, with a drone being first on-scene confirming an active fight. Additional responding officers arrived shortly after and intervened, with officers locating a victim suffering from a non-life-threatening stab wound and an additional victim suffering a possible broken ankle during the altercation. Both victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Five male suspects were arrested, with three charged with assault with a deadly weapon, one with battery and one for sexual battery.
Decision over Legion’s future delayed as DTSM board members desert meeting
The main item on the agenda for the June 27 meeting of the Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. board was supposed to be a presentation by security firm Legion after six months of deployment, followed by a vote on how to proceed with the program going forward to 2025. However, an unexpected presentation by Lt. Gerardo Leyva of the Santa Monica Police Department, lasting 48 minutes that was not listed on the agenda, threw confusion into the proceedings. While board discussion on Legion seemed positive, prior to the vote, board members Luke Cain and Leo Pustilnikov both left the meeting. Vice Chair Michele Aronson had also exited the meeting early and board member Lucian Tudor announced that he too had to leave, preventing a quorum for a vote to take place.
Plaques promoting Montana businesses cause early ire
This past month, the Montana Avenue Merchant Association installed specialized plaques onto the street’s ficus trees, placed between 7th and 17th St. to recognize sponsors of a lighting program on the street. The initiative was given the go-ahead by the City of Santa Monica’s Urban Forest team by using screws installed on springs to avoid ripping up the ficus trees. Regardless, multiple citizens took to social media sites like NextDoor to voice their concerns, complaining that the trees were "desecrated" with plaque installation and that some businesses used the plaques to promote their website and social media sites. The Merchant Association’s board president, David Kianmahd, responded to the complaints by saying "this was all a very transparent program" built to help promote merchants and keep the smaller business charm of the avenue.
New Crossroads construction concentrates on acclaimed arts program
Construction has recently begun on Crossroads School for Arts & Science’s new Bezdek Center for the Performing Arts, a 55,000 square foot complex that will serve as the new home for Crossroads’ acclaimed arts program. The project, designed by SPF:a, will include a 650-seat main auditorium, a 100-person recital hall, spaces for filmmaking and music, and a new Crossroads School Equity & Justice Institute. Renderings of the site, anticipated to be completed in early 2026, envision these spaces linked by a courtyard that SPF:a Founder and Design Principal Zoltan Pali called a "major strong point" for the project.
Smart beachgoers called on to keep beaches healthy on holidays
Though the festivities of Independence Day are now in the rearview, Santa Monica’s beaches are still littered with remnants of the holiday, and not in a positive way. July 5 is often called the most dirty day of the year on public beaches, with Santa Monica being no different with plastic wrappers and other debris, a combination of sheer tourism amounts and the lackadaisical attitude of those trekking the beaches. To remedy this, Heal the Bay Senior Director of Community Outreach & Connection Meredith McCarthy recommends packing picnics with reusable materials moving forward, including bringing plates and forks from home, as well as keeping as much trash away from beach cans as possible.
Santa Monica automotive entrepreneur honored by ASU Alumni Association
Santa Monica resident Kevin Emamian, owner of The Haus automotive repair center, has been recognized by his alma mater, Arizona State University, for the second straight year for launching and managing a successful and fast-growing business. At an event held at the university’s main campus, 135 outstanding alumni were announced as members of the class of 2024 in the annual awards program that recognizes the fastest-growing alumni-owned or -led organizations. The Haus is a certified independent Mini Cooper and BMW repair shop located at 2621 Pico Blvd, and Emamian’s slowly-but-surely expanding empire celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year.
thomas@smdp.com
