Controversial Ocean Avenue Housing Project Paused for Community Input
Horvath expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, stating, “It
is clear there has been inexcusably little
engagement around this proposal.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath has called for a pause in two interim housing projects planned for Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, citing inadequate community engagement. The decision, announced Tuesday, follows
concerns raised by residents, including those in the North of Montana Association, and comes with a state-approved extension of the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program grant.
Horvath expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, stating, “It is clear there has been inexcusably little engagement around this proposal.” The projects, involving 49 beds at 413 and 825 Ocean Avenue to address homelessness and mental health needs, were proposed by a developer in collaboration with the County Department of Mental Health and St. Joseph Center. Horvath emphasized the need for urgent housing solutions but insisted on community partnership, leading to an agreement with stakeholders to halt
progress for further outreach.
The pause aligns with recent calls from Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, who earlier this week urged the City Council to enhance transparency and accountability for county-funded housing projects. Negrete highlighted resident frustrations over the lack of prior notice and potential impacts near the Oceana senior living complex. She proposed directives including broader outreach, zoning clarifications, and a public communication strategy, reflecting concerns about safety and process shared by taxpayers in the area.
Details released earlier this week by Negrete, sourced from Horvath’s office, outlined the facilities’ operations, including 24/7 staffing, security, and a no-loi-
tering policy. Funded under Proposition 1, the sites prioritize local residents but have faced backlash over their proximity to high-value properties and a nearby St. Joseph Center location.
Horvath’s office, along with the Department of Mental Health and St. Joseph Center, will now focus on community input before resuming the projects.
Mayor Bass Seeks Temporary Measure ULA Pause for Pacific Palisades Homeowners After Wildfires
Bass Urges City Council to Approve a Limited Exemption From the City’s “Mansion Tax”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling on the City Council to approve a temporary pause to Measure ULA, the city’s controversial “mansion tax”, offering potential relief to Pacific Palisades homeowners recovering from this year’s wildfires, according to a press release from Mayor Karen Bass’ office. The request, outlined in a letter Bass sent Thursday to the 15-member council, marks the first formal effort at City Hall to modify the voter-approved transfer tax since it took effect in 2023. Bass is asking the council to grant the city’s finance director authority to provide a one-time exemption for affected residents, rather than a citywide suspension. Bass’s proposal would apply only to residential properties in the Pacific Palisades, including single-family homes, condominiums, and “other residential housing” damaged or destroyed by
the fires. The mayor’s office said the measure is designed to accelerate sales and encourage rebuilding, ultimately replenishing city housing stock and generating future ULA revenue once the homes are resold.
Mayor Bass’ letter said, “The successful rebuilding and revitalization of the Palisades is contingent on new homes quickly being built on vacant residential lots and on the timely sale of those lots or of those residences left standing by homeowners who want to leave the area. Many homeowners affected by the fires are long-time residents living on fixed incomes and with much of their life savings tied to the equity in their property.”
Approved by voters in November 2022, Measure ULA established a two-tiered real estate transfer tax on high-value properties to fund affordable housing and homelessness prevention. It applies a 4% tax on sales above $5.3 million and a 5.5% tax on those over $10.6 million. Since taking effect, the levy has drawn widespread criticism from developers, brokers, and homeowners in upscale
neighborhoods like the Palisades, where agents say it has slowed luxury sales and complicated post-disaster recovery.
The mayor’s appeal followed a recent meeting with developer Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA — a nonprofit created to assist rebuilding efforts in fireaffected areas, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Caruso, whose organization has advocated for temporary financial relief to speed recovery, has not publicly commented on the mayor’s plan. It remains unclear whether the City
Council will schedule a discussion of Bass’s proposal or how soon action might be taken. If approved, the temporary pause would represent the first adjustment to Measure ULA’s strict provisions since its passage.
Any revision to the tax is expected to face significant pushback. Housing advocates and supporters of Measure ULA have resisted previous attempts to weaken or repeal it, arguing that it is critical to funding the city’s affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.
Photo: LA County
Illegal Cosmetic Injector Faces Prison After Malibu Actress Dies From Silicone Embolism
Libby Adame, Previously Convicted in Another Fatal Injection Case, Was Found Guilty
Jurors in Los Angeles found Riverside County resident Libby Adame, 55, guilty of second-degree murder and practicing medicine without certification in the death of Malibu actress Cindyana Santangelo, who appeared on television shows E.R. and Married with Children, and suffered a fatal reaction to silicone oil injections in March 2025.
The verdict follows a two-week trial in which prosecutors described how Adame posed as a cosmetic specialist and administered silicone injections that caused a fatal embolism inside Santangelo’s Malibu home. The actress, known for roles in ER and Married With
Children, died shortly after the procedure. During testimony, Santangelo’s husband, Frank Santangelo, recalled finding his wife convulsing and said Adame fled before paramedics arrived. Prosecutors argued that Adame had long been aware of the dangers of silicone injections yet continued to perform them despite lacking medical credentials.
Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan countered that Adame merely acted as a consultant for licensed physicians in Mexico and was not responsible for the injections that killed Santangelo. Jurors rejected that claim.
Adame’s conviction adds to a troubling history of unlicensed procedures linked to her name. In 2024, she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 death of 26-year-old Karissa Rajpaul in Sherman Oaks, who died after receiving illegal buttock injections. Adame and her daughter, Alicia Galaz, who assisted with the procedure, served less than a year in custody after receiving credit for time
served and electronic monitoring. Evidence introduced during the latest trial showed Adame fleeing a South Gate salon in 2018 as paramedics treated another woman who later died after a similar procedure. Prosecutors said that the incident proved she knew the risks years before Santangelo’s death.
Deputy District Attorney Lee Cernok told jurors Adame had been explicitly warned
during her 2024 trial that she could face a murder charge if another client died under her care. Taking the stand in her own defense, Adame denied administering the injections and claimed she did not know who did.
Santangelo’s husband has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Adame. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
Santa Monica Searches for Its Next Poet Laureate
Duties include composing a poem to celebrate the city, leading writing workshops or readings at public schools and organizing at least one poetry event for the library’s National Poetry Month
Applications are now open for Santa Monica’s next Poet Laureate, an honorary role aimed at promoting poetry and literary arts through community engagement, city officials announced Monday.
The position, managed by the Santa Monica Public Library, carries a two-year term starting March 1, 2026, along with an annual $5,000 stipend. Duties include composing an original poem each year to celebrate the city, leading two writing workshops or poetry readings annually at public schools, the library or community events, and organizing at least one poetry event for the library’s National Poetry Month programming in April. Laureates are also expected to participate in local events and pursue other poetry- or literary arts-focused activities.
A review panel of community members and city staff will evaluate submissions and select the appointee, with the
announcement slated before the term begins. The program, launched in 2023, named local multidisciplinary artist Anne Carmack as its inaugural laureate in 2024 for a term ending in early 2026.
Carmack, a mixed-race poet, painter, photographer and filmmaker whose work explores personal narrative, cultural identity, philosophy and spirituality, saw her 2020 debut poetry collection
“My Own Body Breathing” hit No. 1 on Amazon’s bestseller list within a day of release. The book is available for checkout at the Santa Monica Public Library.
“We’re excited to continue Santa Monica’s Poet Laureate program and look forward to working with our next ambassador of verse,” Library Director Erica Cuyugan said in a statement. “This program continues to highlight the importance of poetry and creative expression while offering meaningful ways to engage with our community.”
Carmack, a longtime resident, reflected on her tenure: “As Santa Monica’s inaugural Poet Laureate, I have had the distinct honor of engaging with the community through poetry and in sincere celebration of the literary arts at a local level. As my term comes to an end in 2026, I look forward to working with the next selected poet to continue building this inspiring program.”
The role is open to Santa Monica residents aged 18 and older, with applications due by Nov. 30.
Submissions should be sent via the city’s website at santamonica.gov/programs/ poet-laureate.
SM.a.r.t Column: Council Cans the Civic
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
What were they thinking? On Wednesday morning at 12:30 am on October 15th, we were blindsided when the Council voted four (Jesse, Caroline, Dan, Natalya) to three (Lana, Barry, Ellis) not to extend RPG’s exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) to restore the historic and nationally registered Civic Auditorium. RPG (Revitalization Partners Group) is a consortium of some of the largest music operators in the nation. The majority felt RPG had not done enough to produce transparent “real” numbers (eg, a complete financial analysis and business plan). The new City manager, Oliver Chi, then slipped into that vacuum by having his own staff prepare their own plan with alternatives that allegedly showed that no scenario was profitable in a 25-year window. Beth Collins, RPG’s representative (who only had three minutes to speak) came to the Council meeting and showed RPG’s video, but did not have time to publicly minutely challenge the staff’s hasty numbers. Feasibility studies are notoriously malleable given all the variables: starting assumptions, guessed growth factors, alternative scenarios, predicted future construction costs, taxes, depreciation, tax credits, profit needs, etc, etc. It seems odd that staff can prepare in a week or two a more credible restoration profitability plan than the company that has been doing it for decades?
The minority of the Council wanted to extend the ENA for just three months, but the majority felt that that would be just “kicking the can down the road”. The majority then prevailed upon the City to:
1. Prepare two feasibility plans for the whole site (including the auditorium, the playing field, the pre-school, the subterranean stormwater facility, and the judges’ parking lot/charging station). One plan would keep the auditorium, another would scrape the whole site and ELIMINATE the auditorium, which councilman Zwick described as an “encumbrance”. There was a claim made that the land was worth only $19M with the auditorium but $100M without.
2. During the time these 2 plans are being prepared, it would not keep the City from continuing to negotiate with RPG if they wanted back in, which we hope they will consider.
3. Upon completion of the 2 plans, they could be presumably fashioned into new RFPs for new parties interested in development.
The majority position doesn’t just kick the can down the road; it actually kicks it back about ten years. In the mid-teens, there was a long process of envisioning the entire south corner of the Civic Center area. Public hearings involving dozens of stakeholders, called the Civic Center Working Group, were held with competing testimony from hundreds of residents, students, etc They concluded that the vast majority wanted the auditorium to remain, with the playing field added. Although they were pressured to provide other alternatives (housing, mixed use, and hotels), they settled on the Civic Center uses that we see there today. The Council now wants to start the whole re-envisioning process all over again. In the Council majority’s opinion, there was not enough time to spare 3 months to close the deal in front of them, but there’s plenty of time to reinvent the wheel.
This is the fourth Auditorium restoration suitor (previously redevelopment funds, Niederlander, and SMMUSD) that has evaporated in the last twelve years since the auditorium was closed. While previous ones failed for a variety of reasons, this is the first one that the City has unceremoniously fired. This is the bird in the hand that our Council let it go. RPG was hoping to see a unified council signaling they were fully supporting the project extension before RPG spent another million dollars in project development costs. Instead, they got a divided council with the majority chasing a mirage that the grass is greener somewhere else. RPG is not likely to fly back into our hands without solid support from a unified City Council. Such support is unfortunately highly unlikely, but we hope to be pleasantly surprised. But this denial also poisons the process for any other interested parties that may consider making a future restoration offer to such a fickle City Council.
And fickle is the right word here, because popular sentiment was clearly in favor of continuing for another 6 months the ENA with RPG. The downside of a time extension were incredibly small. If RPG’s eventual financial plan didn’t work, then we would know that a new way of moving forward would be needed. However, deciding a priori that it won’t work is a serious mistake and possibly snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. Over 300 letters were written in support, some 30+
Photo:customrodder.forumactif.org
The Landmarked and Nationally Registered Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
people spoke in support at the Council meeting, with only two speaking against. Many more people would have shown up, but most people considered approving the time extension by the City Council a nobrainer. Everyone knows these types of mega deals are always time-consuming. The Council majority clearly ignored this massive public support, and they don’t care about the clear wishes of their constituents. The majority of the Council is not serving the City’s residents’ explicit wishes and is pursuing some other agenda.
Given the surprising outcome Wednesday morning, eg, a broke City somehow mysteriously turns down a free $300$400M development offer that would not cost the City a penny(!), there are naturally many rumors swirling. The validity of those rumors is unknown because there are simply too many places where participants may have differing interpretations. We don’t know, and may never know about why over half the City Council can’t meet the public’s simple and clear request to restore the Civic Auditorium,
Fundamentally, the only thing that was on the table that morning was time. Just 3 months. But it quickly turned into a battle royale. Some Council members signaling support for preservation and RPG, while others trashed RPG, menaced the auditorium, and served up instead a warmed-over process from 10 years ago. The Council majority knew or should have known that by dumping RPG, they were dooming or hoping to doom or helping to doom the Auditorium. Who will want to offer a similar gift to a broke City, after it turned down the generous offer from RPG, one of the largest operators in the music business?
This is a serious and possibly irreversible error by the Council majority. The last time a Council made such a gigantic unforced error was in 1973 when they voted to tear down another iconic landmark, the Santa Monica Pier. That vote was subsequently reversed, and the pro-demolition council members were all voted out of office. That allegedly useless Pier is still serving us today.
The City, with this unexplainable decision, has taken a huge public hit to our finances, our future, and our reputation. We will pay for this such grievous and notorious error for years, much longer than the three months that were under consideration.
But for us, the job of preserving the auditorium just got a lot harder. However, citizens can still have a positive impact. Remember that it was the community group, Save the Civic, that found RPG and brought them in, and they nearly succeeded where 3 others failed. We hope RPG will persevere, as they have the full support of the citizens.
Now is the time for us to finish the job the Council failed to do.
By Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA
S.M.a.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA, former Planning Commissioner, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, former Building and Life Safety Commissioner, Samuel Tolkin, Architect, former Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIRCRE, Jack Hillbrand AIA, Landmarks Commission Architect, Phil Brock, former SM Mayor (Ret).
For previous articles, see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing
Mayor Negrete Seeks Action on Transparency for County-Funded Homeless Housing
The request stems from plans by the County Department of Mental Health and
a nonprofit
to open Behavioral Health Bridge Housing on Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica’s mayor has asked the City Council to direct city staff to enhance community outreach, clarify zoning rules and boost accountability for county- and nonprofit-run housing projects for the homeless, citing resident frustrations over two new facilities planned near Ocean Avenue.
The request, detailed in Agenda Item 16B for Tuesday’s council meeting, stems from plans by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and nonprofit St. Joseph Center to open Behavioral Health Bridge Housing at 413 and 825 Ocean Avenue. The sites would provide 49 interim beds for unhoused individuals with severe behavioral health needs, with 24/7 staffing, on-site clinicians and security. County officials have said placements would prioritize Santa Monica residents, funded through state resources.
Mayor Lana Negrete, in a memo to City Manager Oliver Chi dated Oct. 9, expressed support for the facilities as key to addressing homelessness but noted community concerns about potential
impacts and the absence of prior public notice before funding approval and renovations began. “Given the sensitivity of this matter and the community concerns expressed,” she wrote, she is seeking six specific directives.
Among them: Coordinate broad outreach to residents and businesses, including the Oceana senior living complex nearby; ensure future projects comply with Proposition 1 and the Good Neighbor Policy, including community involvement under state law; clarify zoning and building codes for such facilities to mandate public notifications; develop a public communication strategy with an FAQ webpage, hotline and response protocols; verify the developer’s operational record, funding details and
legal standing; and review past projects in areas like Sunset Park and Pico for engagement gaps, implementing fixes where needed.
Negrete elaborated in a Facebook video posted last week, describing her own neighborhood’s experiences with similar projects. “When one of these sites opened, we were told to be quiet about it to protect the residents’ privacy,” she said. She recounted recent conversations with residents who pay high property taxes and feel entitled to information, while others seek details on safety and communication. Negrete advocated for medical treatment and hospitalization before outpatient services, critiquing California’s “housing
first” model as insufficient for those with acute mental illness, addiction and street trauma.
“These programs help stabilize people, but they’re not hospitals,” she said in an accompanying post. “They’re a bridge — and until we build the medical side of that bridge, we’ll keep cycling people through systems that don’t fully heal them.” She praised nonprofits like St. Joseph Center as doing “the Lord’s work” with limited resources but faulted broader state policies favoring developers over root-cause solutions.
The council is set to discuss the matter Tuesday.
Facebook: Lana Negrete
Mastro’s Pours Pretty-in-Pink Cocktails to Support Breast Cancer Awareness This October
The Beverly Hills and Malibu Debut LimitedEdition Drinks and a New Cinnamon Pecan Butter Cake
Throughout October, Mastro’s locations in Beverly Hills and Malibu are raising a glass for a cause with a pair of pinkinspired drinks benefiting the N ational Breast Cancer Foundation. Guests can choose between the Prickly Pear Margarita ($15) or its spirit-free mocktail version, both crafted with vibrant flavors and a charitable twist. For every drink sold, $1 will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in support of breast cancer research and awareness programs.
The signature cocktail features Lalo Blanco Tequila, REA’L Prickly Pear Purée, and fresh lime juice, topped with a slice of dehydrated dragon fruit for a striking finish. The non-alcoholic version combines Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit with the same prickly pear blend, accented by lemon and lime juice and a Maldon sea salt rim.
Mastro’s is also introducing a new dessert for the season, the Cinnamon Pecan Butter Cake ($20), available now through December. A decadent twist on the restaurant’s classic butter cake, the limited-time offering adds warm cinnamon and toasted pecans for a rich, holiday-ready flavor.
Fitoor Santa Monica Celebrates Diwali With
One-Day Indian Feast on October 20 Ocean Avenue Restaurant Marks the Festival of Lights With a Limited-Time Celebration Menu
In honor of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which is now an official holiday in California, Fitoor Santa Monica will present a special limited-edition Celebration Menu on Sunday, October 20, inviting guests to experience the vibrancy and depth of Indian flavors in a modern coastal setting.
Located at 1755 Ocean Avenue, the contemporary Indian restaurant will
feature a curated selection of small plates, mains, and desserts inspired by regional traditions and festive ingredients. The one-day menu is designed to blend the spirit of celebration with Fitoor’s elevated approach to Indian cuisine.
Menu Highlights:
Babycorn Kurkure – crisp baby corn croquettes dusted with gunpowder and cheese
Guntur Chili Chicken – spicy Byadagi pepper chicken with roasted garlic and curry leaf
Dal Churma – pistachio laddu served with tempered lentils
Chicken Dak Bunglow – slow-cooked spiced drumsticks in rich gravy
Lamb Keema Biryani – aromatic basmati rice layered with seasoned ground lamb, onion, and raita
Chhena Payesh Cheesecake – a contemporary take on a Bengali dessert, featuring cheese pearls and rabadi Guests can complement the festive menu with signature cocktails from Fitoor’s bar program while enjoying views of Santa Monica’s coastline.
Fitoor’s Diwali celebration offers diners an immersive culinary experience— one that honors Indian heritage while embracing the artistry and innovation of modern fine dining.
Reservations for the October 20 Diwali menu can be made by calling (424) 6991300.
CuriousCity: SANTA MONICA SELL OUT
Saturday, 10-18-2025, BE THERE
By CHARLES ANDREWS
Usually, we don’t know a date has significance until after it happens. Dec. 7, 1941. Nov. 22, 1963. July 20, 1969. Sept. 11, 2001.
I fervently hope the date you see above, tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 18, 2025, becomes a day of history, the day when millions and millions of Americans took peacefully to the streets to show the world we are still a great people, kind, generous, freedom loving, patriotic to the ideals of America, and willing to stand up and be counted for everyone in the USA, no matter what the color of their eyes, hair, hats or skin, no matter what their “legal” status. You do know, being here from another country “without papers” is a misdemeanor. Yet more than 70% of the people seized by our Gestapo ICE have not been convicted of any crime. Hardly “the worst of the worst.”
(As the real first Americans remind us, no one is illegal on stolen land. Historical note: millions of them died, 96% of their population, from 1492 to the early 1900s, from Euro-American expansionism.)
There is another recent date that may become notorious in the history of Santa Monica:
OCT. 14, 2025
Last Tuesday. That was the date of the City Council meeting (technically, the
villainous vote was taken after midnight) where by a 4-3 tally, our elected officials gave away a golden opportunity, declared our most famous, landmarked building not worth saving, even though its restoration would be an economic, cultural and arts driver to great economic revitalization for our “broke” city.
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is one of the most famous performance venues in the world, especially for its modest size. Who has performed there”? Easier to ask, who hasn’t? The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Emmanuel Ax, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Ella Fitzgerald, Prince, The Supremes, David Bowie, The LA Philharmonic, Frank Sinatra, The Clash. The Eagles recorded their live album “The Long Run” there, and George Carlin recorded his landmark “Class Clown.” “Cabaret,” “Hello Dolly,” “Auntie Mame.” And the Oscars were held here, eight years in a row. The list is much longer.
But wait! The restored building would have made an amazing tourist attraction even if it had just been turned into a museum. With all the bells and whistles, of course, that Hollywood magic could add. It had sat so long, though, barely maintained, and needed so much very costly earthquake retrofitting because
of new state regulations, that I held out little hope it could be brought back to performing life.
And then, a small band of well-connected locals did the impossible: they got a consortium of entertainment giants, the RPG Group, to take it on and come up with a plan to return it to performance life AT NO COST TO THE CITY OR RESIDENTS. Hard to believe!
But they came up with a plan, and on Tuesday, they were asking the City Council only for another six months to fine tune their numbers. And four Council members said no, we think it might be better to knock it down and put up a hotel and lots of housing, some of it “affordable.” Let’s scrap the RPG plans and put it out for proposal again.
I will give you more details in the future, because this is the most egregious political blunder in our city’s history, with the exception of when another City Council voted to demolish The Pier. A vote quickly reversed. A thousand people showed up to express their outrage, and every member of that Council was turned out.
Here are the names of those who voted to reject the RPG offer. Remember them, in case you ever see their names on a ballot again, for any office.
It’s good to be back. Now in The Mirror, every other Friday. The best way to see it every time, along with my weekly NOTEWORTHY music and arts calendar column, is to subscribe, free, to my substack MUSIC, POLITICS, LIFE, at – https://bit.ly/3UGkK1F
JESSE ZWICK, CAROLINE TOROSIS, NATALYA ZERNITSKAYA, DAN HALL
I know all this can be unfamiliar territory, but think of it this way. You graduated from college but with a burdensome student loan debt, so you study for and pass to get your real estate license. That might keep you afloat.
You’ve got an Uncle Charlie, great guy, who has made a fortune in real estate. He takes you aside and says, son, you’re smart and ambitious and I know you’re going to succeed, but you can’t be meeting clients driving that beat up Corolla and expect to sell them a million dollar home. So I have leased a new Lexus for you, take care of it, don’t wreck it, and I will take it back whenever you are able to afford your own. No cost to you.
And you say, well Uncle Charlie, I think I’d rather get by with the beater car. I think I will be OK. Uncle Charlie thinks, I know he’s smart, so he must have some other agenda. But he’s a fool to pass up this offer. It will not come along again.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 39 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
THE SMASHING MACHINE
Dwayne Johnson can act! In this biographical film, Johnson’s body language, facial expressions and voice personify his character, groundbreaking MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter “Mark Kerr,” through a crucial three years of his life in the late 1990’s, which was for the fighter a period of euphoric success, desolation, desperation and a struggle to gain control. This film emphasizes dramatically the key to winning MMA fights, leave your emotion home and come to the ring focused on the win. Often the competitors brutally fighting one another in the ring, or cage, are great friends outside of it.
This movie contains many beautifully shot scenes that are surprising in their impact. One such scene is centers on Kerr’s girlfriend, “Dawn,” played artfully by Emily Blunt. In an ironic twist of personalities, we find that Kerr, who fears no challenger in a fight, is afraid to go on a centrifuge twister ride at a carnival, but Dawn is determined to go on it, so she does the ride herself. The camera dwells on her as she finds the courage to let loose and feel the lightness of being pulled against the walls of the machine, while Kerr stands outside and watches, unable to gather that kind of surrender to unfamiliar forces.
Kazu Hiro, the Oscar-winning makeup artist who turned Bradley Cooper into “Leonard Bernstein” in Maestro (2023), performed the magic of turning Johnson into an uncanny resemblance of Kerr. Johnson also lost 60 pounds to play the fighter. When Johnson first walked onto the set as Kerr, Blunt gasped, she was so stunned by the physical transformation. The psychological part of the makeover
was all Johnson’s skill. To be sure, a small part of that was easy, as both men started out as wrestlers and body builders, but Johnson seems to really feel the fighter’s psyche.
Kerr dreamt from childhood of being a great wrestler. He won wrestling championships in high school in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, and in college at Syracuse University, and competed internationally. He became interested in MMA as a source of income using his skill as a fighter, with his longtime friend and training partner, Mark Coleman, who is a main character in this film. In 2002, HBO aired a documentary about Kerr called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr
Kerr describes this year’s film as being “therapeutic,” and he is happy that the film honestly depicts his struggles with painkillers and how his addiction touched everyone around him, including his relationship with Dawn. Kerr did tell his director, Benny Safdie, that Dawn was the more fearless of the two. The way he describes it is, “As bad a dude as I am, really this (a carousel) is more my speed.” Kerr has been battling peripheral neuropathy since 2016, but he appeared with his signature wide smile on the Red Carpet for The Smashing Machine premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025.
Director Benny Safdie has been an actor, writer, editor and producer as well as director. He has helmed many films alongside his brother Josh Safdie and usually edits their films as well. He notes that The Smashing Machine explores “that struggle to come to peace with yourself, to become aware of who you are.”
The cast makes the film sing. “I wanted to
not only challenge myself but listen to my gut. To really rip myself open,” Johnson said in an interview. Blunt plays Dawn as full of life, independent, and as much of a fighter in her personality as is Kerr. Ryan Bader, who plays Coleman, is not only an MMA fighter but also has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a natural as an actor and believable in this role as the calming force in Kerr’s life. Kerr’s real trainer, Bas Ruten portrays himself. Watching fights is not my thing, but I’m glad I saw this film because of the skill with which it was made. The fight choreography, camera work, and editing are exceptional as is the musical track by Nala Sinephro. The realism of the movie is uncommon, since in addition to being actors, Johnson and Bader are also real
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF SPENCER IAN MILLER
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: SPENCER IAN MILLER
A Petition for Probate has been filed by Neil Miller in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 25STPB09100
The Petition for Probate requests that Neil Miller be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in Los Angeles County Superior Court as follows: Date: October 17, 2025 Time: 8:30 am. Dept.: D9 The address of the court: 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state
fighters.
At the 2025 Venice Film Festival, the movie was nominated for Best Film and won for Best Director. At the end of the festival screening, it received a 15-minute standing ovation, during which it is reported that Johnson shed tears. I like to step back from all the noise and gossip about a film and experience it on its own merits. I’m glad I did so with The Smashing Machine
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statues and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Petitioner Neil Miller/ Adam Grant Stonewood Law Group, PC 16133 Ventura Blvd. Ste. 700 Encino, Ca. 91436
Published in the Santa Monica Mirror, 10/10/25, 10/17/25, 10/24/25
Photo Credit: IMDB
Photo Credit: IMDB
