INSIDE
Westward Beach Road remains open in Malibu following overnight emergency erosion repairs smmirror.com
October 23 – October 29, 2026 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
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Police investigate suspected murder-suicide after finding two dead in Ocean Park home Santa Monica detectives locate a deceased married couple during a morning welfare check on 4th Street. By Sarah Lin. Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after finding two people dead inside an Ocean Park residence Wednesday morning, in the third suspected murder suicide in Santa Monica in 2026. Santa Monica police officers discovered
the bodies while conducting a welfare check around 9:04 a.m. in the 2400 block of 4th Street. Both victims, identified as an adult married couple, sustained apparent gunshot wounds. Detectives believe the incident was a murder-suicide and emphasized that no additional suspects were involved. Officials confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the surrounding community. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner is withholding the identities of the deceased pending notification of the next of kin and official identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Investigators urge anyone with information about the case to contact the department’s 24-hour watch commander at 310-458-8427.
Medical examiner releases cause of death for Santa Monica attorney who collapsed at Burning Man Autopsy findings in the death of 62-year-old Tshombe Sampson were revealed. By Carlos Reyes. Santa Monica attorney Tshombe Sampson, also known as Tee Starren among Burning Man attendees, died of natural causes related to heart disease after collapsing at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, medical officials confirmed this week, as reported by SF Gate. Sampson, 62, suffered a medical emergency on Sept. 3 while attending the annual event in the Black Rock Desert. First responders performed CPR on scene before transporting Sampson to Rampart, the festival's on-site medical facility, where medical personnel pronounced him dead. Autopsy findings from the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office attribute Sampson's death to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, driven by high blood pressure and arterial plaque buildup. Official findings released by the agency noted that two other men who
died during this year's festival suffered fatal drug toxicity combined with underlying heart conditions.
Sampson earned his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and his law degree from Pepperdine University. A veteran
festivalgoer, he was widely known within the Burning Man community for offering pro bono legal counsel to fellow attendees.
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October 23 – October 29, 2026
Historic Santa Monica Pier sign comes down Tuesday for multiyear restoration
Specialized neon conservators begin dismantling the 1941 landmark on Oct. 20. By Carlos Reyes. Specialized crews will begin dismantling the historic Santa Monica Pier sign on Oct. 20, launching a multiyear refurbishment project ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Dating back to 1941, the blue neon landmark listed on the California Register of Historical Resources is being temporarily removed to accommodate the ongoing Pier
Bridge Replacement Project. Specialized sign restoration firm YESCO will oversee the extraction starting Tuesday, using heavy cranes and temporary supports to lower the display in sections. Crews will strip the neon components Oct. 20, remove the decorative crown portion the following day, and detach the primary structure Oct. 22. The work will run daily from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Saturday, prompting single-lane closures along Ocean Avenue near the entrance. Officials designated public viewing zones in Palisades Park and at the corner of Ocean and Colorado Avenues for spectators. Following removal, workers will transport the wrapped structure to YESCO's facility in Las Vegas on Oct. 26. Conservators
will repair the custom neon tubing, strip accumulated rust, execute structural repairs, and apply fresh paint while preserving its historical character. To preserve photo traditions during construction, municipal authorities installed a half-scale replica near Pier Burger overlooking the Pacific Park roller coaster.
The restored sign will return to a slightly elevated position atop the reconstructed bridge once the infrastructure overhaul concludes in 2028, improving clearance for emergency vehicles while enhancing overall visibility.
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October 23 – October 29, 2026
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October 23 – October 29, 2026
Westward Beach Road remains open in Malibu following overnight emergency erosion repairs
in the immediate area, impacting water County crews access for The Sunset Restaurant along the beachfront corridor. stabilized the While Westward Beach Road and Birdview Avenue remain clear for vehicles, roadway after a the access road at the end of Westward Beach Road leading into the Point Dume water main break Beach parking lot remains closed to motor vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists can still while local fire access the lot but are urged to exercise caution around active construction stations begin equipment and work crews. Point Dume Beach remains open to the distributing sandbags public, though lifeguards and local officials warn visitors to watch for severe beach ahead of incoming erosion, exposed obstacles, and submerged hazards along the shoreline and in the storms. water.
By Carlos Reyes. Westward Beach Road and Birdview Avenue in Malibu are open to traffic following overnight emergency repairs to stabilize severe coastal erosion and address a broken water main. Confusion initially arose after additional erosion Monday night around 8 p.m. undermined the pavement, causing a Los Angeles County water main to break just west of ongoing revetment work. Los Angeles County contractors worked until midnight, placing large rocks along the shoreline to reinforce the embankment, while City Public Works crews assisted with traffic control and repair coordination to keep the thoroughfares open. The line break prompted Water District 29 to temporarily shut off utility service
The emergency repairs come as meteorologists warn of a strong storm system expected to impact Malibu starting Wednesday morning and continuing through Thursday. Forecasts call for 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain along the coast and up to 3 inches in nearby mountain areas, with hourly rainfall rates up to an inch during potential thunderstorms. Public safety agencies encourage property owners to take flood precautions ahead of the rain. Empty bags are available at all Los Angeles County Fire Stations. Residents can pick up sand and bags at Fire Station 70 on Carbon Canyon Road, Camp 13 on Encinal Canyon Road, and the Zuma Beach main entrance, or collect prefilled bags at the Malibu Equestrian Park. Taking sand directly from public beaches is strictly prohibited.
October 23 – October 29, 2026
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New restaurant Stiletto brings flame-grilled dining next to bustling Santa Monica Airport bakery Cloverfield owner Sean Martin prepares to open an aviation-inspired, live-fire dining spot adjacent to Matilda’s. By Dolores Quintana A new restaurant has opened near the Santa Monica Airport, in the same building as the incredibly popular bakery Matilda’s, which has only been open for three weeks but boasts two-hour wait times. Both restaurants share the same address: 3200 Airport Drive. The restaurant is called Stiletto, which is a reference to the Douglas Aircraft factory that made the X-3 Stiletto aircraft, just steps
away from both Matilda’s and Stiletto. The restaurant’s description says that its name is a tribute to that aircraft and “to the spirit of making something unexpected in a place built for experimentation.”
The restaurant will specialize in flamegrilled meats, seafood, and vegetables, with an “avant-garde spirit.” That spirit is described as “a cooking style that is elemental but a point of view that is
lighter, more expressive, and a little less traditional. Fire and finesse.” Matilda’s and Stiletto are both owned by Sean Martin, who also owns the nearby restaurant Cloverfield.
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October 23 – October 29, 2026
Chef Jeremy Fox's acclaimed restaurant Birdie G's sets official reopening date in Century City
The beloved Westside eatery reemerges at the Fairmont Century Plaza with reservations now open. By Dolores Quintana
The respected Santa Monica restaurant by chef Jeremy Fox, Birdie G’s, which closed last year at its original Bergamot Station location, has announced the day it will make its much-anticipated return at a new location. After the sad closure of the restaurant on December 20, 2025, it seemed like the restaurant might be gone for good, but on March 25, 2026, the Fairmont Century Plaza made all of the Petal Pie and freshly made matzoh fans cheer. Birdie G’s social media account confirmed that the restaurant was coming back in the fall, and the Fairmont Century Hotel announced that Birdie G’s will reopen
a newly designed restaurant with chef Fox again at the helm on October 26, 2026. The social media post said, “Familiar flavors. New memories. A new chapter…bringing @chefjeremyfox’s signature creativity and distinctly California approach to comfort cuisine to the heart of Century City. The hotel also mentioned that reservations are live for the new Birdie G’s at OpenTable, so you can make your reservation right away. Exact details of the menu have not yet been divulged, but they did post a photo of an intriguing dish in an Instagram post. It is a very exciting time for dining in Century City and the Westside in general.
October 23 – October 29, 2026
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OPINION
Santa Monica Just Made It Easier to Sell the Public's Land SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
By Daniel Jansenson
Santa Monica's City Council has found a remarkably efficient way to dispose of public property: eliminate some of the rules that made selling it difficult. On March 10, buried in Ordinance 2849, an innocuoussounding overhaul of City purchasing procedures, the Council lowered the threshold for approving certain sales of City-owned real estate from five votes to four. It also removed specific requirements for public notice, findings of public purpose, and competitive sale procedures. What previously required broader political agreement and a defined public process can now potentially be accomplished by a bare Council majority. The timing is particularly convenient for the current majority. With an election approaching, three new Councilmembers could take office opposing its policies. But the four remaining members, all of whom voted for Ordinance 2849, could nevertheless still approve the sale of City property over the objections of every newly elected member. The City Manager cannot sell public land without Council approval. But the safeguards that required City Hall to explain its decisions, invite scrutiny, and secure broader support have been weakened or removed. Public property, private opportunity Santa Monica's public land is not City Hall's personal real estate portfolio. It belongs to the residents, and a vacant lot today could become affordable housing, a park, a library, emergency services, or essential infrastructure tomorrow. In a city where land is scarce and acquiring it is extraordinarily expensive, keeping public property preserves options for future generations. Selling that land ends those options. The buyer acquires an asset that may appreciate considerably, especially if it carries development potential. The City receives a one-time payment, while residents lose ownership and control, often permanently. That distinction ought to matter more than administrative convenience. Four votes to sell what seven represent The former five-vote requirement served a straightforward purpose: selling public land demanded something more than the narrowest possible majority. Under the new framework, four Councilmembers may approve a transaction despite opposition from the other three, even when residents raise substantial objections. This is a consequential change in how much agreement is needed before an asset belonging to the entire community can pass into private hands. It also comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as voters
prepare to decide who should represent them on the next City Council. The disappearing safeguards The previous rules required publicpurpose findings, notice, and competitive sale procedures, or a justification for departing from them. These requirements gave residents an opportunity to learn what was being sold, examine the price, challenge the City's reasoning, and propose alternatives. Ordinance 2849 removed those specific provisions from the Municipal Code and shifted greater reliance to a more flexible procurement-policy framework. The City's rationale is administrative efficiency: purchasing procedures can be adjusted without repeatedly amending the Municipal Code. There is, however, a considerable difference between simplifying the purchase of office equipment and relaxing the rules governing the disposal of irreplaceable public land. Municipal Code provisions require formal legislative action to change, while policies can be revised more readily. Moving protections from law to policy makes them less durable and places more responsibility on the officials administering them. That may be convenient for City Hall, but it offers considerably less reassurance to the public. What could go wrong? Imagine a vacant City-owned parcel attracting a developer's interest. Before considering a sale, residents should know whether the land could serve affordable housing, a park, or another public use. They should know its independently appraised value, whether competing offers were solicited, and why selling would be preferable to leasing it. Above all, they should know who benefits from the transaction and on what terms. Under the former system, a defined legal process and five Council votes stood between the proposal and its approval. The new framework retains Council approval but removes several specific procedural guarantees that helped ensure those questions would be addressed. Even a discounted land sale for affordable housing deserves rigorous disclosure. Residents should know the market value, sale price, buyer, number of affordable homes, affordability restrictions, construction timetable, and consequences if the project never materializes. Affordable housing can be an excellent public purpose, but that does not eliminate the need for accountability. Ordinary short-term leases and minor licenses are another matter. Nobody needs five Council votes to authorize a temporary vendor kiosk or a nonprofit event. Repeated renewals and expanded agreements, however, should not become a means of granting long-term private control over public property without meaningful Council oversight. Put the protections back. The remedy is straightforward. Restore
the five-vote requirement for permanent sales and require advance public notice, a hearing, a written finding of public purpose, an independent appraisal, and competitive offers unless an exception is publicly justified. Before voting, the Council should disclose the buyer, price, valuation, intended use, major terms, and promised public benefits. Land suitable for housing, parks, civic facilities, parking, or infrastructure should receive heightened scrutiny, and transactions approved under staff authority should be publicly reported. None of these requirements would prevent the City from selling property when a sale genuinely serves the public interest. They would simply require City Hall to demonstrate that it does. A question City Hall should answer. Why did the Council decide that selling public land should require less agreement, fewer explicit safeguards, and a more flexible process? What problem did the former protections create that justified removing them? Efficiency is a reasonable goal for routine purchasing, but it is a poor substitute for transparency when the asset being sold belongs to the public. The Council may regard Ordinance 2849 as a housekeeping measure. Residents might reasonably see a sitting majority making it easier to dispose of public assets while reducing the ability of a future Council minority to stand in its way. City Hall is the custodian of Santa Monica's land, not its owner. Yet the Council has made it easier for four of its seven members to authorize the permanent
transfer of public property, while removing safeguards intended to protect the public's interests. The Council has made Santa Monica's land easier to sell. It has yet to explain why the people who own it should have less say in the decision. Dan Jansenson, Architect (former Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner); Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA; Mario Fonda-Bonardi, Architect AIA (former Planning Commissioner); Sam Tolkin, Architect (former Planning Commissioner); Michael Jolly ARE-CRE; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect; Phil Brock (SM Mayor, ret.); Matt Hoefler, Architect NCARB; Charles Andrews, columnist, journalist; Bruce Leddy, NOMA Co-Chair (former Human Services Commission Chair).
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SA N TA
MO N I C A
October 23 – October 29, 2026
CO L L E GE
CAMPUS EVENTS Photo by Amy Williams
FALL 2026 & WINTER 2027
Exciting events happening at SMC! Santa Monica College has a lively lineup of events scheduled, so mark your calendar!
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Sion Roy, Chair; Dr. Tom Peters, Vice Chair; Dr. Luis Barrera Castañón; Anastasia Foster; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Audrey Liljegren, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu
• Art Shows • Dance Performances & Master Classes • Intercollegiate Athletic Competitions • Music Concerts • Planetarium Shows • Santa Monica Review Issue Launch Party • Theatre Arts Performances • And Much More!
Visit smc.edu/events for more information.