S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
INSIDE HEAL THE BAY AQUARIUM UNDER SANTA MONICA PIER REOPENS
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April 30 – May 6, 2021 Volume LXXXVI, Issue 91
Santa Monica City Council Allocates $29.3 Million in Stimulus Funds Economic recovery for nonprofits, SM Pier tenets, homelessness and more to get stimulus funds By Sam Catanzaro
Santa Monica lawmakers have allocated $29.3 million in federal stimulus relief funds, targeting economic recovery for local nonprofits, Pier business and homelessness efforts, among other sectors. Santa Monica City Council April 13 provided initial direction on how to allocate $29.3 million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided through the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Under Council direction, stimulus funds are being allocated to
a wide range of sectors including recovery for City non-profit and Pier tenants, addressing homelessness and and reopening City facilities and services. “We will use these funds to support our arts and culture organizations and small businesses in their recovery and will continue to focus limited resources on our three community priorities through the biennial budget,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. The funds are a welcome source of revenue for the city. A year ago, facing a $224 million budget deficit, Santa Monica City Council approved plans to lay off over 400 employees and implement sweeping service reductions. The city noted, however, that despite the $29.3 million in aid, “the City government recoups only a small fraction of its lost revenues.” The largest chunk of the federal funds, $6.6 million, will go towards addressing
Stimulus Funds, see page 10
Santa Monica College Student Film to be Screened at Cannes SMC student film “Broken Layers” accepted into The American Pavilion at Cannes By Sam Catanzaro
Santa Monica College (SMC) student film “Broken Layers” has been accepted into the American Pavilion at Cannes, one of only seven U.S. college movies showcased and the only from a community college. On April 20, SMC announced that “Broken
Layers”–a short film written and directed by film student Niccolo Rolim—had been accepted into the American Pavilion Emerging Student Showcase at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Since 1997 this prestigious competition has showcased the works of the next generation of filmmakers. This year, 25 to 35 short films will be selected by a panel of industry judges and shown in the Roger Ebert Conference Center at The American Pavilion. SMC is the only community college and one of seven U.S. film schools represented in this category of the showcase. In addition, one of the other student films featured hail includes a film by SMC alum Kevin Maxwell.
Photo: Courtesy SMC
A still from “Broken Layers”—a short film written and directed by SMC film student Niccolo Rolim.
The film, described as a humanist portrayal of the Iraq War and its aftermath, is the sixth work out of the college’s film program ever accepted into the showcase. Director Rolim centers the story around the experience of
Rosa, a half-Latina, half-Arab U.S. Marine. “The inspiration for “Broken Layers” came from witnessing friends and family struggle
SMC student film, see page 10
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Heal the Bay Aquarium Under Santa Monica Pier Reopens Aquarium opens with patio exhibits for weekends By Sam Catanzaro
The Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier is now reopened with outdoor patio exhibits, including a baby shark nursery. Last week the Heal the Bay Aquarium announced its reopening with an outdoor patio experience. The aquarium, located at 1600 Ocean Front Walk under the Santa Monica Pier, is open Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. So what can visitors expect? “Discover your inner marine scientist at the Sharks & Rays and the Tide Pool animal exhibits. Sharks & Rays demonstrates the full lifecycle of sharks, and features baby swell shark pups. Observe the development of this important native species as they grow from egg to pup, and learn about all
the local sharks that live in Santa Monica Bay. The Tide Pool display allows you to get up close and see local tidepool creatures like sea cucumbers, bat stars, hermit crabs, and marine snails,” the aquarium said in its opening announcement. In addition, visitors can study a gray whale rib bone, learn about ocean pollution and what can be done to prevent it. “Swim by our Watershed exhibit to learn about the Los Angeles ecosystem and view California native plants that are found in these habitats. Check the water quality grade at your favorite beach with our Beach Report Card, find out how you can take the Climate Action Challenge, and take action to #SkipTheStuff at our Plastic Pollution exhibit. A visit to the Aquarium will give you a greater understanding of the ocean, and inspire stewardship of the marine environment and its inhabitants,” the aquarium added. The outdoor patio also includes a gift shop where every purchase helps support local marine education and clean water programs. To learn more about visiting a COVID-19 guidelines, visit healthebay.org/aquarium/.
A tide pool exhibit at the Heal the Bay outdoor patio.
Photo: healthebay.org
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“Santa Monica’s housing allocation was nearly doubled within a single month, last October, from 4,829 units to 9,058, a number roughly equivalent in size to two Park LaBrea projects.”
OPINION
Politics as Usual SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Friday, October 11, 2019, was a warm, pleasant day in the Bay Area town of Newark, California. Midday temps were in the mid-70s, but the folks working in the office of a local attorney were reduced to looking out through the sealed, mirrored windows of their thirdfloor office, above a Brain-O-Magic mathtutoring franchise which faced an expansive parking lot. The law office specialized in personal injury and family law, among other things, but on this day one of the partners, David Bonaccorsi, was busy writing a letter to the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on behalf of a Los Angeles housing advocacy organization, Abundant Housing LA. SCAG was in the midst of calculating the number of housing units that each city in Southern California would be required to plan for and build. “AHLA,” the letter said, “urges SCAG to adopt a new allocation methodology that does not rely upon any “local input”...”AHLA...agrees that the local input does not “align with the State’s goals of social equity and environmental sustainability.”” That’s how the City of Santa Monica found
itself in an odd position: one of its own housing commissioners--who is also the Managing Director of Abundant Housing LA--hired (or prompted) a lawyer to demand that the State override, in effect, the authority of her own commission, and her very own city. Not long after the letter was sent, and under pressure from some State legislators and other housing advocacy groups, the Southern California Association of Governments changed its methodology, and Santa Monica’s housing allocation was nearly doubled within a single month, last October, from 4,829 units to 9,058, a number roughly equivalent in size to two Park LaBrea projects. The letter-writing effort showed the reach and interconnection of housing and density advocates from the State Legislature in Sacramento to local communities, and back. The efforts in Sacramento to force communities to build more housing rest on three basic legs: • First, passage of basic core-value legislation, such as SB35 to establish the basic objectives and goals. • Second, the introduction of swarms of additional, smaller measures, intended, in their totality, to provide specific coercive mechanisms for the implementation of RHNA requirements. • Third, the continuing and on-going
SMART, see page 5
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SMART, from page 4 introduction of massive numbers of legislative measures over time (meaning over a few years) intended to accustom (or perhaps lull) the public to the notion of large increases in density throughout the state, and especially in coastal zones. Tom Elias, in a Mirror article, discussed this effort. This is assisted, in communities such as Santa Monica, by development advocates, local legislators, and city council members who have embraced the entire program and promote it vigorously. Why did Abundant Housing LA (under the direction of the Santa Monica Housing Commissioner mentioned above) choose that specific attorney for the letter-writing effort? A quick glance at his history may provide some clues: A former City Council member and Planning Commissioner for the City of Fremont who promoted that city as an “Innovation Hub” and magnet for high tech companies. His campaign for City Council was endorsed by Senator Bob Wieckowski who sits on the Senate Housing Committee with Scott Wiener and Nancy Skinner, two major forces in the pro-development legislative arena in the State Legislature, and whose voting record is closely aligned with theirs. It is likely that the letter-writing attorney was well connected to pro-development and pro-housing legislators at the highest level, and to friendly voices in the same tech industry providing much of the funding for these efforts. In other words, exactly the kind of person that the director of a housing advocacy organization would want for a letter-writing effort, even if it was designed to override and reduce the authority of her own city government. None of these activities are wrong, unethical or illegal. On the contrary, these are time-honored tactics of American political organization, and are routinely employed by all political campaigns. If there is anything to be gleaned, it is the effectiveness of a wellcrafted organizational campaign to influence top legislators to override local authority in important decisions, visible in the tripartite strategy outlined earlier. There are vocal opponents who believe that a challenge to the allocation numbers produced by the Southern California Association of Governments will result in a single decisive blow to the pro-development campaign, and thus reduce the number of units Santa Monica will be obliged to approve. That is unlikely to yield the results they hope for. The pro-development effort in Sacramento has strong support among powerful and wellfunded legislators. Much of the supportive funding comes not only from development interests, but also (and especially) from members of the tech industry, who have
provided extensive campaign funding to prohousing-development legislators and nonprofit volunteer organizations which support housing development. The strong and enduring pro-development campaign is extensive and resilient. The basic nature of this effort is political. And like many top-down political moves, it is susceptible to strong, bottom-up political organization. And it’s in the realm of politics that the legislative measures described above could be challenged. This requires strong organizing of the traditional sort, door to door, neighborhood by neighborhood, vigorously competing in the political marketplace, and especially at the local level. Bottom-up organizing is the classic countermeasure, in American democracy, to top-down dictates. Can opponents of these development measures prevail? The other side is already well along in their preparations for the next elections. Time will tell. by Daniel Jansenson, Architect, Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner for SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) Ron Goldman, Architect FAIA; Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building & FireLife Safety Commissioner; Mario FondaBonardi AIA, Planning Commissioner; Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA: Thane Roberts, Architect; Sam Tolkin, Architect; Marc Verville accountant ret.; Michael Jolly, AIRCRE Sources: Attorney’s letter: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/ main/files/file-attachments/101119abundant_ housing_la.pdf?1605421607 Attorney’s political background: https:// ballotpedia.org/David_Paul_Bonaccorsi Attorney’s firm and work: http:// www.3blawfirm.com/?id=3 SB35: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=20172 0180SB35&fbclid=IwAR0thkXT3nSYUD7i98kGvF1BKKel5D_yWqEiHQ2WewIviqr_ eU6Pn4dJ_U SB35 analysis: https://www.jdsupra.com/ legalnews/southern-california-counties-toadopt-2041654/?fbclid=IwAR1i1aBv-CjSFTZ1T_NtyKTCFrWtJpkY6wniBJ7FGqZ_ ufeR5ApY-unbcw Legislative efforts: https://alfredtwu. medium.com/2021-california-housinglegislation-highlights-de42073deebd Tech funding: https://www. housinghumanright.org/wp-content/ uploads/2020/01/2020-Scott-Wiener-TechCampaign-Contributions-Source_-CaliforniaSecretary-of-State-Sheet1.pdf Tom Elias article: https://smmirror.com/2021/04/cities-chipaway-at-r-1-zoning/?fbclid=IwAR2wnaRuV NCpe3atngrgUOEreHEN4yyFpiuIEvmqiiVi LC_CslX5l8EiVdI
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Restaurant Spotlight: Tar And Roses Serves Up Wood-Fired Cuisine, Earthy Wines With Reopening Popular SM restaurant back up and running By Toi Creel
Far too many restaurants have fallen victim to the pandemic. Others, however, have been able to stay alive. By adopting new carryout models and including new outdoor dining options Tar & Roses Restaurant, located at 602 Santa Monica Boulevard, has been able to outlast a pandemic and continue to bring the Santa Monica neighborhood quality food and drinks. “Our reopening took longer than most because we were vandalized in late May 2020,” said Johnnie Jenkins, General Manager of the restaurant. “When we were done with repairs there were only a couple weeks until the winter shutdown in California.” After a couple months of takeout we finally opened for dining again on March 3rd.” The
restaurant was able to build a cozy parklet on 6th Street, creating sidewalk seating with plenty of distance between tables. Jenkins is no stranger to leading revolutionary restaurants. He helped lead the opening team for Venice’s first nightclub, Air Conditioned Supper Club in 2006. In 2008 he also helped open Venice Beach Wines, which explains his passion for wine.. Tar & Roses is a reference to the aromas and tasting notes of Barolos in the wine world. The majority of their food is woodfired so the wine pairings are earthy and red. “We serve internationally inspired, farmer’s market driven, wood-fired cuisine,” Jenkins said. He describes the restaurant as a neighborhood staple, with a menu pulling from various cultures but staying true to tradition. ” Seasoning and preparation styles remain fairly true to each dish’s roots, but are designed in a whimsical manner that is purely California at heart and revolve around the wood burning oven.” Signature dishes include their Whole Fried
Snapper, Wood Roasted English Peas, Red Curry Shellfish Pot and Charred Octopus Skewers. The menu is fluid, pulling seasonal items from the farmers market to create food directly tied into the local area. The brainchild behind the restaurant is Santa Monica-native Chef Andrew Kirschner. He graduated from the California Culinary Academy in 1997, and held a range of souschef positions before returning to Los Angeles in 2000. From then on he worked in an array of popular spots such as Joe’s in Venice, Chadwick in Beverly Hills, and then became a chef/partner at Table 8 in West Hollywood. Before opening Tar & Roses, Kirschner was the Executive Chef and partner at Wilshire and was also named Best New Chef in 2008. With his restaurant, Kirschner aims to “share a restaurant that speaks to his travels and deeply ingredient-focused food philosophy.” The restaurant says they also work to keep customers in mind with updated spacing and sanitization methods to maintain Covid-19 protocols. They’ve implemented employee
training based on LACDPH, OSHA, and CDC guidelines. Tar and Roses is also certified by Santa Monica Shines and has partnered with GTHR SAFE, a community of businesses and specialists dedicated to the health and safety of our communities. “While we are serious about food and hospitality we never take ourselves too seriously. The atmosphere is upbeat and friendly from the moment you walk into our dining room.”
Fusion Restaurant With Latin American Sushi, Wine Cellar Opening in Santa Monica
Misael Guerrerohelmed restaurant to open April 23 By Toi Creel
A fusion restaurant featuring Latin American sushi and a wine cellar is making its way to Santa Monica. La Condesa will be opening April 23 at 1519 Wilshire Boulevard at the former Empire space, as reported by Toddrickallen. The menu will feature a mixture of seafood, grilled items, plates and mixed drinks. La Condesa is the creation of Misael Guerrero, a chef hailing from Sinaloa. Guerrero’s success includes a string of restaurants under his belt like chain Culichitown and Mama Por Dios. One of the things Guerrero is known for is fusion creations, like his Latin American sushi. While the website doesn’t have a full menu listed yet, the restaurant does give hint about what customers can expect via their Instagram account. The handle @ lacondesarestauranta includes images of spicy Latin American sushi, Australian Waygu, Philadelphia Tampico spicy balls, breaded crab, yellow tail carpacccio and more. La Condesa also offers a program for wine aficionados. One can join their wine cellars programs to get access to parties, invitations to special events, along with a customized plate and wine box.
Photo:La Condesa (Facebook)
Roll Temptation from La Condesa: smoked salmon and crab.
According to their website, if interested in a $2,000.00 cellar, one will have the right of $1,500.00 in the equivalent of liquor bottles. If interested in a $5,000.00 cellar, one will
have the right of $4,000.00 in the equivalent of liquor bottles. Every Cellar owner, must make a monthly consumption equivalent to 50 percent of the original space value, the
rules state. For more information visit https://lacondesarestaurants.com/
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City Launches Pilot Program to Help Santa Monica Tenants Facing Evictions Santa Monica teams up with Legal Aid Foundation By Chad Winthrop
The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office recently launched an initiative with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles to provide legal assistance and support for tenants facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a April 8 press release announcing the pilot, Santa Monica’s Right to Counsel program is available to Santa Monica tenant households whose income is at or below 80% of the County’s Area Medium Income (“AMI”), which was $80,000 in 2021, and facing eviction attempts by their landlord. The program is available to qualifying Santa Monica tenants regardless of their immigration status and is accessible at www.stayhousedla.org. The launch includes a contract with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), the non-profit law firm for lowincome residents, to provide full-scope eviction defense services in which LAFLA attorneys will represent tenants in court. The contract builds on Stay Housed L.A. County,
a partnership between the County of Los Angeles, legal aid groups and communitybased organizations to provide emergency support to low-income tenants in need. ”The City’s Right to Counsel program will help level the playing field for Santa Monica tenants facing evictions in proceedings where their landlords are represented by experienced attorneys,” said George Cardona, Interim City Attorney. “We look forward to collaborating with LAFLA and Stay Housed L.A. County on this pilot project, which is particularly important due to the pandemic’s impacts.” The program will help address what is expected to be a wave of evictions in the wake of the public health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 emergency. City and state eviction moratoriums have delayed and blunted the impact of potential early evictions, but there is little doubt that among Santa Monica’s 32,000-plus renter households, the COVID-19 emergency will result in a significant number of tenants who will continue to be unable to pay rent and face eviction efforts. Those eviction efforts will occur, studies have shown, in a system stacked against unrepresented tenants. According to the 2019 STOUT report, Cost-Benefit Analysis of Providing A Right to Counsel to Tenants In Eviction Proceedings, Los Angeles County’s
Photo: Ted Catanzaro
most vulnerable tenants are frequently unrepresented and evicted by landlords who are represented by experienced counsel. Providing tenants with counsel is critical to leveling the playing field and would significantly improve the likelihood that eviction cases are decided fairly and on their merits. According to STOUT, 97% of Los Angeles County tenants are unrepresented in eviction cases while landlords are unrepresented in just 12% of their cases. Unrepresented tenants in LA County get displaced 99% of the time, but if they get
representation, they avoid displacement 95% of the time. Barbara J. Schultz, Director of Housing Justice with LAFLA stated: “LAFLA and all our partners in Stay Housed L.A. County are thrilled to work with the Santa Monica City’s Attorney’s Office on this exciting new project, and hope that this is the first step towards a full Renter’s Right to Counsel in Santa Monica and other Los Angeles jurisdictions.” Tenants can visit www.stayhousedla.org for general information or call 1-888-6940040 (LAFLA) for legal services.
Getty Villa Reopens With “Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins”
Limited number of visitors permitted with free reservation By Chad Winthrop
The Getty Villa museum and gardens has reopened with an exhibition on Mesopotamia featuring work from the Musée du Louvre and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. On Wednesday the Getty Villa reopened for a limited number of visitors with free reservations, with specific one-way routes and other measures in place to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. “The Getty Villa is one of the most unique experiences of any art museum, and we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors once again after more than a year’s closure,” said Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. As always, free advanced reservations will be required to visit the Villa, but to avoid overcrowding a limited number of reservations will be available each day. Galleries too small to accommodate social distancing will be
closed, and paths through the galleries and gardens will be one-way. The Getty Center in Brentwood remains closed to visitors for now, but preparations are under way to reopen the Getty Center museum and grounds next month, with the Getty Library opening some time afterward. Free reservations for the Getty Center will also be required in advance, with limited daily capacity. Visitors to the Villa will have the opportunity – at last – to see Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins, which was slated to open just days after the Getty Villa was forced to close in March 2020. Organized by the Getty Museum and the Musee du Louvre, Paris, the exhibition features work from the Musée du Louvre with select additional loans from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. “As well as our collections of ancient Greek and Roman art, we are now able to present the most important exhibition of Mesopotamian art ever seen on the West Coast, on loan from the incomparable collections of the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins explores the origins of writing, architecture, art, and much else in ancient Iraq over five thousand years ago–a journey back
to the origins of civilization that is not to be missed!” Potts said. On view will be many of the most renowned masterpieces of Mesopotamian art, including the silver cult vase of the Sumerian king Enmetena, the cylinder seal of the royal scribe Ibni-sharrum, statues of Gudea and other kings of Babylonia, and a glazed brick lion from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. Visitors will also have the opportunity to download the new Getty Guide app on their phones, either before visiting or while on site. The new Getty Guide app will safely enhance the visit experience, replacing shared guide devices. Visitors should remember to bring their own earbuds. Download the app on Apple or Android phones.
In addition to limited numbers of visitors and one-way routes, other safety measures at the Villa will include: Visitors and staff must wear face coverings Visitors and staff must maintain six feet distance (except within household groups) Visitors will have temperatures checked upon arrival Visitors and staff displaying symptoms (coughing, sneezing, fever) will not be allowed to enter Staff are required to wash hands regularly; visitors are urged to do so as well Café meals will be pre-packaged The Family Forum remains closed Make free advance reservations for the Getty Villa Museum.
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Fundraiser for Venice Woman Whose Rescue Dog Was Killed in Fire April 21 morning incident still under investigation By Sam Catanzaro
A fundraiser is being held to support a Venice woman whose dog was killed after her home went up in flames last week. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the incident was reported April 21 at 3:37 a.m. at 129 E Clubhouse Avenue in a two-story bungalow on a raised foundation. 26 firefighters extinguished the fire in 18 minutes, the LAFD stated. Monetary loss to the 108 year-
old home is still being tabulated. Property records on Zillow show that the house is a 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,200 square foot duplex home built in 1913 with an estimated value of $2,845,665. No human injuries were reported, however, LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey says that a family dog did pass away. In the wake of this tragedy, a fundraiser has been launched to help the dog’s owner Courtney, a doctor who was working when the fire broke out. “We won’t be able to replace the life of our beloved four legged friend Togo, but we can help with the hard times this tragic event brings to our friend Courtney,” reads the GoFundMe, which has raised nearly $12,000 as of Thursday
evening. “All funds raised will be given to Courtney to cover costs for her losses and support the animal rescue shelter where she got Togo just last year.” Neighbors say there has been an increase in homelessness in the area in recent months and ABC 7 reported that the owner had several confrontations with unhoused individuals recently. LAFD spokesperson Humphrey said that arson investigators have been assigned to the incident and that as of Thursday there is no evidence that indicates that a homeless individual was involved. “The cause of the fire remains under active investigation, with members of the LAFD Arson / Counter-Terrorism Section continuing to review physical evidence, as well as security
Photo: GoFundMe
Togo, a dog that was killed after a Venice home went up in flames last week.
and bystander video from adjacent buildings and at the scene, in order to make a precise cause determination. At this early stage of the investigation, there is no evidence that indicates the involvement of a person experiencing homelessness,” Humphrey said in a statement.
Grunion Fish Make Their Annual Run Spawning season under way in Santa Monica Bay By Toi Creel
Grunion, the small silver fish, have made their way to the shores of Venice Beach and Santa Monica Bay as part of their yearly spawning season. The fish lay eggs at night, traveling to the sand through the waves, burying their eggs in the coast. This particular process happens only in southern California and the northern Baja coast. Female Grunions bury in the sand, tail first, and lay eggs. A male Grunion comes afterwards,
Stimulus Funds, from page 1 homelessness. $6.35 million of this will support affordable housing while $250,000 will fund efforts to pursue non-congregate shelters and behavioral health efforts. $5.86 million was directed toward “equitable and inclusive economic recovery”. This includes a rent abatement program for certain
SMC student film, from page 1 to establish a cultural identity as immigrants,” Rolim said. “As a first generation American, I often felt a sense of otherness while growing up and in turn I became fascinated by the personal journeys that immigrants and their children undertook in pursuit of the American dream. More specifically, those who expressed patriotism for their adopted country via military service motivated me to make a film that explored the ways in which the children of immigrants reconcile their ancestral heritage
wraps around the female and then proceeds to fertilize the eggs. Ten days later the eggs hatch and the small Grunions swim away with a life span from between two to four years. A female Grunion will only lay eggs once, laying between 1,600 and 3,600 eggs during one spawn. Males can fertilize many sets of eggs and will come back several times during the night. The eggs are buried in the sand to avoid predators and disruption while young grunions are developing. The Grunion spawn starts as early as March and as late as August, but usually the fish are more active during high tide months from April through June. The fish are usually visible from flat, sandy beaches and start spawning around 10:00 p.m. and can go till around 1:00 a.m. For the best
viewing locations and times you can visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Grunion . According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, despite local concentrations, grunion are not abundant. “The most critical problem facing the grunion resource is the loss of spawning habitat caused by beach erosion, harbor construction, and pollution. By the 1920s, the fishery was showing definite signs of depletion. A regulation was passed in 1927 establishing a closed season of three months, from April through June. The fishery improved, and in 1947 the closure was shortened to April through May. This closure is still in effect to protect grunion during their peak spawning period,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife writes on their website.
During the open season, a fishing license is required to capture grunion using hands only. “No holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them. There is no bag limit, but fishermen may take only what they can use—it is unlawful to waste fish,” the Department added.
City tenants. Under the program, nine months rent abatement will be provided for nonprofit City tenants, six months for small business tenants on the Pier, Beach and other City property and three to six months abatement to Bergamot and airport gallery tenants. In addition, $237,700 will fund high season Pier Ambassadors and enhanced sweeping, trash, disinfection on the Pier and beach. $255,000 will go towards small business and events
grants. In an effort to aid the Santa Monica Pier, under Council direction $5 million will go towards the Support the Beach and Pier Funds due to severe revenue loss. To facilitate the reopening of City facilities, $3 million in ongoing costs will be programmed as part of the FY 2021-23 proposed Biennial Budget. Examples of these services include reopening libraries, funding
a language justice program, restoring staffing for code enforcement and parking revenue compliance. In addition, $750,000 in onetime funds was allocated for enhanced federal lobbying support, a limited term park planner, the fire academy and cybersecurity. Additional direction will be provided when Council meets for its FY 2021-23 Biennial Budget Study Session on May 25.
with the dominant culture of their adopted country.” The other SMC shorts to have screened in competition at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in Cannes were “Solidarity” (directed by Dustin Brown), “Cora” (directed by Kevin Maxwell), “Spaghetti Romance” (directed by Carrie Finn, in co-production with CinemadaMare), “Life in Color” (directed by Bishal Dutta, in co-production with Bridge the Divide Media), and “The Attempt” (directed by Daniel Despart). SMC’s Film Production Faculty Lead Salvador Carrasco says that like these films, “Broken Layers” is an example of
what makes the college’s film program special. “’Broken Layers’ is both a highly engaging story and a haunting meditation of the aftermath of war,” said Carrasco, who also served as executive producer. “It is also a powerful artistic testament combining the nuanced performance by Rawan Hage as Rosa, the stylized yet realistic visuals of Milana Burdette and her cinematography team, and the unforgettable soundtrack by Mixtape Quartet. This is the kind of film that makes us proud of what we’ve accomplished in the few years of existence of the SMC Film Production Program.” Photo: Courtesy SMC
The poster for “Broken Layers”
April 30 – May 6, 2021
WWW.SMMIRROR.COM
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A Little Prick and You’re Good to Go! I have a herniated disk towards the end of my spine, what the medical experts call L5. It hurts every day. I’ve been to a surgeon. After much discussion, I asked him if he was me, would he do surgery? He answered with a resounding no. That answered my question about surgery as an option. And, I do not want to be injected with cortisone. My grandmother used the stuff, and it literally killed her. I checked out other less invasive options. I’ve been to a chiropractor. It helped a little. I get regular massages. They help, as long as I do it every other week. I lift weights twice a week. This has helped enormously, strengthening the muscles around my back, alleviating a lot of the pain. But sometimes, my back just freezes up. And the only thing that seems to work is acupuncture. It’s an amazing practice. Especially for those over 50. When I did my initial research, some of the many ailments it helps to alleviate include lower back pain (check), weight control (check), stress (check), PMS (check) and many others, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, hip pain, Arthritis pain, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility, and a whole host of other age-related stuff. I’m grateful not to have checked them all!
I was referred by a friend to Dr. Miles Reid. Dr. Reid offers something rare in the field; he is an MD and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (D.A.O.M.). Ok. This is good, I thought. If he sticks me with a needle and it starts to bleed profusely, he’ll know what to do to stop the bleeding. I am such a wimp.
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My fears immediately went away when he walked through the door. First of all, he was HOT! Such a cutie. Also, highly trained, very spiritual and very knowledgeable. He also showed me how tiny the needles were. Let’s get this acupuncture thing started! He felt my pulse. It checked out as normal. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21STCP01062 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 111 North Hill Street, Room 118 | Los Angeles, CA 90012 Petition of: Jeff Julian Pauta, by and through Jeff Julian Pauta for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Jeff Julian Pauta Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. JUeff Julian Pauta to Julian Alejandro Carreira The court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 06/07/2021 | Time: 10:00AM | Dept: 74 A copy of this ORDER to SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SANTA MONICA MIRROR | Dated: April 29, 2021 Published: 04/30/21, 05/07/21, 05/14/2021, and 05/21/2021
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NUMBER: 2021 090374 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 04/15/2021. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. L&K Market. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: L&K Market, 2127 Main St., Santa Monica, Ca. 90405. This business is conducted by An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 04/15/2021. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed Amin Ajani. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on April 15, 2021. NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 04/30/2021, 05/07/2021, 05/14/2021, and 05/21/2021
I was surprised, considering how good-looking he was! Then he had me stick out my tongue. I asked him why. He said when he checks out the tongue, there’s a lot he can tell about his patient’s health status. I found out my tongue was healthy. Whew. Never thought about my tongue being unhealthy. Next came the actual acupuncture. I laid on a massage table. Instead of putting the needles directly in my back, he inserted them in different pressure points on my body. These tiny needles were placed in my ears, top of my head, hands, arms, neck. When they first went in, I felt a little pinch – that was it. The hand needle did hurt more than the others, but settled down as I relaxed into it. He then left me alone for about 45 minutes. I literally dozed off very soon after he closed the door and dimmed the lights. So relaxing. After the session was over, my back pain was gone. And my stress. And my PMS. I think the weight loss part will take more than one session, but I am willing to incorporate it into my new fitness regime. Besides, I gotta make sure my tongue is healthy on a regular basis!
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21SMC00187 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Vamsirajendra Kapil Tummala, by and through Vamsirajendra Kapil Tummala for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Vamsirajendra Kapil Tummala Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Vamsirajendra Kapil Tummala to Kalki Jayne-Rose The court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 07/02/21 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K A copy of this ORDER to SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SANTA MONICA MIRROR | Dated: April, 29, 2021 Judge Lawrence Cho Published: 04/30/2021, 05/07/21, 05/14/2021, and 05/21/2021
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HOME and GARDEN Free and Sustainable Trees for Your Yard City Plants and California Native Plant Society making a greener Los Angeles BY C HAD W INTHROP Two programs are helping make Los Angeles greener, more sustainable and shadier by facilitating the planting of trees on private property. First up is City Plants, a non-profit organization running a public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles and six other non-profit organizations. “Together, we work with community groups, residents, and businesses to coordinate tree planting and care throughout Los Angeles,” the organization writes on their website. City Plants is a continuation of LA’s former tree planting program, Million Trees LA. “Our current name reflects our changing priorities, which are to focus our efforts in low canopy areas and to plant in a way that maximizes the benefits trees provide rather than on reaching a specific number of trees,” City Plants said. Among other initiatives, the organization plants and distributes around 20,000 trees a year, including free shade trees to plant in yards on private property and in parkways. “If you live in the City of Los Angeles, you can receive free trees to plant in your yard! Planting trees in your yard is an easy way to save energy and cool your home. We’ll supply you with up to seven free, water-efficient shade trees and deliver them straight to your door, along with stakes, ties, and fertilizer pellets to get your trees started off right,” City Plants says. There are two ways to get trees through this program, the first is free shade trees delivered straight to your door. Choose from over 30 different water-efficient species, and City Trees will deliver 5-gallon sized trees to your home with stakes, ties and fertilizer pellets. All you have to do is plant and care for them. There is a 7 tree limit per household. All yard trees come in a 5-gallon container and are between 3 – 5 feet tall. Trees are delivered approximately in 8-10 weeks. In addition, for those who do not want to wait, City Plants Collaborative offers limited free fruit and shade tree “virtual adoptions” to bring trees straight to Angelenos. So who can take part? You must be a resident of the City of Los Angeles and present a photo ID or LADWP bill to prove eligibility. Visit
CityPlants.org for more information on the program. So why should LA Residents take part in this program? “We cannot take our trees for granted. We must plant now to ensure a green future for our kids and grandkids. We are losing trees at a time when we need them the most. We expect our City to get hotter in the coming decades, and trees are key to cooling our homes, streets, and schools. We must plant aggressively now to ensure that as temperatures rise, our City is equipped with a cooling canopy of healthy, mature trees,” City Plants says. People who do not live in the City of Los Angeles who can’t access the free trees that are part of City Plants can still feel good about planting trees in yards. The California Native Plant Society, a collaboration between UC Berkeley and the Jepson Flora Project offers a resource that displays nurseries in the state that specialize in native plants. “True native plants are the foundation for nature restoration. They attract butterflies, birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals,
City Plants, see page B-4
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How to Heal the Soil and Why. We all know how important the vital role the soil plays in your plants’ health, trees, and eventually the Earth’s health. We take for granted the soil that lies beneath our feet. For a while now, humankind has been dumping chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc., into the soil, air, water, ocean. These all kill off the microbial life that lives within the soil. The microbial army whose home is the soil. A long time ago, when I first started gardening in my backyard, I realized right away how alive the soil was. Earthworms everywhere, and many things were moving around! Looking under a microscope, I discovered a fascinating hidden world. I call them Earth Warriors. They are the real Invisible Gardeners. It didn’t take me long to realize what my calling was! To help these tiny beings in their work of healing the soil! Why is healing the soil so important? All life depends on the Earth having living soil. The soil provides everyone else the minerals they need to be alive, stay alive, and be healthy. The soil microbes are grouped according to their functions. The ones I am talking about are the ones that take the minerals in the soil and convert it into a soluble nutritional form that the plants can use. This is one grouped of mycelium. These guys then pass this food along to another grouped of mycelium that
lives on the plants’ root hairs, trees, etc. These have evolved to attach themselves to the roots and then transfer directly into the trees. The plant then transfers the food to all its parts. Like when we eat, the body has a system of making sure all aspects of our body receive the proper nutrition. The central part of this food is minerals. But we cannot digest minerals straight, so the microbes and plants do that. I often tell folks that all diseases start in the soil. They are already there, waiting for the right time to emerge. When is it the right time? The higher the stress, the greater the pest. The stress can come about through many things indirectly, like overwatering. Too much water floods the soil and drowns the microbes. So the water is an indirect cause, but the real reason is that the soil no longer has these beneficial microbes to provide food to the plants. All diseases and pests attacks are directly related to a trace mineral deficiency. The health of the soil directly affects the plants’ health and their ability to absorb the minerals. We can help heal the soil by avoiding chemicals, especially chemical fertilizers. Use only organic fertilizers best if they carry their mycorrhiza. Learn to apply rock dust as a source of minerals. Find a source of living compost rich in microbes. For more information, please visit InvisibleGardener.com Any questions visit my website and use the contact form. Mention this paper and I will answer back in next column
Andy Lopez Heal the Earth, and you Heal Yourself
B -3
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B-4 City Plants, from B-1 bees and other pollinators that evolved with those plants, and over time create a working natural ecosystem, without pesticides, and without artificial fertilizers. The butterfly and bird life in particular in a true natural garden is often spectacular. With the right plants, it’s not hard for homeowners to create small patches of nature throughout even the developed part of the state,” California Native Plant Society writes on their website. California is an extremely environmentally diverse state. According to the California Native Plant Society, different California native plants evolved to grow in areas of the state with very different temperatures, rainfall levels, summer drought periods, air moisture levels, and marine influences, among other factors. “It’s always best to grow California native plants in the areas in which they evolved. They are easier to grow, healthier and require little or no artificial irrigation when they are planted in an area in which they evolved and naturally belong. Native California plants that aren’t really native to that location will often struggle or die no matter how much you water them,” California Native Plant Society writes. “For successful native plant landscaping and nature restoration, it’s important to grow plants that are native to your location AND placed in spots with the right soil, sun and water conditions. Before you finalize which native plants to grow and exactly where to place them, please review the Calscape plant descriptions to make you place them in spots with the conditions they require.” Visit calscape.org for more information.
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SUMMER CAMP GUIDE 2021
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5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget
Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life, but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter. However, a staycation - a vacation you take right in your hometown (or nearby) - can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on potentially stressful travel. Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together. Visit local landmarks. Just because it’s not a traditional vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists. Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook to uncover hidden spots you may not even know exist. Make a plan to seek out historic
Photo: Getty
Staycation, see page B-7
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B -7 Staycation, from B-5 sites, visit local landmarks like museums or try an out-of-the-way restaurant (or two) you’ve never eaten at before. Camp out in the backyard. Camping doesn’t have to be done far from home. In fact, it can be done right in your own backyard. Pitch a tent
to sleep under the stars and plan a night full of traditional camping activities like roasting s’mores, telling spooky stories by flashlight and trying to identify stars and constellations. Set up a picnic in the park. Pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit and other treats and head to the park. You can enjoy a casual meal then take advantage of the open space for a family walk or game of tag before retreating to
the playground to let the little ones expel any leftover energy. Have a home spa day. If you’re looking for some relaxation but don’t want to splurge on the full spa treatment, plan an at-home oasis instead. Light some candles, run a bubble bath and break out the facial masks and fingernail polish. Visit an amusement park. No matter where
you live, there’s probably an amusement or water park within driving distance. A quick online search before you arrive can help prepare a strategy for hitting the most popular thrill rides and waterslides while skipping those that may not provide quite the same entertainment value. Find more tips and tricks for enjoying family time together at eLivingtoday.com.
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B-8