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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