Santa Monica Mirror 1.13.23

LAPD Releases Body Cam Footage Showing Tasering

El Cholo Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Restaurant planning on opening new location in Salt Lake City as well this year

By Dolores Quintana

El Cholo Restaurant is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 and is the restaurant will not only expand but wants to share the celebration of this momentous achievement with everyone. The restaurant –with a popular location on Wilshire and 11th in Santa Monica – has a new slogan and logo, “Creating Memories for 100 Years!” and is actively planning a series of special events and promotions during 2023 for its longtime customers and Southern California guests.

Owner Ron Salisbury will also be celebrating his 90th birthday in 2023 and has worked for the restaurant for 68 years. Salisbury said, via a press release, “Many other restaurants, when they approach 100, start slowing down or taking their eye off the ball. But we still stand firmly at the top of our game. We continue to be aggressive in providing the best Mexican restaurant experience possible – one that only El Cholo can offer. Myself, my kids, my grandkids and even my great-grandkids are proudly committed to continuing the El Cholo tradition – one that my grandparents began way back in 1923 – well into the future!”

Here’s what’s coming for El Cholo in 2023: the company will open a brand new El Cholo location in Salt Lake City, Utah and El Cholo on Western Avenue will enjoy a significant expansion, which will include the construction of a beautiful new patio.

Additionally, starting on Jan. 1, 2023, customers who are 100 years old or older will be able to eat for free, throughout the 2023 calendar year and El Cholo will be serving a special, $100 Margarita, served in a beautiful, hand-blown, collectible glass.

The restaurant will add the dish “A Taste of History”, served on a commemorative plate. The plate will be sold as a separate item for collectors. El Cholo will bring back such classic dishes as the Spanish omelet; enchiladas with fried egg; tostada Compuesta; Sopa de Fideo, among many other favorites.

One of these classics, Chicken Mole Enchiladas, will retain a permanent space on the main menu. The dish will be accompanied by the year “2023” imprinted next to its name on the El Cholo menu – in keeping with the tradition that many of the classic food items served by the restaurant have long included their years of origin next to their listings on the menu.

El Cholo was founded by Ron Salisbury’s grandfather, Alejandro Borquez, who had recently moved to the sleepy town of Los Angeles with his young bride, Rosa, a culinarily-gifted young woman. After a particularly tasty dinner, Borquez pushed back from the dinner table and complimented

Rosa: “You are such a good cook, Rosa, we should open a restaurant.” Rosa, who put care and attention into her love of cooking for everyone, learned these special recipes during her childhood days living in the Arizona territory.

In 1923, the Borquez Family opened Sonora Café, named after their home state, Sonora, Mexico. The site of the restaurant was in Downtown LA, on Broadway and Santa Barbara Avenue, near the LA Coliseum which also opened in 1923. The original menu includes very early California plates, including now legendary sweet green corn tamales. El Cholo is not only one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles but one of its first Mexican restaurants. El Cholo has six restaurants as part of the historic business and is still owned by the Borquez family through their Restaurant Business corporation.

El Cholo also has a history with Hollywood as a favored restaurant with members of the entertainment industry. Actress and singer Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas said, “I was first introduced to El Cholo by Jack Nicholson in 1969. He told me stories about how struggling actors would come to El Cholo and buy a bowl of Frijoles a la Hoja (beans in a pot) for 35 cents, and how the waitresses would bring a side of warm tortillas and salsa at no extra charge. This was how Jack survived for many years. As for me, well I’ve never left the place! We have celebrated every birthday of mine, as well as the birthdays of my various boyfriends and all of my children at El Cholo for half a century, including my famous 40th birthday party. Ron and I have been friends for an eternity, and I have also been close to many members of the staff. I will never find a more fun and delicious hangout, ever!”

Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Using Snapchat to Entice Children into Producing Sexually Explicit Videos

Mark David Wallin faces up to life

in

prison after January 6 guilty plea

By Sam Catanzaro

A Del Rey man last week pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for using Snapchat to meet and entice children to produce sexually explicit videos.

Mark David Wallin, 42, of Los Angeles’ Del Rey neighborhood, pleaded guilty Friday to one of production of child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. Wallin has been in federal custody since his arrest in this case in July 2022.

According to his plea agreement, from 2019 to August 2021, Wallin used Snapchat

to “meet” pre-teen boys and girls – both abroad and in the United States – then develop romantic relationships with them online, with the intent to obtain sexually explicit images and videos from the children. Wallin also persuaded the victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct via video chat, which allowed him to take screenshot images and videos, according to court documents.

After his victims sent him sexually explicit content, Wallin would demand additional sexually explicit photos and videos from them.

“For example, in February and March of 2020, Wallin enticed a victim, who was approximately 9-10 years old at the time, to engage in sexually explicit conduct to be displayed to him via Snapchat, a multimedia instant messaging application,” the Department of Justice said in a press release. “Wallin admitted to knowingly causing at least four additional victims – ranging in age from 12 to

16 years old – to create or participate in the creation of multiple files of sexually explicit material featuring themselves.”

Wallin further admitted to possessing on a smartphone approximately 200 sexually explicit videos featuring children in August 2021.

United States District Judge Maame EwusiMensah Frimpong scheduled an April 21 sentencing hearing, at which time Wallin will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

A spokesperson person for Snap – based in Santa Monica – declined to comment on the case but did say on background that the sexual exploitation and abuse of any users is illegal, unacceptable and prohibited by the app’s Community Guidelines. In addition, the spokesperson said that reports of child sexual exploitation and abuse are quickly reviewed

by trust and safety teams and evidence of this activity results in immediate account termination, with no chance for reinstatement, and is reported to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which then coordinates, as appropriate, with domestic and international law enforcement. The spokesperson also noted that Snap uses tools to proactively detect, disrupt and report both images and videos, depicting this illegal content, to the NCMEC.

Convict Arrested in Santa Monica After Passing Out at Wheel of Car

Laryrece Hunter arrested for DUI Sunday evening

By Sam Catanzaro

A convicted felon was arrested in Santa Monica over the weekend after passing out at his wheel under the influence of methamphetamine with a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on Sunday around 10 p.m. officers observed a man passed out at

his wheel in a car with the engine running and blocking the street at 5th Street and Wilshire Boulevard.

“Additional SMPD units arrived to assist, and a handgun was seen visible in the open glove box,” the SMPD said.

SMPD’s tactical Rescue Vehicle responded and a perimeter for the surrounding blocks was established.

“After numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the driver over a PA system, SMPD officers were able to enter the vehicle, and safely detain then extract the driver. The driver, identified as Laryrece Hunter, was found to be under the influence of drugs. Officers located a white crystalized substance believed to be methamphetamine

in the vehicle and on Hunter’s person,” the SMPD said.

SMPD officers later discovered Hunter was a convicted felon. He was transported to the SMPD jail where he was booked on multiple charges.

Hunter, a 30-year-old from Inglewood, was charged with driving under the influence, convicted felon in possession of firearm, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drugs with a loaded handgun.

Anyone with any additional information pertaining to this subject orincidentis strongly encouraged to contact SMPD detectives at 310-458- 8451 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.

Bruce Family to Sell Bruce’s Beach Back to Los Angeles County for $20 Million

By Dolores Quintana

The descendants and heirs of Willa and Charles Bruce, the Black landowners in Manhattan Beach whose land stolen was by the city through fraudulent use of the eminent domain and used for city purposes have decided to sell the property back to Los Angeles County.

As per the agreement with Los Angeles County, The Bruce family heirs will sell the land back to the County of Los Angeles for $20 million as reported by NPR.com.

A grassroots campaign, Where Is My Land, sparked the legislative effort to give the land back to the Bruce’s descendants and another group, Justice For Bruce’s Beach was also formed to facilitate the effort to reclaim the land. Where Is My Land’s website showed the difference between the price that Willa and Charles Bruce paid for the property in 1912, $1,225, and the land’s current estimated worth, $70 million. It is part of a movement that seeks to redress the racist wrongs of the United States past and give the families who lost their wealth and property reparations and return stolen land.

The Bruce’s Beach webpage, on the Los Angeles County website, tells the story of the family and their stolen land. “In 1912 and

1920, Willa Bruce purchased two lots of land along the Strand in Manhattan Beach. Like many other Americans of African descent, the Bruce family had moved West as part of the Great Migration, seeking opportunities to participate in the promise of the California and American Dream. Shortly after purchasing the land, Charles and Willa Bruce turned the location into a seaside resort called Bruce’s Lodge that welcomed Black beachgoers from all over Los Angeles and beyond. It became colloquially known as “Bruce’s Beach.”

As the resort gained popularity and attracted Black beachgoers, many white residents of the surrounding predominantly white community reacted with hostility and racism.

At the same time, other Black families purchased land plots nearby Bruce’s Beach. Some built vacation homes, establishing the beginning of a modest and diverse community in Manhattan Beach.”

The site goes on to recount the story of how the land was stolen and racist laws were put in place to keep the Bruces or other black families from purchasing more land, “In 1924, prompted by a petition from local white real estate agents and other citizens, the Manhattan Beach City Council voted to condemn the Bruce’s resort site and the surrounding land through eminent domain to build a park. It is well documented that the real reason behind the eminent domain process was racially motivated with the intention of bringing an end to the successful Black business and to thwart other African Americans from settling in or developing businesses in Manhattan Beach.

City ordinances were also passed prohibiting dressing or undressing in vehicles on the street, public places or in tents, and parking restrictions were implemented to harass and prohibit African American visitation to the

Bruce’s Beach shoreline area.

At the time that the Council voted to condemn the land, it also put new laws on the books that prohibited resort-type businesses in that area, effectively prohibiting the Bruce and other Black families from purchasing any additional beachfront property for a resort. In 1929, the court validated the City of Manhattan Beach’s claim to their property through eminent domain and finalized the financial settlement for the land.”

The City of Manhattan Beach immediately demolished the resort and the Bruce family moved out of town but, despite all their claims that the dispossession was necessary to build a public park, no park was built on the property until thirty years later.

In April of 2021, Los Angeles County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Janice Hahn announced that they intended to return the property to the Bruce family’s closest living descendants and the LA County Supervisors Board approved the motion. On July 20, 2022, the L.A County Board of Supervisors officially returned Bruce’s Beach to the legal heirs of Charles and Willa Bruce.

The California Legislature passed SB 796 which allowed the LA County Supervisors to transfer the land back to Bruce’s heirs which was a bill introduced by State Senator Steven Bradford. SB 796 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom at Bruce’s Beach in September of 2021 and he said, “As we move to remedy this nearly century-old injustice, California takes another step furthering our commitment to making the California Dream a reality for communities that were shamefully shut out by a history of racist exclusion,” said Governor Newsom. “We know our work is just beginning to make amends for our past, and California will not shy from confronting

the structural racism and bias that people of color face to this day. I thank the Bruce family, Senator Bradford, the Los Angeles County Supervisors and all those who fought to keep the legacy of this place alive and deliver this long overdue justice.” and apologized to the Bruce family.

The story of Bruce’s Beach bears some similarity to the case in which the City of Santa Monica has used land deeded by Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker, a wealthy Latina socialite, philanthropist and landowner as a public parking lot and playground. Bandini de Stearns Baker meant the land to be used as a resort for American veterans to be able to heal and rest and it would seem that her wishes for the deeded land have been disregarded by the city. Santa Monica City Councilmembers Christine Parra, Oscar de la Torre and Phil Brock initiated a motion to have a legal counsel explore if the deed was fully and legally executed and therefore enforceable.

During the Santa Monica City Council meeting when the motion was being discussed, veteran Rob Reynolds said, “She donated land in West Los Angeles and she donated land in Santa Monica to be a home for veterans and a place to help them heal when they come back from combat. It’s really sad that [her purpose] has gone away over the years.”

Sale comes after 2021 LA County Board of Supervisors vote to return of beach back to family’s closest living descendants

California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment Finds it Will Cost $303 Billion to End Homelessness in the State

112,527 affordable apartments needed, reports finds

By Dolores Quintana

The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment has found that it would cost the state of California an average of $8.1 billion a year each year for 12 years to put an end to homelessness at the current level of need. This is a calculation made without factoring in any assistance from the federal government. The estimate is 2.7% of the current state budget or an additional $6.9 billion after the already budgeted $1.2 billion out of the current California budget of $303 billion.

The breakdown of the cost is as follows. The study proposes building 112,527 affordable apartments at a cost of $5.7 billion per year for 12 years, to subsidize operations and rents for 225,053 apartments at a cost of $1.8 billion a year for 12 years. In addition, the plan calls for the state to provide supportive housing services for 62,966 California residents with disabilities at a cost of $488 million a year for 12 years and fund interim interventions for 32,235 individuals

and families at a cost of $630.4 million total for 12 years for a total of $80.1 billion. After that, all that would be needed is $4.7 billion a year for maintenance.

Debbie Thiele, regional managing director for the Corporation for Supportive Housing said, as reported by Bloomberg.com, “California has invested record amounts of funding toward homelessness in recent years, which has resulted in more people accessing shelters and decreases in the proportion of unsheltered people. But only homes end homelessness. And the state has never developed a comprehensive plan for its investments and housing for people who are without homes.”

While this might seem like a lot of money, the continued cost to the state in money and the

Homeless Housing, see page 7

Mixed-Use Development Underway at 601 Wilshire in Santa Monica

Project will include 40 units and 6,000 square feet of retail space

By Dolores Quintana

Cypress Equity Investments has begun work for a mixed-use project at 601 Wilshire in Santa Monica in the space that formerly housed a FedEx.

As reported by Urbanize Los Angeles, the site is at the northeast corner of Wilshire and 6th Street and the new structure will be four stories tall and hold a total of 40 units, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

On the first floor, there will be a total of 6,167 square feet of commercial space and underneath there will be an underground parking structure that can accommodate 92 vehicles.

The structure is being designed by KFA Architecture and will include such amenities as a central courtyard, co-working space, pet spa and rooftop deck. KFA’s design will also include an exterior that is faced with vertical copper screens that will make the building

seems to shimmer to observers who approach the building along Wilshire Boulevard. The innovative screens will also give residents privacy on the upper floors.

KFA’s website states, “The design is organized around two strong horizontal bands that move boldly across the façade. The lower band floats above the ground floor, creating a protective overhand over the retail areas, and the upper band caps the residential units below. The bands are angled to open up to the glassy corner at 6th Street, which is carved back to create a space for outdoor café seating.”

LAPD Releases Body Cam Footage Showing Tasering That Preceded Death of Keenan Anderson

Cousin of Black Lives Matter’s co-founder one of three deaths following LAPD encounters this year

By Sam Catanzaro

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has released body cam footage showing one of its officers repeatedly using a Taser on Keenan Anderson, the cousin of a Black Lives Matter co-founder. Anderson died hours later at a local hospital after suffering a medical emergency. Anderson’s death is one of three men to die after encounters with the LAPD during the first week of 2023, leading to calls for Chief Michael Moore to not seek another term.

Anderson, a 31-year-old high school teacher and father, was visiting LA visiting from Washington, D.C. He is the cousin of Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), on January 3 an officer was flagged down a little after 3:30

p.m. in response to a traffic collision at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard.

“He observed a male, later identified as Keenan Anderson, running in the middle of the street and exhibiting erratic behavior. Several citizens involved in the traffic collision motioned to Anderson, indicating that he caused the accident. The officer contacted Anderson, verbalized with him, and requested additional units for a DUI investigation,” the LAPD said in a press release.

The LAPD reported that Anderson initially followed the officer’s commands and sat at the northeast corner of Venice and Lincoln boulevards for “several minutes” as the officer spoke with him.

“As additional units arrived at [the] scene, Anderson suddenly attempted to flee the location. Officers gave chase as Anderson ran eastbound in the middle of the street on Venice Boulevard. As officers contacted Anderson, he began to resist, resulting in a use of force.

Officers struggled with Anderson for several minutes, utilizing a TASER, bodyweight, firm grips, and joint locks to overcome his resistance,” the LAPD said.

According to the LAPD, Anderson was “handcuffed and hobbled at the ankles” before being taken into custody. Los

Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel responded to the scene and rendered medical aid for injuries inflicted by the deployment. Anderson was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Santa Monica. While at the hospital, Anderson went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead.

Body camera footage shows Anderson being arrested by the officers, begging for

his life while an officer pins him down in the middle of the road and demands Anderson get on his stomach.

“They’re trying to kill me,” Anderson can be heard exclaiming. “They’re trying to George Floyd me!”

An officer then can be heard saying “Stop

Keenan Anderson,

or I’m going to Tase you,” threatening to use a Taser if Anderson does not get on his stomach. Then as one officer pins Anderson down on the ground with his elbow on Anderson’s throat, another officer uses a Taser on Anderson for an extended period. before another officer uses a Taser on Anderson for over around 30 seconds straight, as Anderson can again be heard saying that police are “trying to kill me.”

Anderson remained handcuffed in the middle of Venice Boulevard receiving medical assistance before an ambulance arrived and transported him to a local hospital where he died 4.5 hours later. According to the LAPD, Anderson “experienced a medical emergency, did not respond to lifesaving efforts by medical staff and was denounced deceased.”

LAPD Chief Moore released the footage showing Anderson’s death on Wednesday, while also releasing footage from the police encounters that led to the deaths of 45-yearold Takar Smith and 35-year-old Oscar Sanchez, both of whom were fatally shot by LAPD officers last week. Moore during a press conference said he was “deeply concerned” about these incidents. Moore added Anderson had committed a felony hitand-run and tried to “get into another person’s car without their permission.” Moore told reporters Wednesday it was unclear what role the physical struggle and Taser use had in Anderson’s death. He claimed a preliminary blood test showed that cannabis and cocaine

were in his system and that Anderson was in an “altered mental state.” An independent toxicology test will be conducted by the LA County coroner’s office.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Wednesday issued a statement calling for all of the officers involved in these separate incidents to be placed on immediate leave.

“I have grave concerns about the deeply disturbing tapes that were released today. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones who are mourning the loss of Takar Smith, Keenan Anderson and Oscar Sanchez. Full investigations are underway, and I pledge that the City’s investigations into these deaths will be transparent and will reflect the values of Los Angeles. I will ensure that the City’s investigations will drive only toward truth and accountability. Furthermore, the officers involved must be placed on immediate leave,” Bass said. “Especially as a former health care professional, I am deeply troubled that mental health experts were not called in, even when there was a documented history of past mental health crisis. When there is no immediate risk to others, law enforcement must not be the first responder when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. I believe officers and Angelenos agree on this.”

In the wake of Anderson’s death, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors Cullors took to social media saying that Anderson was her cousin.

“This is my cousin Keenan Anderson. He was killed by LAPD in Venice on January 3rd, 2023. My cousin was an educator and worked with high school aged children. He

was an English teacher,” reads the post, which shows Anderson with his son, who is now six.

“LAPD has killed three people this year. One of them is my family member. Keenan deserves to be alive right now, his child deserves to be raised by his father. Keenan we will fight for you and for all of our loved ones impacted by state violence,” the post continues.

Black Lives Matter’s Los Angeles chapter is calling for Mayor Bass not to reappoint Chief More to another term.

“Chief Moore has presided over the most murderous police department in the country. His list of failures is too long to capture in a set of ten slides. His audacity to go for a second term speaks to the system’s willingness to tolerate and even welcome racism and incompetence, all in service of the state’s deliberate agenda of containment, banishment, and extermination,” Black Lives Matter Los Angeles said in a social media post.

This weekend, the organization is holding a candlelight vigil for Anderson. It will take place on Saturday at 5 p.m. on the corner of Venice and Lincoln boulevards.

“Join the family and loved ones of Keenan Anderson as we lift his Spirit and generate the energy needed to fight for justice in his name,” Black Lives Matter said. “This is a vigil, not a protest (yet). Please wear white, bring candles, flowers, prayers, and love. God help us.”

toll of lost human life is far more costly. Many people point the finger at mental illness and drug use as the reason why people are on the streets, but the costs of housing are skyrocketing in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco every year, so it’s not something that can just be blamed on the unhoused as some kind of character flaw. Without taking steps to end homelessness, the problem won’t go away and could only grow over time as the cost of living, and rents rise without being checked and jobs with the salaries to pay for housing and other needs aren’t there.

California, as a state, has the economy of an independent nation. The state is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world and is on the cusp of being able to overtake Germany as the fourth-largest economy in the world. The truth of the matter is that while many mock the state as a place that is falling apart, the reality is that California’s economy is stronger than a lot of other countries in the world, much less than other states in the union. The proposed cost of ending homelessness is only 3% of California’s budget or a quarter of one percent of the economic activity of California.

California Assembly member Buffy Wicks, chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, said, as quoted by Bloomberg.com, “This has metastasized into a crisis of epic proportion. It deserves funding to address that at the same scale. Everyone says your budget is your values,” Wicks said. “If you look at the California state budget, there is not a line item that says funding for homelessness.”

Homeless Housing, from page 4

Keenan Anderson, from

OPIN ION SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

The new year has started with water, lots of WATER. The west coast and particularly central and northern California have been pummeled with torrents of biblical proportions. This coming week seems like it will be a continuation of the last week’s flooding for the northern 2/3s of the State. However, here in Santa Monica we have been blessed, for now, with a steady drizzle and occasional downpours. In fact at about the midpoint of this rainy season (July 2022 to June 2023), we have already received 8” (78%) of our normal (20132022) 10 1/4” average annual rainfall: so it suggests that this will become a very very wet year. This is exceptionally good news. Our storm water recycling system can operate at optimum capacity. Our street trees, parks and garden landscaping can relax after being stressed by three years of drought. And our resident’s water frugality has gotten our City through a very severe test. All those short showers and brown lawns have paid off.

However, welcome this respite is, we have as a City and a State been given a temporary reprieve from the decades long drying and heating of the Western United States. But it’s only a temporary reprieve. Even with the current flooding our reservoirs and snow pack have not recovered to their full historical normal capacity for this time of the year. It will take several years of this kind of super rains to even catch up to the historical norms much less accumulate surplus capacity.This is because global warming has crushed our historical norms.

For example in Santa Monica the last decade averaged 10 1/4”/year, but the one (2003-2012) before that had averaged 12 3/8”: a 17% drop in 10 years. You can see where this is going.

Rainfall is key

The last 8 years have been globally the hottest in recent history, Our available rainfall which is always in a dynamic balance between greater evaporation and subsequent condensation, has been inexorably decreasing. That complex dynamic balance is changing and becoming more unstable because while the heating oceans can provide more evaporated water to the atmosphere, the mountains and winds will deliver that increased evaporated water in many different amounts, times and locations Weather systems are very complex with an infinite number of variables and feed back loops, and when complex systems change they never change in a smooth linear fashion.There’s always instability. There are general trends but also wild excursions form the norm. For example the Santa Monica annual rainfall

since 2000 has ranged from a pitiful 1 1/4”(2007) to a whopping 32 1/8” (2005). In other words the new normal is a general trend punctuated by catastrophic deviations. Needless to say, the deviations can be positive or negative compared to the trending norm. In our case since 2000 the range is from about only 1/8 the norm to almost 3 times the norm.

Why is this regional and local rainfall important? It’s simply because we to live in an incredibly arid location. Many coastal cities on our latitude are equally dry: Casablanca (5 3/4” /year) and Tel Aviv ( 11 1/2”/year); all struggle to get sufficient water. So our ability live, in what is almost a desert, depends on a steady supply of water for ourselves, our plants and our businesses. Rain, with all its fluctuations is really our only stable source of water. Whether it falls in Utah and is captured by the struggling Hoover Dam or it falls in the Santa Monica Mountains and percolates to our wells on the eastern edge of the city, the source is the same: rain blown in from

the Pacific.

Our Water needs have been Stable (so far)

The amount of water Santa Monica needs today is about 11,000 acre feet (an acre foot is the water a foot deep over an acre or 43,560 square feet). Like our resident population which has slightly fluctuated in the 90,000-93,000 range over the last half decade, our water usage has remained rather stable:

2022 11,000 acre feet (estimated)

2021 10,641 acre feet

2020 10,580 acre feet

2019 11,030 acre feet

2018 11,651 acre feet

2017 11,502 acre feet

The nominal 10% drop in consumption between 2017-2019 and 2020-2021 reflects the impact of Covid in reducing demand (fewer tourists) and the residents and businesses becoming more efficient in water usage. We are now escalating back to the pre-Covid water consumption levels. Tourism is returning and is approximately 75-80% of what it was pre Covid.

The City, seeing what is coming, has active programs to try to reduce consumption and increase supply to try to stay ahead of this demand curve. The City wanted to be water independent (no imported water by 2023) but that goal no

longer seems feasible primarily because of the expected over building mandated by the State of California. Looking ahead there are clouds on our horizon (if we can use that metaphor here). As the West dries out the water from the Colorado River (Hoover Dam) will become harder and harder to get and much more expensive as hundreds of western cities and agricultural interests in half a dozen states compete for each drop. Already our City is increasing your water bill by 20% each year for 5 years doubling its cost to consumers. Eventually the City will need to drop out of the Colorado River supply chain via the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) for its normal supply and only use the MWD as a backup in case of some exceptional water supply disaster.

Our Wells will be working overtime

This trend shifts the water supply burden to our wells and to a certain extent to storm/sewer partially purified recycled water for grey water uses. These uses are primarily watering landscaping and flushing toilets in dual piped buildings and currently represent about 10% of our available water or about 1000-1130 acre feet. So our wells will need to provide about 90% of our water or 9,900 acre feet per year at today’s demand. The sustainable yield form our wells is actually unknown, but the 2018 estimate is a range of 10,80013,595 acre feet. The sustainable yield is

where the pumped out water is replaced by an equal amount of water from adjacent strata without dropping the water table to a dry depth. Wells actually can run dry when pumped out as is happening in the Central Valley to many small towns. However notice that the estimated sustainable yield of our basin is actually decreasing as you would expect during a time of declining rainfall and better instrumentation. In 2013 the sustainable yield was estimated at 15.930-19,700 acre feet which means our sustainable estimate has fallen 31% to the 2018 estimate.

But looking ahead we can see that the State of California’s unjustifiable mandated 18,000 person population increase over the next 8 years will start to stress our water system,(among other infrastructure). We expect to see a demand increase of 1000 to 2000 acre feet if these new residents use 50 gallons per day or 100 gallons per day. This takes us from about a 9900 acre feet base to 10,900-11,900 acre feet which is very close to the estimated 10,800-13595 sustainable yield limit. In other words when that build out occurs the City may not have any cushion in the face of other demands changes such as a 220 acre Airport park with all its vegetation or the return of the tourists to previous levels (when the City experience is safer) or the continuing shrinkage of our rainfall or when other

Cities break our basins legal safeguards and drill into “our” water basin. In contrast, if we have a severe recession and families keep leaving the City, our water demands may not be so intense. These known unknowns ,combined with the estimated nature of all these numbers, make it very dangerous for any City to operate without a cushion for something as critical as water.

Keep on Keeping on

In the face of these anticipated difficulties and uncertainties the resident or businesses should keep doing what we have already been doing with dozens of water saving actions from shorter showers, to rain barrels, to low flow plumbing fixtures to reduced irrigation etc. The gallon that you do not pump out of our water basin today will be there when you need it tomorrow.

BY Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA

For for SMa.r.t. (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow)

Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner; Mario Fonda Bonardi AIA, Planning Commissioner; Ron Goldman, Architect FAIA; Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA: Thane Roberts, Architect; Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner;.; Michael Jolly, AIRCRE  santamonicasmart@gmail.com

MLK Celebration in Santa Monica to Feature Civil Rights Icon Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr. as Keynote Speaker

Event to take place 9 a.m. January 16 at John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center

Santa Monica College (SMC) and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition are pleased to announce that civil rights icon Benjamin (Ben) Franklin Chavis, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the birthday celebration for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The free celebration will be held on Monday, January 16, at 9 a.m. at the John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center, 1630 Pearl St., Santa Monica. Masks are required.

The event – one of the largest and most diverse celebrations of its kind in Southern California – is presented by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition, a nonprofit coalition whose mission is consistent with Dr. King’s legacy. Event sponsors include the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College Associates, Santa Monica College,

This year’s celebration marks the event’s 38th anniversary and embraces the theme “When you stand up for justice, you can never fail.” The multi-ethnic, interfaith program will include inspirational readings, speakers, music, and dance. The program also features the presentation of education awards to local students and a Community Light Award to Pepperdine University’s Foster Grandparent Program.

Immediately following the program there will be a Community Involvement Fair presenting informational displays by a variety of community organizations from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the John Adams Middle School Quad.

Dr. Chavis is currently President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which supports and advocates for publishers of the nation’s more than 230 black newspapers. He is an author, journalist, environmentalist, chemist, ordained minister of United Church of Christ, and global entrepreneur. As a young man, he was a youth coordinator andSouthern Christian Leadership Conference assistant to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and in 1995, Dr. Chavis was the National Director of the Million Man March. In 2001, he became CEO and co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which he co-founded with Russell Simmons. Dr. Chavis has also been at the forefront of the environmental justice movement. He coauthored the landmark study “Toxic Waste and Race in the United States” and coined the term “environmental racism.”

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, SGI-USA, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, and a variety of other organizations and individuals.

FILM REVIEW: BABYLON

BEHIND THE SCREEN

By Kathryn Whitney Boole

Babylon is director Damien Chazelle’s panoramic vision of a tumultuous time in movie history – the transition from the nascent art of “Moving Pictures” into “Talkies” as the technology of sound recording came about in 1927. This was a jolting, uncomfortable change for those involved rather than a “Eureka” moment. The film is high energy from beginning to end. From the start you are drawn into a raucous, hedonistic party, and the agitated frantic energy of this party is an undercurrent through the entire film.

In Chazelle’s last movie, LaLa Land, I was disappointed that the exhilarating momentum established in the opening freeway crowd dance scene was lost in the rest of the film. In Babylon though, the frenetic drive continues to the end. I didn’t even notice how long the film was. The many interweaving stories flow smoothly, and each character is unique and interesting. Diego Calva is especially engaging as young intern “Manny Torres” who is willing to do any job to work on a film set. Jovan Adepo plays a hugely talented musician, whose fight for the attention he deserves goes unanswered because he is black. Brad Pitt’s “Jack Conrad” is a synthesis of many of the stars of the time whose popularity reached stratospheric heights before coming to the edge of the proverbial cliff at the top as they aged out. Margot Robbie as always pours her whole being into her role of “Nellie LaRoy,” the tragic ingenue drawn into a hedonistic lifestyle that engulfs her personal life. Robbie is the impetus of the flow that carries the whole story.

And Damien Chazelle truly wants to tell us a story. He attended our opening weekend screening by surprise, at a regular AMC showing. He and Diego Calva spoke in front of the audience before the start of the film to invite us to enjoy the experience. He really does see his audience as part of the film, which every director should do. He also realizes the importance of the soundtrack. Composer

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NUMBER: 2022 3001258 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 01/04/2023. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. Beat Up The Sun. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: The Perspective Project, LLC, 1012 7th St., Santa Monica, Ca. 90403. This business is conducted by An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/2023. 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 Richard Shugarman. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on January 04, 2023. 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 01/06/2023, 01/013/2023, 01/20/2023, and 01/27/2023

Justin Hurwitz has worked with Chazelle since his first major feature, Whiplash. In Babylon, Hurwitz’s music flows with the narrative to add color and rhythms to the concept of the “birthing pains” of the movie industry with raucous abandonment, feverish new concepts and ideas fueling a climax of the combined elation of everyone involved in the making of each movie.

My own perception of Babylon is probably different from most. The narrative and characters in the film are fusions created from multiple real players and histories of the industry at the time. I was immersed in film history at UCLA, watched countless films from that time period, and studied the real people who populated the industry during this fascinating period. I also worked for a few months in the early 1970’s as a personal assistant for two beautiful, elderly and eccentric ladies who had been actresses in silent films, and they regaled me with their

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

ORDER

TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 22SMCP00576

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401

Petition of: Kyle Christopher Seemann, by and through : Kyle Christopher Seemann for change of name.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

To all interested persons: Kyle Christopher Seemann

Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a Kyle Christopher Seemann to Kyle Christopher Mann

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: 02/10/23 | 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: December 22, 2022 Judge Lawrence Cho

Published: 12/232022, 12/30/22, 01/03/2023, and 01/10/2023

stories. One of them was named Edna LeRoy. You can look her up – she was once married to famed director Mervyn LeRoy. I had already formed my own vivid concept of the world of moviemaking of that time. The world presented in Babylon is a wonderful creation but can’t represent the reality for me.

In Babylon Chazelle sees the tragedy lurking behind an art that exists to plant dreams in our minds. These dreams are meant to be tales. But the realistic nature of the medium of cinema can easily create a transference to the watcher, who may be pulled inescapably into the image on the screen. And the image in turn transfers to real life. From the beginning, people have been drawn to make a pilgrimage to “Hollywood” from all corners of the earth, imagining themselves playing the roles they love, and this magnetic lure has never died.

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

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 23SMCP00006

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401

Petition of: Royal Matthew Meyers, by and through Bradley Meyers for change of name.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

To all interested persons: Bradley Meyers

Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a Royal Matthew Meyers to Royal Randy Meyers

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: 03/17/23 | 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: 01/06/23, 01/13/23, 01/20/2023, and 01/27/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

this court for a decree changing names as follows: a Ryan Joseph Diaz to Ryan Jay Redondo

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: 02/24/23 | 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: December 22, 2022

Judge Lawrence Cho

Published: 12/232022, 12/30/22, 01/03/2023, and 01/10/2023

FILE NUMBER: 2022 256385 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 11/28/22. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. GUIDE YOU HOME. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: GUIDE YOU HOME LLC, 222 Idaho Ave. Apt #4, Santa Monica, Ca. 90403. This business is conducted by An Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 11/1/2022. 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 Debra Lee. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on November 28, 2022. 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

IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS

CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 12/16/2022, 12/23/2022, 12/30/2022, and 01/03/2023

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Barry Snell, Chair;