Santa Monica Mirror-Yo! Venice 2.24.23

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY

SMMUSD District Officials Explore Ways to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism was found to be highest among foster youth and socioeconomically disadvantaged students at 26.8 percent and 31.2 percent, respectively. Board of Education President Maria LeonVasquez emphasized that understanding these students’ situations is crucial in addressing their absenteeism.

By Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) officials are exploring ways to address the growing absenteeism among students, including ramping up home visits and other outreach efforts.

The California Dashboard, a database compiled by the California Department of Education, recently reported that chronic absenteeism rates in the district were “high.”

In 2022, 19.3 percent of kindergarten through eighth-grade students in SMMUSD were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10 percent or more of the school year. Additionally, another district report showed that the rate was at 30 percent for all K-12th-grade students for the first half of the 2022-23 school year.

“I think it’s real crucial that we understand the issues at home because that will lead to how maybe the child is not doing well in school because of the home issues – sometimes we’re missing that piece and that’s a big piece,” Leon-Vasquez said during a recent board meeting.

To address this issue, SMMUSD used home visits before COVID-19 hit. Although these visits were significantly cut back during the pandemic, according to Director of Student Services Tara Brown they are now slowly resuming with community liaisons, administrators, and security officers helping with these visits.

Other measures outlined by district staff include encouraging students to come early to school for free breakfast to get them there on time for class and increasing opportunities for communication between teachers and parents.

While acknowledging that attendance

issues are severe in SMMUSD schools, board members expressed frustration about including both unexcused and excused absences in the data. This makes it difficult to understand the extent of the problem and what needs further research.

“If they’re out sick then we know ‘okay

they’re out sick,’ but who are the students that are not coming to school just because there’s something and it’s not for illness, it’s not for something that’s excused – that’s where we focus our energy,” said SMMUSD assistant superintendent of educational services Jacqueline Mora.

North of Montana Ranks 7th Priciest Zip Code in U.S. With Median Home Sale Price of $4.378 Million

Los Angeles County remains the priciest county in the U.S., according to Property Shark report

By Dolores Quintana

In Santa Monica, the neighborhood north of Montana Avenue has been named the 7th most expensive in the United States. The median sale price for a home in the area is $4.378 million according to a report released by the website Property Shark. North of Montana was ranked 9th in the report last year and has risen to 7th because median home prices increased by $350,000 per home since 2021.

Additionally, other areas on the Westside that made this exclusive list are Beverly Hills which is named the 5th most expensive zip code in the nation on the same list with a median home sale price of $5.122 million. Malibu was listed as the 23rd most expensive zip code with a $3,500,000 median per home average. The city of Venice is ranked at number 63 with a median home price of $2.2 million.

The report states that “California remained the unchallenged leader of the most expensive zip codes to buy a home in the U.S., providing 90 zips to our ranking or the equivalent of 70% of the country’s leading zips.” and notes that California has four of the priciest counties in the United State, the country’s most expensive metro, four out of the five priciest cities; and seven of the most exclusive neighborhoods are all in California.

According to new data, last year 19.3 percent of kindergarten through eighth-grade students in SMMUSD were chronically absent

Photo: Sam Catanzaro Roosevelt Elementary School.

Santa Monica Police Make Arrest in Beach Parking Lot

Armed

Carjacking, Second Suspect Remains Outstanding

Jonathan Manuel Perez arrested in connection to February 16 incident

Last week one suspect was arrested for an armed carjacking that took place in a Santa Monica beach parking lot. Santa Monica police say, however, a second suspect remains at large wanted in connection to this incident.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, on February 16 around 7 p.m., officers were dispatched to the beach Parking Lot 1 North (1550 PCH) regarding an armed carjacking.

“SMPD Officers met with the victim who told them two male suspects approached her and demanded the keys to her vehicle while one brandished a handgun. The victim complied and the suspects fled in her vehicle, a gray Ford Focus,” the SMPD said in a press release.

The vehicle description was broadcasted to all assisting units and officers soon located the stolen Ford Focus on the eastbound I-10 Freeway.

“Officers witnessed the passenger jump out the vehicle before it continued east on the freeway. As the driver began to exit at Robertson, he collided into other vehicles,” the SMPD said.

The driver, 22-year old LA resident Jonathan Manuel Perez, was located in the Ford and taken into custody. A replica firearm was found in the vehicle, according to police.

Perez was transported to the Santa Monica Police Jail where he was booked for carjacking and other vehicle code sections. Officers also learned Perez was on active parole for a prior Armed Carjacking.

According to the SMPD, although a perimeter was set for the outstanding suspect with LAPD assisting via helicopter, this second suspect was not located. He remains outstanding and is described as a Hispanic male, unknown age, wearing a black jacket, black pants and a dark facemask over the mouth.

Anyone with any additional information pertaining to the outstanding or incident is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Ismael Tavera at 310-458-2256 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.

Santa Monica Boards and Commissions Set to Resume In-Person Public Meeting

Beginning Wednesday, March 1 all City of Santa Monica Boards and Commissions will resume in-person public meetings and public comment

Boards and commissions meetings in Santa Monica are set to return to an inperson format soon.

Last week the City announced that beginning Wednesday, March 1, 2023, all City of Santa Monica Boards and Commissions will resume in-person public meetings and public comment. This decision coincides with the sunsetting of the COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders by Governor Newsom planned for February 28, 2023.

When the State order sunsets, COVID-19

will no longer be a valid basis for public bodies to hold meetings virtually under AB 361, adopted by the State Legislature to provide more flexibility for public bodies to facilitate virtual meetings during the pandemic. Thus, all public bodies will return to holding public meetings per the Brown Act. The Brown Act does allow for public bodies to hold meetings via teleconference however certain stipulations apply.

The return to in-person meetings also means a return to in-person public comment as well.

Those members of the public wishing to provide comment on an item of concern who cannot attend a meeting in person may submit their comments in writing. Those needing an ADA accommodation or language interpretation to participate in a public meeting will need to contact the staff liaison for that board or commission at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. According to the City of Santa Monica, hybrid meetings are not available at this time due to budget and system limitations.

41 Santa Monica Students Named to California All State and Honor Choir, Orchestra and Band

Being named “All State” or “Honor” is an outstanding achievement and a true testament of their skills

41 Santa Monica students were recently named to the All State and Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Honor Choir, Orchestra and Band, and to the 2023 California All State Music Education Conference (CASMEC).

“We want to congratulate the students from John Adams Middle School (JAMS), Lincoln Middle School and Santa Monica High School (Samohi) who successfully auditioned after such a challenging time during the pandemic, as well as their teachers for continuing to provide an outstanding music education that inspired their students,” said Tom Whaley, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator. For music students, being named “All

State” or “Honor” is an outstanding achievement and a true testament of their skills. Earning “All State” is considered the highest honor, representative of the entire state, while earning “Honor” is representative of regional levels. Both levels require impeccable skills and a rigorous application process. Additionally, it is possible to be named, both, “All State” and “Honor.”

In order to be named All State and Honor, music students must submit recordings of required scales and solos to their directors. The directors then submit recordings to the appropriate state level music organization. After submission, the recordings are judged by an anonymous panel of adjudicators. Only the finest students are selected All State and Honor and are invited to CASMEC.

“Auditioning for these honor groups means that these students are going beyond the classroom and working individually for the opportunity to represent Samohi at the local and state level,” said Kevin McKeown, Samohi Director of Bands. “I am so proud of all of them, including my own child who is

participating in both ensembles. It’s such a special accomplishment and something that our SMMUSD community can get behind and cheer for.”

Attending CASMEC gives music students the opportunity to perform with the other students and work with nationally known guest conductors. Music educators also have the chance to attend CASMEC, as an opportunity to gain professional development and to support their students who are performing.

By Diana Bouchaaya, Communications Specialist, SMMUSD

“The reason for the success of our music students is because of our outstanding music teachers and support from our district leadership, board, Santa Monica Education

Foundation and community,” said Whaley. SMMUSD consistently sends among the highest number of participants of any school district to CASMEC and is very proud of its outstanding music program, educators and students.

Additionally, McKeown received the 2023 SCSBOA outstanding veteran teacher award, Angela Woo, Director of Instrumental Music and Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at JAMS, was this year’s guest conductor of the High School Orchestra and John Beasley, Samohi ‘77, was the guest conductor of the SCSBOA High School Jazz Band.

For a full list of the SMMUSD All-State and Honor Choir, Orchestra and Band, visit: https://bit.ly/AllStateHonorsList2023.

Chipotle Opening New Concept “Farmesa” in Santa Monica Panda Express Opening New Santa Monica Location

Farmessa will soft open at Third Street Promenade’s Kitchen United Mix this month

By Dolores Quintana

Farmesa is a new brand and Californiainspired fresh eatery concept from Chipotle. Much like regular Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants, guests will be able to customize their orders with choices of protein, greens, vegetables and grains. Farmesa will first soft open in partnership with Kitchen United Mix location on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, at 1315 3rd Street, with a smaller menu and shorter hours until they officially open in March.

The restaurant will serve meals in bowls and each bowl will come with your choice of one protein, greens, or a grain option, and two side dishes. The bowls will also come with a choice of five different sauces and a topping to finish off the dish. Some of the meals that Farmesa has planned when the restaurant is fully open include Classic Santa Maria-style Grilled TriTip Steak, Everything Spice-Crusted Ora King Salmon, Whipped Potatoes, Golden Beets, Sprouted Cauliflower, and Sweet Potato Chips. The bowls will be priced between $11.95 to $16.95 each.

Customers can purchase Farmesa’s food

through the kitchenunited.com/santamonica, Kitchen United Mix’s onsite kiosks or through delivery apps like Doordash

This new concept will function as a test kitchen of sorts for Chipotle and be a place for the chain and its cooks to work and learn more about how to innovate within the overall Chipotle concept. Farmesa could also serve as a potential incubator for the future of Chipotle.

Brian Niccol, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer said, in a written statement, “One of our strategic objectives is to create or invest in emerging culinary spaces and restaurant concepts that fit within Chipotle’s food with integrity mission and make fresh food daily. Our New Ventures team, which was created in 2022, developed a unique restaurant concept that uses classic culinary techniques with flavorful ingredients in a fast casual setting that we’re excited to test and learn on before we determine a broader rollout strategy.”

Nate Lawton, Vice President of New Ventures at Chipotle said, via a press release, “Launching Farmesa in the Kitchen United Mix food hall in Santa Monica and partnering with third-party partners for pickup or delivery will allow us to reach a large number of consumers, learn quickly, and evolve our concept and menu so that we can deliver on our goals before expanding,” said. “We believe there’s an opportunity to serve premium, craveable food every day and we’re eager to bring this new concept to life.”

1902 Lincoln Boulevard Suite B location set for popular restaurant

Panda Express is set to open a second location in Santa Monica at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Pico Boulevard. Located near Santa Monica High School, this new location will be located at 1902 Lincoln Boulevard Suite B.

Although no word has been given as to an exact opening date for this new location, a banner above the store reads “Opening Soon”. Panda Express already has a presence in the city with a restaurant at the corner of Montana Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard.

With locations in over 2,200 places across the United States, Panda Express is the largest Asian-segment restaurant chain in the country. It was founded back in 1983 by husband and wife Andrew Cherng and Peggy Cherng in Glendale.

Dr. Lisa Damour, Clinical Psychologist, the New York Times bestselling author of Untangled and Under Pressure, New York Times Monthly Columnist & CBS News Contributor talks about her new book The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents.

Convert Your Analog Memories Into Digital With Westside Video Services

Convert Your Analog Memories Into Digital With Westside Video Services

By Susan Payne

The boxes of 8mm and 16mm film, comprised of childhood memories, moments with your siblings and friends captured before the digital era, are likely in your closet or tucked away for another time.

But, when will that time be? When will you take the boxes out, and convert the footage to an easily accessible and safe format, free from possible damage beyond repair?

The time is now, said Westside Video Services owner Sam Najah.

“Your memories are priceless and irreplaceable. Fire or flooding, there are all kinds of ways you can lose those photos or videos, lose the memories of your childhood forever. I always encourage people not to put it off,” he said.

Najah, who has nearly 30 years of production experience, local to Topanga and West Los Angeles, provides a service that makes the digital conversion and organization of those files seamless for the customer,

helping preserve, restore and showcase your cherished memories.

“Sometimes people get overwhelmed with the technology and put it off, but I really say, leave it up to us,” Najah said. “There’s not much you have to do besides pulling it out of the closet.”

Najah, equipped with a state-of-the-art system that transfers film to high definition, has been in business for three years, bringing those memories back to life.

“My customers well up in tears after they’ve rewatched the footage they haven’t seen in years,” Najah said.

In addition to converting analog film and photos to digital, Westside Video Service offers the following services:

DIGITAL TRANSFER

For memories stuck in an analog format, Westside Video Services transfers them into a DVD or a digital file. Photos slides and negatives are scanned at an archival quality, and 8mm film reels are converted to a highdefinition format that can be easily viewed, shared and enjoyed on any modern device.

Westside Video also offers free pick-up and delivery to ensure memories remain safe from potential shipping issues.

VIDEO SLIDESHOW

Remembering special events such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, memorials and more is easy with Westside Video Service’s customized projects which combine your photos, video clips, music and special effects for your keepsake.

COMPLETE HOME ARCHIVAL SOLUTION

Westside Video has four steps in creating a home archival solution for your cherished memories. Step one is to digitize and take inventory of the photos, slides, negatives, videos, audio and more. In step two, Westside Video will organize and create folders and subfolders by date, events and holidays. After the organization step is complete, Westside Video will manually restore each image that can benefit from restoration by removing stains and blemishes and restoring the faded colors. Finally, step four, showcases the best photos, slides, video and film clips into a montage of your life set to music.

“We digitize and organize everything. We go through footage and slides and restore it to optimal colors and tones, then I showcase pieces highlighting the memories into one with music. You can narrow it down to an hour it tells their life story completely,” said Najah.

LEGACY VIDEO

Westside’s Legacy Video service connects family members across generations with a unique and tangible legacy, capturing the stories you and your family has to share. Westside will film an interview with the family member and support the stories they share with photos and videos from the past.

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Westside Video Services also provides costeffective production and specializes in online ads, web videos, commercial or corporate videos.

For more information on these services, or if you’d like to speak with Najah about the process of converting your analog inventory, go to www.westsidevideoservice.com.

“All my prices are listed on my website, but we do quantity discounts for people who have multiple tapes and albums, so it helps,” Najah said. “You do this once, you’re not going to have to do it again.”

SMC Emeritus Concert Band to Hold Free Concert This Weekend at the Broad Stage

Concert February 26 will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme

Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Concert Band, under the baton of Yosuke Miyoshi, will present a free concert — “The Great Outdoors” — on Sunday, February 26, at 3 p.m. The performance will be held in The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, located at 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Santa Monica.

The late winter concert will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme. The Emeritus Concert Band will perform a varied repertoire that includes band classics, swing music, and contemporary compositions.

“I cannot wait to present this concert to the public, ” said Miyoshi, the band’s director. “We have a few guest conductors working with the ensemble, which has been an incredible experience for the members of

the band. I am also excited to announce that we will have composer Yukiko Nishimura attending our concert. The Emeritus Concert Band will be performing one of her works, ‘Luna.’ “

“Year after year, the Emeritus Concert Band has brought a delightful arrangement of songs for the entertainment of the Santa Monica community,” said Guadalupe Salgado, Associate Dean (Interim) of SMC Emeritus. “I myself am excited for another wonderful performance from our incredible talented students. Make sure to bring your family and friends along for a wonderful evening full of music and fun.”

Ample free parking will be available on the premises. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.

SMC’s Emeritus Concert Band is made up of musicians of a wide age range. The variety of musical and life experience that each band member brings to the group fuels an environment of ongoing inspiration. New members are always welcome, and can find out how to join by calling 310-434-4306.

The Concert Band has thrilled listeners with free concerts since 1979. The

60-member band is part of Santa Monica College’s acclaimed Emeritus program, established in 1975 to offer free classes and special programs to older adults. More information is available at smc.edu/ emeritus or by calling 310-434-4306.

Accommodation due to a disability to participate in SMC events can be arranged by sending an email to SMC’s Center for Students with Disabilities at dsps@smc.edu or calling 310-434-4255, at least 5 business days in advance.

SMa.r.t.

Reinforcing the Future: a revisit

Six years go we discussed, in these pages, the city’s then-renewed earthquake-retrofit rules. At the time we argued that the anticipated volume of building permit applications would create a serious challenge for the city’s staff. In view of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and the tremors off the coast of Malibu, we thought it timely to revisit the six-year-old article, below.

Reinforcing the Future: on the need to streamline the earthquakereinforcement process.

New rules in Santa Monica will soon require many older buildings to be inspected, and then reinforced to make them less vulnerable to earthquakes. The city has compiled a list of about 2,400 buildings that may require reinforcing. About half of these are two- and threestory apartment buildings, and many of those are mom-and-pop properties housing thousands of rent-controlled tenants. Many owners have little or no experience dealing with city permits and with hiring specialists to complete the

reinforcement work. And the costs of reinforcing these buildings to withstand earthquakes could exceed the resources of many owners, who may feel compelled to sell their buildings to developers, putting at risk many rent-control units.

Last week we outlined several ideas to help the process along, including a city liaison to help owners through the process of hiring consultants, obtaining permits and carrying out repairs. This week we focus on streamlining the permit process, obtaining financing and the examples of other cities.

A Torrent of Building-Permit Applications

One challenge the city will face: how to deal with the flood of building permit applications that will result from this effort. Not all of the 2,400 buildings on the city’s list will require reinforcing. Some of them simply need to be inspected. But if we assume a worst-case scenario where they would all need building permits, the work needed to process and approve the applications is likely, in our estimation, to result in about 36,000-40,000 manhours of work by the city. This represents about 4-5 full-time jobs for the duration of the five- to six-year program.

The problem is that nobody knows when those applications will enter the system. There might be few projects in the first

year or two, and a thousand applications in year three. The difficulty in planning for this workload may push the city to contract with outside, private permitprocessing companies, as it has done in the past. Hiring outside companies can help with unpredictable workloads, and will avoid increasing the city’s pension burden, but it could also increase the load on the city’s present employees, as they seek to reduce the impact of the earthquake-reinforcing work on small building owners, condominium owners and folks living in rent-controlled apartments. However competent outside companies may be, the rippling effects of this work across thousands of buildings in the city will need to command the city’s full attention to make sure that residents, apartment owners and business owners are protected from unnecessary harm.

Accounting for Finances, and the Need for Oversight

As an aside, the flood of building permits will also increase the workload for departments that handle the city’s finances. In our estimation, the earthquake-reinforcement building permits will lead to about $15 million to $20 million in permit fees, which will need to be accounted for and properly distributed. The demand for oversight will be even greater if outside permitprocessing contractors are hired to help

with the work. The unpredictability of the workflow will create staffing challenges in these departments also. The city is clearly able to handle this kind of workflow uncertainty, judging from past experience, but the impact of this work on the lives of so many people in Santa Monica makes a successful outcome all the more critical.

Streamlining the Process

In Santa Monica, as in many other cities, the building permit process can be challenging because even simple alterations can trigger a cascade of extra requirements and approvals, many of which have little to do with safety. In the case of vulnerable buildings, the permit process can be streamlined to reduce these additional burdens. Examples (some of them admittedly quite technical) include:

• Reduce or remove Architectural Review Board approvals for earthquake upgrades. There are over 600 Architectural Review board permits approved every year. For this urgent public safety issue, the City should avoid adding hundreds of new ARB approval requests per year.

• Allow slight shrinking of parking stall dimensions to provide room for new posts or plywood reinforcement. These minimal reductions in dimensions should be approved automatically.

SMa.r.t, see page 8

always... deasypennerpodley

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

SMART, from page 7

• Some buildings will need significant work, such as replacement of foundations, foundation bolting and other tasks. In today’s world these projects frequently become classified by the city as major remodels (or even demolitions), that result in lengthy approval times. The City should allow these earthquake reinforcement upgrades to receive permits quickly and simply, without triggering additional requirements.

• With earthquake reinforcement projects that do not change the building size or materials significantly, the City should allow owners to bypass the coastal permit requirements and allow the work to proceed without requiring the typical waivers.

• The City should review and approve earthquake reinforcement projects ahead of any other projects that may be in line for a permit.

These are just a few ideas for streamlining the process. The City should make a concerted on-going effort to find more opportunities for making the process simpler and easier to navigate, including the hiring of a liaison to assist those folks unfamiliar with the system.

The Financing Challenge

One important challenge for many building owners will be the financing of the earthquake-retrofit repairs. The impact of these costs could be devastating for small building owners and condo owners, and the effect would extend to many renters in rent-controlled apartments if the owners are forced to sell. The city could help here as well, by adopting the examples of other cities.

San Francisco’s Mandatory Soft Story Program has created a partnership between City Hall and a private bank that offers an innovative method of financing repairs. The program will finance 100% of the earthquake retrofit costs over a period of 20 years, with the premium payments administered by the city in the form of a tax assessment paid alongside regular property taxes. The program steps owners through the application process and helps them select engineers and contractors. Then, after approval of the loan, the program disburses payments directly to consultants and contractors throughout the life of the project. This means that, apart from obtaining the building permit, the rest of the process is handled through a single entity, which simplifies the project enormously. More details about this program here: http:// tinyurl.com/glbzk6r

Fixing buildings that are vulnerable to earthquakes is a critically important task that affects every aspect of life in this city. Our city government has the opportunity to partner with residents and owners to make our community safer, and protect

folks who have worked and lived here for many years. Hiring a liaison to help with the process, partnering with banks to provide affordable financing, lightening up on the permit procedures–all of these are important steps that can make the process better for everyone involved.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

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 Todd Goodman. 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 02/23/2023, 03/03/2023, 03/10/2023, and 03/10/2023

Daniel Jansenson, Architect, for SMa.r.t.

Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner, Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA & Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NUMBER: 2023 024229 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 02/01/2023. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. Charma. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: WORKPATTERNS INC., 945 Venezia Ave., Venice Ca. 90291. This business is conducted by An Corporation. 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 Adam Berke. 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 02/03/2023, 02/10/2023,

02/17/2023, and 02/24/2023

LA City Council Approves Traci Park Motion to Impose Anti-Camping Law at 4 Venice Locations

Ordinance will ban camping at 9 Westside locations including 4 in Venice

By Sam Catanzaro

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Wednesday to impose its anti-camping law at a nine of Westside locations, including Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library, Venice Beach Recreation Center and around the Venice A Bridge Home homeless shelter.

The move was largely made possible with the election of Traci Park as the new 11th District council member. Park said her office “has the beds” for those who will be impacted by the law and promised to meet both their legal and moral obligations by offering services and housing. Her predecessor, Mike Bonin, had opposed the 41.18 ordinance and its expansion claiming that it criminalized homelessness, disconnected people from services, and forced them to move from block to block.

Under the ordinance, originally presented by Park, Council designated the following locations “for enforcement against sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing, using, maintaining,

or placing personal property, or otherwise obstructing the public right-of-way, up to the maximum distance and effective for the maximum period of time prescribed, and as further detailed in the Code:

• Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library501 S. Venice Boulevard- Library

• Linnie Canal Park- 200 Linnie Canal -Public Park

• Venice Beach Recreation Center and Boardwalk- 1800 Ocean Front Walk- Public Park

• Bill Rosendahl Del Rey Park- 4601 Alla Road- Public Park

• Westchester Recreation Center and Park7000W.ManchesterAvenue -Public Park

• Venice A Bridge Home -100 Sunset Avenue- Designated Facility

• Iowa Safe Parking- 11339 Iowa AvenueDesignated Facility

• Super 8 Homekey- 9250 AirportDesignated Facility

• Extended Stay Homekey- 6531 S. Sepulveda Boulevard -Designated Facility”

• In a newsletter announcing the ordinance’s passage Park touched on the controversial nature of the legislation but argued she believed it was the right course of action.

“I recognize this action is not without controversy, and I understand that not everyone supports the City’s no-camping ordinance. To those who have concerns about this, I hear

you. I want to underscore that we will lead with engagement and offers of services and housing before we begin enforcement. As I stated on the Council floor, my team and I will not rest until everyone living on the streets in our District has been offered the opportunity to move indoors,” Park said. “Ultimately, there is nothing compassionate about allowing people to live in unsafe conditions while we wait for long-term solutions. Wednesday’s vote was an important step forward in moving our unhoused population inside, restoring public safety and access for all community members, especially our youth and elderly, and restoring the public’s trust in how local government responds to the homelessness crisis in our City.”

Since taking office she has worked with Mayor Karen Bass on Inside Safe programs which help move residents of encampments inside. During her campaign, Park had also promised to expand the ordinance to apply to high fire-risk areas such as canyons and hillsides, and environmentally sensitive habitat areas such as the Ballona Wetlands.

Five 41.18 zones were also approved in North Hollywood, represented by Council President Paul Krekorian whose district he claims has sufficient capacity to accommodate anyone impacted by the decision.

The public comment period was dominated by supporters of the anti-camping law with

Westside residents expressing concern about the number of encampments around them. The council voted 9-4 in favor with Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky joining colleagues Nithya Raman, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Hugo Soto-Martinez in dissent. Yaroslavsky requested more information on how the city is enforcing this law including reports on its effectiveness across LA, a list of locations where it is being enforced, the cost associated with it and the number of people provided housing through 41.18 enforcement remaining houses.

Venice Stakeholders Association Sues to Invalidate Bridge Housing Extension at 200 Sunset!

lease extension November 9, 2022 without such authorization.

“Historically, the Coastal Commission has jealously guarded its authority to require a CDP for any and all development in the coastal zone, and specifically required in 2020 that the City file for a new CDP if the city sought to extend the lease for the facility from Metro beyond the initial ‘temporary’ three-year term,” said Mark Ryavec, President of the VSA.

By Nick Antonicello

The Venice Stakeholders Association on February 7, 2023 filed a petition for a writ of mandate with the Los Angeles Superior Court to invalidate the extension of the lease for the City of Los Angeles’ Bridge Housing facility currently located at 200 Sunset Avenue in Venice.

Despite being warned in writing by the VSA last summer that the city would need to apply for and receive a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) from the California Coastal Commission to comply with the California Coastal Act, the city, under former Councilmember Mike Bonin, approved the

“The city knew of this requirement from the Commission’s earlier action and Mr. Bonin blatantly ignored it. The Venice Bridge Housing facility remains the only one in the city that is surrounded on all sides by residences, and it remains a severe burden on its neighbors,” noted the Venice community advocate.

In an interview with Ryavec, the VSA was optimistic about the organization’s new legal initiative with city officials.

“I believe the chances of success are extremely good. The Coastal Commission in their 2020 decision stated that any extension beyond the three-year temporary lease would require new application for an actual Coastal Development Permit, not a waiver,”

offered Ryavec and accused former LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin of disregarding the Commission’s requirement before leaving office. Bonin decided not to seek a third and final term when a second recall attempt came within 95% of the required number of signatures to force a facedown with voters. He promptly left the race and retired from the city council.

Ryavec has informed newly installed Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) of the VSA filing. Park assumed office in midDecember and has to date removed some 150 individuals from street encampments here in Venice as several high density encampments have been cleared at Flower, Hampton and Third in cooperation with LA Mayor Karen Bass and her new homeless initiative under this new city state of emergency she imposed upon assuming office regarding the homeless epidemic.

10,000 units were proposed for construction under the mammoth, $1.9 billion dollar HHH Proposition, approved by voters but units have been slow to completion and behind schedule.

“The promise by Bonin and Garcetti, and later Ms. Park, was that Venice Bridge Housing would close after three years of operation.

That is this month,” observed Ryavec.

Nick Antonicello is a longtime Venetian who covers local public policy and politics as it pertains to Venice. A member of the Outreach & Oceanfront Committees of the Venice Neighborhood Council, he can be reached at nantoni@mindspring.com

Photo: Courtesy of Traci Park Traci Park speaking at the Los Angeles City Council meeting last Wednesday during the meeting in which her motion to impose an anti-camping ordinance at nine Westside locations was passed by City Council with a 9-4 vote.

“I believe the chances of success are extremely good,” says Venice Stakeholders Association President Mark Ryavec

Photo: Courtesy Mark Ryavec is a veteran public affairs consultant. Mr. Ryavec served as a municipal staffer for the Los Angeles City Council and as the Chief Deputy Assessor of Los Angeles County. He has served as the president of Venice Stakeholders Association for over 12 years.

Ryan Horio of UCLA Wins Third Annual Arnold

Maeda Manzanar Pilgrimage Grant from Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument Committee

Horio will receive $500 in grant funds from the VJAMM Committee to assist with his participation in the 54th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage

The Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) Committee and the Manzanar Committee has proudly announced Ryan Horio of UCLA as the winner of the Third Annual Arnold Maeda Manzanar Pilgrimage Grant. In his winning essay, Horio linked the history of his grandmother—who was six years old when incarcerated at Manzanar—to that of Arnold Maeda, who was fifteen years old when imprisoned at Manzanar. He will receive $500 in grant funds from the VJAMM Committee to assist with his participation in the 54th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage weekend and help with preparations for both the Pilgrimage and Manzanar After Dark, taking place on Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Horio, a sophomore at UCLA, enrolled in an elective called “Japanese Americans

and Incarceration,” never expecting to be captivated by his own family history. Growing up in a household that didn’t discuss the incarceration experience of his Issei grandparents and Nisei parents, he was curious to learn more. For his class project, he created a 25-minute documentary film entitled “Executive Order 9066: Internment, Injustice, and Intergenerational Trauma.”

Horio interviewed his grandmother Toshiko “Alice” Matsunaga—born in Galt, California and married to Seiji Horio, a Japan-born gardener in the San Fernando Valley who eventually became president of the Southern California Gardeners’ Association. The couple had three children, one of whom is Horio’s father—a Yonsei Japanese American. His mother is ethnically Chinese and was raised in Vietnam. Through conversations with his paternal grandmother, father, uncle, and aunt about their experiences, Horio grew closer to understanding his Japanese American identity—something he had drifted away from after growing up in a predominantly Caucasian environment and even internalizing racist jokes aimed at him for being Asian.

Working on his documentary film further exposed him to how one generation’s trauma can be passed down to the next generation; something that resonated with Horio as he recognized that silence did not erase the trauma of camp experience for his six-year-

old grandmother Toshiko or his father’s, uncle’s, or sister’s experiences either. Horio is determined not to remain silent, but to “use [his] voice to connect with . . . and engage with [others] about the incarceration camps and [their] lasting effects on the Japanese American community.” Horio wants to “speak up about the problems and issues [the Japanese American] community faces, and that others face, that we need to stand in solidarity against.” Horio wrote that he will “follow in Maeda’s footsteps to create lasting change within [his] community, and to become more of a witness to the unspoken lives of Japanese American incarcerees.”

Horio had already been involved in activism at the high school level when he co-founded “Knitting for a Cause” with other students and other high schools. With long hours of pandemic isolation, he began knitting beanies for his friends and wondered if he could extend support to those hardest-hit by COVID—frontline workers and the unhoused community. Through his initiative, Horio’s team donated over 2,500 beanies, blankets, children’s masks, and cards while successfully raising 1,600 pounds of food.

At UCLA, Horio has joined the Nikkei Student Union and the Kyodo Taiko team. He has shared his family’s stories with his colleagues, and considers “being in Kyodo Taiko the backbone of [his] college experience,

giving [him] lifelong friends and allowing [him] to explore Japanese American culture with others who had similar and non-similar experiences growing up.” Horio says, “It does feel nice to be understood by them, and they are my best friends. I have a greater appreciation for the Japanese American community as a whole through the opportunities I have gained through Kyodo [Taiko], and I hope to give back to this family for the rest of my three years here.”

Arnold Maeda, a founding member and inspiration to the Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) Committee, was vocal in his quest for funding and support to construct and install the VJAMM on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards in Venice. In April 2017, the VJAMM Committee dedicated the monument which commemorates the forced removal of some 1,000 persons of Japanese ancestry from Venice, Santa Monica, and Malibu from that very corner as well as their incarceration in the Manzanar concentration camp during World War II.

To learn more about Arnold Maeda Manzanar Pilgrimage Grant visit venicejamm. org, Facebook @VeniceJAMM or manzanarcommittee.org. The requirements for 2024 may differ slightly than those for 2023 but information regarding these changes will be released later on.

LA City Council Votes to Move Forward With Controversial Plan to Power Scattergood Generating Station With Green Hydrogen

Despite

robust community engagement process.

“While I completely understand and agree that our power system needs to be reliable and resilient, I am still not convinced that burning hydrogen is the best way to achieve that end,” Yaroslavsky said, adding that she did not take “great comfort in the responses” from LADWP officials during the meeting.

By Sam Catanzaro

The Los Angeles City Council voted last week to move forward with a controversial $800 million plan to shift the Scattergood Generating Station in Playa del Rey from natural gas to green hydrogen.

Despite the vote passing 12-0, some council members raised concerns about the project’s environmental impact and lack of transparency from city officials. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, chair of the council’s energy committee, expressed skepticism, saying that there had been no analysis of alternatives or

In an effort to ensure the project does not present a public health or safety risks from the production, storage, transportation or use of green hydrogen, several guidelines were put in place including regular reports from LADWP and hydrogen leak prevention and monitoring. The council also directed LADWP to assess non-combustion alternatives to green hydrogen and conduct outreach with local councils and organizations.

The Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved a resolution in August saying that transitioning to hydrogen could help reach its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035. However, environmental

groups have voiced their opposition arguing that hydrogen still produces emissions that can threaten the climate and is more costly than other alternatives like solar, wind or battery storage.

Alex Jasset of Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles warned in a statement to City News Service that this step could set off a “massive hydrogen build-out” across Los Angeles which could perpetuate health and environmental injustices for communities living near power plants.

During a prior committee meeting LADWP’s director of resource planning Jason Rondou says while $800 seems significant, it is expected to account for less than one percent of LA’s energy portfolio by 2030.

“If we have wildfires, if we have earthquakes, it is that less than 1% that will keep the grid reliable and stable so that we can continue to charge our electric vehicles, and we can continue to power our homes and businesses — which will be fully electrified in

the future,” Rondou said.

Councilwoman Traci Park said she was prepared to use Section 245 of the City Charter as a veto if she finds too many risks associated with the project. Section 245 gives City Council the power to override actions by local boards with a two-thirds vote.

“If this project ultimately breaks ground, I have to be able to tell my constituents — without a hint of doubt — that our actions will not come at the expense of their health and well-being,” Park said.

the vote passing 12-0, some council members raised concerns about the project’s environmental impact

Venice Assemblymember Introduces Bill to Mandate Microfiber Filters on Washing Machines

Assembly Bill 1628 would mandate the installation of microfiber filters on all new washing machines sold in California by 2029

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) has introduced Assembly Bill 1628, which would mandate the installation of microfiber filters on all new washing machines sold in California by 2029.

“California has been a leader in reducing plastic pollution and must continue to lead on this issue,” said Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. “AB 1628 is a solution that is cost

and energy efficient and has the potential to dramatically reduce the volume of microfibers entering the environment.”

Assemblymember McKinnor represents several cities and communities in Los Angeles County including Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lenox, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Venice, West Athens, Westchester and Westmont.

The bill aims to reduce the quantity of plastic microfibers that end up in freshwater systems and oceans.

“Plastic pollution has become a crisis for our ocean and coastal communities. Microfibers are the most common form of microplastic pollution in the environment, and just a single load of synthetic laundry can release up to 18 million microfibers. Luckily, adding filters to washing machines can drastically cut that number down, which is why this legislation is so paramount,” said Dr. Anja Brandon, Associate Director, U.S. Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy.

Elderly Couple and Cat Perish in Mar Vista Home Fire

Doris Bergman and Albert Sassoe Jr. victims in February 15 morning fire

By Sam Catanzaro

An elderly couple and their cat perished in an early morning fire in a Mar Vista home February 15.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the incident was reported around 2:20 a.m. to a home located at 3537 May Street.

LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey, the caller disconnected before their needs could be determined.

Because the caller ID feature of their wired telephone provided both a callback phone number and a definitive address, an LAFD crew was promptly dispatched to investigate, as dispatchers sought unsuccessfully to reconnect with the caller,” Humphrey said.

The initial LAFD responders arrived to find fire visible from the rear of a one-story home and immediately summoned additional firefighting resources. The first arriving 20 LAFD personnel, under the command of Battalion Chief Robert Takeshita, fully

extinguished the intense blaze z- which largely involved the kitchen and living room – by 2:50 a.m.

“In searching the premises, firefighters located a man, woman and pet cat lifeless inside the burnt home. Beyond medical or veterinary assistance, they were determined to be dead at the scene,” Humphrey said.

No other injuries were reported.

According to the LAFD, the home did not have operational fire sprinklers

“With severe fire damage to the structure, there was no immediate evidence that the 1,096 square-foot residence was equipped with functional smoke alarms, as required by law. The 73-year-old building did not feature optional residential fire sprinklers,” Humphrey said.

Monetary loss from the fire is still being determined by the LAFD. Though foul play is not suspected, the cause of the deadly blaze remains the focus of an active LAFD investigation, Humphrey noted.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, the victims are 65-year-old Albert Sassoe Jr. and 68-year-old Doris Bergman. Neighbors told reporters the couple was in their 70s. Neighbors say they mostly to themselves but were occasionally seen walking around the neighborhood.

With an increase in clothing made from synthetic materials due to fast fashion, there is a growing concern about the impact of microfibers on the environment and food production.

“Our research has demonstrated that microfiber pollution is a sizable threat to Californians. With at least 4.85 million lbs. of fibers entering our lands and waters each year, mandating use of filters can be an effective near-term solution to limit emissions, said Jay Ziegler, Director, External Affairs and Policy, The Nature Conservancy. “

Synthetic fibers shed from clothing during washing and end up contaminating freshwater systems and oceans. These microfibers can also be found in tap water, bottled water, fish, table salt, and even beer, according to McKinnor. If not captured by wastewater treatment plants, they can be reintroduced into the environment as fertilizer for agricultural fields.

“Microfibers are a widespread pollutant around the globe, making their way into the

air we breathe, the food we eat, and even our bodies. A single load of laundry can release hundreds of thousands of microfibers, but solutions do exist. Filters in washing machines are effective at capturing up to 90% of microfibers, so it’s a logical next step to build these directly into machines,” said Dr. Lisa Erdle, Director of Science & Innovation, 5 Gyres Institute.

Assembly Bill 1628 will be considered by the State Assembly this Spring.

Venice Shorts: Thoma’s On Lincoln Finally Demolished

Abandoned for nearly a decade, building succumbs to the proverbial wrecking ball!

By Nick Antonicello

After years of decay, deterioration and dissolve, the former fast food restaurant known as Thoma’s has finally been razed and torn down at Lincoln.

Once an iconic and reliable destination for burgers, fries and other fast food offerings like fish & chips, the building became woefully dilapidated which stood in front of Whole Foods and next to a gas station is now no longer!

This piece is a follow-up on the structure we did last summer and the link to the original story is here: https://yovenice. com/2022/08/16/a-venice-eyesore-when-willthomas-16-be-finally-torn-down/

The story was wildly popular with Venetians and locals alike as it brought back memories of a time gone by and a very different Venice of today.

For all that is left is the empty sign frame after inspecting the site where the demolition was now complete.

Rumors say a new structure is set for the site, but details are sketchy as to who will occupy this prime piece of real estate at Lincoln and Rose.

Another piece of Venice’s cultural history was taken hostage by high crime and encampments around the structure in recent years as graffiti and drug use became rampant especially after several fires that took place within the abandoned interior had gutted the property until it was fenced and secured before finally being torn down this week.

Another Thoma’s still remains at 108 Washington Boulevard close to the Venice Pier which is a popular burger locale.

The number is (310) 823-4266. Hours of operation are 7:30 AM to 7 PM.

Nick Antonicello is a thirty-year resident and covers all things cultural, community, political and governmental here in Venice. A member of the Outreach and Oceanfront Walk Committee’s of the Venice Neighborhood Council, he can be reached via e-mail at nantoni@mindspring.com

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