Santa Monica Mirror - April 21, 2023

Pacific Park’s SolarPowered Ferris Wheel “Goes Green” for Earth Day

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American Youth Symphony’s Spring Concert Celebrates 58 Years of Performance

Sunday’s Free Concert Concludes the 2022-34 Season

By Susan Payne

Much is in store for the American Youth Symphony as the organization celebrates 58 years of bringing the powerful experience of exceptional orchestral performance to the community through free and low-cost concerts.

On Sunday, AYS is hosting a Spring Concert at UCLA’s Royce Hall, beginning with Samuel Barber’s Overture to the School for Scandal, followed by Esa-Pekka Salonen’s LA Variations and closing with two pieces by Richard Strauss: Salome’s Dance of the Seven Veils and Ein Heldenleben.

Founded in 1964 by world-renowned conductor Mehi Mehta, AYS provides landmark fellowship to virtuosic young adults and exceptional, innovative, and accessible concerts to the Los Angeles community. For 58 years, AYS has created ensembles of extraordinarily talented young adults who are shaping the future of classical music.

“This tuition-free and access-driven business model is not possible without the dedication and loyalty of AYS donors, supporters, and members. Each and every year–including our 58th season–is a milestone celebration for

everyone who has played a part in ensuring our musicians have access to world-class training and our audiences have access to AYS performances, free from any financial burden,” said Isabel Thiroux, interim executive director of AYS.

Known as a “gateway” orchestra for aspiring musicians, Thiroux said the organization has trained over 3,000 musicians who have joined the finest orchestras, enjoy successful careers in recording, and are on faculties of prestigious schools.

“AYS alums have joined the finest orchestras in the nation, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera, to name a few. The three leading orchestras in Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and LA Opera – currently employ 23 AYS graduates,” said Thiroux.

Sunday’s Spring Concert starts at 4 p.m., directed by Carlos Izcaray, who is described by the international press as inspiring, spirited, and conducting with nuanced sensitivity. Izcaray has conducted ensembles across five continents and is firmly established as one of the most highly regarded conductors of his generation.

After one of Izcaray’s many ensembles, The St. Louis Dispatch wrote, “Conductor Carlos Izcaray made an outstanding, memorable debut, leading with idiomatic fire and elan;

he’s a real find.”

Although the Spring Concert on April 23 will conclude the 2022-23 season, more is to come this summer as AYS steps into the 2023-24 season. Along with concert series and performances, AYS will be collaborating with Inner City Arts to provide a chamber concert in June, featuring AYS’s strong musicians and community education at the Rosenthal Theater.

“Inner City Arts offers a safe, creative space in Los Angeles where more than 200,000 children have been invited to create and explore,” said Thiroux. “We’re excited about this collaboration.”

To support AYS and its mission to inspire the future of classical musicals, consider the following options:

• Become an AYS member: Memberships are a tax-deductible donation of $65 or more per year and proceeds support musicians, mission and programs, and more.

• Become an AYS champion: Championship

starts at $1,500 a year and offers sponsorship toward an AYS musician, concert, or guest artist to be featured at one of the concerts. Championship members also have an opportunity to name a chair in the orchestra or be recognized as a concert sponsor.

• Attend an event: From single tickets to hosting tables or corporate sponsorship packages, there are many ways to experience an AYS event while also supporting the organization. As most tickets are “pay-whatyou-can,” AYS ensures cost is not a barrier to access.

• Volunteer with AYS: Concerts and events are open to volunteers who are rewarded with great seats, even at sold-out performances. Email katie.speer@asymphony.org if you’d like to get involved.

Tickets for the upcoming Spring Concert are free and can be found here. Later this summer, more events and information on the 2023-24 will be released.

Santa Monica’s Top Sustainable Businesses to be Honored at the 27th Annual Quality Awards

Awards Ceremony

To Be Held on April 26,

2023, At Annenberg House

By Staff Writer

The Sustainable Quality Awards, hosted by the City of Santa Monica in partnership with Sustainable Works, will celebrate its 27th year by honoring local businesses that are leading

the way in sustainable practices. The awards ceremony will be held on April 26, 2023, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Annenberg Community Beach House.

The awards recognize two Grand Prize winners and two Excellence Award winners for their outstanding contributions to sustainable economic development, social responsibility, and stewardship of the environment.

This year, The Shore Hotel and Veo are the Grand Prize winners for their comprehensive approaches to reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable transportation solutions.

OsteoStrong and Diana Ralys Skin Health are

the Excellence Award winners for their social responsibility and economic development, and stewardship of the environment, respectively.

According to the City of Santa Monica’s Chief Sustainability Officer Shannon Parry, these businesses are demonstrating that economic vitality, social equity, and environmental protection are all essential components of a thriving local business community.

Tickets to the Sustainable Quality Awards are available online at smsqa.com. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with a networking power hour featuring exhibitors from the community, catered small bites, and connecting with Santa Monica professionals from different industries.

Photo: American Youth Symphony

Photo: Getty Images

Address:2304 Sawtelle Blvd 90064

License number: C10-0000626LIC

Phone number: (310)616-5140

Insta: @Erba_Sawtelle

Santa Monica Police Detain Hit and Run Driver Suspected of DUI

Driver Fled the Scene After Striking Two Vehicles in Broad Daylight

By Staff Writer

A reckless driver caused chaos and destruction in Downtown Santa Monica this week after running a red light and colliding with two other vehicles as reported by The Santa Monica Daily Press. The incident happened in the middle of the day, causing panic and shock for witnesses and other drivers in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, a dark gray Honda Accord was seen speeding through the intersection, heading north to south, against the traffic lights. The vehicle then collided with a second car, which was traveling west to east on a green light. The impact was so severe that the second vehicle spun 90 degrees.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Honda Accord then collided with a third vehicle, a white Lexus that was waiting to turn right onto Santa Monica Blvd. The driver of the first vehicle fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of destruction

Police Arrest Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Homeless Women

in Santa Monica

DNA evidence leads to arrest of the suspect in West Hollywood

By Staff Writer

On March 14, 2023, Anthony Pittman was arrested in West Hollywood for a series of sexual assaults committed in Santa Monica, LAPD’s Northeast Division, and LAPD’s Wilshire Division between August 28, 2022, and September 15, 2022.

and panicked onlookers.

Fortunately, the driver of the second vehicle only sustained minor injuries and was treated for shock by members of the Santa Monica Fire and Police departments, who arrived on the scene without much delay.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda Accord was located in the 1400 block of 6th Street and detained for witness identification. Upon inspection, the driver showed clear signs of intoxication and failed a field sobriety test. The driver was subsequently arrested for Hit & Run and DUI-drugs (CNS Stimulant), an offense that could carry severe consequences.

According to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Pittman has been charged with three counts of forcible rape, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of digital penetration, and one count of sexual battery. The victims were all adult females who were experiencing homelessness at the time of the assaults.

Thanks to DNA evidence, authorities were able to link the cases together, leading to Pittman’s arrest. The LAPD and Santa Monica Police Department are urging anyone with information about Pittman or the assaults to come forward and contact them.

These heinous crimes have put a spotlight on the vulnerability of the homeless population

and the need for increased protection and support. Homelessness is a growing issue in many cities across the United States, and those experiencing homelessness are often at a higher risk of violence and victimization.

If you have any information about Pittman or the assaults, please contact the Santa Monica Police Department Watch Commander at (310)458-2249, if you are calling after hours.

You can also contact Sgt. Chad Goodwin (310) 458-8931 or Detective Oscar Flores (310) 458-8609 directly. Your information could help bring closure to the victims and ensure that justice is served.

We must also continue to hold those who commit these crimes accountable for their actions. The charges against Pittman are a step towards justice for the victims, and we hope that this case will serve as a reminder that sexual assault and violence against women will not be tolerated in our society.

World of Barbie Opens Its Doors in Santa Monica for a Larger-Than-Life Immersive Experience

Fans of All Generations Can Step Into a Life-Size Barbie Dreamhouse

By Staff Writer

World of Barbie, an immersive experience produced by Mattel, Kilburn Live, and IMG, finally made its US debut on April 14 after a successful three-month run in Toronto. The 20,000-square-foot attraction, located at Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, CA, invites fans of all ages to step into a world where they can explore a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse, try out different Barbie careers, and even drive a full-size Barbie Camper Van. The experience also features a bespoke Barbie exhibit that showcases how the doll, her Dreamhouse, and her vehicles have evolved over the years.

“We are thrilled to bring this attraction to Los Angeles after a wildly successful, extended run in Toronto,” said Julie Freeland, Senior Director of Global Location-Based Entertainment, at Mattel. “As the number one doll property worldwide and the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie is a global phenomenon. At World of Barbie, we are excited to offer guests of all ages a larger-than-life, inspiring experience that reminds fans why they fell in love with Barbie and that they can do anything and be anything.”

World of Barbie in LA will also host several new after-hours and special events, such as Pink Carpet Night, Movie Days, and Sips After Sunset. The touring production will be co-produced by IMG, who will help launch future international versions of the exhibition. Stephen Flint Wood, Executive Vice President, Group Managing Director, Arts & Entertainment Events at IMG, said, “We are incredibly excited to be working with Mattel and Kilburn Live to bring World of Barbie to the US for the first time. Barbie has never been more relevant, and this promises to be

an immersive experience the likes of which has never been seen in LA.”

Tickets for the Los Angeles engagement start at $34 for adults and $26 for children and are available through liveentertainment discovery platform Fever. The World of Barbie exhibition promises to be an unmissable, world-class experience that celebrates the iconic Barbie doll and her impact on generations of fans.

World of Barbie features many interactive installations including:

• Barbie Dreamhouse: Visitors will be able to explore the exquisitely designed rooms of the life-size Barbie Dreamhouse, complete with a patio and pool, a DJ kit for guests to mix music, and walk-in closets filled with garments from decades of iconic Barbie fashion history

• Barbie Camper Van: Fans can take the driver’s seat in this full-size camper van, built by leading car customization shop,

West Coast Customs, or simply relax in a hammock

• Fashion Studio: Guests will have an opportunity to walk the pink carpet and pose inside one of the six Barbie boxes

• TV Studio: Visitors can step onto the set and become a news anchor delivering headlines in front of various TV studio backdrops, interviewing their guests, or giving the weather report

• Space Center: Visitors will be able to board a Barbie space shuttle to interact with mission control and travel to several interstellar destinations

• Salon: In partnership with Professional Beauty Brand, Paul Mitchell®, World of Barbie will feature a salon where guests can interact with Paul Mitchell products

• Movie Theater: Guests can also step into the neighborhood movie theater where classic Barbie content will be played.

Photo: Kilburn Live

Sunday | April 23, 2023

9 AM - 3 PM

Pacific Park’s SolarPowered Ferris Wheel “Goes Green” for Earth Day

Pacific Park supports Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

By Staff Writer

On Saturday, April 22, The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will colorfully celebrate Earth Day. The world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel will go green with a variety of green and blue colors, patterns, and icons, along with a spinning globe.

The wheel’s lighting system features “16.7 million color value combinations, and its programming and display software can present imaging up to 24 frames per second, providing dynamic, custom, computergenerated lighting entertainment.”

The Pacific Wheel’s “174,000 LED lights are mounted on the Ferris wheel’s structure, including the 40 spokes and two hubs. The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 81 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional

incandescent bulbs.”

Pacific Park is committed to being a leader in green initiatives and sustainability. In addition to the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel, Pacific Park also introduced the world’s first wind-powered midway game, among other green initiatives.

The City of Santa Monica recognized Pacific Park with a 2020-2021 “Gold GoSaMo Achievement” award for reducing vehicle trips, congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions in the city. Pacific Park also received the “Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural Environment” award at the 15th annual Sustainable Quality Awards by the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, and the nonprofit Sustainable Works.

Furthermore, Pacific Park was an early adopter of the City’s organic collection program. Visitors to the pier contribute to rubbish and trash being added to local landfills, and Pacific Park collects organic materials from its kitchens and concessions to be diverted from the landfill to the City of Santa Monica’s organics program.

Additionally, Pacific Park supports Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and their beach cleanups, and the Bay Foundation in their initiatives to rebuild local habitats for local, endemic flora and fauna.

Come join your friends and neighbors at the Santa Monica City Wide Yard Sale!!

This event promotes the reuse of existing products, giving new life to old items, saving them from the trash, and diverting them from the landfill. This helps improve our environment, increases the City’s landfill diversion rate, and helps the City meet its 2030 Zero Waste Goal.

Photo: Facebook

Join Esters Wine Shop And Bar in Celebrating Earth Day with a Regenerative Wine Fair

Esters Will Also Host Guest Chef Event on April 25

In celebration of Earth Day, Co-Owner/ Rustic Canyon Family Wine Director Kathryn Coker and her team are hosting an outdoor regenerative wine fair on Saturday, April 22, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the parklet. The event will feature planet-friendly winemakers who practice regenerative farming in the vineyard, including renowned sommelier, writer & winemaker Raj Parr, Centralas owner, vintner & Organic Wine Podcast host Adam Huss, Camins 2 Dreams’ Tara Gomez & Mireia Taribo, and more.

Guests can enjoy wine tastings and meet the winemakers, and tickets are available for $40/ person via Resy. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to OOM (Our Only Mission— Earth), a startup that creates a new reuse economy to eliminate single-use packaging waste in our everyday consumer goods, like wine bottles.

On Tuesday, April 25, Esters is hosting a pop-up event as part of its ongoing Guest

Chef Series. James Beard Award-winning and critically-acclaimed Chef Tony Messina, who recently moved from Boston to LA to open The Surf Clam, will be taking over Esters’ “little kitchen that could” from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Chef Tony will be preparing a playful à la

carte menu that blends Japanese and Chinese influences with New England cuisine, all while showcasing California’s stunning seasonal produce and seafood. Sommelier Randall Middleton will be pairing some lovely wines too. Reservations are highly recommended via Resy, but walk-ins are also welcome at the bar.

Photo: Facebook

SMO (So Many Options) Part1

SMa.r.t.

The volume of discussion around the options for Santa Monica Airport (SMO) continues to increase, as does the amount of misdirection by those that seek to close the facility. When persuasion requires misdirection, there is usually something wrong. Where there’s smoke there’s fire.

In 2014, there were 64,625 registered voters in Santa Monica. Of those registered voters, only 28,333 total voted, for a historically low 44% turnout, and not all even voted on Measure LC. LC received 15,434 votes that suggested the closure of SMO (Santa Monica Airport) should be an option in the future. About 49,000 voters therefore either said to leave it open or didn’t cast a vote. The 15,434 closure votes only represent 23% of the current number of registered voters. Hardly a mandate, and with the current building frenzy and State housing demands what will that number represent in 2028.

Measure LC

The essence of Measure LC was

twofold. First and foremost, it removed any participation of the city’s residents in the decision to close the airport, or leave it operational, and gave that power to the Council. Second, it indicated a possibility for the Council to change the existing ultra-low density land use that is SMO with another low-density land use which was a park but also provided development options for recreational and educational purposes IF SMO were to close. However, LC does not mandate the closure of SMO, it only says a Council vote MAY be taken regarding change of use, and It vested the Council with the exclusive power to determine the options to be presented to the residents. LC really was not about Local Control, it was all about Council Control, and that ultimately comes down to a majority vote by four members that would control the decision about SMO.

Section 640

Measure LC led to a change in the City Charter adding Section 640 “640. Regulation, management, and closure of Santa Monica Airport and future use of Airport land.

Subject only to limitations imposed by law, the City Council shall have full

authority, without voter approval, to regulate the use of the Santa Monica Airport, manage Airport leaseholds, condition leases, and permanently close all or part of the Airport to aviation use.

If all or part of the Airport land is permanently closed to aviation use, no new development of that land shall be allowed until the voters have approved limits on the uses and development that may occur on the land. However, this section shall not prohibit the City Council from approving the following on Airport land that has been permanently closed to aviation use: the development of parks, public open spaces, and public recreational facilities; and the maintenance and replacement of existing cultural, arts and education uses.”

The 2017 Consent Decree

On January 30, 2017, the City entered into the Consent Decree with the FAA. Per the Consent Decree:

“IF the City does not enter into future agreements with the FAA that continue to require the City to operate the Airport after December 31, 2028, the Parties agree that the City MAY, in its sole discretion at any time on or after January 1, 2029, cease to operate the Airport as an

airport and MAY close the Airport to all aeronautical use forever, subject only to the applicable 30-day notice requirements set forth in 49 U.S.C. § 46319(a) and 14 C.F.R. Part 157.5(b)(2).”

Note the words IF and MAY. Closure of all or part of SMO, under the Consent Decree, requires a majority vote of the Council and is so noted in the City’s March 2020 Airport Report. In the absence of a council vote, SMO would be retained as an aviation facility, and such a vote cannot occur until January 1, 2029, or thereafter.

City Council Resolution #11026 (CCS):

Following the Consent Decree, in February 2017, the Council passed Resolution #11026 (CCS) addressing the closure of SMO.

However, a resolution is neither a regulation nor an ordinance and is not law. It is simply a ‘promise’ to pursue an action. A binding part of the resolution, as stated in Section 1, makes clear that any effort to close SMO must be “…consistent with the terms of the Consent Decree…”, which is quoted above, indicating closure is not a mandated fact, but requires a vote of the City Council after December 31, 2028. In other words, a Resolution is a

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

formal expression of an opinion, while an Ordinance is an authoritative rule of law enacted by a local government.

What’s required to close SMO

A majority vote by the council is required to close SMO. As noted above, that is a vote yet to be taken. Regardless of that fact, the local press and closure advocates continue to headline and claim that SMO will (not “may”) close and cease aviation activity on December 31, 2028. That is not a fact.

When confronted with the actual fact that a separate vote is required after December 31, 2028, closure advocates engage in an extremely deceptive sleight of hand by stating closure has been decided through Resolution #11026 (CCS), which was adopted by the council in February 2017. They intentionally misrepresent that this resolution is a legally binding closure decision. It is not.

Cutting Through the Misinformation

The reliance of the closure advocates on misinformation with headlines that say the city council has voted to close the airport and is planning for a ‘great park’ is very concerning. Sadly, it indicates that any pronouncements from these groups about what will or will not take place cannot be taken at face value. Misinforming residents about this extremely important issue calls into question why is it so hard for them to simply present and clearly explain the facts. Why not do that, why not explain what other negative impacts may come should SMO cease operations? Moreover, these closure advocates steadfastly avoid any discussion of the risks associated with losing federal protection from the development of the current land use. While there is a vocal group that advocates for a “great park”, there is no definition in the current planning process for what is a “great park”. What is included in both the City’s “A Public Process to Determine the Future of the Santa Monica Airport” document and in the City’s “Request For Quote” (RFQ) document to choose a consultant for the planning process is a discussion of “scenarios” that include the possibility of development and how to finance any change of use. The City is also

acknowledging risks associated with the State’s land use development laws that were not in effect in either 2014 or 2017. The Public Process document notes the $16 million to $21 million annual maintenance costs of the park options and that the city has no current financial path to afford the maintenance let alone the $ 2 million+/acre a typical urban park costs to develop. Our Tongva Park cost more than $ 6 million/acre.

So what is the current SMO planning effort actually about? It should be read carefully, keeping in mind Measure LC, the Consent Decree, Section 640 of the City Charter, and the financial health of

our town. It is a study to see what might be feasible to do with 227 acres of prime ocean view real estate in a developmenthungry, high land value, beachfront community, by a city that is seemingly cash deprived, with incredibly high pension obligations, facing what may be hundreds of millions of dollars in child abuse litigation and has a “Community College” with a rapacious expansion program that has growth “potential” at the airport.

Next week we will continue with part two of the discussion of the future of SMO.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner; Thane Roberts, Architect; Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA; Mario Fonda-Bonardi, Architect AIA Planning Commissioner; Sam Tolkin, Architect, Planning Commissioner; Michael Jolly ARECRE

For previous articles see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing

To all interested

no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Bob Taylor, AIA For SMa.r.t.

Photo: Getty Photos