S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
May 6 – May 12, 2022 Volume CXXXIX, Issue 143
INSIDE
LA COUNTY HOMELESS DEATHS SPIKED DURING PANDEMIC’S FIRST YEAR
PAGE 4
Councilmember Brock Calls for Dissolution of Downtown Santa Monica Board and Private Security for Promenade Area Santa Monica City Councilmember Phil Brock calls for changes downtown By SaM CataNZarO Citing safety concerns stemming from homelessness around the Promenade, Santa Monica City Councilmember Phil Brock is calling for the dissolution of the Downtown Santa Monica Inc board, in addition to private security forces in the area. Downtown Santa Monica Inc is the nonprofit organization tasked with managing the Downtown Santa Monica area. Brock made these announcements in an email reply to Third Street Promenade property John Alle. Among those CC’d on the email are Santa Monica City Manager David White, DTSM Chief Executive Officer Barry Snell, and Santa Monica City Councilmembers Christine Parra and Oscar de la Torre. “I fully support the removal of the safety ambassador team as constituted and that they immediately be replaced by a high quality, armed private security force and both armed and unarmed details of the SMPD be placed there,” Brock wrote. “Having homeless outreach and security coverage on a 10-hour day coverage plan is insufficient when the
problems of our downtown are 24-hour-aday issues.” In his letter, Brock said the current board make-up of the DTSM board is unable to tackle the issues of safety and homelessness the area around the Promenade is facing. “I will support a dissolution of the current board of DTSM,” Brock wrote. “The board members we chose must be stakeholders within downtown who have business and shopping management experience.” Brock later in a phone interview, refined his stance on whether or not the private security force needs to be armed. “It doesn’t matter if it’s armed,” Brock told the Santa Monica Mirror. “What I was looking for was a security force that will be more present, that will give the police more help and that will be more highly trained. So when I looked at the private security forces Beverly Hills is using, and also some of the homeowners on the beachfront are using, most of them are either retired or off-duty police officers. So they have had significantly more training and would be more capable of doing their job.” In addition, Brock told the Mirror that he does not think DTSM should be responsible for security in the downtown area. “DTSM should not be responsible for the safety, security and cleanliness of downtown Santa Monica. That is a City of Santa Monica job,” Brock said. “They are spending $450,000 a month is my
Photo: Courtsey John Alle
understanding for safety and cleanliness and security downtown. I don’t think the merchants and the property owners gain $450,000 worth of bang for their buck.” Brock stressed that the SMPD should be responsible for securing the downtown area, but noted that this is not possible due to understaffing. Therefore short term he wants private security to step in. Currently, there are 47 vacancies in the SMPD, according to Brock. “Whatever security force we employ to help the police will be replaced by our police department once they get to full strength. I
am not advocating for a private security force–whether they are armed or unarmed– downtown on a permanent basis. Most of that security should be handled by the Santa Monica Police Department,” Brock said. “I am not asking for a militarized downtown, but what I am asking for is a downtown that feels safe enough for our residents to walk, bicycle and drive to that will be clean and safe for everyone in the city.” When reached for comment, Barry Snell, DTSM Interim CEO and Chair of the Board
Downtown Santa Monica, see page 9
Nearly Five Acres of Santa Monica Beach Dunes to Be Restored $300,000 grant for Bay Foundation to fund restoration across from the Annenberg Community Beach House By DOLOreS QUiNtaNa
Nearly five acres of coastal dunes are set to be restored on Santa Monica Beach. The City of Santa Monica and The Bay Foundation have been working together for the last five years to restore almost three acres of strand coastal habitat on the north side of Santa Monica’s beach area. This rare coastal habitat has been restored through the use of fencing to build up sand dunes, restriction of beach grooming, and seeding of the arable ground near the dunes with native plants. This restoration brought back the endangered Western Snowy Plover to the area for the first time in over 70 years. Part of the success of the project was made possible by the efforts to engage the public
and provide monitoring data to other similar projects throughout Southern California. The Bay Foundation recently released its Year 5 Report which contains the results of the project from December 2015 to its completion in October of 2021. The Foundation made the decision to establish the project site as a permanent feature of the beach and has applied for a Coastal Development Permit amendment. When this permit amendment is approved, it means that any visitors to the area, whether they are residents or tourists will be able to see the beach in its restored natural state. More information about this project is available here: Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project Because of the success of this pilot restoration project, the Bay Foundation has been approved for a $300k grant from the Refugio Trustee council to launch phase two of the project to restore the dunes at Santa Monica beach. The new area to be restored is adjacent to the current project area, located across from the Annenberg Community Beach House and next to Lifeguard Tower Two. Eventually, this project intends to restore nearly five acres of the coastal habitat
The current Santa Monica Dune Restoration Pilot Project.
through the transformation of the beach into a sustainable coastal strand and foredune habitat that will be resilient against any sea-level rise. The project should be completed over the next five years and the Bay Foundation intends to begin local outreach efforts and planning for the project this year. The Foundation plans to build upon the success of the pilot project that will safeguard the beach long term against rising sea levels and provide ecosystem services to visitors and residents of Santa Monica as well as soliciting
Photo: Courtesy The Bay Foundation
community support for the project. Volunteer events like cleanups and workshops that show residents and visitors how much phase two of the project can improve the beach and get residents and visitors involved and invested in the project can only help the future success of the rehabilitation. If you are interested in learning more about the project or getting involved in the Santa Monica Beach Dune Restoration Project, please take a moment to fill out this Friends of the Santa Monica Beach Dunes Interest Form.