Santa Monica Mirror - Jun 09, 2023

Former Waymo CEO Purchases Santa Monica Canyon Home PAGE 6

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Appoints A New Superintendent

The Appointment Will Be Effective July 1

In a late afternoon press release, The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education officially announced the appointment of Antonio M. Shelton, Ed.D., as the new superintendent, effective July 1, 2023. The decision was made during the regular meeting on June 1, following an extensive national search that spanned several months. Dr. Shelton brings with him an impressive 23 years of experience in education, including 18 years in various administrative roles.

It goes on the state that Dr. Shelton has been part of the SMMUSD community for the past year, serving as the executive director of secondary schools. Prior to that, he held the position of lead principal at Santa Monica High School for six years. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Shelton has also been involved in teaching instructional improvement for the doctorate program in educational leadership at the University of Southern California (USC).

Additionally, it states that Dr. Shelton is known for his intelligence and innovative leadership style and is dedicated to improving

educational outcomes for students. He possesses a deep understanding of the challenges facing TK-12 public education and is committed to finding creative solutions that consider diverse perspectives while prioritizing the needs of all students. Dr. Shelton’s leadership approach emphasizes care, compassion, and fostering a collaborative learning environment where students and staff can reach their full potential.

During his tenure as executive director, Dr. Shelton has provided consistent support, mentoring, and coaching to principals as they work towards realizing the district’s vision and goals. He has also demonstrated expertise in overseeing comprehensive budgets and is committed to sound fiscal stewardship and transparency. Dr. Shelton has been actively involved in working with educational partners and has contributed to negotiations regarding certificated and classified bargaining units.

Before joining SMMUSD, Dr. Shelton served as the principal of Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, a top-ranked school, according to US News, from 2011 to 2016. He also held administrative positions at William Mason High School and Sycamore High School, both in Ohio. Dr. Shelton began his teaching career in 1998, teaching honors courses in history and government. He has also worked as an adjunct teacher and facilitator

for graduate-level courses in educational leadership and curriculum development.

“I am truly excited and humbled to serve as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District,” said Dr. Shelton. “I want to thank the school board for trusting me to lead this wonderful district. It is an honor to have been chosen to lead a district that is on the move in a positive direction. I envision a journey ahead with collaboration and community built on trust between myself and the educational partners of SMMUSD. I look forward to leading the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District community, its faculty, staff, and students to greater heights.”

Dr. Shelton holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in Social Studies from Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Kentucky.

Board President Maria Leon-Vazquez expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the search, saying, “Following an arduous national search with the assistance of our consulting firm, Leadership Associates, we reviewed 35 applications and held in-person interviews with top candidates. Dr. Antonio Shelton rose to the top and was selected by the Board. Our communities demand the best, and so does the

Board. We welcome Dr. Shelton into his new role as the superintendent for SMMUSD. We are looking forward to him hitting the ground running, leading SMMUSD through the 21st century while planning for the 22nd century.”

In the press release, SMMUSD announced that Dr. Shelton is eager to engage and collaborate with various community supporters and partners, including the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council and units, Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association, Service Employees International Union, Santa Monica Education Foundation, Malibu fundraising entities, Santa Monica and Malibu Chambers of Commerce, City of Santa Monica, City of Malibu, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit organizations serving youth and families.

Santa Monica City Council Takes Action To Criminalize Catalytic Converter Theft

After Historic Rise In Catalytic Converter Thefts, The New Ordinance Passes Unanimously

By Dolores Quintana

In the Santa Monica City Council meeting on May 24, city council members considered a new ordinance on criminalizing the unlawful possession of catalytic converters. The new ordinance would be known as Santa Monica Municipal Code 4.08.830. This was in response to the large rise of thefts of catalytic converters from residents’ cars in the city.

Detective Martin Hardy of the SMPD property division that deals with grand theft autos and thefts of catalytic converters. He was accompanied

by Sergeant Alfonso Lozano. Detective Hardy presented the staff recommendation from the SMPD and Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office that since the theft of catalytic converters had risen significantly in the past few years, the Santa Monica City Council should adopt an ordinance that criminalizes the possession of catalytic converters for anyone who does not have valid documentation or other proof of lawful possession.

Detective Hardy then showed a graph that tracked the rise of thefts of catalytic converters in Santa Monica from 2016 to the current day. There were only 11 such thefts in 2016, 35 in 2017, 59 in 2018, 27 in 2019, and a large jump in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, to 229 thefts of catalytic converters. In 2021 there were an even larger number of such thefts, namely 302, then another 312 in 2022. For the current year, as of May 24, there have already been 215 catalytic converter thefts in Santa Monica within

the first five months of the year.

After the discussion, there was a motion by Councilmember Caroline Torosis that was seconded by Councilmember Phil Brock to vote on the passage of the ordinance. The vote was unanimous, and the motion was passed. The

penalty is a $500 fine and seizure of the property. Detective Hardy encouraged residents to check the SMPD website for when the SMPD hosts catalytic converter etching events and to check to find out what cars are most in demand for catalytic converter thieves.

City Of Santa Monica Offers Financial Assistance For Child Care To WGA Writers

A $350 Stipend Provided For Youth Programs

By Dolores Quintana

Santa Monica City Councilmember Jesse Zwick announced, via Twitter, that the City Council has responded to the Writers Guild West strike of five weeks by reviewing their policies and determining that the strike counts as special circumstances, so striking WGA members would qualify for Financial Assistance from the Recreation and CREST Programs. You can read more about the program and apply here.

Zwick stated on Twitter, “Something cool Santa Monica is doing to support its striking WGA writers: If you need help securing care for your kids, you can qualify under the city’s special circumstances policy to receive financial assistance for our youth programs. A WGA writer approached me recently because, with school ending, she was worried she’d be unable to enroll her kids in summer camp. Her 2022 income was too high to qualify for financial aid, but the family’s current income was zero, and things were tight.”

He wanted to help, as did the other City Council members, so they took action.

So If you’re a Santa Monica resident, you can explain your loss of income, provide proof of WGA membership, and receive up to $350 per child per quarter. Zwick added, “I’m proud our city is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes

to supporting the working people of Hollywood.”

Here are the program details:

“The City of Santa Monica provides financial assistance for its after-school programs and recreation classes and camps. A completed application is required on an annual basis. Applications are available in May for the new fiscal year (Jul – Jun) and must be received prior to registration, as discounts cannot be applied retroactively. Not all applicants may qualify. Financial Assistance eligibility for FY 2023-24 is aligned with HUD’s 2022 HOME Income Limits. HUD updates Income Limits annually each May, which the City then uses in advance of each program year.

• For swim lessons, recreation classes, recreation camps, and CREST enrichment, applicants may qualify for up to $350 in quarterly assistance (July -September, October-December, January-March, and April-June). The $350 quarterly cap is based on the enrollment date.

• For essential programs such as CREST Club and CREST school-break camps, there is no cap.

For questions on how to apply, the status of your application, or your family’s eligibility, you can contact the following departments:

Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before a program/class begins and prior to registration.

• If submitting for recreation programs, email communityclasses@santamonica. gov

• If submitting for swim classes, email aquatics@santamonica.gov

• If submitting for CREST, email crest@ santamonica.gov

Former Waymo CEO Purchases Santa Monica Canyon Home

John Krafcik Settled Into a Modern Twist on a Classic MidCentury Compound

John Krafcik, former CEO of Waymo, has found his new abode in leafy Santa Monica Canyon, settling into a contemporary twist on a classic mid-century compound, Dirt. com.

The property, initially listed in February for $10.5 million, was secured by Krafcik at a price of $9.6 million. The hillside estate comprises three distinct structures: a main house, a detached art studio, and a detached garage with a guesthouse on top.

Originally designed in the 1950s by renowned midcentury architect Thornton Abell for muralist Richard Haines, the property served as the Haines family’s residence for nearly five decades.

Taunya van der Steen-Mizel acquired the property in 2014, which spans approximately one-third of an acre. Over the course of four years, the couple undertook an extensive demolition and reconstruction project, incorporating Abell’s original plans while infusing the compound with cutting-edge technology and contemporary amenities expected by buyers in this prestigious price range.

Today, the main house boasts an expanded area of 3,450 square feet, featuring three bedrooms, a spacious great room, and a chef’s kitchen equipped with Miele appliances. The residence also showcases radiant heated floors, UV-filtering walls of glass, and custom-built oak cabinetry throughout. The luxury upgrades extend to the renovated art studio, covering approximately 650 square feet, and the 700-square-foot guest apartment located above the garage.

Entrepreneur Adam Mizel and architect

Felony DUI Arrest Made After Severe Crash

SMC Fashion Show Comes Back After Three Years

A Volkswagen Jetta Veered off the Road, Into a Pedestrian

Shortly before midnight on June 2, the

Santa Monica Police Department received an emergency call about a traffic collision involving injuries at the intersection of 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. According to a witness, a Volkswagen Jetta veered off the road, crashing into a pedestrian seated on a bus bench.

Upon arrival, responding officers discovered a 19-year-old male from Los Angeles as the victim, with severe traumatic injuries to both legs. The victim was promptly transported to UCLA Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.

After conducting investigations, officers determined that the driver of the vehicle, identified as John Edward Alevizos (born on April 12, 1988) from Los Angeles, was driving under the influence of alcohol. Considering the severity of the victim’s injuries, Alevizos was apprehended and subsequently booked on charges of felony Driving Under the Influence.

The Event Will Showcase Each Designer’s Creative Vision

By Zach Armstrong

The Santa Monica College Fashion Program is bringing back its annual student fashion show “LA Mode 2023” after three years of quarantine.

The event will showcase each designer’s

creative vision. This will include a mix of casual, club, evening and avant garde capsule collections. The fashion show is an interdisciplinary effort by SMC’s Fashion, Photography, Cosmetology and Media Studies Departments.

The event will take place at the CPC Courtyard directly in front of the Core Performance Center Building at 1900 Pico Blvd. It will occur Friday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. with a Magenta Carpet at 5:00 p.m.

Thirsty Santa Monica: Running Dry

SMa.r.t.

The thirst is real, and Santa Monica is feeling it. The problem? Santa Monica relies on the Metropolitan Water District for a quarter of its water, and in spite of recent welcome rains, in the long run, those sources are drying up, driving prices sky-high.

The city has made heroic efforts to shift to local sources like wells and recycled water, but becoming water self-sufficient is proving to be an uphill battle. The commercial sector’s increasing consumption and new real estate developments are partly to blame.

Despite catching, filtering, and reusing water from storm drains, improving filtering systems, implementing new regulations, and investing in more water-saving infrastructure, our efforts to increase locally-produced water have largely hit a plateau. To make matters worse, we don’t even know how much water we can draw from our own wells without depleting the aquifer.

Preliminary studies suggest our reserves might be over a billion gallons less than

previously thought. Desperate for solutions, we’re drilling exploratory wells closer to the coast and implementing water-catchment and recycling devices around town. While these efforts are commendable, they highlight the harsh reality of diminishing returns. We’re investing more to get less. Even if more water becomes available in the future, we’re approaching the limits of our resources, not to mention the unpredictable rainfall during climate change, crucial for replenishing our groundwater supply.

Santa Monica’s goal of water self-sufficiency has become increasingly challenging to achieve, despite the dedicated efforts and substantial investments. If we manage to meet today’s needs, our growing population and economic activity will push us further away from self-sufficiency in the near future. The Sustainable Water Master Plan might give us enough water for now, but the future holds a different story.

The water crisis in Santa Monica isn’t just parching throats—it may soon be putting a squeeze on the city’s economy. As water prices soar due to dwindling supplies, businesses, particularly those heavily reliant on water like hotels and restaurants, will be feeling the heat. Higher operational costs mean tighter profit margins and potential price hikes for

consumers. The ripple effects could dampen tourism, reduce job opportunities, and stifle economic growth.

Moreover, the city’s ambitious plans for development and expansion may be in jeopardy. Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to sustaining a growing population and flourishing businesses. If water demands can’t be met, will the city have to curb new construction projects (as is currently happening in Phoenix) or limit the number of hotels? The future of Santa Monica’s economic landscape hangs in the balance.

The thirst for a solution intensifies as the economic consequences loom. Finding sustainable ways to quench Santa Monica’s water needs becomes not just an environmental imperative but an economic lifeline. Failure to act swiftly and effectively risks drying up not only the water supply but also the economic prosperity that Santa Monica thrives on.

Tough choices lie ahead. Either we drastically reduce demand, explore alternative water sources like desalination, or abandon our goal of self-sufficiency. But each option comes with a hefty political price, and the city seems hesitant to pay it. Will we sacrifice development? Limit hotels? Rip out gardens and yards? Our policies are trapping us without offering a real solution, even as the recent

unusual rains temporarily veil the problem. Sooner rather than later, the true cost of these policies will be revealed. Water rates will inevitably reflect the expense of obtaining new water. While we’ve enjoyed stability for now, expecting it to last forever is wishful thinking. Brace yourselves for the impact. The thirst is coming, and we’ll feel it in our wallets.

Daniel Jansenson, Architect, Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow: Thane Roberts, Architect, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner, Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA & Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIRCRE.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Michelin Guide Announces New California Restaurants Added To The Guide

Westside Restaurants Are On The List; Designations Will Be Announced on July 18

By Dolores Quintana

The MICHELIN Guide is gearing up for its ceremony on July 18 at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. It has made the exciting announcement of the ten new restaurants in California that they are adding to the guide. According to their press release at the ceremony, which is by invitation only, “chefs and restaurant teams will learn in real-time whether their establishments have received culinary distinctions such as Michelin Stars, Bib Gourmands or other professional award distinctions.”

Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guides, said, via a press release,” By revealing some of the new additions made by our inspectors throughout the year, we enhance our digital tools to further strengthen the ties that bind us to food lovers. We hope that these regular revelations and updates to the selection throughout the year will provide opportunities to highlight the profession and invite everyone to discover and support the restaurants around them.”

Selecting the restaurants that MICHELIN would like to add to its guide is a process that continues all year as its Guide Inspectors visit restaurants all over the world. Four of the ten restaurants selected for inclusion are in the Westside of Los Angeles. You can read more about these restaurants on the MICHELIN

website.

Cento Pasta Bar – 4921 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles

Tucked away in West Adams, this one-time pop-up gone brick-and-mortar from Chef Avner Levi feels timely but has a great laidback vibe. The menu leans Italian-contemporary, with selections including antipasti, molebraised ossobuco with couscous, and yogurtmarinated lamb, but as the name suggests, pasta takes center stage.

Cobi’s

Cobi’s – 2104 Main Street, Santa Monica Discover Thai and Malaysian delights along with other influences on this broad Southeast Asian menu. Start with dumplings, satay, or

curry puffs — those crispy triangular shells filled with curried split peas and potatoes sided by pickled onion and tamarind ketchup. From there, pick a curry or a wood-grilled main dish, such as grilled prawns in a ginger and yellow bean sauce. Prix fixe options include a smattering of dishes selected by the chef.

Dear Jane’s – 13950 Panay Way, Marina del Rey

In case this Marina del Rey restaurant’s glass wall with views of the boats outside didn’t give it away, Dear Jane’s celebrates the life aquatic with its focus on old-school seafood and Continental cuisine. This spot pours it on with large portions and over-the-top flourishes (caviar makes a regular appearance) while keeping things grounded with strong cooking.

Juliet – 8888 Washington Boulevard, Culver City

The open kitchen buzzes all day, but dinner is where this team shines. Oysters, tartare, or tuna carpaccio could kick off the meal, but the mousse au foie de volaille, with its delicate tart filled with chicken liver mousse, toasted hazelnuts, and an apple gelee, is an auspicious

beginning. Sea bream with ratatouille and pistou is simple but well executed and pairs well with one of their many wines available by the glass.

The designations for restaurants added to the MICHELIN list are as follows:

Recognized globally for excellence and quality, the Michelin Guide offers a selection of world-class restaurants.

• The famous one, two, and three Michelin Stars identify establishments serving exceptional cuisine rich in flavor and infused with the personality of a talented chef.

• The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.

• The Michelin Green Star honors restaurants at the forefront of practices committed to more sustainable gastronomy.

• Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by Michelin Guide inspectors.

Open Letter to the Santa Monica Community: Urgent Call for Action to Address Homelessness and Public Safety Crisis from DTSM Business Owners

To all that do business, live, work and manage our City of Santa Monica, This week a group of us went to visit 10 local hotel concierges to try and drum up business for our restaurants, as it has been painfully slow in Santa Monica.

I have spoken to many colleagues in the Santa Monica hospitality business and they have also confirmed very slow business. The gray weather does not help, but I wanted you all to know that several of the hotels commented that they are no longer seeing foreign tourists as they are being advised to stay away from Santa Monica specifically, due to the increase in homelessness, unsafe streets and beaches that are populated by homeless. Social media has only exacerbated this, showing images of people on the streets defecating in front of strollers, mentally ill people spitting on food at restaurants and wandering the streets screaming at people. I wish I could say these were not the norm and it is just propaganda, but working on Ocean Avenue every day and night, it is a daily reality that is sad, terrible for business and tourism . This morning I dealt with a screamer yelling profanities at my staff, and the pics attached were taken in just one

block. Additionally we have had to spend 100k a year to hire a private security guard at Blue Plate taco as our staff can no longer deal with the daily interactions and disruptions of this problem. They are are not trained for this and also expressed on many occasions that they would work elsewhere where these problems and challenges do not exist on a daily basis. We find people sleeping on our patios, human feces left for us to pick up, and regularly call ambassadors and police to help us drive people away so our guests do not have their dining experience ruined. A few weeks ago, we had a mentally ill paranoid man with tattoos all over his face blocking the entrance for over half an over, keeping guests from leaving or entering. He was scary and freaked everyone out. I called the police who said they would come as soon as they could, at which point I reached out to Ramon Batistsa who immediately responded by sending officers over. They were unable to take him away but finally were able to move him away from the entrance. (See attached video)

I see that there is a City Council meeting on the 13th at 6 P.M. Is this specifically to address these problems or will there be other agendas

that evening?

The last few City Council meeting I have attended, I ended up staying until 11 pm and the issues I was there to discuss, (parklet expenses and homelessness) had still not been addressed as and I had to leave to relieve a babysitter. It was a waste of my time so wondering what the plan is for this meeting. Perhaps the Council/City Managers should conduct a designated 911 meeting with local businesses at an hour we can actually attend to better understand our struggles before we all start moving or closing. We all are demanding an explanation of what mandatory changes are being made to improve the current dire situation so businesses can once again thrive in a safe community community.

We know how to run restaurants and be hospitable, however we cannot do this with dwindling customer counts. The general consensus seems to be that very few people in the city care, want to make necessary changes to help improve the problem, or they believe that this is the way things should be, as we are helping people by feeding them.

If it is the case, that certain people do not care or are unwilling to make changes to make

our streets safer and more business friendly, why would they be in a political position? Perhaps some people who are against changing the current situation are out of touch with reality as they are making decisions from behind a desk rather than seeing the daily realities of running a business amongst this chaos. We invite you to come and spend the day with us working outside, seeing the daily challenges we are having interacting with people on the street who who are scaring locals, tourists and staff away from Downtown, Santa Monica. In speaking to many of my colleagues who own restaurants in other parts of Los Angeles, they are not having the same problems. I am only sharing this as I have heard many rumblings of business owners fed up and wanting to leave Santa Monica to safer communities. As I said, this is no longer a random occurrence, it is every day in Downtown Santa Monica.

We need help.

Jen Rush

Jennifer Rush Blue Plate Restaurant Group

To all interested persons: Victoria Beth Entine-Redler Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Victoria Beth Entine-Redler to Victoria Entine Neril

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: 06/30/23 | 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: May, 18, 2023

Judge Lawrence Cho

Published: 05/19/2023, 05/26/23, 06/02/2023,

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA  COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES    ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 23SMCP00237 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401

Petition of: Jone Blount, by and through Briahn Stephani Grant for change of name. ORDER 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.

AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 05/19/2023, 05/26/2023, 06/02/2023, and 06/09/2023