S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
INSIDE
Santa Monica Families Earning Upwards of $190,000 Can Qualify for Mortgage Relief
PAGE 7
June 24 – June 30, 2022 Volume CXLVI, Issue 150
Metro Church and Cafe Fundraising To Keep Space in Santa Monica Non-profit church and coffee shop shut down following false vermin complaint BY DOLORES QUINTANA Metropolis Santa Monica is a multiuse facility located at 603 Arizona Ave downtown, that includes a coffee shop called Metro Café. They are a non-profit organization and church that seeks to serve the community, particularly those at risk or who might be forgotten. Their programs and services are meant to help the most vulnerable, low-income seniors and families, and the unhoused. Metro Café was shut for 11 months during the pandemic, which severely hampered its ability to fund its organization. Metropolis owes deferred rent to their landlord from the time during the COVID lockdowns At the time that the Café, their main source of revenue, had been closed. Back in December, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) got a complaint that the kitchen of the Café was infested with vermin shortly after Metropolis’ attempt to reopen the Café. When Public Health showed up to investigate the facility, they found that the claim was totally false, however, The Health Department found that Metropolis Café’s exemption as a secondary use facility would have to be upgraded to a full restaurant facility permit. They have since been working with the city to be able to get
Photo: metropolissm.com
Sunday meal and hygiene kit distribution at Metro Café.
the permit but it involves new architectural plans and renovations that Metropolis paid for. When asked about the issues at Metropolis, a Public Health spokesperson issued this response via email, “A complaint regarding a cockroach infestation at the Metro Café located at 603 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica was investigated by our Public Health Inspector on December 21, 2021. While the visit did not validate the cockroach complaint, it did reveal that the restaurant was operating without a public health permit, which is required by State law. The restaurant was ordered to close and directed to submit plans to Public
Health. The business owner was provided with the information necessary to come into compliance and be able to apply for a public health permit. Additionally, our records indicate that this is a new kitchen facility, and not a remodel.” When asked who was responsible for the false complaint, the spokesperson responded that the names of those who file complaints with the Public Health are not public records. On May 18, 2022, Metropolis’ landlord gave them a three-day notice to pay or quit the $44,000 total rent. Metropolis has set up a GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme. com/f/help-us-save-metropolis) to help
raise $50,000 to pay the deferred rent. As it stands, donations are at $17,531. We asked Pastor Steven Snook for an update regarding Metropolis’ situation regarding the three-day notice to pay or quit and he responded via email, “We have been able to meet the landlord’s demands in part. We came to an agreement and are catching up with deferred rent that is due. We’re still here. The cafe is not open yet, but the ball is in our court now as to the city. Pastor Steve added, “I want to reiterate that I don’t want to make it about the
Metro Church, see page 10
Santa Monica Resident Injured in Apartment Fire Pico Neighborhood apartment catches fire last week BY SAM CATANZARO A Santa Monica resident was injured in an apartment fire last week. According to the Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD), on Thursday June 16 at 9:07 p.m. dispatchers received multiple calls reporting a fire in an apartment building on the 2300 block of Kansas Avenue in the Pico Neighborhood. Upon arrival, SMFD crews encountered a two story apartment building
with one unit on the second floor “well involved” with fire. Firefighters quickly worked to attack the blaze and prevent it from extending to adjacent apartments while rapidly searching and evacuating the building. According to the SMFD, the fire was extinguished in less than 20 minutes and was confined to the unit of origin, with only minor damage to other units. One resident was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained from the fire. Additionally, Santa Monica Police Department officers and firefighters were able to rescue two cats from a neighboring apartment. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Smoke showing from a Santa Monica apartment last week.
Photo: Citizen App