Issuu

S A N TA M O N I C A

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY

smmirror.com

INSIDE FIRST BLACK CITY COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTED

PAGE 2

July 17 – July 23, 2020 Volume XLV, Issue 50

Santa Monica Public Schools Likely Remote in Fall Superintendent cites surging COVID-19 cases By Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica public schools will likely be online in the fall, the superintendent announced Tuesday, the same day LA County reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day. “Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District staff will recommend that the School Board announce a plan to reopen with distance learning, following recent state and local health recommendations and a surge in Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County,” reads a letter to parents from Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati Tuesday. The school board meets on Thursday to discuss and take final action on the proposed plan. The Board’s final decision will be covered online at smmirror.com and in next week’s print edition. The announcement comes a day after Los Angeles Unified School District said that it would start the school year onlineonly. According to Drati, SMMUSD had been preparing to recommend an in-person, hybrid model that included both in-person and distance learning but a recent surge in COVID-19 spread forced the district to change course. “The steady upsurge in coronavirus cases in our region combined with the advice of public health experts has led us to the conclusion that distance learning is the most prudent model to start the 2020-2021 school year,” Drati said. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in a single day with 4,244 new cases and 2,103 people hospitalized. The County also confirmed 73 new deaths of COVID-19. This is one of the highest numbers

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica.

of new deaths reported in a day and may reflect a lag in the reporting of deaths over the weekend. “Today’s numbers are alarming and unfortunately are the result of many businesses and individuals not adhering to the basic public health requirements of distancing and wearing face coverings. We are just not able to continue on a recovery journey without everyone doing their part. Keeping businesses open is only possible if we get back to slowing the spread,” said Los Angeles County Department of

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. As of Wednesday, Public Health has identified 143,009 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 3,932 deaths. In Santa Monica, there have been 521 cases and 36 deaths. According to Drati, since the pandemic began the district has worked toward the reopening physical buildings on campuses following guidelines and protocols presented by public health officials. Conducting learning remotely will provide the district

an opportunity to fully implement these recommendations and prepare for the return of students and staff as quickly and safely as possible, Drati said. “This was not an easy decision,” Drati wrote. “We understand that distance learning may present a challenge to many families. We will address these concerns in the upcoming school board meeting and during the next month and beyond, along with how we plan to deliver distance learning to our students in a consistent and effective manner.”

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

Santa Monica City Council Appoints First Black Woman to Serve City Council chooses Kristin McCowan to fill Greg Morena’s vacant seat By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica appointed this week the first Black woman to serve as a Councilmember–a former member of the Obama administration who currently works under Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. On Tuesday, July 14 Santa Monica City Council appointed Kristin McCowan to the Council. McCowan fills the position vacated by Greg Morena in June and is Santa Monica’s first Black woman to serve as a Councilmember. She was selected from 109 eligible candidates, according to the city. McCowan’s term lasts until the November election when she will have to run to continue to serve in the partial term seat through November 2022 when Morena’s term would have expired. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve my hometown during this critical time,” McCowan said. “I look forward to bringing together our many voices as we work to recover and heal as one community.” Prior to her appointment, Morena voiced his support for McCowan, a highschool friend of his. Morena, whose family owns the Albright restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier, resigned last month saying he had to renegotiate the lease. The Santa Monica Pier is owned by the City of Santa Monica, and therefore Morena cited a conflict of interest as the reason behind

Photo: City of Santa Monica

Kristin McCowan and family.

his resignation. McCowan– a second-generation Santa Monican born and raised in the Pico neighborhood and attended Santa Monica schools and Santa Monica College–includes “more affordable housing, a more sustainable future, forward-thinking policies,” as among her priorities. In addition, McCowan listed economic recovery, economic justice, reimagined public safety “that protects everyone” and increasing opportunities for historically disenfranchised and vulnerable communities as areas of focus. At the Council meeting Tuesday, Councilmember Gleam Davis nominated McCowan and Mayor Kevin McKeown nominated former SMC psychology professor Dr. Karen S. Gunn. McCowan initially garnered the support of Councilmembers Sue Himmelrich, Terry O’Day and Ted Winterer. Councilmember Ana Jara joined McKeown in voting for Gunn before McKeown changed his vote to McCowan. McCowan recently returned to Santa Monica after her career took her to Washington,

Santa Monica City Hall.

D.C. where she worked for the Obama Administration as a Presidential Appointee in the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Executive Office of the President. Upon returning to California, she worked as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Chief of Protocol and Director of International Relations and is now the Executive Director for Getty House Foundation, the official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles. In addition, McCowan is on the Santa Monica Pier Board, a post she will have to vacate.

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

McCowan’s appointment makes for the second time in history Santa Monica City Council is a majority woman and for the first time composed of a majority of Councilmembers who were initially appointed as opposed to elected. Prior to the meeting, several members of the public gave comments via telephone urging the council to keep Morena’s seat vacant until November, including Dalton Smith, a member of Santa Monicans for Democracy, who said “let the residents of Santa Monica fill the vacant seat and not the City Council.”

New Stay-at-Home Order ‘Not off the Table’ as County Sees Most COVID-19 Hospitalizations Over 2,000 people currently hospitalized By Sam Catanzaro The Los Angeles County reported Wednesday the highest number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations as the county’s lead health official said a new stay-at-home order is “not off the table”. On Wednesday the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirmed 2,193 confirmed COVID-19 cases, surpassing Tuesday’s number Of those currently hospitalized, 26 percent of these people are in the ICU and 17 percent are on ventilators. The three-day average for people hospitalized is 2,084, more than at any

point during the pandemic. Data shows younger people between the ages of 18 and 40 years old are being hospitalized at a higher rate than seen before, according to Public Health. On Wednesday Public Health confirmed 44 new deaths and 2,758 new cases of COVID-19. At the beginning of June, the 7-day average of new cases was 1,452. Now the 7-day average is 2,859 new cases a day. This is double the rate from six weeks ago and higher than any point during this entire pandemic. “We are in an alarming and dangerous phase in this pandemic here in Los Angeles County, along with other counties in this state. We need to protect the capacity in our healthcare system so that we’re all able to access critical care if we need it. Everyone must help. Business owners and operators

have a responsibility to their employees and their families to provide a safe work environment that adheres to all of the health officer directives — this responsibility is important, now more than ever, as we continue our response to this deadly virus,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. At a press conference Wednesday, Ferrer was asked if Los Angeles County planned on implementing a new stay-at-home order and responded by saying such action is not off the table. “We can’t take anything off the table. We have to do everything we can to protect the health care system. Do we want to go back to a Safer-At home order? Absolutely not,” Ferrer said. As of Wednesday, Public Health has identified 143,009 positive cases of COVID-19

Photo: LA County (Flickr)

Saint Vincent Medical Center.

across all areas of LA County, and a total of 3,932 deaths. In Santa Monica, there have been 521 cases and 36 deaths.

July 17 – July 23, 2020

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

International Students at SMC Can Stay in Country Trump Administration walks back plan to revoke visas for many international students By Sam Catanzaro

International students at Santa Monica College (SMC)–one of the nation’s leaders in foreign students–can breathe a sigh of relief following the Trump Administrations’ walk back of rules that would have forced them to leave the country. International students in the U.S. on F-1 and M-1 visas have historically been prohibited from taking more than course online. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, however, and schools shut down campuses, ICE announced in March that they would “adjust guidance as needed.”

On July 6, ICE announced that adjustment, reinstating a rule that makes a visa for international students contingent on at least some education taking place in-person. Facing a handful of federal lawsuits, however, the Trump administration Tuesday rescinded the July 6 ruling. The decision was announced at the beginning of a hearing in a federal lawsuit brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs stated that federal immigration officials agreed to take back the July 6 ruling and “return to the status quo.” ICE has not immediately commented on the decision, though a lawyer representing the agency told the AP only that the judge’s characterization was correct. In May, SMC announced that its fall semester–set to begin August 31–will be held online expressing doubt that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available before then. According to school administrators, under the current plan in-person classes will only be available to students enrolled in SMC’s nursing program. In a statement, SMC Superintendent/ President Kathryn E. Jeffery applauded the decision.

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“This is a victory for SMC, for U.S. higher education overall, and is evidence of ongoing support for international students. But most of all, it is a well-deserved recognition of the value of international students who enrich the Santa Monica College community and make it a tapestry of true global diversity,” Jeffery said. “Although the action was taken in a lawsuit brought by Harvard University and

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we believe that the lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General influenced this wonderful, swift outcome. Yesterday, with substantial support from Santa Monica College, the California Attorney General filed a 247-page motion to enjoin the July 6 Directive, demonstrating that the July 6 ICE action was legally unsupportable.”

July 17 – July 23, 2020

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Passing of Former Santa Monica Deli King

The legacy of the Deli King Maurice Solomon On July 7, 2020, Maurice Solomon, the former owner of Fromin’s Deli of Santa Monica, passed away at age 81 after battling cancer for over a year. Many knew him as the Deli King, just as his license plate read. He could always be found behind the deli counter almost everyday of his life before retiring at age 79. Born in Brussels, Belgium, he spent two years as a “hidden child”, evading Nazi capture by moving from town to town with his parents. At age 10, he and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he began his lifelong career working at Solomon’s Deli and Lefton’s. In 1975, the Holocaust survivor and Deli Man arrived in Santa Monica where he proudly owned Marjan’s Deli in The Brentwood Countrymart and Fromin’s for over 25 years, serving equal amounts of corned beef, love, and laughs every day. “I have seen so many people who have been coming to the deli their whole lives,” Solomon said in 2018 when he retired from Fromin’s. “We have shared meals, laughs and even some tears.” Maurice will be deeply missed by his family, friends and beloved customers. A public memorial will be held post quarantine to celebrate the legacy of this great man. “My grandfather was the definition of a “Family Man,” even to his employees and customers. There was never a time he was too busy for his grandchildren, unless it was to make a reuben for a customer or help at the register. He was a one-of-a-kind, stand-up guy, and my absolute favorite person,” Melanie

Photo: Courtesy Fromin’s

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Maurice Solomon, the former owner of Fromin’s Deli of Santa Monica, passed away at age 81 after battling cancer for over a year.

Shaevel, Maurice’s granddaughter said. In lieu of flowers or food, the family requests that donations be made in Maurice’s memory to The Shoah Foundation at charity.gofundme.com/ mauricesolomonshoahfoundation or Stand Up To Cancer at charity.gofundme.com/o/en/ campaign/mauricesolomonstanduptocancer If you have any stories or memories you’d like to share, please reach out to Maurice’s granddaughter, melanieshaevel@gmail.com

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

OPINION

A Worried People in a Distressed City SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

It was Santa Monica’s 145th birthday on July 15th. Our city’s traditional motto is “Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land.” Yet it no longer feels that way. It is not even the pandemic’s fault. ~ I posed a one-question survey on local social media sites last weekend. Special note: unlike city hall, no outside consultants were used in the compilation of this survey! “Are your lives better now in Santa Monica than they were four years ago? Eight years ago?” I received over 250 replies. The answer was a resounding NO. Only one resident felt the city was a better place to live today than it used to be. Homelessness, public safety, the state of our streets and parks, the looting of May 31st, overdevelopment and traffic dominated the many angry answers I received. Yes, we have all heard these complaints before, but now there is more urgency to the cries for help. People are fed up and rightly so. Here are the voices of your fellow residents: “Enforce the laws of the city. The homeless should not be above the law. And stop all overbuilding that does not benefit residents.” “STOP the overbuilding!!!!!” “Get rid of the entire corrupt city council and the photo op cop (police chief)” “We can not leave anything in our front yard or it gets stolen.” “Not even close. My home is virtually unlivable.” “Less development, residential, and especially hotel/ commercial. I’m a native and have been through it all in my 59 years.” “The homeless crisis is a disaster and spiraling out of control. Unsafe for the homeless community and residents. I’ve been here for 18 years, and it’s far worse than it’s ever been.” “To say we need to further densify all coastal areas by leveling single-family homes and building high rises to pack in more people does not solve the housing problem. It drives out stable families replacing them with a more transient resident with less invested in the community.” “When Gelsons opened...I will never forget my elderly neighbor’s face as he picked up items, looked at the price, and then put them back on the shelf and walked out without buying a damn thing. He’s lived here all of his life. We are now a second- or third- home destination. The people are transitory. It’s no longer home.” “I’ve lived here for 30 years and never felt unsafe until now.” “Greed and mismanagement of funds. (e.g. the artsy bus stop seats with no shade). Was anyone held accountable for that waste of money?” “The overcrowding, traffic issues, and noise pollution.” “People using the streets and the beach as their open space toilets.” “When do the residents get to matter?” “The over-development, in particular the transformation of the blocks west of Lincoln. They used to be sun-dappled, big-sky streets with the scent of the ocean wafting through. Now they’re cavernous, dystopian high-rises,

dark except for the midday hour.” “My family moved here in 1976. I think it has changed in so many ways for the worse. Santa Monica (the city council) doesn’t seem concerned with the people who live here. Residents pay mortgages, taxes, and high rents and ultimately pay Property tax. It seems we serve everyone but ourselves: Big businesses, scooter companies, homeless (not an indictment of the homeless) meanwhile, the retail businesses that were convenient to us have been forced to close up shop due to astronomical rents. Give an incentive to bring back the Mom and Pops.” “Best days are behind SM.” “Get the predators off the streets that are terrorizing residents, for real - deal with the crime and the ridiculous concept that this is an okay way to live” “It would be nice to be able to go for a walk not feeling afraid!” “I would like to see those funds redirected toward city services that better serve our communities in need social workers, educators, family therapists, bridge housing, etc. - so that we prevent the individuals from heading down the road where police involvement may be warranted.” “Get leaders who listen to residents, both on city council and school board. Current leaders listen more to outside consultants and appear to resent the residents they are supposed to represent. Fund programs (and staff) that benefit residents, not resumes. Preserve open space, park space, recreational space.” “Here for exactly a year and worse because of: 1. Rising crime: home burglary (again) on our street last night. 2. Reduction in city services including street cleaning. 3. Explosion in homeless population and boldness of homeless to trash sidewalks and parks and terrorize people. 4. Looting and destruction of downtown.” “My life is definitely worse: traffic, crime, building density, rising cost of living, pollution are all steadily worse.” “We need council members strong enough to say NO MORE to the machine!” “Parking enforcement is a state-sanctioned, cityapproved theft ring.” “Safety and security: our locked garage has been broken into more times then I can count in the last 4 years; the latest being last week.” “We have lost our uniqueness and charm. Boring architecture stacked side by side does not make for a memorable or unique place.” “I don’t feel safe even to throw the garbage downstairs!” “45-year resident. Crime and homeless/mentally ill people camping out leaving trash and poop behind.” “Residents are just here to soak for money to pay for their grandiose schemes, massively bloated payrolls, and pet projects.” “Safety and security is the biggest issue. I’ve seen this city deteriorate from a cute oceanside community into a cheap strip mall losing its character.” “We have to leave our town to avoid crime! Imagine that. I feel like a sitting duck here.” “I’d like a City Councilperson who prioritizes the needs of residents, spends our money wisely, actively seeks input; and, has the guts to stand up for us.” “The bastards and wenches have sold us out. Plain and simple. A blind woman could

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

“It was Santa Monica’s 145th birthday on July 15th. Our city’s traditional motto is ‘Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land.’ Yet it no longer feels that way. It is not even the pandemic’s fault,” writes Phil Brock in the latest SMart Column.

see it.” ~ As you can see, we have an abundance of unhappy, disillusioned residents. They are tired of being ignored by deaf council ears, and the quality of life in our “fortunate land” continues to dwindle. The City Council has felt smug in their disregard for the needs of the good people who live here, both renters and homeowners. Meanwhile, our residents are scared and told that there is nothing the city can do about homelessness and public safety. South Bay Cities, Beverly Hills, and others seem to have a handle on public safety and homelessness. Our municipal government says, “We’ve been trying to control homelessness for forty years.” Isn’t it time we refuse to fail? They suggest that residents get private security and accept the constant crime wave. Isn’t it time we rise and tell them those answers are unacceptable? ~ My friend, A. J. Ali moved away this week. He wrote, “I’ve spent much of the past four years in a hyper-vigilant state (in Santa Monica)... With all the beauty of beachfront living, it comes with a price. Especially now during a pandemic and seemingly everyone in LA choosing to make Santa Monica the place where they come to let loose, free of masks or any other regard for anyone’s personal safety and well-being. Not to mention the steadily rising kinds of crime that don’t register in the police reports because they simply can’t show up for all of the petty thefts, minor assaults, and incessant screams in the night by the mentally ill and drug-addicted attacking each other or grabbing whatever isn’t nailed down.” I interviewed AJ about his film, Walking While Black, L.O.V.E. Is The Answer in 2017. Watch it here: https://smmirror.com/2017/11/

brock-on-your-block-aj-ali/ ~ Congratulations to our newly appointed Santa Monica Councilmember Kristin McCowan. She’s a Samohi grad, and I’ve known her family for decades. ~ The pandemic shows no sign of easing. The cure is simple. Wear a damn mask. No complaining. No Fudging. Save a Life. Here are the increasingly grim Santa Monica statistics. Eight Hundred Fourteen COVID-19 cases and Eighty-two deaths (including rest homes). ~ Crime hits everyone in Santa Monica. Three weeks ago, two men broke into the garage in my complex. The editor of this newspaper had his car jacked the other night. Luckily, it was found close by, and he knows better than to leave valuables in his auto in our city. Our looted and crime-ridden town is a mess! ~ My mother lost her best friend on Friday, July 10th. Sandy, a silky terrier, had been her faithful companion for sixteen years. A rambunctious character as a puppy, his boundless energy brought smiles to the neighborhood. Sandy made my mother a better person. We will all miss him. By Phil Brock for SMart (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) Thane Roberts, Architect, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Ron Goldman FAIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect, Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, Planning Commissioner, Phil Brock, Santa Monica Arts Commission. For previous articles see www.santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing

July 17 – July 23, 2020

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S ANT A MONI CA COL L EG E

Let’s start this fall together!

Earn a Degree or Certificate Online Classes start August 31 smc.edu/fall

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff, Vice Chair; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Joshua Elizondo, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

Exclusive Westside Country Club Receives Multimillion-Dollar PPP Loan While Collecting Full Dues

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

The entrance to Riviera Country Club.

$2.5 to $5 million Paycheck Protection Program loan goes to Riviera Country Club By Sam Catanzaro

An exclusive Pacific Palisades country club–who counts among its celebrity members the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury–received a multimillion-dollar small business loan from the federal government while allegedly laying off employees and still collecting full dues from its members despite being closed due to COVID-19. On Monday, July, 6 the Trump Administration released data showing all recipients of loans through the $669-billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Riviera Country Club, located at 250 Capri Drive in Pacific Palisades, is the only country club in the City of Los Angeles to receive a PPP loan. According to records, Riviera’s loan was between $2.5 to $5 million. In addition, records show Bel-Air Bay Club, also in Pacific Palisades but considered a beach club, received a loan of the same range while collecting dues, according to a source. Multiple sources have confirmed that U.S.

Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin is among Riviera Country Club’s current members along with Larry David–who raised over $150,000 for caddies–Jack Nicholson, Adam Sandler and Luke Wilson. Former members include Walt Disney, Dean Martin and Howard Hughes Despite applying for and accepting the loan, during its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Riviera Country Club collected full dues from its members as confirmed by three members of the club who wish to remain anonymous fearing retaliation from the club. According to one of these members, these dues range from $400 to $1,100 a month. In addition, a member says that after the club was shut down every member was charged an activity fee. “It is shocking to get your members to pay full dues and you still need to apply for a loan and you know you are charging this bogus activity fee that was just another line item for them to receive,” a member said. “The second they told us ‘we are looking at protecting our employees and not laying them off so therefore we [members] have to pay full dues’. I knew that was just an excuse. I knew that the second we came back we are going to see employees gone. The fact that they accessed this PPP loan is of no surprise to me. The fact that they were able to get it is a bigger surprise to me.” According to a member, most Riviera Country Club members were under the impression that the club would not be applying for a PPP loan, saying multiple employees

verbally stated that the club would not be getting a loan. In addition, a member told the Santa Monica Mirror that at the beginning of April some members received an email saying that they were paying full dues in order to keep employees on the payroll. A member, however, says that this does not seem to be the case. “It’s the principle that is the problem,” the member said. “I care about the fact that they are charging us full dues and this activity fee and they are promising they are not going to lay off our employees and we get back and half the employees I don’t see anymore. So where are those guys?” When asked what they hope the club’s response should be, members say that the club should prove that they actually needed it for the reasons the PPP was created, which was primarily for employees so they don’t lose their jobs and for businesses to be able to continue once they reopen. “I am not sitting here being the judge or jury here, they just need to follow whatever the requirements of the PPP loan are. If they qualify for it, then they qualify for it, but they need to prove financials. The problem with a private club is they get to do everything in a black box. Nobody knows what they are doing,” a member said. The Santa Monica Mirror has reached out to Riviera Country Club multiple times with questions and for comment but has not received a response at the time of publishing. Bel-Air Bay Club has also not responded to a

request for comment. Members acknowledged that while closed the club had to maintain the grass on the golf course, Riviera likely had little overhead from the tennis side. “The tennis courts have literally no maintenance. Every few years they have to resurface them. So when they closed for the pandemic, they literally removed the water fountains off the courts so they didn’t I think have electricity running,” a member said. “So from the tennis side, even though their revenue may have gone down and they are paying employees’ salaries, they did not have additional overhead to cover either.” While Riviera was the only country club in Los Angeles to receive a loan, several other golf and tennis clubs outside the city in Southern California were approved for PPP loans. With the exception of La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, Toscana Country Club and Claremont Tennis Club, none of the other clubs received loans more than $1,000,000. Other loan recipients, as detailed in the chart below, include Palm Springs Tennis Club, Glendale’s Chevy Chase Country Club and San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club. Riviera Country Club and Mnuchin have both made local headlines in recent months. In May, Riviera was shut down by the Los Angeles City Attorney for opening in violation of stay at home orders. Also in May Mnuchin made headlines when Brentwood School– where Mnuchin’s children allegedly attend– received and then returned a PPP loan.

July 17 – July 23, 2020

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Woman Arrested for Biting Bus Driver

Culver City Police Department announce arrest in connection to June 12 incident By Sam Catanzaro

Police have arrested a woman for attacking and biting a Culver City bus driver. According to the Culver City Police Department (CCPD) on June 12 at around 1:37 p.m., a Culver City bus operator was attacked by a female subject. The female passenger was upset about an extended layover on the bus which was parked waiting for its scheduled departure time, police say. According to the CCPD, the female suspect yelled “drive b***c” before attacking the driver. As a result of the attack, the bus operator sustained several injuries including lacerations to her face, swelling to her head, and a bite mark to her arm, police say. Video surveillance capturing the crime and images of the suspect was obtained by CCPD detectives. On July 14 a crime video bulletin was produced and distributed via the department’s various social media outlets. With the assistance of the public, numerous tips were provided that led to the identity of

Photo: CCPD

Security footage from a Culver City bus shows a woman attacking a bus driver.

the suspect. On July 15, the suspect, a 26-year-old female identified as Shianne Lovings was arrested in

the city of Rosemead by CCPD Detectives. Lovings was placed under arrest for PC 243.3 (Battery on a bus operator inflicting injury).

Newsom Orders Closure of Gyms, Churches and More

Governor cites “alarming rates” of COVID-19 spread By Sam Catanzaro

California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered gyms, churches, salons and other businesses to close in Los Angeles County citing “alarming rates” of COVID-19 spread. The order, announced Monday, calls for the closures of restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums and cardrooms statewide and fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, hair salons and barbershops and malls in 30 counties where hospitalizations continue to rise, including Los Angeles County. “We’ve made this point on multiple occasions and that is, we’re moving back into a modification mode of our original stay-at-home order,” Newsom said during a press conference. On Wednesday the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirmed 2,193 confirmed COVID-19 cases,

surpassing Tuesday’s number Of those currently hospitalized, 26 percent of these people are in the ICU and 17 percent are on ventilators. The three-day average for people hospitalized is 2,084, more than at any point during the pandemic. Data shows younger people between the ages of 18 and 40 years old are being hospitalized at a higher rate than seen before, according to Public Health. On Wednesday Public Health confirmed 44 new deaths and 2,758 new cases of COVID-19. At the beginning of June, the 7-day average of new cases was 1,452. Now the 7-day average is 2,859 new cases a day. This is double the rate from six weeks ago and higher than any point during this entire pandemic. “We are in an alarming and dangerous phase in this pandemic here in Los Angeles County, along with other counties in this state. We need to protect the capacity in our healthcare system so that we’re all able to access critical care if we need it. Everyone must help. Business owners and operators have a responsibility to their employees and their families to provide a safe work environment that adheres to all of the health officer directives — this responsibility is important, now more than ever, as we continue our response to this deadly virus,”

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for criminal filing consideration.

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St. Monica’s Church in Santa Monica.

said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. At a press conference Wednesday, Ferrer was asked if Los Angeles County planned on implementing a new stay-at-home order and responded by saying such action is not off the table. “We can’t take anything off the table. We have to do everything we can to protect the health care system. Do we want to go back to a Safer-At home order? Absolutely not,” Ferrer said. As of Wednesday, Public Health has identified 143,009 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 3,932 deaths. In Santa Monica, there have been 521 cases and 36 deaths.

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS! The world is kind of a mess right now. And some of the struggles that we’re facing seem so monumental that it’s easy to feel down and out about ourselves. I just read a great article in “Pure Wow,” an online magazine, that gave some sage advice about being happy. And it’s easy to do. If you want to be happier, healthier and better-liked, do something nice for someone else. With those words of wisdom in mind, here are some ways to be kinder. 1. Be kind to yourself In order to be more kind to others you need to start being more kind to yourself. You always have a choice. Make the choice to live in the present and choose to be happy. It goes a long way when you finally can choose to be a certain way. And it’s immediate. 2. Pay someone a compliment Remember that time you were walking down the street and someone told you that they liked your dress? You were on cloud nine for the entire afternoon. Compliments can lift moods, improve engagement with tasks, and enhance learning. BUT, the compliment absolutely has to be genuine. 3. Give money to someone. Giving money to someone else creates happiness more than spending the money on themselves. This occurred despite people’s predictions that spending on themselves would make them happier. I’ve discovered that I have everything I need. I don’t need to spend money on yet another pair of shoes because they were on sale at a big discount at Neiman’s. 4. Give time to a cause that you care about. Money isn’t the only way to help those in need. Many organizations and charities need volunteers to help spread the word and reach their goals. Find a charity you like and ask how you can help. I am an animal fanatic. When it’s possible to go in to the shelters, I will go in and give some love to every creature in the place. I would take all of them home, but my husband would not let me in

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the door. Sigh. 5. Give an extra-large tip Especially now when many serviceindustry workers are on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, you should be upping your contribution. Show people in consumer-facing industries (like the food delivery person or your Uber driver) that you appreciate all they do by tipping 5 percent more than you usually do - if you can afford it. They can be a paycheck away from losing everything. An extra 5% could make a huge difference in their lives. Give generously! 6. Send someone a big surprise bouquet of flowers Not because it’s their birthday or because it’s a special occasion. Send your best friend,

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your mom or your neighbor a pretty bunch of flowers just because. I love getting flowers. It seems like it’s a fading thing. Maybe just for me…lol. 7. Call or visit an older family member Your grandma misses you—pick up the phone and give her a call. Then ask her to tell you a story from her past—she may not have lived through a global pandemic, but I’m willing to bet that she has some lessons to impart on resilience. Who misses who? I miss my mom, dad and grandparents so much. They provided so much warmth and comfort to me when I was younger. Don’t EVER take them for granted. 8. Be good to the environment. Hey, the planet needs kindness too. Start carrying a refillable water bottle. Choose sustainable beauty and fashion items. Start a compost. Opt for eco-friendly home products. Donate, recycle or upcycle instead of tossing stuff in the trash. Gotta work on that last one. 9. Support local businesses. Especially in these COVID-19 times, small businesses are struggling. Shop online, do curbside pickup or buy a gift certificate to your favorite local boutiques. It’s tough to run a business as it is. I’m saying a prayer for all of those small business owners, the lifeblood of the economy. 10. Buy coffee for the person behind you. Make it anonymous! Better yet, the “he” or “she” behind you is HOT. 11. Donate blood The American Red Cross is currently

facing a blood shortage. You can make an appointment on their website. This is the one thing I cannot bring myself to do. Sticking needles in my arm veins makes me want to pass out. 12. Forgive others Forgiveness is crucial to becoming a kinder person. You need to learn to forgive others for their transgressions towards you. When you can forgive and let go of the past, you’ll naturally become a kinder person. Even Karen, the bee-ach who stole my boyfriend Rick in high school? Shit. I’ll give it a shot. We have not spoken in 44 years. 13. Leave a glowing review You rely on other people’s reviews to decide where to eat or get your hair done— now it’s your turn. And if you happen to come across an outstanding waiter or salesperson, let the world know. Yelp and others are a great place to leave a glowing review. I use Yelp all the time. Always great reviews. Who are the people that have the time and energy to write bad ones? Life is to short for that. 14. Be a source of positivity on social media. There’s a lot of stress-inducing, negative content out there. Squelch the haters with kindness by posting motivational content. I love doing this. I post photographs from my daily dog-walk photo shoots of plants, trees and flowers. My FB buddies have told me they love them. Thanks guys!

July 17 – July 23, 2020

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Rated R 90 Minutes Released July 10th on Hulu

FILM REVIEW: PALM SPRINGS

BEHIND THE SCREEN By Kathryn Whitney Boole Life is what you make of it. To me, that is the theme of Palm Springs, the Andy Samberg/ Cristin Milioti movie released on Hulu this week. What presents itself as a simple rom-com has unleashed a torrent of philosophical musings about the nature of time and existence. As we endure abrupt life changes and isolation under a completely unpredicted pandemic, these weighty questions have risen to the forefront of our thoughts. Palm Springs is on one level a hilarious satire on the inevitable dramatic gaffes of every wedding – that supposedly perfect day during which numerous cracks invariably appear in carefully laid plans to allow unexpected calamities to leak into an otherwise idyllic event. Many of the articles written on this film, including interviews with the writer and director, have mused on the significance of dinosaurs that appear in the film. The appearance of these ancient beasts merges separate planes of time that never coexist in reality. However, anyone driving from LA to Palm Springs would come to the top of the hill on the 10 Freeway near Cabazon, where the high desert begins its long descent into the low desert of Palm Springs, and you would pass… wait for it…the Cabazon Dinosaurs, created by Knott’s Berry Farm sculptor Claude Bell in the 1960’s to attract people to his restaurant on that spot. Not only do you suddenly encounter these huge incongruous Mesozoic sculptures on the roadside. You also come face to face with the completely ethereal and breathtaking landscape of the desert floor below. The first time you ever make this drive you will be astounded by a sense of space and peace in this vision. You will sense an otherworldliness as your car glides down into the desert atmosphere. A vast silence will surround you, silence you don’t find in any other ecosystem. It’s an almost religious or meditative stillness that might give rise to some contemplation on the nature of the universe. That is exactly what this film does. It sneaks up on you as a fluffy funny romance. Then it makes you think. Writer Andy Siara’s own Palm Springs wedding was his inspiration for this script. Stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are both superb comedic actors, which also means that they are simply extraordinary actors, since comedy and drama come from the same base. Samberg can convey a hint of sadness while letting you laugh at his character’s screamingly awkward choices. J.K. Simmons who plays the cryptic “Roy,” is one of the finest character actors today. Milioti’s character enlists the help of a

renowned theoretical physicist Clifford Johnson to help answer her questions. All that we don’t know remains a central theme. We now know more than humans for eons before us about science and physics. That knowledge still does not answer questions of our existence philosophers have posed since time immemorial. The beauty of this movie is that you can think whatever you want about the ending – and you WILL think. Milioti describes it as “magical realism.” Director Max Barbakow says, “Falling in love is like seeing dinosaurs in the desert.” Notes Samberg, “Whatever you want it to be, that’s what it is.” One thing for sure – this is no ordinary rom-com. I predict that this film will hold up historically as a commentary on our existence in the early 21st century. Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

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“this is no ordinary rom-com. I predict that this film will hold up historically as a commentary on our existence in the early 21st century,” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole in her review of Palm Springs.

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July 17 – July 23, 2020

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