Santa Monica Mirror July 24, 2020

S A N TA M O N I C A

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY

smmirror.com

INSIDE

ARSONIST PLEADS NOT GUILTY

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July 24 – July 30, 2020 Volume XLVI, Issue 51

Santa Monica School Board Votes to Start Year Remotely Santa MonicaMalibu Unified School District board unanimous in the decision

By Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica’s school board has voted to begin the 2020-21 school year remotely.

On Thursday, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) school board unanimously approved distance learning to start the school year citing “the best interest of the health/safety of students /staff.”

Earlier in the week SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati announced that district staff were recommending the school board adopt a distance learning model.

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 Wednesday, July 22, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 64 new deaths and 3,266 new cases of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Public Health has identified 164,870 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 4,213 deaths. In Santa Monica,

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

The North Gym of Santa Monica High School.

there have been 845 cases (571 residents) and 79 deaths (36 residents) 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 24 – July 30, 2020

Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Arson of Santa Monica Sushi Restaurant

Sake House by Hikari in Santa Monica burns on May 31.

Micah Tillmon, 19, of West Hills faces up to 20 years in prison

By Sam Catanzaro

A teenager accused of setting a Santa Monica sushi restaurant on fire has pleaded not guilty to a federal arson charge.

On May 31, amid looters taking advantage of a demonstration protesting the police killing of George Floyd just blocks away, Santa Monica sushi restaurant Sake House by Hikari on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and 4th Street went up in flames.

An investigation–conducted by the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)–revealed Micah Tillmon, 19 of West Hills as a suspect in the

Photo: GoFundMe

arson case.

ATF agents arrested Tilmon earlier this month on federal arson charges. Tilmon, along with Gisselle Alexis Pinto, 19, and Mynor Pinto, 18, also faces looting charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The federal case, however, will be tried first. Alexis and Mynor Pinto were arrested on suspicion of looting by Santa Monica police.

“These subjects were seen setting fire to the Sake House and looting at REI, Brandy Melville, Vons, Magicopolis, Salon Viva, Wasteland and the Shoe Palace, all located in Santa Monica,” Santa Monica police said.

According to a federal affidavit, security video from the restaurant shows Tillmon removing “a red tube-shaped object from his jacket, which he placed behind the reception desk area of the restaurant before walking away. Within seconds of that action, smoke and fire appeared from the area….”

SMFD investigators determined that the fire was caused by a red object that Tillmon allegedly placed in the restaurant.

Gisselle Alexis Pinto, Mynor Pinto and Micah Tilmon.

Tillmon was identified by detectives with the SMPD, who reviewed numerous security videos and social media posts.

Tillmon was also linked to the fire when investigators uncovered a video showing his white Ford Explorer parking next to the Sake House four minutes before the fire started and then reversing across the street soon after the fire started, according to the affidavit. That same video allegedly shows the Explorer parking about 500 feet away from the Sake

Santa Monica Police Arrest Man for Throwing Bottle at Officer’s Head May arrested for throwing glass bottle at peace officer on May 31

By Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica police have arrested a man for throwing a 40 oz glass bottle at an officer during the civil unrest in the city on May 31.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMP) announced Monday it was able to identify Drew Miller as the person who threw a full 40-ounce glass bottle at the back of the head of a peace officer during the civil unrest in the City of Santa Monica on May 31.

The large glass bottle shattered on the peace

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Santa Monica City Hall.

officer’s helmet causing injury, according to the SMPD. On Friday, July 17th, 2020, the SMPD obtained an arrest warrant for Drew Miller and placed him under arrest for 245(c) of the California Penal Code – Assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer. Miller was transported to the Santa Monica Jail Facility and held on $500,000 bail.

Photo: SMPD

House, and Tillmon exiting the vehicle and looting a nearby business.

After receiving Tillmon’s not guilty plea, U.S. Magistrate Judge Pedro V. Castillo set a status conference for August 3 and a tentative jury trial date of September 15.

If convicted as charged, Tillmon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

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Coroner Identifies Body That Washed Ashore on Venice Beach 48-year-old Miriam Montufar identified

by Los Angeles Coroner

By Sam Catanzaro The Los Angeles coroner has identified a woman found dead on Venice Beach Tuesday morning.

According to the Los Angeles County

Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, Miriam Montufar, 48, was pronounced dead near the 1800 block of Ocean Front Walk–just to the north of the Venice Breakwater–around 5:50 a.m. Tuesday.

The Coroner has not released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the death.

Shacked Magazine has reported, however, the body was found naked while a “pair of shoes, some clothing, and other items were found in a pile near the body.”

In addition, Shacked reported that Sheriff’s deputies “believe it could be a suicide.”

Authorities could not verify these reports.

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Authorities investigate a body that washed ashore on Venice Beach Tuesday morning.

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State Supreme Court Denies to Review Challenge to Venice Homeless Shelter Mary FealkoFF 310.488.6502 fealkoff.com

California Supreme Court declines to hear Venice Stakeholder’s Association case against bridge housing center

By Sam Catanzaro

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The California Supreme Court denied to hear a legal challenge to a homeless shelter in Venice brought forward by the Venice Stakeholders Association.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced that the California Supreme Court denied a Petition for Review filed by the Venice Stakeholders Association against the Pacific Sunset: A Bridge Home Shelter.

“My office will continue to fight to defend the homeless housing we so urgently need,” Feuer said. “These victories are important milestones in this vital work.”

The 154-bed shelter opened in February on the 3.15-acre lot that takes up an entire block between Pacific Avenue and Main Street south of Sunset Avenue.

The lawsuit brought forward by the VSA centered around AB 1197, a state bill passed in October 2019 which exempts emergency homeless shelters and supportive housing from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

“The city failed to comply with the requirements of CEQA, California’s

The Pacific Sunset: A Bridge Home Shelter.

environmental law. It was clear from the judge that we were about to prevail and force additional environmental compliance when the city got the legislature to pass AB 1197 which exempted only Los Angeles and any of its shelter and homeless housing projects from CEQA review. We appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and I believe they made an incorrect decision because the CA constitution requires a rational basis for giving an exemption to just one jurisdiction and not the residents of the entire state. San Francisco’s got a higher homeless population per capita than Los Angeles, which means there’s nothing unique about Los Angeles that justifies exemption under the California constitution,” said VSA President Mark Ryavec. “It is an insult to the good people of Los Angeles that the State’s

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

judicial system allowed the Legislature to deprive only residents in LA of the protections of environmental laws, while residents in every other city enjoy those protections. It is grossly unfair and a misguided decision by the courts.”

In an interview with ABC 7, Feuer noted that the decision allows the City to move forward with the development of more shelters. “[AB 1197] was adopted last year designed to facilitate the construction of homeless housing in this city and bypass what could otherwise be objections that could slow down the process for a long time. That can’t be the rule,” Feuer said. “We are going to continue to fight to defend the city’s homeless housing throughout our region right now.”

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Local Restaurant and Lounge Sees Handful of Positive COVID-19 Cases

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Nine confirmed COVID-19 cases at Malibu’s Moonshadows

By Sam Catanzaro

A handful of employees at a local restaurant and lounge have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to county public health data.

Nine employees at Moonshadows–the popular restaurant and cocktail lounge on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu–have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (Public Health). Six of these cases are symptomatic and three are unsymptomatic data shows.

Palisades News has reached out to Moonshadows–which is open at the time of publishing–asking about any measures implemented in the wake of the positive cases and in addition if any of the employees who tested positive came into contact with costumers. The restaurant did “see” a Facebook message sent to them but has not responded at the time of publishing.

Other Westside restaurants with confirmed COVID-19 cases include Javier’s Restaurant in Century City (13 symptomatic, 3 unsymptomatic), Shake Shack in Century City (3 symptomatic, 0 unsymptomatic), Senor G’s in Playa Del Rey (5 symptomatic, 0 unsymptomatic) and Spago Beverly Hills (3 symptomatic, 0 unsymptomatic).

On Wednesday, July 22, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 64 new deaths and 3,266 new cases of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Public

Photo: Courtesy

Health has identified 164,870 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 4,213 deaths. In Santa Monica, there have been 845 cases (571 residents) and 79 deaths (36 residents) New cases continue to be driven by people under the age of 41 years old with 57 percent of the new cases reported by Public Health today (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena). On June 22, the seven-day average of new cases was 1,763, now the county is averaging 2,952 new cases a day - almost twice as many cases reported just a month ago. This is higher than at any point this entire pandemic. There are 2,207 confirmed cases currently hospitalized, 27 percent of these people are confirmed cases in the ICU and 19 percent are confirmed cases on ventilators. This is the fourth consecutive day of over 2,200 hospitalizations.

“Every family that loses a loved one to COVID-19 is left with a void in their lives that they will never be able to fill. We think of you and our hearts go out to you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “The flu is a dangerous virus in its own right, but it is nowhere near as deadly as COVID-19. COVID-19 is on track to become the second leading cause of death in L.A. County and we need to take its strength and power seriously. A lax attitude to this virus can be deadly for someone you love. You could be infected, not know it, and pass the infection to someone you love who may not be as lucky as you. Please be caring of those around you — wear a face covering, maintain physical distancing and practice hand hygiene. It can save lives.”

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July 24 – July 30, 2020

OPINION

YOU Are the Heart of the City!

SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

The members of SMart wrote a credo for Santa Monica in late 2013. The majority of the original members were architects, a profession whose purpose is to facilitate development. As long-term residents of Santa Monica, the architects were dismayed by the direction our city’s sunlit image had taken.

Their city’s future had always seemed bright, but there was a dark turn on the horizon. An enormous prospective development loomed at 26th at Olympic (Hines) that would upend thousands of lives. Seven thousand car trips a day; intersections jammed from Brentwood to Mar Vista and no benefits for existing residents. Citizens pulled together to mobilize and beat back this unwanted development.

As they beamed with pride over their victory, SMart realized that Hines wasn’t the only pending project of alarming density.

Zoning changes were in the pipeline that would allow for the “great wall” of Lincoln Blvd. “Opportunity sites” became a new buzzword, and Santa Monica was doomed to become an infill city. In the name of sustainability, the State of California would decree that almost 9,000 new housing units must be built in Santa Monica by 2030. As the residents struggled to counter each new proposed development, a realization dawned that the City Council always sided with developers and NEVER with the residents of Santa Monica.

The City Council refused to fight the state over new increased housing requirements.

They decline to moderate new mixed-use projects or demand that developers set back their buildings from the streetscape and terrace the upper floors. The limits of Downtown zoning expanded so that buildings could rise taller. Developers make huge bucks while our community’s wellness shrinks, and long-time residents move away.

As our town became even denser, City Hall advocated for more. Keep piling people into our town. Who cares about quality of life? Small apartment units with huge rents led to increased gentrification and a less diverse population. Your town’s wise owls fist-bumped as each new building choked our formerly sunny streets. Our communal supply of available water decreased as new construction unfolded, and despite low flow toilets and new water capture methods, the city’s future sustainability is in jeopardy. The constant expansion causes our tree canopy to decrease and our streets to be impassable.

And the solution to our common woes...the e-scooter? As they would say in New York, “Don’t get me started!” ~ As an election is on our immediate horizon, and five council seats are on the ballot, ask yourselves if the council and city administration have made your lives better over the past four years in Santa Monica.

When we asked residents that question last week, the responses were savage, and some

unprintable. As you view at the incumbents’ campaign websites over the next three months, look beyond their glossy bullet points and seek out their voting records instead. We know the majority of residents are firmly against a twelve-story building at 4th and Arizona. On July 28, we will have a “permanent record” of what the city council thinks of residents as they either vote to continue or choose to cease negotiations with the proposed developer of this massive outof-scale development. Will your wishes be ignored again? If so, remember the votes they cast as you cast yours in the general election! ~ The five principal tenets of SMart’s 2013 credo for Santa Monica have held up quite well. Now, if we just had a city council and city administration who believed in them.

Let’s review.

1. To preserve Santa Monica’s “relaxed” beach culture.

Santa Monica’s temperate climate on the Pacific Rim is a defining feature of our City.

The cooling sea breezes along our oceanfront have played a big part in the City’s cultural heritage and allure. The City’s “relaxed” style differentiates it from neighboring cities to the east and should be preserved-both for its residents and those who visit each year to escape “the hustle and bustle” of urban life.

2. To maximize light, air, views, and green space.

Our community’s views and skyline are disappearing due to high-walled buildings that block the ocean breeze and sunlight inland. We should continue to provide more open space and keep new construction in scale with the existing building stock. New parks and open space should be a priority.

3. To build at a human scale and for family life.

The City’s relaxed, seaside character and human scale play an essential role in its allure. The currently proposed high-rise developments that dwarf their neighbors will forever redefine the skyline and character.

Multi-story projects are replacing the low-rise residential buildings that are better suited for families with fewer bedrooms and little connection to life at ground level.

4. To create a walkable, bikeable, and drivable City.

In the great European cities, the pedestrian experience is enhanced with broad sidewalks, outdoor cafes, and unique shopping opportunities. The result is a vibrant street life for pedestrians and cyclists that fosters interaction and brings the City to life. If the currently proposed developments move forward, the circulation within the City will continue to deteriorate, increasing delays and frustration for our residents.

5. To be a smart, connected, and sustainable community.

It is incumbent upon the City to ensure that our resources and facilities are adequate for the current population before allowing more growth. Sustainable technologies must become part of the City’s energy plan as it prepares for its future. ~ Lifelong resident Mark Verville points out, “In the past five years through 2021,

Photo: OMA

“On July 28, we will have a “permanent record” of what the city council thinks of residents as they either vote to continue or choose to cease negotiations with the proposed developer of this massive out-of-scale development. Will your wishes be ignored again? If so, remember the votes they cast as you cast yours in the general election!,” writes Phil Brock in the latest SMa.r.t. Column on The Plaza at Santa Monica development.

the City will have spent north of $3.7B with annual budgets between $600M and $800M. Add to that a roughly $450M unfunded pension liability, and we have a total cumulative spend for every one of the approximately 93,000 residents, adults and children, of $45,000. Per person. A family of 4 accounts for $180,000 of cumulative spend over this period. Let’s consider: • Has the at-risk homeless population been taken care of? Has their situation even been improved?

• How safe and clean are our parks? Our beach?

• Owing to the different needs of the neighborhoods, should Pico have been better served?

• How well has the cost of our utilities been managed? Is our utility tax too high?

• Could existential damage to the heart of our City from rioting outsiders been averted?

• How well managed and effective has the Police Activities League been in serving its kids’ needs and protecting their safety?

• How easy is it for you to dispose of your household hazardous waste?

• How safe, up to date, and integrated with our kids’ curriculum are our libraries?

• Do you feel confident about your safety while you walk our streets? Is your car or bicycle safe in our town?

Now, does your personal quality of life reflect that kind of public tax-sponsored investment? If the answer to the quality-oflife issues is No, then regardless of property values, we are not getting the quality of life we are paying for. Period.” That has to change! ~ I virtually met Ms. Jordan Schott this week. She is a co-founding member of the Student Organizing Committee of Santa Monicans for Democracy. Her message for us: “SM4D came into being about five years ago to address First Amendment issues in our City. SM4D has welcomed a student-led

committee that aims to, first and foremost, amplify the Black Lives Matter message in Santa Monica. We are also firmly dedicated to demanding accountability for the violent, racist, and unconstitutional attack of May 31 st by SMPD on peaceful demonstrators. We seek to ban SMPD’s use of tear gas and rubber bullets in any future legal demonstrations. SM4D holds weekly rallies most Wednesday evenings at the Santa Monica Police Department to champion free speech and demand correction of the misdeeds of 5/31. My engagement with SM4D stems from a deep concern for our nation’s current state and the City of Santa Monica. We must strive toward racial justice and an end to white supremacy. The only way to do this is to exercise our First Amendment rights freely; when those are infringed upon, our fight for what is right is inherently impeded.” I was impressed with her message and with their movement. Let’s support SM4D! While we’re on the topic, why haven’t Breonna Taylor’s killers been arrested? Say her name!

Each week, I remind all of you to wear a face covering and save a life. Here are the latest Santa Monica pandemic statistics: 845 COVID-19 cases with 79 deaths. It’s your responsibility to help save lives.

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 24 – July 30, 2020

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S ANT A MONI CA COL L EG E

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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 24 – July 30, 2020

15-Member Public Safety Reform Advisory Committee established in Santa Monica Recently 15 community members were picked for a new public safety reform advisory committee in Santa Monica.

The selection was announced by Lane Dilg and is made up of Santa Monica residents or people who have a close working knowledge of Santa Monica.

According to the City of Sana Monica, the group will “lead a community input process, vet reform proposals, and ultimately make recommendations on public safety reform for both use of force and invest/divest strategies.”

To further break down that process, the committee will work with City staff to facilitate a community input process, review local, regional and national proposals advocating for changes to policing and the ways that cities conceive of and allocate funds to achieve public safety.

After the information is gathered, the committee will then make recommendations to the Interim City Manager. Overall, the goal of these recommendations and research is to make reforms to the Santa Monica Police Department along with the City’s budget.

The city says “the committee is one way the City of Santa Monica is working with community members to address issues of racial justice, equity, and inclusion in Santa Monica.”

The group is also meant to tackle some issues present for Santa Monica’s black community while also “recognizing and addressing existing barriers”.

The committee members are: Angela Scott Committee for Racial Justice arrell Goode D President, NAACP Santa Monica / Venice Branch arnell Crumpler D Santa Monica Police Department rika Aklufi E Santa Monica Police Department eorge Brown G Co-Author, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ New Era of Public Safety Report iz Cruz L Licensed Clinical Social Worker Marc Morgenstern Former Library Board Member Ocean Park Association President Michael Shotton Resident Nathaniel Trives Former Mayor alinda Harvey Smith R Resident

Vice President, NAACP Santa Monica /

asika Flores R Case Manager, Youth Resource Center, St. Joseph’s

Robbie Jones

Rebecca Lantry

Venice Branch

Coalition for Police Reform

Committee for Racial Justice

Shuli Lotan Mental Health Counseling Coordinator, SMMUSD Wally Marks Past Chair, Santa Monica Bayside District Corporation

Coffee Bean Close Handful of Locations Across Santa Monica and Westside Company says it is evaluating store portfolio

By Toi Creel Grabbed a cup from a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf franchise recently? Well maybe not lately as locations of the coffee shop have been closing across the Westside.

On March 16, the franchise announced a temporary closure of some stores and reduced hours for others due to coronavirus concerns. Among Coffee Bean locations to close include franchises on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Glen Boulevard and 9th street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica and Federal Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. Currently, there is a Coffee

Bean on the Third Street Promenade that remains open.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, Jollibee Foods Corp., a restaurant company out of the Philippines, “spent $350 million to buy the money-losing Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.”

In statement, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf told the Santa Monica Mirror that is is evaluating its store portfolio.

“As we look to the future of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, to help ensure our overall financial health and continue to provide the best possible experience our Guests have come to appreciate, we have made the difficult decision to close a number of our company-owned store locations. Over the next three months, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will continue to evaluate our store portfolio in California and Arizona and additional stores may be closed,” reads the statement.

A closed Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Wilshire and 9th in Santa Monica.

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

July 24 – July 30, 2020

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High School Sports Pushed Back Until Winter

All California high school sports will not begin until midDecember

By Sam Catanzaro

High school sports in Santa Monica and statewide will not begin until December due to the rise in the coronavirus cases.

On Monday, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and CIF Southern City Section (which includes Santa Monica High School) announced the delay of the 2020 Fall sports season until December. Rather than sports being divided up into three seasons that run from August to June, there will be two seasons (Fall and Spring) that run from December to June.

“Over the last several months, and through the ever-changing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working on various scenarios to deliver Fall, Winter and Spring sports during the 2020-2021 school year,” said CIF Southern Section Commissioner, Rob Wigod. “From start to finish, the focus has

been on how we can serve the young men and young women we are so fortunate to serve in the best way we possibly can, and I commend everyone involved for never wavering in their support of that philosophy.”

According to Wigod, regular seasons, some of which were 83 days (Soccer), 81 days (Basketball), 64 days (Football) and 57 days (Girls Volleyball) already had quite a range, in terms of the length of their seasons in previous years, but this year all sports will be around 72 games or less.

“We believe that to help with the overlap of seasons, affecting student-athletes, coaches and facilities, we would standardize the length of the regular seasons to approximately 72 days, for those who previously had more days than that, while leaving the others with less than 72 days alone,” Winograd said. “The total number of days in some sports will be reduced, approximately 5%-12%, but schools can still play the same number of maximum allowable contests, if they choose, in that smaller window.”

In addition to this newly developed sports calendar, CIF announced that student-athletes will be given the opportunity to participate with outside organizations during their season of sport, something not normally allowed.

Santa Monica High School’s Brett Edwards in action during the 2019 season.

The 2020-2021 sports calendars will be placed on the agenda as an Emergency Action Item at the next scheduled meeting of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee on

Photo: Morgan Genser

Thursday, August 13, 2020.

To view the full schedule of play, visit smmirror.com/2020/07/high-school-sportspushed-back-until-winter/

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July 24 – July 30, 2020

OPINION

Time for Newsom to Get Tough on Virus Scofflaws TOM ELIAS Palisades News Columnist

It became plain during the July 4 holiday weekend that Los Angeles County has at least a partially scofflaw sheriff. So do several other California counties. They’re essentially enforcing only laws and rules they like.

As coronavirus hospital admissions neared capacities just before the nation’s 244th birthday, doctors readied rationing schemes deciding who would get ventilators in case of a shortage. Then Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered beaches and their parking lots closed in most coastal counties to slow the contagion.

When similar orders prevailed during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva stationed deputies at regular intervals along his county’s vast strands, their mere presence warding off would-be surfers and others who merely wanted to lounge on the sand.

California bent the COVID curve.

But not this time. A holiday drive along more than 20 miles of beaches revealed shutdown parking lots and plenty of “Closed” signs – but no deputies. As a result, wherever roadside parking was possible along the Pacific Coast Highway, beaches were crowded, surfers clambering down bluffs and cliffs headed for the unusually high waves that prevailed.

No deputies could be seen trying to hinder them, let alone write citations. If the pandemic revival of late June and early July continues into August, this will likely be part of the reason, just as big, mostly unmasked and un-socially-distanced Memorial Day beach and protest crowds helped cause the state’s second onslaught of COVID-19.

Newsom, who almost daily issues edicts

governing business and personal behavior, did little. Yes, before the holiday, he threatened to take some state funding from counties that wouldn’t follow orders on mask use and beach closings. The threats were paper tigers.

This was also true of his response when Merced County Sheriff Vernon Warnke refused to enforce state orders in May and June, claiming they meant “economic slaughter.” Now cases are surging in Merced County and Warnke is recanting.

Through all this, the scofflaw sheriffs continue commanding their corps of deputies as if they were tough law enforcement officers. They have not been penalized, making a mockery of state authority.

It’s not unique to California. Hours after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered his state’s residents to mask up in public, the sheriff of rural Lewis County told a crowd to go barefaced. Carrying a megaphone and wearing his uniform to prove he spoke officially, Sheriff Robert Snaza exhorted constituents, “Don’t be a sheep.”

This amounted to an endorsement of risking death for themselves and others.

It’s essentially a rebellion by local sheriffs against governors trying to save lives by using their emergency powers, one of the highest duties of any public official.

But at least five California sheriffs and a couple of mayors have told constituents Newsom’s orders are “unconstitutional and unenforceable.”

Given what’s happened around those counties, with caseloads and death tolls rising daily, it’s high time Newsom did more than just talk.

It is politic to urge citizens to be responsible, as the governor continually does. But the Memorial Day beach scenes, the unmasked protest marches and the actions of countless restaurant and bar customers demonstrate he must do something more dramatic.

Photo: Getty Images

“the Memorial Day beach scenes, the unmasked protest marches and the actions of countless restaurant and bar customers demonstrate he must do something more dramatic,” writes Tom Elias in his latest column.

Newsom has dispatched several hundred state inspectors to enforce rules on businesses, but they sometimes work unpredictably and even at odds with his orders. One example: restaurants in Morgan Hill that followed the pre-Fourth of July order to close indoor operations were told to shut down outside tables – not part of the state order. Overall, inspectors issued at least seven citations on their first day out and hundreds since.

Newsom says he hopes persuasion will be enough to get Californians to follow his orders. It has not worked well enough, leniency most likely costing at least some lives.

Which makes it high time Newsom put teeth in his orders. Yes, some localities fine

face mask recalcitrants hundreds of dollars when they persist after being warned, but no one has punished scofflaw sheriffs and mayors.

If they won’t uphold rules they’re sworn to enforce, those officials should either be removed from office or see their agencies lose major state funding. The carrot plainly hasn’t worked well enough; it’s time for the stick.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.

His book, “The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Government’s Campaign to Squelch It” is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www. californiafocus.net

Ask Mike Bonin a Question Interview with Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin next week

By Sam Catanzaro The Santa Monica Mirror will interview Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin next week and is asking the public to submit questions.

The interview, which will take place on July 29, will cover a wide range of topics pertinent to the Westside, ranging from homelessness and development to COVID-19 and public

safety. Bonin’s 11th District includes much of the Westside, including Venice, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Mar Vista.

A majority of questions for the interview will be sourced from the public. One question, however, will come from the Santa Monica Mirror editorial team.

To submit a question, email it to sam@ mirrormediagroupla.com with “Bonin July Interview Question” in the subject line. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Sunday. In your email, please include your name (only first name will be disclosed) and your relationship to Council District 11 (i.e. resident, business owner, stakeholder).

Please note that the questions will be asked to Bonin as is. Therefore please refrain from using profanities and make sure to check for grammar.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin.

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

July 24 – July 30, 2020

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Rated R 125 Minutes Released July 10th on Netflix

FILM REVIEW: THE OLD GUARD

Photos: Netflix

The Old Guard Team.

BEHIND THE SCREEN

By Kathryn Whitney Boole The Old Guard is one of the most popular films ever released on Netflix. Created by Greg Rucka as a graphic novel and screenplay, it’s told like a Greek Myth. I think graphic novels are our most similar modern literature to Greek mythology.

Rucka named his heroine “Andy” for a reason. Andromache is a legendary name in ancient mythology, meaning “fighter of men” in Greek. Andromache of Scythia ruled an ancient empire stretching from Eastern Europe to Central Asia/Siberia,

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1800 to 3000 years ago. An ancient Greek vase shows another Andromache as Queen of the nomadic Amazons, doing battle with Hercules. As legend has it, the Amazons were defeated by the Greeks and forced onto their boats. During the voyage, they killed those Greek sailors before landing in Scythia.

There the Amazons and Scythians eventually came together as one tribe.

Andromache was also the name of a tragic figure in Greek mythology, the wife of the Trojan prince Hector, killed by Achilles.

Andromache’s whole family was murdered, and she was given away as a slave. She then outlived all the figures of the Trojan War. In all three stories, Andromache was a “badass” who outlived her contemporaries and witnessed much more than her share of

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tragedy.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood is one of the most talented directors working today.

She has written for years for network TV, for A Different World, Felicity, South Central and Courthouse. Transitioning to directing, she brought a mastery of story and characters.

I’ve said in previous reviews that I don’t comprehend why Matthias Schoenaerts, who plays “Booker,” is not yet a household name.

The level of magnetism, vulnerability, skill and complexity in his art surpasses many box office names. (Maybe people just can’t spell his name.)

The characters “Joe” and “Nicky” stand out distinctly from other action heroes. Their backstory is they fought together in the First Crusade (1096-1099.) They also happen to have a genuine love each other.. Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli play these characters with great sensitivity and honesty.

Kiki Layne as “Nile” is a powerful addition.

I’ve said before that I don’t comprehend why Matthias Schoenaerts (“Booker”) is not yet a household name. The level of magnetism, vulnerability, skill and complexity in his art surpasses many box office name actors.

Maybe people just can’t spell his name.

The deep sadness of Andromache envelopes Charlize Theron’s “Andy”. Her command of fight choreography and character is stunning.

The character approaches the seething ferocity and deep melancholy the actress embodied as “Imperator Furiosa” in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Theron is the ultimate driven woman fighter because she carries sadness and heart beneath. Here

she conveys world-weariness from eons of struggle - a character who has outlived everyone around her.

To lighten up a bit, Andy could take a lesson from Ruthie Tompson, a legendary Disney animator who just celebrated her 110th birthday. Ruthie’s now living through her second pandemic – her first was the 1918 Spanish Flu. She notes, “I don’t know why I am still here, but I know that I don’t want to be revered for how old I am, I want to be known for who I am,” When the outbreak is over, Ruthie “can’t wait to watch my Dodgers and eat a Dodger dog.” Her birthday present to herself is to raise $110,000 for a film-editing suite at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Country House where she lives with other retirees, so they can continue to practice their craft.

Humankind is fascinated by the idea of living across centuries, about our relationship with time and immortality, concepts looming large during a worldwide pandemic. We all feel a bit small and powerless in the scope of the disease that frames our lives right now. We so need to look at the light shed on mankind’s greatest triumphs and most egregious errors in stories from the past.

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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July 24 – July 30, 2020

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