Santa Monica Mirror 9.23.22

SMCLC

GELSON’S PROJECT

Legal Wrangling Continues Following LASD Search of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s Santa Monica Home

headquarters, Kuehl’s office and Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit at the center of the Sheriff’s investigation.

The LASD says it is investigating a contract between L.A. Metro and Peace Over Violence to operate a sexual harassment hotline for employees and riders on the Metro trains and buses.

Superior Court Judge William Ryan issued an order blocking the LASD from searching computers seized from Metro’s Office of Inspector General.

By Sam Catanzaro

Last Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the Santa Monica home of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl as part of what they call an ongoing corruption investigation. On Thursday, a judge barred the Sheriff’s Department investigators from searching computers seized from LA Metro related to the probe. The Sheriff’s Department has responded by claiming the county fired its attorney in the case.

LASD deputies on September 14 searched the home of Kuehl and Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commissioner Patti Giggans, L.A. Metro

According to a redacted copy of the affidavit that led to the September 14 searches, the LASD is looking into “an allegation of criminal conduct” by Kuehl and three “sole source contracts” awarded to Peace Over Violence. Giggans is Peace Over Violence’s executive director and was appointed by Kuehlto the Sheriff Civilian Oversight panel. Kuehl and Giggans are close friends and have also both clashed with Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The warrant to search Kuehl’s Santa Monica home –signed by Superior Court Judge Craig Richman – allowed LASD investigators to take any documents or electronic files “related to the Peace Over Violence contract acquisition.” Kuehl represents District 3 on the LA County Board of Supervisors, which includes much of the Westside.

On Thursday Septmber 15, Los Angeles

Attorneys for Metro contested the legality of the warrants, claiming that a different judge had previously instructed that a special master be selected to review materials seized. In his ruling Judge Ryan set a hearing for September 22, posing a series of questions, including why the LASD ignored the previous ruling and went to a different judge to get the search warrants approved.

The LASD issued a statement last Friday morning accusing the County of banning the county counsel from representing the Sheriff’s Department relating to matters surrounding the investigation and defense of the three search warrants that were served Wednesday.

“We are now forced into a position of being unrepresented with no county authorization to pay for legal representation and reduced to solicit pro bono representation in this matter,” reads the LASD statement.

Outside of her home September 14, Kuehl told

reporters the warrant had “no information in it at all” and was “signed by a judge who is a friend of the sheriff’s.”

“This strikes me as being part of a sort of a bogus, non-investigation. There is no investigation going on that would support this warrant,” Kuehl added.

“The only thing they are going to find inside my house is maybe a few cat videos and those kind of things that regular people have,” Kuehl told Fox 11.

Kuehl said she was told by an attorney for the

SMC Student is White House News Photographers Association’s “Student Still Photographer of the Year”

Gerard Burkhart, and beyond.” Speaking of his winning portfolio, Swope added, “I could not have accomplished this honor without the trust the subjects who are in my photos gave me.”

visual journalism luminaries like Carol Guzy,four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner.

Ethan Swope, a Santa Monica College (SMC) film major and a contributor for SMC’s student-run media outlet The Corsair, was named the 2022 White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) ‘Eyes of History’ Student Still Photographer of the Year winner. Swope received the award at a gala held Sept. 10, in Washington, D.C., with his win announced earlier in February by the association. Lucas Pruitt of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was named the WHNPA Student Video Photographer of the Year.

“This award means so much to me and I am honored that my work was recognized by the White House News Photographers Association,” Ethan Swope said. “I am excited to continue pursuing journalism, here at Santa Monica College under the guidance of Corsair photo adviser/photojournalism professor

The judges for the WHNPA 2022 ‘Eyes of History®’ Student still photography competition were Jabin Botsford of The Washington Post; Elizabeth Frantz (independent); and Stefani Reynolds of AFP (Agence France-Presse).

Pursuing a major at SMC’s award-winning film program, Swope began practicing photojournalism in his Marin County high school. While his work—and camera—has taken him all over the world, documenting places and communities he would not have been able to, otherwise, Swope notes that being in Ukraine was particularly moving. But it was his work covering California wildfires that “hit home.” “Being a California native and seeing the impacts of climate change, and documenting it, is moving,” he said, “because the situation is only going to get more extreme.”

Ethan’s SMC photojournalism professor Gerard Burkhart was in Washington, D.C., witnessing his student share the stage with

“Ethan represents how far a student can go when they are self-motivated,” said Burkhart. “Most of his award-winning work was from during the pandemic, when a vast majority of students were learning remotely. Ethan thrived covering major local and world events, and is an inspiration to an already inspired group of Corsair editors, photographers and writers.”

Burkhart added that the WHNPA photo show featuring Swope’s work is expected to be on display in Santa Monica College’s library on its Main Campus, after Thanksgiving. More details are forthcoming.

“Swope had a great consistent style that shined through the range of stories,” said Jabin Botsford. Elizabeth Frantz added that his win “had the most consistent vision,” and there was “a diversity in stories, with strong singles to compliment,” noted Reynolds.

“Ethan’s photojournalism expertise adds to the deep pool of talented SMC journalism students on staff,” said Sharyn Obsatz, one of the Santa Monica College journalism professors advising the student newsroom. “Professors serve as coaches, but the students truly learn so much from each other, and Ethan

has a wealth of experience to share.”

Full results from both contests are available on the WHNPA website at whnpa.org/theeyes-of-history. For more information on the association, please contact Whitney Shefte at president@54.85.141.172 or executive director Heidi Elswick at heidi@54.85.141.172 (301606-8251). For further information about ‘The Eyes of History®’ and to view the winning images and videos, visit the WHNPA website at whnpa.org. The WHNPA is sponsored in part by Nikon and Tiffen.

To learn more about Ethan Swope—and his astonishing body of work—visit his website ethanswope.com.

LASD looking into “an allegation of criminal conduct” by Kuehl and three “sole source contracts” awarded to Peace Over Violence

Ethan Swope, film major & “Corsair” contributor wins preeminent honor for “a great consistent style, diversity in stories” & much more

Photo: Gerard Burkhard. Swope onstage, giving a speech at the White House News Photographers Association ‘Eyes of History®’ Awards Gala in Washington, DC on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

Legal Wrangling,

Safety Upgrades Coming to Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica

City Council awards contract for implementation of roadway repaving and improvement program

By DoloreS Quintana

In Santa Monica, the City Council has approved a contract last week that would advance the city’s street improvement and repaving program as reported by Urbanize Los Angeles. The work will also add needed safety upgrades to several of the more dangerous roadways and intersections with the most traffic. The upgrades would begin in the first quarter of next year and end by the summer of 2023.

Wilshire Boulevard

The City’s statistics on the dangerous conditions are “Wilshire Boulevard is among the 10% of roadways that account for 50% of fatal and severe traffic injuries in Santa Monica.

● 60% of fatal and severe injury crashes on Wilshire Boulevard involve pedestrians.

These occur at a rate nearly 50% greater than citywide.

● A higher percentage of crashes on Wilshire Boulevard involved pedestrian right-of-way violations (12 percent) than those across the city (7 percent)

The fixes for these problems are outlined by the city of Santa Monica’s website and are:

● Flashing Beacons at Crosswalks: Highly Visible flashing beacons at 5 intersections signal to motorists that they must yield to the pedestrian crossing the street.

● Right-Turn Only at Unsignalized Intersections: Preventing left turns at 12 unsignalized intersections will remove the vehicle movements that account for 20% of collisions.

● Curb Extensions with Paint and Bollards: Curb extensions at 14 intersections shorten pedestrian crossing distances, reduce vehicle turning speed, and limit erratic maneuvers by narrowing the travel lane.

● Bus Stop Red Zones: New pavement markings will discourage vehicle loading in bus stops that limits visibility and impacts bus stop access and performance.

● Additional Loading Zones: More loading zones located adjacent to bus stops will provide a space for motorists to safely enter

or exit their vehicles without blocking other road users.

The next two areas are identified as Vision Zero Priority Intersections. Vision Zero “is a national movement to eliminate deaths and serious injuries that result from traffic collisions. It is rooted in the belief that the protection of life, health, and safety should be a civic priority. Vision Zero emphasizes shared responsibility among all road users, a street design that promotes safety and eliminates risks, and better enforcement and education to prevent unsafe behavior. Vision Zero Santa Monica acts as an agreement between the community and the City to coordinate efforts and concentrate on the elimination of traffic injuries and fatalities.

Ocean Park and Lincoln Boulevards

Project improvements will address documented safety concerns by adding bike lane protection, high visibility roadway markings, and limiting high-risk turn movements. Enhancements will provide better connections to the Michele & Barack Obama Center for Learning, shopping center, Big Blue Bus, and Metro transit stop.

Olympic Boulevard and 14th Street Another intersection identified for improvements under Vision Zero, Olympic and 14th will see the addition of more

space for cyclists, refreshed crosswalks, and optimized traffic signal timing.

Nearby corridors including 17th Street and 14th Street have recently undergone upgrades.

According to the City of Santa Monica’s website, part of the Vision Zero plan is an analysis of 11 years of traffic collision data (2006-2018) identifying the primary collision factors and locations where severe and fatal injuries were occurring most frequently. The Vision Zero Priority Network Map highlights those areas that will be the first to receive a detailed evaluation of collision reports, factors contributing to the crash, and the effectiveness of potential countermeasures.

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Truxton’s Closes Santa Monica Location

Bistro closes after nine years in Santa Monica

By Dolores Quintana

Truxton’s American Bistro in Santa Monica is no more. The restaurant suddenly closed without warning recently as of September 6. The restaurant was established in 2006 with the Westchester location, which is still open at 8611 Truxton Avenue, and the Santa Monica location opened in 2013 at 1329 Santa Monica Blvd.

The owner of the restaurant chain has not yet responded to our request for comment.

The restaurant’s website describes its concept and says, “we had a vision of creating a new hospitality experience by developing what we now call the American Bistro. What does that mean? We have a warm and friendly atmosphere with bold food and beverage, which has since exceeded guest expectations. From suits to sandals and home to office, everyone is welcome to enjoy the American Bistro experience. We have taken on defining the American Bistro experience, utilizing the wide ethnic diversity that makes up America.”

As for the food, the restaurant’s website states, “To keep pace with food and

beverage trends, the development team, led by John Kaufman, Executive Chef Greg Schroeppel, and Regional Chef & Kitchen Manager Gerardo Zavala, is constantly reinventing dishes that keep up with the voice of Americanizing classic and international flavors with new twists, working towards the ‘craveable hospitality’. The menu rotates every season to feature new flavors and dishes, keeping the menu fresh. Our slow-roasted meats have become a core part of our menu and depending on the season you can find our 11-Spiced Brisket, Mexico City Al Pastor, or Beef Barbacoa!”

Santa Monica Hotel Hosting Monthly Drag Brunch

Drag Me to Brunch at Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel on the third Sunday of every month

By Dolores Quintana

Blue Streak Restaurant at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel will be hosting a monthly drag bunch show every third Sunday of the month.

The show, Drag Me To Brunch will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Naysha Lopez, a

drag performer who is probably best known for competing in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Eight, will host the show. Anyone who attends brunch on the third Sunday between those hours will be able to watch the show because there is no separate fees to attend the show, however those who secure reservations in advance will have access to priority seating.

Reservations can be made here. $16 Valet Parking available with validation from Blue Streak restaurant.

A portion of the profits from the Drag Me To Brunch show will benefit The Los Angeles LGBT Center.

THE ORIGINAL BIKE SHOPS

IN LA

Santa Monica, CA 90405 across from URTH cafe 310.581.8014 sales@bikeshopsantamonica.com bikeshopsantamonica.com

Photo: Sam Catanzaro.

Photo: Facebook (@LoewsSMBHotel). Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

“Discover is an album I enjoyed making,”

With a career that spans three decades, Zucchero has sold more than 60 million records around the world and has won over 20 music awards, including a Grammy Award

Tickets for Zucchero’s Beverly Hills stop at the Saban Theatre on Sept. 30 can be found here. The show starts at 8 p.m. The box office

Photo: Daryl Brughman.

The Zucchero show in Washington DC on September 13.

Critically Endangered Frogs Raised at the Aquarium of the Pacific Released Back Into the Wild

Tadpoles

released into local mountains September 15

Critically endangered mountain yellowlegged frogs that were raised and cared for at the Aquarium of the Pacific were released back into their wild habitat in Southern California mountains on September 15, 2022.

After the Bobcat Fire in 2020 that threatened the cold-water streams where this species lives, government wildlife agencies rescued the remaining mountain yellow-legged frogs and tadpoles from these areas and placed them with local institutions like the Aquarium of the Pacific and other partner facilities.

“The Aquarium’s amphibian team have taken special care of these frogs over the past year, and we are very gratified to have had a hand in helping this local endangered species,” said Brett Long, the Aquarium’s

curator of mammals and birds.

The Aquarium has been caring for and raising around 125 wild tadpoles hatched in April 2020 and about 150 that were hatched in 2021 at the Los Angeles Zoo, one of the other facilities in the partnership. Previous wild releases showed that the frogs were most successful when released as froglets that had metamorphosed out of the tadpole stage. The Aquarium’s tadpoles began to metamorphose into froglets in the spring and summer of 2022, making them good candidates for release.

Several organizations have partnered in the effort to raise and release the frogs. Scientists and officials from the U.S. Geological Survey and California Department of Fish and Wildlife monitor wild populations and oversee releases; some of the frogs being released came to the Aquarium of the Pacific from the Los Angeles Zoo in August 2021; and the release site was approved by California State Parks.

Mountain yellow-legged frogs are native to California’s mountainous regions and depend on habitats in the San Gabriel, San

county Tuesday night that the LASD was planning to show up at her home Wednesday morning, as reported by CBS and Fox 11.

Kuehl went on to say that the investigation was sparked by “a disgruntled employee at Metro who was let go, who became obsessed,” with the Peace Over Violence contract.

Kuehl denied she had anything to do with awarding the contract to Peace Over Violence, saying she did not know about the contract until she was invited to a press conference to announce the contract.

She went on to say that LA Metro’s CEO has the authority to approve smaller contracts bringing them to the board.

According to the affidavit, between 2014-2020 a total of $890,000 was awarded to Peace Over Violence in a series of sole source contracts. A sole source contract is a non-competitive procurement that allows a single contractor to fulfill the contractual obligation. In 2020, a Metro employee Jennifer Loew filed a labor lawsuit against Metro alleging retaliation after she claimed misconduct over the way that the Peace Over Violence contract was awarded.

Court records show a settlement was reached. As reported by the LA Times, the agreement was for more than $500,000. The settlement has not yet been made final, as reported by Deadline.

Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains. To help these frogs recover, the public is encouraged to support this conservation

effort by staying on marked trails and paths and respecting signs announcing off-limits areas when visiting local mountains.

Photo: US Geological Survey. A mountain yellow-legged frog at the release site.

Legal Wrangling, from page

SMCLC REJECTS GELSON’S PROJECT

SMa.r.t.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: TELL THE CITY TO REJECT HUGE, NON-CONFORMING PROJECT ON GELSON’S SITE ON LINCOLN AND OCEAN PARK BLVDS.

September 19, 2022

Dear Supporters of SMCLC, We want to update you about our monitoring of the massive proposed development crammed onto the Gelson’s site at Lincoln and Ocean Park Boulevards. The project, if approved, would be a whopping 874,385 sq ft, almost 60% larger than Santa Monica Place on a much smaller lot!

What’s happened, to date, is unacceptable: First, behind the scenes, after telling resident leaders it had rejected the developer’s revised Application on various

grounds, the City then retroactively deemed it complete without notifying the public. It then let the clock run out for the public to challenge the project’s deficiencies. Only after repeated prodding, did the City belatedly reveal these facts.

Second, the project is flawed: It double counts its density bonus in violation of Santa Monica code so as to be significantly bigger

than even what’s permitted under the state density bonus law. It likewise violates our code by greatly reducing family affordable housing units for 2-bedroom apartments to only 12 units. Unfortunately, the City did not include these key deficiencies as nonconforming in its comments as it should have.

SMCLC has requested that the City

reject this project until it is appropriately downsized and meets Santa Monica’s affordable housing requirements.

City Secretly Circumvents Resident Review of Developer Application by Retroactively Deeming Application Complete.

SMa.r.t, see page 11

Santa

There is tremendous community interest and concern over the size and location of this project. Over 2,000 residents have backed a petition to oppose the current project. Community leaders, Friends of Sunset Park, and some councilmembers were keenly aware of the very limited 60day timetable, making regular, repeated requests to the Planning Department about the application status in order to make timely substantive objections. SMCLC also met with the City Manager and notified him that we would substantively comment on project deficiencies once the City deemed the application complete.

Because this project seeks administrative approval, it is approved solely by the city’s Planning Director rather than the Planning Commission or City Council.

Once Planning staff deems an application complete, the Planning Director has 60 days to raise substantive objections, including non-conformity with the City’s current development standards.

Initially, the City rejected the Application for various deficiencies, including some raised by SMCLC. http://www.smclc.net/ Gelsons4-6-22.html and http://www.smclc.

net/Gelsons4-15-22.html

After a revised Application was submitted, the City Planning Director told community leaders at regular monthly meetings that planning staff had rejected it and the City was awaiting the developer’s revisions.

Meanwhile, the City secretly dropped its objections to the revised Application and retroactively “deemed” it complete. Thereafter, the Planning Department withheld this crucial information from the public for over a month, letting the 60-day comment period run out. During that time, in response to repeated questions about the application status, the Department stalled - with excuses that they were checking, they’d get back shortly, etc. - - until the deadline expired. (Note: City planners are expected to uphold the American Planning Association Ethical Planning Principles, which require them to: “recognize the rights of citizens to participate in planning decisions;” to “give full, clear and accurate information on planning issues;” and to “not misrepresent facts or distort information for the purpose of achieving a desired outcome.”) https://www.planning.

org/ethics/ethicalprinciples/ In previous years, these basic tenets were prominently posted on the City’s website, presumably to further public respect for the planning process.

When SMCLC learned that the City had foreclosed substantive public comments until AFTER the 60 days had run, we sent this letter to the City, demanding additional time to respond until September 12, 2022 and on that date we served our substantive objections discussed below. http://smclc.net/PDF/220815CityofSMCompleteApplication.pdf

The Planning Department did not inform the developer of two issues that SMCLC believes are vital. It did not object to how the project’s density bonus was calculated nor deal with the developer’s improper waiver of substantial family affordable housing under our city codes.

City Misapplies Its Own Code, Allowing the Developer to Double Count Its Density Bonus and Build a Bigger Project along with Eliminating Family-sized Units.

In our latest letter, SMCLC objected to the developer impermissibly doublecounting the density bonus it is entitled to, which would add 75,000 square feet to what is already a massive project.

Likewise, the developer is not entitled to waive the code requirement for 2-bedroom affordable housing units and replace most of them with one-bedroom units. It cannot, on the one hand, rely on the Affordable Housing Production Program in order to double count its density bonus to build such housing while it then seeks relief from actually having to comply. The need for family affordable housing is acute in Santa Monica and a project of this size should

NOT be allowed to dramatically reduce it to increase its own profits. Here is SMCLC’s letter that the City has not yet answered: http://smclc.net/PDF/220912CityofSMNonconformity.pdf

If you agree, please write to our Planning Director at david.martin@santamonica.gov and our City Manager at david.white@santamonica.gov and copy our City Council at council@smgov.net and tell them what you think about this project, the flawed process, and what should happen now. They need to know that residents are watching and concerned. Here are some talking points for an email.

As always, thank you for your support.

Victor, Diana, Sherrill and Jeff

Please forward this email to your friends and neighbors to sign up for updates and join in our efforts.

Thank you Victor, Diana, Sherill and Jeff, for all the hard work you do on behalf of our beach community, in the best interests of its residents and visitors, and of the region, in maintaining a livable and sustainable city.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Ron Goldman, Architect FAIA; Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building & FireLife Safety Commissioner; Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA; Thane Roberts, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi, Architect AIA Planning Commissioner; Sam Tolkin, Architect, Planning Commissioner; Marc Verville, M.B.A. City Audit Sub-Committee Member, CPA-inactive; Michael Jolly ARECRE

For previous articles see www.santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/ writing

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22SMCP00440

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401

Petition of: Ashley Anne Eggleston, by and through Ashley Anne Eggleston for change of name.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

To all interested persons: Ashley Anne Eggleston

Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a Ashley Anne Eggleston to Ashley Anne Akolade

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: 12/09/22 | 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: September 15, 2021 Judge Lawrence Cho Published: 09/16/2022, 09/23/22, 09/30/2022, and 10/07/202

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: 12/09/22 | 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: September 15, 2021 Judge Lawrence Cho

Published: 09/16/2022, 09/23/22, 09/30/2022, and 10/07/202