S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
October 1 – October 7, 2021 Volume CVIII, Issue 113
INSIDE
OVER $14 MILLION IN STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS PAID TO SANTA MONICA HOUSEHOLDS
PAGE 4
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Experiencing Bus Driver Shortage District considering lowering current level of job qualifications By Dolores Q uintana
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is experiencing an extreme shortage of applicants for open school bus driver positions that are much like the rest of the country. In an attempt to attract more qualified applicants, the District has advanced the idea to lower the current level of job qualifications. As of now, the minimums are a high school diploma, six months of training plus professional driving experience and a clean driving record, along with the proper licenses and certifications that are required by the state reported the Santa Monica Daily Press. Josh Kahn, Director of Personnel said to the Santa Monica Daily Press, “The district
will propose making the high school diploma and the professional driving experience preferred qualifications, but not required in October.” Kahn added that “The district will be maintaining the necessary certifications, licenses and clean driving record.” Those statemandated requirements are non-negotiable and will remain in place. In addition, the Personnel Commission has already approved a higher pay rate to make those positions even more competitive. Bus driving pay will start out at what would normally be the highest pay rate for the most experienced drivers which is $24.88 an hour. There are two open positions for the district, one of which has been open for over a year and a half or since Jan. 2020. While the open position had 19,000 views on the site and over a hundred applications up until July of 2021, there were only six candidates out of that number that could be considered qualified for the open jobs. Personnel Director Kahn also added to the Santa Monica Daily Press, “Even if someone
Photo: SMMUSD.org
had very limited experience they’d still be able to take advantage of this offer, and receive more starting out with us than they would in other
districts within L.A. However, even advertising
SMMUSD, see page 9
Man Charged With Attempted Murder for Santa Monica Road Rage Shooting Eliott Ferrando charged in connection to September 6 incident By Sam C atanzaro
A man faces two counts of attempted murder for shooting at a vehicle following a road rage incident in Santa Monica. According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on September 6 around 1:21 p.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Yorkshire Avenue and Pico Boulevard.
At the same time, an additional caller reported a hit and run near the same location. When officers arrived on the scene, both the suspect and suspect vehicle were gone, the SMPD noted. “The officers met with a victim and witnesses who reported that the suspect in this incident rammed the victims’ car from behind in a possible road rage incident. The victims exited their vehicle and while attempting to flee were targeted by the suspect who fired several gun shots at them,” the SMPD said in a press release. According to police, one of the victims received a grazing wound to his knee and was transported to a local hospital.
Following an investigation, on September 21 SMPD detectives with the support of the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT) and the Drone Team, executed an arrest warrant for Eliott Ferrando, age 24. According to the SMPD, Ferrando was arrested without incident, booked for attempted murder and held in Santa Monica on $1,000,000 bail. “A subsequent search of his home uncovered a handgun believed to have been used in the September 6th incident,” the SMPD said. On September 23, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing. Ferrando was transferred into Los Angeles County Custody and charged with two counts of attempted murder with a recommendation for bail to be set at
Photo: Citizen App
The scene of a hit and run and shooting in Santa Monica September 6.
$1,008,000. Ferrando was expected to appear in court September 27.
Wash Bin Service Helping to Clean Up the Westside and Beyond trash bins. WASH BINS “They’re filthy, disgusting and they smell, so getting your trash bins cleaned specializing in is an excellent idea,” said Kevin Miller, cleaning trash bins owner of WASH BINS trash bin cleaning By T oi C reel
A Pacific Palisades local’s business specializes in cleaning an underlook area:
service. Through WashBins.com, residents across
Bins, see page 10