S A N TA M O N I C A
INSIDE
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
October 27 - November 2, 2023 Volume CXXVI Issue 217
Council to Consider Supporting Tenants Facing Mass Eviction The Barrington Plaza Tenants Association Filed a Lawsuit Against the Building’s Owner in June By Zach Armstrong Santa Monica City councilmembers Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick, along with Mayor Gleam Davis, have requested council adopt a resolution in support of tenants at Barrington Plaza who are fighting mass eviction, according to an agenda item. The agenda item has been continued to the council’s Oct. 24 meeting, according to a city spokesperson. The Barrington Plaza Tenants Association filed a lawsuit against the building’s owner, Santa Monica-based Douglas Emmett
Inc., in June over eviction efforts which if successful would be the largest Los Angeles mass eviction since the Chavez Ravine ones of the 1950s, according to the agenda item. The 712-unit West Los Angeles complex at 11740 Wilshire Blvd is the third largest apartment complex subject to Los Angeles’ Rent Stabilization Ordinance. “This mass eviction of over 522 occupied units, and the subsequent removal of these units from the rental market will exacerbate market pressures for new rental units, inevitably placing upward pressure on rent prices in Santa Monica.” stated the agenda item and resolution. “This looming eviction is especially concerning for renters in Santa Monica, where Douglas Emmett, Inc. owns several large residential properties.” Douglas Emmet, who is invoking California’s Ellis Act, argues that these evictions are needed for building upgrades such as installing fire sprinklers. The resolution from the councilmembers states that jurisdictions have limited capacity to prevent fraudulent uses of the act and sham evictions associated with it. The Coalition for Economic Survival was cited as finding,
since 2001, the law has been used to evict 29,467 units in Los Angeles. In August, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant denied a request by the tenants to stop the evictions saying that the landlord’s harm is rooted in financial impacts from eviction and renovation delays, ABC7 reported. One tenant told the
local outlet she believes Douglas Emmet will temporarily go out of business only to return with substantially higher rents. As part of the resolution, the City Council would implore Douglas Emmett not to evict the tenants and use Los Angeles’ tenant habitability program for necessary repairs while temporarily relocating tenants.
SMMUSD Seeks Public Input on Franklin Elementary Enhancements The Meeting Focused On Discussing Educational Requirements, Historical Considerations, and More The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District welcomed parents, faculty, students, and community members to give input as it develops educational enhancements at Franklin Elementary School. An in-person meeting was held Thursday, Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. During this meeting, the focus will be on discussing educational requirements, historical considerations, campus blueprints, and forthcoming proposed projects. The input of all stakeholders is of utmost importance as the district endeavors to improve the learning
environment for both current and future students. Franklin Elementary School is located at 2400 Montana Ave. The meeting is set to take place within the school’s auditorium. Parking options include the school’s lot off Idaho Ave. and street parking available on Idaho and Montana, with city parking regulations applicable. Each meeting will encompass the following elements: An update on forthcoming proposed projects and the campus plan, with emphasis on design and phased execution. An overview of findings from a historical consultant’s report. Opportunities for participants to pose questions and receive feedback.
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
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THE MUSIC MINUTE
October 27 - November 2, 2023
How a $306K Grant Will Make Santa Monica’s Roads Safer
The Ultimate Chicago Tribute In just three short years, LEONID & FRIENDS have blown the minds of legions of fans with their uncanny ability to capture the spirit, musicality, and fire of American supergroup Chicago. Leonid Vorobyev's goal was a studio project in dedication to Chicago under the motto “musicians for musicians.” Their first video went viral, but they really gained traction when Chicago itself published the video on its official website. They have since expanded their repertoire to include Earth Wind & Fire, Blood Sweat & Tears, Ides of March, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Deep Purple, and new original material. This incredible 11-piece band now has over 700,000 followers across social media, an astonishing 150 million+ video views, and over 200 successful US shows under their belt. The future is only looking up for Leonid & Friends.
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DEC 10: LAYALI ZAMAN WINTER CONCERT DEC 16-17: GMCLA PRESENTS: HOORAY FOR HOLIDAYS DEC 29: MARILYN MONROE FILM FESTIVAL JAN 12: PAUL ANKA: SEVEN DECADES TOUR JAN 13: MARK TREMONTI OF CREED SINGS SINATRA FEB 10: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK APR 24: AL STEWART & THE EMPTY POCKETS
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The Grant Program Is Set to Run Until September 2024 The Santa Monica Police Department has been awarded a $306,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to bolster efforts in enforcing and educating the public, with a primary goal of reducing the incidence of severe injuries and fatalities on roadways. Chief Ramon Batista, expressing gratitude for the funding, affirmed, “This financial support strengthens our unwavering commitment to community safety. It empowers us to intensify our endeavors in enhancing road safety for all residents and to concentrate on critical areas, notably addressing distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding.” The grant program is set to run until September 2024. The grant will facilitate the implementation of several programs and resources, including: • DUI checkpoints and dedicated patrols aimed at intercepting suspected impaired drivers.
• High-visibility enforcement operations targeting distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law. • Enforcement operations aimed at mitigating the most hazardous driving behaviors that jeopardize the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. • Enforcement operations concentrating on top traffic violations that frequently lead to accidents, such as speeding, failure to yield, running stop signs or red lights, and making improper turns or lane changes. • Community presentations on traffic safety
concerns,
including
distracted
driving, impaired driving, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. • Collaborative enforcement efforts in
partnership
with
neighboring
law
enforcement agencies. • Officer training and recertification in essential areas such as the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
October 27 - November 2, 2023
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
West L.A. Mexican Restaurant Chain to Open Another Santa Monica Spot The New Outpost Along Is Reportedly Replacing the BritishThemed Watering Hole Cock N’ Bull By Zach Armstrong Tacos Por Favor, a long-standing Mexican restaurant chain in West Los Angeles, is opening another Santa Monica location in the Ocean Park neighborhood, a store manager confirmed to Mirror Media Group. The new outpost will sit along Lincoln Boulevard, confirmed the manager. According to Toddrickallen, the exact address is 2947 Lincoln, just a mile-anda-half away from its existing Santa Monica store, and will replace the British-themed watering hole Cock N’ Bull. Since 1999, Tacos Por Favor has been
a family-owned L.A. franchise started by Atilano Sanchez. “Sanchez’s son, Hector, has worked alongside his father since he was young and plans to continue to share their Puebloan recipes with the community.” states its website. The chain already has three Los Angelesarea locations including its existing Santa Monica spot on Olympic Blvd., along with spots in Venice and West L.A. Its menu features a wide array of Mexican cuisine including hard tacos, quesadillas, mulitas, taquitos, huaraches, tortas, tostadas, and more. Earlier this year, L.A. Taco listed the chain in its “Ten Best Tacos in Venice”, describing the eatery as “a taquería with everything on the menu, from pancakes and hamburgers to a trompo in the kitchen. You can find almost anything your munchies desire, especially tacos that hit the spot when you’re in the mood for something spicy, filling, and full of flavor.”
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
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Firm Expands Number Units Planned for Housing Development on Wilshire Last Year, the Firm Bought Three Properties on Wilshire Boulevard With Plans to Construct Multiple Mixed-Use Developments
incorporate 17 affordable housing units,
Cypress Equity Investments has significantly expanded its housing development project on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. Originally slated for 71 units, the firm now envisions constructing a total of 170 units at 2501 Wilshire Boulevard, according to reports from Urbanize LA, referencing a project website. The proposed complex is set to replace existing commercial buildings and will manifest as an eight-story structure. It will
consisting of more than 300 units of
along with commercial space above the ground floor and an underground parking facility accommodating 253 vehicles. Initially
conceived
as
a
four-story
complex housing 71 units, Cypress Equity Investments, led by Michael Sorochinsky, has undertaken multiple housing projects in Santa Monica. Last year, it bought three properties on Wilshire Boulevard with plans to construct multiple mixed-use developments housing. The project at 1527 Lincoln Boulevard recently saw an increase in its unit count, growing from the original 114 units to 210 units, according to Real Deal. At 2025 Wilshire, the firm plans to construct a four-story complex, featuring 46 units and approximately 5,100 square feet of ground-floor commercial space
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
Los Angeles District Attorney Initiates Hotel Labor Probe In October Examination of Labor Practices in Los Angeles Hotels Underway By Dolores Quintana The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has officially initiated a comprehensive investigation into labor practices within hotels across Los Angeles County. This critical inquiry stems from recent strikes orchestrated by UNITE HERE Local 11, which have raised significant concerns about the alleged employment of unhoused refugees, particularly from Venezuela, to replace striking workers, notably within the housekeeping departments. District Attorney Gascón emphasized the gravity of these allegations, stating, “The mistreatment of vulnerable workers and their exploitation will not be tolerated. We will conduct an exhaustive investigation, working closely with UNITE HERE Local
11 and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with labor laws and protect the rights and dignity of all workers.” UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Ada Briceño condemned the actions of the hotels, affirming their commitment to fighting for all workers and appreciating District Attorney Gascón’s leadership in addressing the issue. According to the press release from UNITE HERE Local 11, a refugee worker from Venezuela, Sebastian, stated, “I entered a situation where I didn’t even know which agency was hiring me, how much I was going to earn, how many hours I was going to work, much less my rights as a worker.” The investigation will scrutinize the hiring procedures of hotel employers in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, with a specific focus on the alleged employment of unhoused refugees. Moreover, the inquiry will comprehensively examine the circumstances surrounding the transportation of these workers, including claims that some were dispatched from Texas by Governor Abbott while others sought refuge in Los Angeles after fleeing violence in their home countries.
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Individuals with relevant information are urged to come forward and share their experiences. Witnesses, hotel employees, and anyone possessing knowledge pertaining to this matter are strongly encouraged to contact our office’s Consumer Protection Division at (213) 257-2540. Angelica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA, said, via a press release, “I’m
outraged that Santa Monica hotels have resorted to exploiting the desperation of recent immigrants while their current employees fight for living wages and safe working conditions. It is indefensible that hotels would resort to employing vulnerable, newly-arrived refugees during an ongoing labor dispute with their employees, the vast majority of whom are immigrants themselves.”
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
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J. Paul Getty Museum Presents “William Blake: Visionary” Exhibition Opening On October 17
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The J. Paul Getty Museum is proud to announce the opening of the “William Blake: Visionary” exhibition, a captivating showcase of over 100 remarkable works by the celebrated English printmaker, painter, and poet William Blake. This extraordinary exhibition will be on display at the Getty Center from October 17, 2023, through January 14, 2024, marking the first major international loan exhibition of Blake’s works on the West Coast. William Blake, now revered as one of the greatest artists of the early Romantic era, lived in relative obscurity and went largely unrecognized during his lifetime. “William Blake: Visionary” takes viewers on a journey through his evolution as an artist, from his formative years as a commercial printmaker to the legendary visionary we know today, delving into Blake’s wild imagination through a collection of renowned works that have both perplexed and delighted audiences for over two centuries. Timothy Potts, the Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum expresses the museum’s excitement, stating, “Our long-awaited William Blake exhibition was originally slated to open in 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are
Blake’s early journey as a printmaker
selection of Blake’s otherworldly creations assembled in this exhibition for our visitors. Radical, fantastical, and unforgettable, Blake’s works will make visitors feel they have been transported to another world.” The exhibition commences by tracing in London, which served as his primary source of income throughout his career. Despite his efforts to establish himself as an independent artist, Blake’s enrollment in the Royal Academy of Arts in 1779 did not lead to the success he desired. Unlike the prevailing preference for literal renderings of well-known texts, Blake embraced more imaginative interpretations of his sources, working primarily in tempera, watercolor, and printmaking. In the 1790s, Blake began receiving commissions to design and engrave his own compositions, proudly claiming to have
For information and to schedule a complementary day, call (310) 394-9871
invented a new printmaking technique of relief etching, allowing him to seamlessly combine poetry and imagery on a single page. Blake exclusively published his own illustrated poetry, referred to as “illuminated books,” with pages from his celebrated illuminated books, “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience,” featured in the exhibition, including one of his most iconic verses, “The Tyger.”
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October 27 - November 2, 2023
OPINION
Four Futures SMa.r.t. Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
As well described by Paul Krugman, all cities have a core competency: things they do well or better regionally or internationally than other cities. Think Atlanta for logistics, London for finance, and Los Angeles for entertainment. Some cities have several core competencies: think New York for both finance and entertainment. Our City has four significant competencies: beach tourism, retail shopping and services (the 3rd Street Promenade), health (2 major hospitals), and automobiles (Santa Monica Blvd car row). But over time, competencies change: some increase, some decrease, and some even disappear. For example, in the early sixties, we lost a significant competency, aviation, when Douglas Aircraft moved their factory to Long Beach, and now even the diminished airport may vanish by 2028. Looking ahead, we see substantial challenges to our existing core competencies. During the 77-year life of our youngest citizens, they will see the vanishing of our beach due to sea level rise. By 2100, we will probably lose the entire “Gold Coast” along PCH, the tourism core west of Appian Way, and everything west of OceanWay/Barnard Way. The Mc Clure Tunnel will be flooded, while the Pier could probably be saved by timely jacking it up on new caissons. With our wide sand and parking lots gone, our beach will look like the seascape just south of where Sunset Blvd meets PCH. There is surfing there, but not enough beach to support our fullfledged beach tourism. 2100 sounds like a long distance away until you consider that a tsunami can do in 5 minutes what sea level rise can do in 5 decades. Considering the decades it will take us to tool up a replacement competency equivalent to the beach’s attraction, it’s clear that time is not on our side. Likewise our next competency loss is already here with the collapse of the 3rd Street Promenade winged by Amazon’s dominance, Covid’s office diaspora, and cinema’s long fade. Of course, it did not help that we grew another unintended competence over the last few decades when we became the premier home of people without housing. Fortunately, Our health competence seems stable in the next quarter century with the presence of many residents and regional boomers (seniors use a lot of health services in the last quarter of their lives). Finally, the automobile sector (sales, parts, gas stations, repairs, parking, driving schools, smog checks etc., etc.) will start to shrink for all the known reasons. Electric cars are much cheaper to operate but have an increasingly steep initial price that will reduce sales. More people will abandon private cars because of parking difficulties caused by our new zoning code
that eliminated parking requirements and with the advent of self-driving and shared options (Zip Car, Uber, etc.). Finally, rising micro-mobility (electric bikes, golf carts, scooters, etc.) will also reduce car demand further. In short, of our four major competencies, one is strong (health), two are staggering (beach and cars), and one is dead (retail), so we need new competencies to propel our City for the rest of this century. S.M.a.r.t would like to propose four new competencies for your consideration. 1. PARK PARADISE Santa Monica’s beaches have always been the lungs of LA, providing escape, particularly on the weekends, from the heat and crowding of the Westside and the San Fernando Valley, With the loss of the beach, we will need to find a substitute and a regional park where the airport is might be a reasonable replacement If we are willing to give up the $350M annually that SMO generates for the local economy. But our City is also completely under-supplied with green open space for its own residents. So instead of having a large airport park in a distant corner of the City or far away up in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is only accessible by car, a chain of smaller 3/4 acre parks could be scattered within 1/4 mile of every resident. Those parks could be paid for by selling off about 20% (45 acres) of the airport to fund these 30 new approximately 150’x200’ pocket parks. As a comparison, those 45 acres, if developed to the density of Gelson’s project, could provide about 5200 units. However, we are focused here on the measurable health benefits for all age groups that parks provide. Also, all these new parks would ideally be linked by bike paths to be fully accessible to all age groups. Those pocket parks would have a variable mix of the full spectrum of active uses (pickle ball, basketball, volleyball, frisbee) and passive uses (picnic, barbecue, playground, dog parks, vegetable gardens, and water features, which will be vital with global warming). The demand for pocket parks will increase exponentially as Sacramento’s new zoning laws eliminate backyards, and more of our residents are crammed into econobox apartments without functional open space. Of course, we know that our dense downtown is woefully under-parked, so one of the biggest pocket parks should go to the City-owned parcel at 5th and Arizona. By distributing to the entire City the benefits of the proposed airport park (which is being added to the existing Clover Park), there will be much more resident buy-in regarding our share of the enormous costs of the regional park we would otherwise be building for Mar Vista’s benefit. Naturally, the State, the County, and LA City would need to fund the bulk of the billions needed for an airport park if the airport closes. At this time, the City has no funds for airport park development, so selling its land is the only immediate funding source. Finally, because it takes years to grow trees, the
success of distributed pocket parks would be enhanced by establishing a private tree ordinance to preserve existing trees which would be already in place to shade the future pocket parks. 2. WELLNESS MECCA The City already has a strong medical establishment (2 Hospitals, Amgen, Emperor’s College, John Wayne Cancer Institute etc., etc.) but could further expand its health infrastructure, e.g., laboratories, clinics, and doctor’s offices, to meet increasing demand as the Westside densifies. The City could also shift from crisis-oriented medicine to a City emphasizing healthy living. Yoga, tai chi, meditation classes, and countless other activities of direct benefit to its residents could be facilitated in our college, educational evening spaces, rec centers, and private spaces. Likewise, pollution reduction is another wellness fulcrum. Any incentives the City can add to remove plastics, diesel particulates, secondhand smoke, and beach pollution would be part of the City’s wellness mandate. Naturally, the biggest pollution reduction (including noise reduction) would come from the electrification of cars with the attendant charging and battery infrastructure. 3, CITY OF FESTIVALS As our beaches shrink, our hotels, restaurants, etc could be refocused to serve a series of festivals, conventions, shows, and competitions, anchored on our three expo line stops: Bergamot Station would be the art show node, Memorial Park, the athletic node, and Downtown the performing art node with Barnum Hall, the Greek theater, the revitalized Civic auditorium, the Broad Theater, the future Gehry museum, and the 3rd Street cinemas. Soccer tournaments could happen when the three new airport playing fields are built, as they are already designed but not yet funded. All these festivals and conventions would replace the impact of gradual beach loss. Every city, big and small, has a signature annual event celebrating something unique about that City. We have a unique location at the end of a freeway and a light rail line and just 20 minutes from LAX with abundant hotels to have one big event such as AFI every month plus smaller events, e.g., a marathon every other week. The kind of event, festival, show, or convention is only limited by our imagination and our ability to solve the homeless crisis, which scares away tourists and residents. We could be the entertainment destination for all of LA. 4. LA’s BEDROOM Alternatively, we could also become just a bedroom community for LA like Simi Valley or Palmdale, only closer. The difference from those suburban cities is that they have room for families, while Santa Monica’s development has consistently destroyed family housing. For profit reasons, we have let developers build 3 one bedroom apartments when they should be building one three-bedroom apartment in the equivalent space. For
example, the proposed 521-unit Gelson’s Project does not have a single 3-bedroom apartment. This relentlessly increasing lack of 2 and 3-bedroom apartments drives families out of our City, which has collapsed our School District attendance (not to mention the upcoming divorce with Malibu). Our current path favors a high turnover gig worker tenant that has to leave if they want a home business, get married, have children, or want a multigenerational family. Because the State requires us to build 6000 affordable units in the next eight years but does not fund any of those units, the only way to build that number of units is to place a small percentage (10%) of affordable units in every marketrate project. Consequently, 50,000-60,000 units would be needed to reach the 6000 affordable unit target. This is a future that would probably make Santa Monica one of the densest cities, if not the densest City in California. Our population would double with the attendant gridlock, loss of open space, sunlight, quality of life, and the complete surrender of all our resilience and sustainability goals. We are now transitioning from our City’s core competencies (beach tourism, retail, health, and cars) of the last seven decades to the competencies for our next seven decades. The possible competencies suggested here are to expand our thinking and identify both opportunities and conflicts. Because preparing new competencies on an urban scale takes time, we should start that discussion now and then preposition the elements needed for their realization. By Mario Fonda-Bonardi for S.M.a.r.t Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow Thane Roberts, Architect, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner, Mario FondaBonardi AIA Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE. For previous articles, see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing
October 27 - November 2, 2023
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FILM REVIEW: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
BEHIND THE SCREEN By Kathryn Whitney Boole I’m not a “Swiftie,” so I’m giving an unbiased report on Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie, and I will say it’s absolutely amazing. Taylor is a tireless performer, a poet, a minstrel, and one of the greatest entertainers ever. Her music is personal and heartfelt. It’s not the composition of her music nor her musical talent – there are better – it’s the magnetic way she performs. She clearly loves every minute, and she reaches out to each audience member personally. Her 15 dancers, her band, and her four backup singers are a team, a family. The sets, lighting, and staging are of Olympic quality truly breathtaking. This two-hour and forty-nine-minute concert film takes you through Taylor’s journey as a musician and as a person, from her earliest album to her latest hits, and you can watch her grow. I credit Taylor’s backup singers, four very talented women who call themselves The Starlights, with allowing her to do the Herculean vocal task of singing a whole musical theatre production as a onewoman show with no other stars. Those vocalists are so attuned and well-matched to Taylor’s tone and style that they can help her do the heavy lifting from time to time without so much as a whisper of evidence that they are mingling their voices with the star. Taylor’s 16 distinctive costumes almost become characters, as do the sets. Because she has such a larger-than-life persona, the mindblowing sets and costumes work for her. The director of the film, Sam Wrench, is a Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning British director of live events, music videos, documentaries, and commercials. All the filming for the movie was done during the Eras Tour August performances at SoFi Stadium. The film deftly juxtaposes immersive shots of the astounding staging and backgrounds, the charismatic and playful dancers, the backup singers, long-shots, and close-ups of Swift, always seeming to enhance rather than distract from her musical narrative. As the film was
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
FILE NUMBER: 2023 09629 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 09/25/2023. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. Mighty Village. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: MIGHTY VILLAGE FAMILY COUNSELING, INC 1137 2nd St., ste 216 Santa Monica, Ca. 90403. This business is conducted by A Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 09/2023. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed Darrell Walters. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on September, 25, 2023. NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 10/13/2023, 10/20/2023, 10/27/2023, and 11/3/2023
shot in August and released on October 12th, Wrench and his team of 6 editors had very little time to perfect their work and did an extraordinary job. Taylor Swift is not an overnight sensation. If you want to know what makes Taylor tick, find the music video to her song Marjorie, about her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who was a coloratura soprano opera singer and performed in the US and Latin America in concerts, operas, and supper clubs and on the ABC
radio network. You can tell from the emotion in Taylor’s voice and from the old videos accompanying the song that this woman, who died when Taylor was 13 in 2003, was a huge influence on her dedication to her art and on her life. Taylor is an icon who stays reachable to each fan. She genuinely loves her fans, and the hardcore ones will sing, dance, and light up their phones throughout the movie, so be ready for that. She is a musician, entertainer,
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 23SMCP00446 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Seyedeh Yassaman Badri, by and through Seyedeh Yassaman Badri, for change of name. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Seyedeh Yassaman Badri, Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Seyedeh Yassaman Badri, to Yassi Badri 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: 10/13/23 | 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: October 6, 2023 Judge Lawrence Cho Published: 09/15/23, 09/22/23, 09/29/23, and 10/6/23
FILE NUMBER: 2023 213660 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 09/29/2023. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. VONBERGE CRE. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: P&P Capital Enterprises, Inc. 811 20th St. 107, Santa Monica Ca. 90403. This business is conducted by A Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 09/2023. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed George Gleason. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on September 29, 2023. NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 10/6/2023, 10/13/2023, 10/20/2023, and 10/27/2023
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
and consummate producer, and the skills she and her team have developed in bringing her art to a vast audience give her concerts an air of effortlessness and joy. Her songs portray her life with candor. Noting a tough situation she faced when she was 14, Taylor summarized her approach to her work thus: “I genuinely felt that I was running out of time. I wanted to capture these years of my life on an album while they still represented what I was going through.”
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NUMBER: 2023 215738 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 10/03/2023. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. FAY. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: FAZILA ASGAROVA, 3905 Inglewood Blvd Apt. 204, Los Angeles, Ca. 90066. This business is conducted by An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed Fazila Asgarova. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on October 3, 2023. NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). SANTA MONICA MIRROR to publish 10/20/2023, 10/27/2023, 11/03/2023, and 11/10/2023
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Venice Shorts: Stakeholders Association Opposes Marina Freeway Removal, Offers Affordable Housing Proposal CD-11 Weighing All Options Before Taking Position on the Proposal! By Nick Antonicello The Venice Stakeholders Association (VSA) announced today that it opposes the removal of Marina Freeway (90) due to current and future demand for this important east-west corridor. President Mark Ryavec, a former member of the VNC and 2017 candidate for LA City Council has long been a supporter of reasonable redevelopment and slow-growth as it pertains to Venice. With the State forcing the “densification” of all the Westside through mandatory
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upzoning and permission for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), as well as Transit Oriented Corridors, SB 1818, SB 9 and SB 10 density bonuses, all the communities adjacent to the 90 FWY will be adding thousands of units – and vehicles – every year. California made a multi-million dollar investment in the 90 FWY and it would be misguided to tear it down when there is every likelihood that commuter use will
grow significantly in the future according to the VSA leader. The 90 Freeway was described as an essential corridor for those living east of the 405 FWY’s Slauson exit in central Los Angeles and Inglewood to easily visit Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica and their beaches, and Venice’s Boardwalk, Santa Monica’s Promenade and Marina del Rey’s new Boardwalk, and the Marvin Braude Bike Path according to
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Ryavec. Recognizing, however, the urgent need for more affordable housing in Los Angeles, the VSA proposed (as it did several years ago) the development of housing on the large 90 FWY median between the Flora Grubb Gardens (formerly the Marina Garden Center) and Culver Blvd. It does not appear that proximity to car exhausts at this location should be a concern as Flora Grubb employees spend eight hours a day working in the middle of the east and west lanes of the freeway and there has long been apartments located along the right side of the south lane of the freeway as well. Determining ingress and egress from the site may be a challenge, but the availability of such a large parcel for affordable housing should motivate the city to ask the Department of Transportation to investigate solutions. A call was made to the office of Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) and a spokesperson indicated that no position would be taken at this time and that she (Park) would be monitoring citizen input and feedback before taking a formal position on the proposal. It seems Park will take a measure twice, cut once approach before going public on the fate of the 90 Freeway.
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Venice Pier House Closes Its Doors
New Restaurant and Reopening Expected Soon! By Nick Antonicello The Venice Pier House, located at 7 Washington Blvd and an anchor restaurant at
Washington Square, has closed. A call to the restaurant found the number disconnected and sources tell Yo! Venice that a new restaurant is already in the works. The Pier House closing is part of a reshuffling of restaurants at the beach with the re-opening of Casa-12, while the iconic C&O (Cheese & Olive) location still remains closed, but apparently the property is under a major renovation.
Formerly The Terrace, the Pier House opened about three years at the height of the pandemic. The Pier House was part of the same ownership group that operates The Whaler as well as Baja Cantina, two popular properties along restaurant row on Washington Boulevard. This year Coco Beach as well as Divani both opened on Washington Blvd. as well bringing a resurgence of new venues since the
end of the pandemic that had a major impact on industry nationwide. Coco Beach replaced the iconic Islands, just across the street from Alan’s Market and Beach & Brew, formerly known as Kifune, a popular sushi venue for decades with locals. Nick Antonicello is a thirty-year resident that covers all things Venice. Have a take or a tip on all things Venice? E-mail him at nantoni@mindspring.com
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Venice High School Evacuated Popular Boardwalk Playground Amid Threat, LAPD Investigates Slated for Demolition Venice Boulevard Was Temporarily Closed by the Police During the Investigation In an incident that raised concerns about the safety of students and staff at Venice High School on Thursday, an evacuation was initiated, and traffic around the campus was temporarily halted, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The local school district became aware of statements made by an unidentified community member, as stated by Lt. Nina Buranasombati from the Los Angeles School Police Department in an official release. The nature and source of these statements remained unclear. During the investigation, students were briefly evacuated to the school’s football field while the police probed the veracity of the threats. By 2 p.m., normal school operations had resumed, and officials assured that all students and staff were secure. According to the Los Angeles Times, the police later declared the threat as non-credible, and the Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating the incident. Venice Boulevard was temporarily closed by the police during the investigation, with
Department of Parks and Rec Is Seeking a Vendor for a Replacemen By Zach Armstrong school police increasing patrols in the vicinity. This occurrence followed an incident just three days prior, where several schools in Los Angeles County were closed due to bomb threat-related emails, later determined to lack credibility by authorities.
The Department of Recreation and Parks will remove what it describes as “aging” playground equipment at Venice Beach to “mitigate potential hazards and ensure the well-being of children.” a spokesperson said in an email. The decision is in reference to the
playground located along the Venice Beach Boardwalk at 1 Windward Ave near a Police Substation, labeled as the “Windward Plaza Children’s Playground”. It is situated among popular boardwalk destinations such as Muscle Beach, Venice Beach Skatepark and the famous Venice sign. “We are excited to begin the construction process of creating a vibrant and safe new playground with amazing features for the community to enjoy.” said LA Parks and Rec Public Information Director Rose Watson. “Once a vendor has been selected, we will be sharing a timeline for the project’s development.” The department did not provide additional information on how exactly the playground was deteriorating.
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Historic Venice Theater Turned Indoor Swap Meet Closes Its Doors
The Venue Opened Its Doors as a 1,000-Seat Single-Level Theater in 1951 By Zach Armstrong Fox Venice, a legendary movie theater situated at 620 Lincoln Blvd that operated in recent years as an indoor swap for local merchants, has halted operations. It is not immediately clear who owns the property or what their plans are for its future.
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The venue opened its doors as a 1,000-seat single-level movie theater on Aug. 17 1951 with a feature from Betty Grable titled “Meet Me After the Show”, according to Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. In attendance were stars such as George Jessel. It took on several different appeals and ownership through the decades. It acted as an Art Decostyle theater that showed standard films until the early-1970’s when it became a popular revival venue, according to Cinema Treasures. It had a brief period as an art film house and a significant venue for first-run foreign films during the 1980s. According to a Los Angeles Times article archived by Los Angeles Theaters BlogSpot, the theater closed in 1988 after hazardous forms of asbestos were discovered by health inspectors. The space was eventually repurposed as the Fox Discount Store swap meet. Various plans for redevelopment have emerged since then, including one project where Trader Joe’s was set to be the main occupant and another proposed by Santa Monica-based Roque & Mark Realtors in 2021 that included converting retail space into outdoor seating and parking while a resulting structure would included 15,822 square feet for commercial use, reported Urbanize LA. Although rumors circulating on social media speculated that Trader Joe’s is set to take over the property, a spokesperson for the grocery chain told Mirror Media Group in an email that “At this time, we do not have a location confirmed in Venice.”
Florence-Based Sandwich Shop Opens Abbot Kinney Location
Among Menu Items Is the La Favolosa (Salame Toscana, Pecorino Cream, Artichoke Cream, Spicy Eggplant)
announced that the location will permanently
By Zach Armstrong
Launched in 1991, the Mazzanti family
An authentic Italian sandwich shop, originating in Florence and now operating a dozen locations internationally, is starting its Los Angeles expansion along Abbot Kinney Boulevard. All’Antico Vinaio announced via a surprise Instagram post that it opened a new location in a ground-floor space located at 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd. As of Oct. 1, the chain
open once some store details are finalized. Among the items on its sandwich-only menu are the La Favolosa (Salame toscana, pecorino cream, artichoke cream, spicy eggplant), L.A. Fade Away (Gorgonzola, spicy zucchini, spicy eggplant, sun dried tomato, arugula) and the La District (Pancetta, pecorino cream, sun dried tomato, arugula). has been operating Florence locations of the All’antico Vinaio franchise drawing crowds due to its Tuscan schiacciata bread. Tommaso Mazzanti joined the company in 2014, opening four more stores between 2017 and 2021, including one in New York City. With the recent announcement, the chain is expanding into the Los Angeles area starting with Venice.
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Exciting events happening at SMC! Santa Monica College has a lively lineup of events scheduled, so mark your calendar!
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Barry Snell, Chair; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Tom Peters; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Alyssa Arreola, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu
• Dance Performances & Master Classes • Theatre Arts Performances • Music Concerts • Santa Monica Review Issue Launch Party • Planetarium Shows • Literary Talks & Readings • and much more!
Visit smc.edu/events for more information.