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Westside Health and Beauty | Pages 9-12 INSIDE Westside Health and Beauty | Pages 9-12 P-77 Joins SM Nativity Mountain Lion Scenes to Return INSIDE S A N TA M O N I C A Family

SPECIALSISSUE: A N TA M O N I C A

P-77 Joins PAGE PAGE18 4 Mountain Lion Beach Club to PayReleased WomanFamily $10M+ After Son Dies Stabbing Pending Investigation REFLECTING THE Suspect CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY

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29 – December 5, 2019 Volume XXII, Issue 20 19 November December 6 – 12,

PAGE and humid" day. proper first aid for over three hours 18 smmirror.com November Jury renders verdict to 29 – December 5, 2019 Volume XXII, Issue 19 administer an altercation with another man and stabbed after Keck began showing signsorder and symptoms "Around 1:30 pm he started cramping and County officials him with a knife, according to Santa Monica of heat exhaustion. asked a locker room attendant to massage his Santa Monica mother of the release of a man Police Department (SMPD) Lieutenant Can“Safety was a big factor that was ignored and calf. The cramps persisted and worsened over dice Cobarrubias. The Santa Monica Lookout William M. Keck III my son would still be if someone had just the next few hours while the locker room attensuspected ofaliveattempted has reported both men were homeless. called for help,” said Kitty Keck. “It’s always dant continued to massage Keck III. The crampHodges scene of the crime by the murder on Ocean Front and humid"fled day.the administer proper first aid for overKeck. three hours ing better to be safe than sorry,” added spread and he continued to sweat in the B y Samrenders Catanzaroverdict to Jury time officers arrived. The victim, who was after Keck began showing signs and symptoms "Around 1:30 pm started cramping and During the two-week trial, Keck’s attorneys hot and humid locker he room in spite of receivWalk stabbed in the abdomen several times, was of heat exhaustion. asked a locker room attendant to massage his Santa Monica mother of argued the Club employees owed a duty of care ing water and Gatorade. No one from the Club

Beach Club to Pay Woman $10M+ After Son Dies

A Santa Monica woman will receive over $10 million from a beach club after her 48-year-old son died from heat exhaustion during a 2017 paddle tennis tournament. BOn y SMonday, am Catanzaro November 25 a Santa Monica jury rendered a $12 million verdict to Katherine A Santa Monica woman will receive over $10 “Kitty” Keck of Santa Monica, the mother of million from a beach club after her 48-year-old 48-year-old William M. Keck III of Marina Del son died from heat exhaustion a 2017 Rey, who suffered from fatal heatduring exhaustion at paddle tennis tournament. the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. On Monday, 25 a Santa Monica According to November Gina Fernandes, Director of jury rendered a $12 million verdict to Katherine Public Relations for Juris Productions in a press “Kitty” Keck of Santa Monica, the mother of The 2400 block of Ocean Walk 48-year-old William M.Front Keck III of Marina Del Rey, who suffered from fatal heat exhaustion at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. According to Gina Fernandes, Director of Public Relations for Juris Productions in a press

transported to a local hospital and treated calf.called The 911 cramps and worsened over one untilpersisted he started having difficulty for his injuries. the next few hoursp.m. while theparamedics locker roomarrived attenbreathing at 4:57 The SMPD Detectives laterKeck located Hodges in dant continued to to massage III. The crampfour minutes later find Keck turning blue. The Pomona andand he was arrested bytoSanta Monica ing spread he continued sweat in the Club had procedures requiring a call to 911 for police onhumid Friday, December 29 spite and taken into hot and locker in of heat exhaustion that wasroom not followed forreceivmore custody for attempted murder. ing water and Gatorade. from the Club than three hours. Keck IIINo diedone at the hospital at Oncalled Tuesday, December 3 the SMPD preone 911 until he started having difficulty 5:56 pm," Fernandes said. sented theatcase to theThe Losparamedics Angeles County breathing 4:57 arrived Keck III is thep.m. son of the late William M. District Attorney for prosecution but The the four minutes later to find Keck turning blue. Keck II. He was a commercial real estate broker office requested a further investigation Club had procedures requiring a call to 911into for the case, according to Lt. Cobarrubias, and heat exhaustion that was see not followed for more DEATH, page 18 Hodges was released thetheoutcome than three hours. Keckpending III died at hospitalof at a5:56 follow-up investigation. pm," Fernandes said. Keck III is the son of the late William M. Keck II. He was a commercial real estate broker

release sent on behalf of the plaintiffs, Keck III died from a heart arrhythmia caused by elevated potassium due to heat exhaustion on September 3, 2017. His mother Kitty sued the Bel-Air Bay Club claiming the staff failed to call 911 or

“Safety was a big his factor that was his ignored and to Keck to recognize symptoms, worsenB Sam Cand atanzaro myycondition son would still someone just ing tobe getalive him if medical aid had sooner. called forcase help,” Kitty “It’s lack always “This wassaid about theKeck. stunning of A homeless mansorry,” suspected of stabbing better to and be safe than Keck. training negligence thatadded caused a tragic another nearKeck’s the beach in During the two-week attorneys death that homeless could have man beentrial, prevented,” said lead Santa by last argued Monica the Club was employees owed a police duty of care plaintiff attorney Brucearrested Broillet. “We hope this week before released a few days later to Keck to recognize his to symptoms, his worsenverdict sends abeing message other athletic faciliafter county prosecutors requested further ing condition and to get him medical aid sooner. ties and clubs to take heat exhaustion seriously,” investigation. “This case was about the stunning lack of he added. The incident occurredthat on April 8,a 2018, training and negligence caused tragic According to Fernandes, Keck III had been on the 2400 block of Ocean Front Walk death that couldtennis have been prevented,”on said lead playing paddle at a tournament a near "hot Perry’s Cafe around 6:15 “We a.m. hope The susplaintiffBeach attorney Bruce Broillet. this pect, allegedly gotfaciliinto verdictRimone sends aHodges, message29, to other athletic ties and clubs to take heat exhaustion seriously,” he added. According to Fernandes, Keck III had been playing paddle tennis at a tournament on a "hot

low for comfort; our reserves are lower than they Monica-Westside should be, and therearea. is no indication in the near A Change.org with over 5,000 future that there willpetition be an increase in revenue signatures looks to save the shop by getting from state, federal or local sources of funding,” the City Drati said. of Santa Monica to designate the property as a historical landmark. Drati pointed to the State of California as the “This store more than just a skate shop, low forofcomfort; our reserves are lower they source manyisof the issues facing thethan district. Jim [McDowell] and Bill [Poncher] should be,ranks and there thehave near California 41st isinno theindication nation in in education created anthere environment future that willsaid be that an that increase infostered revenue funding, and Drati statehas funding has the of Santa for fromskate state, community federal or local of funding,” been “extremely volatile” forsources years. Monica over 40 years,”reads the petition. “It’s upDrati said. “Like many other districts in the State of setting to our community that the city of Drati pointed to the State California as the California, SMMUSD has ofbeen challenged Santa Monica would overlook it’s cultural source of manyfiscal of thedeficit issuesspending facing the district. by a structural cycle for toThis the41st city Its California ranks initself. thethat nation in education arelevance long time. means oursignificance operational in skateboard history wellstate known and we refunding, and are Drati saidisthan that funding has expenditures greater the revenues spected worldwide.” been “extremely volatile” for federal years. and local receive in combined state, Poncher, while touched by in thethe communi“Like many other districts State of funding,” Drati said. ty support, SMMUSD says that hehas is wary getCalifornia, been about challenged ting worked-up by thespending situationcycle out for of by a too structural fiscal deficit concern of antagonizing theirour landlord and a long time. This means that operational forcing a rentare increase. expenditures greater than the revenues we “The community outpouring, amlocal so receive in combined state, federal Iand touched it, but funding,”by Drati said.on the same hand I can’t

According to the district, some factors be- shortage, a crisis that confronts school districts hind the revenue deficit include increases in throughout the nation. healthcare and other employee-related costs “Housing prices on the westside of Los Anand in general operations, including the costs geles have risen dramatically, which impacts our of supplies and services. In addition, Drati said Photo: Sam Catanzaro SMMUSD is faced with a growing teacher BUDGET, see page 18 to Santa the district, some factors be- shortage, a crisis that confronts school districts RipAccording City Skates on Monica Boulevard hind the revenue deficit include increases in throughout the nation. Sweet costs Home“Housing Santa pricesMonica on the westside of Los Anhealthcare and other employee-related get too emotional about it,” Poncher said. Disclosure: ofwhich this article and in general operations, including the Nessel costs geles have risenthe dramatically, impactshas our Dan & Charlee | 310.365.0195 | author 310.755.8180 “That’s just how it is, so you just embrace purchased two skateboards and various of supplies and services. In addition, Drati |said Dan@NesselHomes.com Charlee@NesselHomes.com | NesselHomes.com it, I guess, and you move the years fromsee Rip City Skates. SMMUSD is faced with aon.” growing teacher gear over BUDGET, page 18

William M. Keck III

William and Kitty Keck.

Photos: Courtesy Keck Family

release sent on behalf of the plaintiffs, Keck III died from a heart arrhythmia caused by elevated potassium due to heat Photos: exhaustion on SeptemCourtesy Keck Family ber 3, 2017. His mother Kitty sued the Bel-Air William and Kitty Keck. Bay Club claiming the staff failed to call 911 or Photo: Google

Fiscal Challenges for SMMUSD Dogtown Relic Rip City Skates to be Demolished Superintendent Santa Monica says skatestate funding, transition to shop looking for new basic-aid location among culprits

DEATH, see page 18

Fiscal Challenges for SMMUSD

B y atanzaro Superintendent B y SSam amCC atanzaro says state

funding, to Unified The thetransition Santa Monica-Malibu Rip head Cityof Skates opened its doors in 1978 School District (SMMUSD) is warning of fiscal in Santa Monica at the dawn of the modern basic-aid among culprits challenges facing the district, saying that reserve

skateboarding era. Now Los Angeles’ oldfunds are “too low for comfort”. est continuously operated skate shop plans BOn y SNovember am Catanzaro 22, SMMUSD Superintendent on relocating as the building’s owner is Dr. Ben Drati released athe letter to parents andBoustaff looking to demolish Santa Monica The head of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified titled levard“SMMUSD property. Budget: Challenges and OpSchool District (SMMUSD) is warning of fiscal portunities Ahead.” Bill Poncher, who has co-owned Rip City challenges facingSMMUSD’s the district, fund saying that reserve “At this point, balance is too since day one with his cousin Jim McDowfunds are “too low for comfort”. ell, says that their landlord plans on demolOn November 22, SMMUSD Superintendent ishing the building and that the store has Dr. Ben Drati released a letter to parents and staff between six and eight months to find a new titled “SMMUSD Budget: Challenges and Oplocation. According to Poncher, Rip City portunities Ahead.” hopes to find a new storefront in the Santa “At this point, SMMUSD’s fund balance is too

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