Santa Monica Mirror December 11, 2020

S A N TA M O N I C A

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY

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INSIDE SANTA MONICA POLICE, FEDS ARREST HIGH-LEVEL METH AND COCAINE DEALER PAGE 6

December 11 – December 17, 2020 Volume LXVI, Issue 71

Sue Himmelrich Selected as Santa Monica’s Mayor Kristen McCowan selected as mayor pro tempore as new councilmembers are sworn in

By Sam Catanzaro

Sue Himmelrich is Santa Monica’s new mayor after being selected by a recently installed City Council.

“We have an opportunity to move our community forward past this deadly virus, past our differences, and toward a future that we can all be proud of and one that reflects the best of who we are as Santa Monicans,” Mayor Himmelrich said. “I look forward to doing the hard work ahead with my colleagues and to opening lines of two-way communication with community members at a time when connection is harder than ever.”

At a December 8 meeting, City Council selected Himmelrich as Santa Monica’s mayor with a two-year term. Newly-elected Councilmembers Phil Brock, Christine Parra and Oscar de la Torre, along with incumbent Kristen McCowan voted for Himmelrich, who voted for herself. Outgoing mayor Kevin McKeown voted for Gleam Davis, who also voted for herself. In earlier rounds of voting, McKeown unsuccessfully four times motioned to have Davis and Himmelrich each serve a oneyear term citing “continuity and leadership and experience.”

“I do believe that the six years I served on the Council qualify me for two years,” Himmelrich said in response to McKeown’s third motion.

Himmelrich– an attorney by trade who has

Photos: City of Santa Monica

Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich

lived in Santa Monica for 28 years and works as Special Counsel for the Western Center on Law and Poverty–joined City Council in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018.

“I have been on this council for six years. I have never sought a leadership position on this council until this moment because I think we

are at a critical moment for Santa Monica both because of the pandemic that we all are suffering in and because of the divided nature of our community,” Himmelrich said. “Right out of the box one of the first things I am going to do is set up a personal, not a city, but a personal Zoom meeting that I will hold once a week with the

residents of our city to hear what you have to say.”

Following Himmelrich’s selection, Kristin McCowan, a second-generation Santa Monican born and raised in the Pico neighborhood, was

New Mayor, see page 8

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Santa Monica Surf Shop ZJ Boarding House to Reopen Santa Monica surf and skate institution set to reopen in Spring 2021

By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica surf and skate institution ZJ Boarding House is set to make a return to its longtime Main Street storefront.

ZJ Boarding House, founded in 1988 on the corner of Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard, closed earlier this year on August 16 following issues negotiating a lease. Since then ZJ’s parent company Boardriders have worked with the landlord and local stakeholders to sign a fiveyear lease that will allow the store–with major renovations including a new roof and interior upgrades–to reopen in Spring 2021.

“What a silver lining at the end of such a

challenging year,” says Todd Roberts, cofounder of ZJ. “ZJ Boarding House is such an integral part of the community and we can’t thank our customers enough for their patience and support of us over the years.

Thanks to the hard work of the community, of Boardriders, and of our landlord, we now have a plan in place that will continue to make this space the ultimate destination for everyone looking to have fun in and around the ocean, the mountains and beyond.”

After the Main Street renovations, which include the replacement of the roof, seismic retrofits, and substantial interior upgrades, the entire 4,900 square foot space will be open in just a few months.

“Spring 2021 can’t come soon enough,” said Ajai Datta, who leads US retail operations for Boardriders. “We’re all looking to turn the page on a challenging year that will ultimately make us stronger in the long run.”

December 11 – December 17, 2020

December 11 – December 17, 2020

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December 11 – December 17, 2020

Santa Monica Under SCAG’s Boot

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

OPINION

“In reality the City does not have a housing problem. It permits annually about twice the amount of housing it needs to absorb its natural growth, but it cannot produce enough AFFORDABLE housing for the full spectrum of its current residents’ incomes,” writes Mario Fonda-Bonardi in the latest SMart Column.

SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

As most of you know the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is now forcing Santa Monica to permit 8873 new housing units (of which about 6000 need to be affordable) in the next 8 years (2022-2029). Buttressed by all kinds of interlocking laws and severe financial penalties, SCAG is coercing the City to accept this constitutionally illegal unfunded mandate. This would be an incredible budget busting 20% increase in our resident population, with its attendant increase in water, power, traffic gridlock, sewer, fire/ police, schools and park demand, not to mention the financial cost of permitting all those units.

The City Council is belatedly holding

a study session to try to respond to this on Dec 15 at 5:30 pm and to prepare a new housing element for those next eight years.

The housing element is normally a forwardlooking planning tool the City uses to achieve its housing goals. However, it has now become, with SCAG’s blackmail, an unsustainable urban cancer that the City Council has to figure out how to treat.

In reality the City does not have a housing problem. It permits annually about twice the amount of housing it needs to absorb its natural growth, but it cannot produce enough AFFORDABLE housing for the full spectrum of its current residents’ incomes.

This affordability crisis, no matter how you solve it, eventually requires a substantial cash subsidy of some sort. Since SCAG provides no funding for its required 6000 affordable units, the entire SCAG edifice collapses into a useless unattainable mirage.

Because of SCAG’s numbers lack of reality, at its study session, the Council

should get real and try to understand how we got into this nightmare and how to get out of it. They should be able to answer twenty questions to its residents who will be bearing the burden of this onslaught: 1. Why did the City waste a year when this was first publicly raised in December 2019 in preparing a response to these unattainable numbers?

2. When our City’s SCAG allocation suddenly mysteriously jumped 88% (4229 units) in December of 2019, why did the City not respond? Who should have generated a response to this red flag? How can we reverse this arbitrary manipulation?

3.Why did the Council accept that Santa Monica was being treated substantially differently in its requirements than other cities (with similar transit/job availability) in proportion to its population: Santa Monica 9.57%, Culver City 8.5%, Long Beach 5.34%?

4. Knowing this number was unattainable,

why did the City let the official appeal deadline, at the end of October 2020, lapse without filing an appeal knowing full well that other Cities were appealing and that if they were successful, their reductions would be added to our numbers?

5. Why has the City not joined the 50 other cities fighting for local control when we saw the overinflated numbers headed our way?

6. The natural growth of the City (births minus deaths) is approximately 1111 units in the next 8 years if we ignore the depopulating effects of Covid-19. But why should we accept a growth rate 8 times our natural expansion if it even occurs? How does piling on more people make the City more affordable for our existing housing cost overburdened residents? And shouldn’t those overburdened resident’s needs come first?

7. By the end 2021, the end of the last 8-year cycle, the City will have permitted

SMart, see page 5

December 11 – December 17, 2020

SMart, from page 4 about 3250 units or about twice the previous SCAG requirement of about 1674 units. Why should our city suddenly have to absorb about 5 times our last allocation?

8. If the hypothetical purpose is to increase the amount of housing why cannot the excess/deficit created in previous cycles be carried over to the next SCAG cycle. If not, isn’t this an unfair punishment and simply an encouragement for all Cities to under permit?

9. The SCAG numbers do not require the units to be actually built, just permitted. So not a single unit need be added to the City’s housing stock according to SCAG. Assuming each unit costs about $600,000 to build and that permitting costs run 10% of the unit cost, just the permitting process will cost about $530,000,000 (the entire City budget for one year) for units that will not be built for decades. Who will pay for these upfront costs when the market, cannot with all its vacancies, even absorb the current stock?

10. The 6000 affordable units will cost a nominal $3.6 billion dollars to build. SCAG has no funding mechanism. With its great affordable housing program Santa Monica thankfully built about 544 affordable units over the last 6 years or 90 affordable units a year. SCAG wants to raise our production by a factor 8 (750 units/year). What is the credibility of such a goal? Show me one California City that has built its way to affordability?

11. Because SCAG has no ownership requirement or funding mechanism are not we just permitting/ building for a permanent underclass of renters who will never accumulate enough capital to become owners?

The new housing element should favor new housing models of share ownership.

12. How many units will be credibly demolished to build 8874 units? The number of those demolished units needs to be added to the 8874 to create the net number that needs permitting.

13. The SCAG numbers are a forced upzone for the entire City creating excess profits for existing landowners at the expense of the feasibility of future housing production. By making land more expensive won’t this up zoning only make it harder for our current affordable housing providers competing with more well-heeled developers? How will the City prevent such gouging as what happened at the City trailer park project?

14. Why should the City accept SCAG’s narrow rules defining what is a suitable site for new housing, such as the artificially low (600) Accessory Dwelling Units limit that could be placed on our 9000 single family sites? Why should the City accept any SCAG constraints on what is a suitable site?

15. Freddie Mac believes, based on vacancies (pre Covid-19) but still using SCAG’s own fake methodology, that our real need is about 2078 new units or less than a quarter of the SCAG numbers. How will the City adjust its housing element for the effect of Covid-19? And how will SCAG adjust its numbers for a depopulating state that lost 650,000 people this year?

16. The school population is shrinking

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because we have not permitted/built enough affordable 3-bedroom apartments. Wouldn’t it be better to build more multi bedroom apartments instead of so many single bedroom apartments effectively demanded by SCAG? SCAG’s numbers should be emphasizing useful quality instead of quantity. SCAG again takes away local control by forcing the direction of development away from what our City really needs.

17. Haven’t the last 50 State housing mandates for height bonuses, for density bonuses, for affordability exemptions, for automatic approvals, etc. etc. already taken away enough local control, that the SCAG numbers will only be the final nail in our City’s coffin?

18. How do the unfunded SCAG’s numbers, which drive up land and construction costs, address our homeless crisis?

19. Has the City prepared a cost benefit analysis of legally resisting the unfunded mandate compared to kowtowing to SCAG with its exponential infrastructure costs? If not when can we have it?

20. State law requires housing projects of 500 units or more identify new water resources with a 20-year supply. To meet SCAG’s numbers between one and 17 new aquifers need to be identified. Where is any new water to be found? In two years our water independence from outside sources must be achieved: how far back does this SCAG invasion set us? The same question could be asked for the entire overloaded City infrastructure. Can you say gridlock?

As you can see SCAG’s bogus numbers are an unjustifiable unprovoked assault on our City. SCAG’s numbers are an idolatrous worship at the fake god of infinite growth that will both eviscerate our City’s beachside character and its urgent sustainability/ resilience necessities. Wearing the fig leaf of “affordability”, to hide SCAG’s real beneficiaries, the City is being forced to sacrifice itself for the benefit of developers, real estate interests and construction unions.

This is a “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” moment for our City. The City Council should, in its accountability obligation, answer these resident questions and figure out how to resist Caesar while simultaneously giving its residents what it really needs: a realistic credible housing element. In our post truth world, we do not need more fakery.

Please attend the December 15th zoom meeting and tell the City Council to get SCAG’s boot off our neck.

by Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA Planning Commissioner for SMa.r.t.

(Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) Ron Goldman, Architect FAIA; Dan Jansenson, Architect, Building & Fire-Life Safety Commissioner; Robert H. Taylor, Architect AIA: Thane Roberts, Architect; Sam Tolkin, Architect; Marc Verville accountant ret.

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

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December 11 – December 17, 2020

Santa Monica Police, Feds Arrest High-Level Meth and Cocaine Dealer Guadalupe Edwin Zuniga arrested December 3rd

By Chad Winthrop

Santa Monica police and federal narcotics agents arrested a high-level methamphetamine and cocaine dealer suspected of being the supplier for numerous drug dealers in the City of Santa Monica.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on Thursday, December 3, the department’s Special Investigations Unit (SUI) along with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) concluded a long-term investigation into a high-level methamphetamine and cocaine dealer who is suspected of being the source of supply for numerous narcotics dealers in the City of Santa Monica.

“A federal search warrant on the subject’s

vehicle and residence was successfully executed due to the collaboration with the Santa Monica Police Department and DEA,” the SMPD said in a press release.

The SMPD says, the subject–30-year-old Guadalupe Edwin Zuniga–was detained away from his residence without incident by SIU and members of SMPD’s Crime Impact Team (CIT) and presented with the warrant.

According to police, a search of his vehicle yielded approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine.

In addition, after the subject was arrested for the methamphetamine, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the his residence, recovering a loaded Glock style “ghost gun”, extended magazine, ammunition, cocaine hydrochloride and packaging materials.

According to the SMPD, Zuniga was previously arrested by the department in 2019 for narcotics trafficking.

Zuniga was transferred to DEA / US Marshals custody Thursday, December 3.

Evidence seized from a high-level narcotics dealer by Santa Monica police.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at

Photo: SMPD

(310) 458-8491; Detective Khansari at (310) 458-8458; or Detective McGowan at (310) 458-2201 ext 4698.

Indiana Man Arrested for Attempted Santa Monica Bank Robbery Santa Monica police arrest Aaron KoehlerMarsh for robbery

By Chad Winthrop

Santa Monica police arrested an Indiana man who attempted to rob a bank with a shotgun this week.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on December 8 at around 9:20 a.m., the dispatch received a call of an armed robbery in progress at the Wells Fargo Bank on 170 Pier Avenue.

Police say the robbery was reported to involve a male armed with a shotgun.

“Santa Monica Police Officers were in the area and quickly arrived on scene.

Officers observed the suspect inside a

vehicle exiting the bank parking lot.

Officers were able to conduct a high-risk traffic stop at the intersection of Neilson Way and Bicknell,” said SMPD Lt. Joseph A. Cortez. “Officers recovered a shotgun from the vehicle.”

According to police, the suspect–27year-old Aaron Koehler-Marsh from Dayton, Indiana–was taken into custody without incident on robbery charges.

Aaron Koehler-Marsh.

Photo: SMPD

SMC Presents “Nevertheless, She Persisted” Concert on Racial Justice and Gender Equality Free virtual concert features Chorosynthesis Singers

The Santa Monica College Music Department is pleased to host “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” a live webcast concert under the direction of Jeremiah Selvey, featuring virtually recorded performances by the SMC Concert Chorale and SMC Chamber Choir, with guest Choral-Scholars-In-Residence Chorosynthesis Singers.

The event is free and will be held online at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 18. Concert updates, more information about the music and performers, and a link to the live webcast are available at https://fb.me/e/3uUxF4Yfx. On Facebook, search for “SMC Choirs: Nevertheless, She Persisted.”

The choral event, which celebrates the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and reflects the contemporary re-sparking of movements for racial justice and gender equality, showcases the voices of BIPOC women — from the early 20th-century suffragists to present-day civil rights activists — who changed the world through advocacy and composing music.

The Choral Scholars in Residence, codirected by guest conductor Wendy Moy, will premiere Melissa Dunphy’s “Amendment: Righting Our Wrongs.” Composed for soprano-alto-tenor-bass (SATB) choir and cello, the work juxtaposes the voices of the founding fathers with the voices of minority women fighting for universal voting rights.

This performance will also include a collage work about racial (in)justice co-composed by members of the SMC Chamber Choir and Chorosynthesis Singers.

The concert is sponsored in part by

Photo: Santa Monica College Music Department

the SMC Chairs of Excellence Grant and generous individual donors. Donations to support the SMC Choirs are welcome and

may be sent to the SMC Foundation (details at santamonicacollegefoundation.org/smcchoirs).

December 11 – December 17, 2020

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December 11 – December 17, 2020

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Recently-elected councilmembers are sworn-in on December 8 in a virtual meeting.

New Mayor, from page 1 chosen as mayor pro tempore, also for a twoyear term. McCowan–a former member of the Obama FEMA administration currently working as Executive Director of the Getty House Foundation–became the first Black woman to serve as a Santa Monica City Councilmember when she was appointed to fill a seat left vacant

by Greg Morena in July.

“If we can put perceived differences aside,

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 20SMRO00197 Name of Protected Person Yelena Koldobskaya Representing Self Name of Restrained Person Steve Pisa Male, White, 46 years old Address unknown Court Hearing This order expires at the end of the hearing stated below 12/29/20, 8:30 am.

Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St., Sant Monica Ca. 90401 Dept. F Printed in Santa Monica Mirror on 11/27/20, 12/4/20, 12/11/20 and 12/18/20 Criminal Protective Order

I do think that we can all really work together for the residents of this community,” McCowan said. “I am committed to continuing to work with all Santa Monicans to help our economy recover from COVID, reimagine public safety, compassionately address our unhoused brothers and sisters, improve access to affordable housing and bring about racial justice.”

The meeting, held virtually, began with the official acceptance of the election results and the swearing-in of the newly-elected councilmembers. In the recently-certified election of four councilmembers, challenger and Arts Commissioner Brock finished in first place with 19,319 votes as a member of the slowgrowth “Change Slate”.

“I am humbled by the support of over 19,000 of my fellow residents in this election,” Brock during the meeting. “For those of you on this dais who did not support me during the election, I offer my hand in cooperation to work together for this city that we love. I pledge to restore our public safety, dramatically reduce homelessness, stop the overdevelopment of our 145-year-old beachside town and bring the desires of our residents to the forefront of every discussion in this chamber.”

Incumbent Gleam Davis finished in second place with 18,153 votes. Davis– who works as corporate counsel for AT&T–joined the City

Council in 2009 when to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Herb Katz.

“I look forward to serving with all of you in the next couple of years. We have a lot to do. It obviously is a very difficult time but I think that if we all recognize that the important thing here is what is best for Santa Monica and all of its constituents, that we will be able to get through these difficult times. Santa Monica is resilient and our resilience stems from our strong belief in community and our strong values,” Davis said.

In third place was challenger Christine Parra, another member of the Change Slate, who works as head of emergency services for Culver City.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues, residents, neighborhood groups and businesses to effect change and move our city in a direction that is more resident-oriented with quality of life issues top of mind. It’s my intent to prioritize public safety, homelessness, irresponsible development and real affordable housing solutions for Santa Monica residents, and look at ways on how we can support our small and local businesses,” Parra said.

The final council seat won in the election went to Change Slate challenger Oscar de la Torre (17,570 votes), a former Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District School Board member and longtime Pico Neighborhood resident and community activist.

“Three incumbents lost to three challengers and it is important to recognize that the residents of this city want change. They want to see improvements to public safety. They want to return to the parks and to our public space.

They want to make sure that we deal with the homelessness crisis in a way that is responsible and compassionate,” de la Torre said. “We need to stop the irresponsible development that is destroying the character of our city. We need to make sure that our public space is protected and that we expand green space for the residents.”

Also at the meeting, outgoing Mayor Kevin McKeown–who led the city through a pandemic that forced hundreds of city layoffs due to a fiscal shortfall–said Santa Monica is “poised for resurgence.”

“Members of our community have supported each other through a truly challenging year, and we must commit to each other’s health and safety for another few months until we all have access to COVID vaccines,” McKeown said.

“Being your Mayor this year has been difficult, certainly, but a great honor. Based on the work we’ve done together, Santa Monica is poised for resurgence as the pandemic recedes and the economy recovers. Led by a new Council and a new Mayor, we will discover a reinvented Santa Monica that proves our commitment and our resilience.”

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 20SMCP00425 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Elisabeth Anne Hobbs, by and through Elisabeth Anne Hobbs for change of name.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Elisabeth Anne Hobbs Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Elisabeth Anne Hobbs to Elisabeth Esme Davies 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: 02/26/2021 | 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: Dec. 10, 2020 Judge Lawerence Cho Published: 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 01/01/2021

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 20SMCP00420 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1725 Main St. | Santa Monica, CA 90401 Petition of: Katherine Rose Taylor, by and through Katherine Rose Taylor for change of name.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all interested persons: Katherine Rose Taylor Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Katherine Rose Taylor to Katie Rose Taylor 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: 02/19/2021 | 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: DEC. 10, 2020 Judge Lawrence Cho Published: 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 01/01/2021

FILE NUMBER: 2020206171 ORIGINAL FILING This statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES ON 12/03/20. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as 1. SANTA MONICA POSTAL SERVICES 1626 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA CA. 90403. The full name of registrant(s) is/are: DIMITRIS PAPANIKOLAOU 1626 MONTANA AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA. 90403. This business is conducted by An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 07/2016. 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 DIMITRIS PAPANIKOLAOU. This Statement was filed with the County Clerk of LOS ANGELES County on DEC. 03, 2020. 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 12/11/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/25/2020, and 1/1/2021

December 11 – December 17, 2020

FILM REVIEW: “MANK”

BEHIND THE SCREEN

By Kathryn Whitney Boole Mank tells the turbulent story behind the screenplay for Citizen Kane (1941) the masterpiece film by Orson Welles, hailed by many as the greatest movie of all time. The central character is Herman Mankiewicz, “Mank,” who had worked with Welles extensively, writing scripts for his Mercury Theatre radio shows in the 1930’s. The story follows Mank as he writes the screenplay for what became Welles’ greatest work.

Mankiewicz’ script was one element of the movie’s success. Welles tried to take complete credit for the screenplay. However, it is believed that most of the writing was done by Mankiewicz. The famed “Rosebud” symbolism of Citizen Kane was recalled Mankiewicz’s own troubled childhood. This is the setting for our present film, Mank.

I had high hopes for Mank and came away strangely dissatisfied. Relationships are clear.

The narrative is not. It’s beset with flashbacks to the point where it’s hard to figure out what happened first, leading to distraction in identifying strongly with the players. The characters are colorful but remained cyphers to me – I wanted to see more depth.

Here’s the problem. Mank is the story of a story - about the writing of another classic movie, itself based on a synthesis of several powerful men and women of the 1930’s. So you can see the danger signs of an excruciatingly exhaustive thought process behind the creation of Mank. This movie is obviously a labor of love for Director David Fincher. His late father, Jack, who wrote the screenplay, had instilled in his son a belief that Citizen Kane was the greatest movie ever made.

Fincher decided to frame Mank in Welles’ original style, including using black & white instead of color and monaural sound. I loved the vivid depth of shadows of the black & white format. The exception is some of the darker scenes, which lose contrast in the dim

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Rated R 131 Minutes Released December 4th on Netflix lighting.

It is reported that Fincher sometimes would do over 100 takes of the same scene, to get it perfect. I suppose if you are looking to elicit utter frustration from your actors, this technique might work. In spite of that, Amanda Seyfried really “gets” the complex character of Marion Davies, who was the companion of William Randolph Hearst for most of his life. Davies grew up in a well-todo family, was educated in a religious convent and then ran away to be a chorus girl. She appeared in 29 films from 1918 to 1928, wrote the screenplay for her first feature in 1917 when she was 20 years old, and formed her own production company. Later she devoted her life to philanthropy. We are privileged to have our own connection to her here in Santa Monica. Visit the restored Marion Davies Guest House at our Annenberg Beach House and immerse yourself in the history of the times. Gary Oldman portrays the angst and the pathos behind the genial Mankiewicz. Lily Collins turns in a fine performance as Mank’s secretary.

Mank was shot between November 2019 and January 2020. The Game-of-Thrones style dining room at Hearst Castle, as depicted in the film is so beautifully realized that I thought the scenes were actually shot there.

The location was actually a Pasadena estate.

The scenes where Mank is recovering from a car accident were shot at the real ranch where he convalesced, the Kember Campbell Ranch, which has changed very little since the late 1930’s.

Watch Mank because the stories inside the stories are all so intriguing. It will inspire you to delve into the history and fascinating public figures of the tumultuous 1930’s, the drama behind the making of a great classic film of that time, and how it all relates to the winds of change in our own time.

Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com.

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December 11 – December 17, 2020

PIQUE Health - Specialized Treatment Plans to Optimize Male Health Beverly Hills-based practice helping men come up with a plan to fully optimize their health

By Sam Catanzaro

Now more than ever, amid a pandemic, ­ people are paying extra attention to their health. With the new year approaching, Beverly Hills’ PIQUE Health– the Westside’s first comprehensive men’s health practice–is helping to optimize wellness for high-performing men, a traditionally underserved demographic.

“We’ve seen chronic pain go up, we’ve seen mental health issues go up,” said Dr. Nell Smircina, Owner and Director of PIQUE Health. “Just as we plan our finances, just as we plan our schedules when it comes to work, you have to do that with your health no matter where you think you are on that health spectrum.”

PIQUE Health has been around since 2018, offering medical care and services to help people live their best lives. In 2020 the company shifted, still focusing on health, but gearing their efforts towards men experiencing the effects of aging.

“My practice was always predominantly men…Executives, business owners, people who really lead high-performing lifestyles,” Dr. Smircina said. “A lot of times men are left to age on their own. They aren’t given a lot of options for optimal aging. It’s either ‘okay get some testosterone’ or something else, but there aren’t any conversations around holistic health or a comprehensive health plan.” Our patients at PIQUE are individuals, Dr. Smircina says, with different boundaries to healing and different lifestyles to accommodate their healing. A PIQUE Health treatment plan will provide answers to questions many men may ask themselves but don’t necessarily know how to articulate.

“Why am I tired all of a sudden? Why am I having a lower libido? Why did I used to be able to focus for 14 hours a day and now I’m down to 6-8? I’m not sleeping as well, I’m not recovering as well,” Dr. Smircina said. “PIQUE is really the solution for that...I wanted a place where men could really come in or have a conversation and say ‘I just don’t feel like myself anymore and what can we do about that?’”

Solutions to these questions typically focus on issues such as testosterone supplementation and erectile dysfunction treatment. PIQUE’s customized treatment plans, however, are results-driven to address the root cause of these ailments, rather than just the many symptoms that arise from Andropause–a misunderstood and rarely discussed medical

PIQUE Health is the Westside’s first comprehensive men’s health practice

condition experienced by many middle-aged men. Some common signs of Andropause include decreased muscle tone, increased body fat, decreased energy/focus, suboptimal sleep, decreased sex drive and suboptimal recovery from workouts. To treat such issues, PIQUE offers men anti-aging therapies, including acupuncture and targeted bloodwork.

In addition to targeted bloodwork and acupuncture, PIQUE offers other remedies including cupping, Gua Sha, customized nutrition, herbal medicine and cosmetic therapies like microneedling. With these treatments, Dr. Smircina says, aside from helping patients achieve optimal health, PIQUE can also help men avoid unnecessary medications.

So where can men receive these services?

While the PIQUE is physically located in the heart of Beverly Hills at 9001 Wilshire Boulevard, they are able to treat patients athome or remotely, including patients who are located in different cities and states.

“We are able to connect you with practitioners in whatever city you’re in to be able to continue your treatment,” Dr. Smircina said.

This business model has made adapting to COVID-19 protocols relatively easy for PIQUE Health.

“We’ve always gone to hotels or people’s homes to deliver care, but now we are enhancing the execution of our virtual services in order to elevate the patient experience,”

Dr. Nell Smircina

Photos: Courtesy

Dr. Smircina says. “Our new offering is the 2021 Health Optimization Consult, which provides clients with a strategic health plan for the New Year”.

PIQUE Health is located in Beverly Hills at 9001 Wilshire Blvd Suite 206. For more information, call (310) 734-7025 or visit www.piquebh.com.

December 11 – December 17, 2020

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A Hot Flash Car Robbery I woke up on a sunny Monday morning 2 weeks ago. One cup of coffee - done.

Zoom-powered Yoga class - done. Eat breakfast - done. Walk my pup Zoey - done.

Shower, makeup, hair, get dressed, choose coordinated face mask - done.

I was ready for the day. I maintain a cool vintage apartment I use as an office in Westwood. I was headed there for the day.

With Zoey leashed up, handbag in hand and a brief bag slung over my shoulder, I took the elevator from my Playa Vista condo down to the security-gated, 24-hour-monitored garage to jump in my Mini Convertible. It was not there!

Wait. That couldn’t be true.

I looked around the lot. Did I park in another space? No. I went outside and looked at street parking. Nada. I went back down the elevator to my assigned space again. Could my mind be playing tricks on me? No, thank god.

I went back up to my condo, the dog, handbag, and briefcase still in tow. My car was STOLEN! I dropped my cargo to the floor. I called the local police and left several messages.

I hoped they weren’t defunded yet. I called my insurance company. Left a message. I called my leasing company. Left another fckng message.

I went to the condo’s concierge desk to report the incident to the manager. She happened to arrive early this morning and was able to help.

She had access to the monitoring tapes, so we sat down to view the scene of the crime.

Sure enough, we watched a short little shit sneak down the exit ramp, looking back and forth, making sure no one saw him. He then lifted the locked security gate just enough to take it off the track, slid it to the side a little, and squeezed past the space he created and was in the garage all in a matter of seconds. It took him 8 minutes from the time he broke in, until the time he drove out of the lot. To top it off, he stole it in broad daylight; at 2:30p! This was not

his first rodeo.

He “shopped” the parking lot, and in the end, decided on my Mini Cooper. I helplessly watched while the little bastard drove away with it! By the way, the car was almost brand new. I leased it in January 2020. Then COVID kicked in. With severe quarantine orders in place, I stayed home pretty much. The car has less than 4,000 miles on it!

The police showed up but had to leave for a half-hour to cover another crime. He did come back, though, within 30 minutes. By that time, I was able to reach my insurance company and Mini leasing. The insurance company paid for a Range Rover rental to get around in.

Now all I could do was wait. It might be recovered, but it was doubtful. If it wasn’t recovered within 2 weeks, the car would be paid off and I would be reimbursed for any residual value left on the lease, Less than a week later, on a Friday night, I got a call at 11:30p from the Palos Verdes Police department. Hello, Ma’am? Do you know a guy named Hector Gonzales? NO. Do you know a woman named Evelyn Rodriquez? NO. Do you drink Hennessy? Do you smoke pot? NO! Ma’am, we pulled over the guy who stole your car. He told us you let him borrow your car. Did you let him borrow your car? HELL NO! Turns out that the car was located by the license plate that was input into the police locator system. The little thief was pulled over, with a stolen car, a large bottle of open Hennessy, and an overflowing bag of marijuana. Rough night for him -- booked for grand theft auto, drug possession, driving with an open bottle of liquor, and drunk driving. Little degenerate punk. Stupid too. Why would he voluntarily pull over in a stolen car with an open bottle of liquor and an over-the-limit pot supply? Duh. My car is now on the mend. The cost to repair is estimated at $5,000. It could have been worse.

I should get it back by Christmas. The lesson learned here? I’m not sure. What happened to the amazing city I lived in for 35 years? Merry Christmas to me.

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