S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY
smmirror.com
INSIDE DANNY TREJO’S TACOS COMING TO SANTA MONICA PAGE 2
February 26 – March 4, 2021 Volume LXXVII, Issue 82
Santa Monica Police Arrest Parolee for Setting Stolen Car on Fire Alex Omar Aguirre arrested by Santa Monica Police Department By Sam Catanzaro
A Santa Monica resident this week watched as a parolee attempted to steal his car before setting a fire inside another vehicle nearby, all in broad daylight. According to Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) Lieutenant Rudy Flores, on February 23, 2021 at about 2:15 p.m., officers responded to area of 23rd Street and Dewey Street regarding a male trying to set a vehicle on fire. “Details of the call indicated the male was attempting to light an item stuffed in the gas tank of the reporting party’s vehicle,” Flores said. Officers arrived on scene and were directed to the subject, later identified as Alex Omar Aguirre, a 28-year-old Hispanic male from Los Angeles, according to police. Officers
Photos: Santa Monica Police Department
could see Aguirre leaning into the car window of a separate vehicle, rummaging through the contents of that car, which had smoke emitting from the inside compartment. At this point, officers called for the Santa Monica Fire Department (SMPD) before detaining
Aguirre. While detaining the suspect, officers spoke with the victim to gather details about the incident. “The reporting party told officers that he
saw Aguirre trying to pick the lock of his vehicle before he confronted him. He also noticed that there was a burning rag stuffed into the filler of the gas tank. He was able
Car, see page 5
Large Properties Drive-up Santa Monica Home Sales Amid Pandemic Annual report shows single-family home sales spiking By Sam Catanzaro
Interest in large properties with five-bedrooms or more helped drive-up single-family home sales in Santa Monica and the surrounding area amid the pandemic. So who is buying these properties? A recent report titled The Red Paper 2020 Press from real estate firm The Agency finds
that single family-homes in Pacific Palisades and Brentwood rose 14 percent the past year. In Santa Monica, single-family home prices rose 13 percent. According to the report, home sales declined at the start of 2020 but this soon changed. “By summer, sales of single family homes were on the rise…2020 saw a surge in buyers from across Los Angeles seeking larger, multigenerational, homes with five or six bedrooms, dual offices, homework rooms, gyms, expanded backyards and guest homes,” the report reads. “By fall and winter, buyers from across the country, specifically from New York City, returned to the market seeking solace from winter and room to play, live, work in the
comfort of home.” Looking ahead to the rest of 2021, the report predicts a strong year ahead for both Santa Monica and the Westside in both the singlefamily and condominium markets. “New build, single-family homes that halted construction during the pandemic and did not sell prior to completion will be delivered, bringing fresh inventory to a market of buyers looking for
turnkey, move-in ready homes,” the report states. Elsewhere on the Westside, the ‘Beach Cities’ – defined as Venice, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach – saw a 9 percent increase in single-family home sales and median prices over 2019 levels.