S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY
smmirror.com
March 26 – April 1, 2021 Volume LXXXI, Issue 86
INSIDE SANTA MONICA LAUNCHES SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM PAGE 4
Councilmember Suing City of Santa Monica Over Conflict of Interest Decision Lawsuit filed in LA County Court by Santa Monica City Councilmember Oscar de la Torre By Sam Catanzaro
A Councilmember is suing Santa Monica over a conflict of interest decision relating to a voting rights case brought against the City by his wife. On March 3, Santa Monica City Councilmember Oscar de la Torre filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the City of barring him from taking part in discussion and voting on action relating to a voting rights case brought against the City by his wife. The lawsuit also seeks to stop the City Council from meeting in closed session without de la Torre. The case, filed by plaintiffs Pico Neighborhood Association, Maria Loya and Advocates for Malibu Public Schools, alleges that Santa Monica’s at-large election system dilutes Latino
voting power in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and discriminates against Latino voters in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the California Constitution. De la Torre’s wife is plaintiff Maria Loya and until November 2020 he served on the Pico Neighborhood Association’s board. In a 2019 ruling the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ordered that all future elections for seats on the Santa Monica City Council be based on a seven-district map drawn by an expert for the plaintiffs, including a 30 percent Latino district. The City then appealed this decision. In July 2020, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the city saying that Latinos, who account for 14 percent of Santa Monica’s electorate, lack the numbers to win an election in the 30 percent Latino district ordered by the county. After the Appeals Court rejected a petition for a hearing, the plaintiffs filed their case with the California Supreme Court. On October 21 the Supreme Court took up the case, depublishing the Appellate Court ruling. The court has granted the City an extension until March 22 to file its answer brief on the appeal’s merits. On January 26, 2021, Santa Monica City Council voted 4-2 with one abstention to exclude de la Torre from participation in any closed session or confidential conversation concerning
Santa Monica City Hall.
the CRVA lawsuit and voting on any decisions relating to the case. De la Torre’s March 3 lawsuit points out that the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has ruled that he has no financial conflict
Photo: Sam Catanzaro
of interest in the case. City Attorney George Cardona however, cited de la Torre’s Common Law conflict of interest when recommending
Councilmember Suing City, see page 11
Street Racers Exceeding 100 MPH Arrested by Santa Monica Police SMPD make arrest last Thursday By CHaD WIntHroP
Santa Monica police recently arrested individuals clocked driving their vehicles over
100 miles per hour. According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), the arrests were made on Thursday, March 18 around 2 a.m. in the area of 4th Street and Colorado Avenue. Both vehicles were impounded for 30-Day Holds. In addition, both drivers–both out-ofstate–were issued citations for participating in
Photo: SMPD
The scene of a high speed race that resulted in two arrested in downtown Santa Monica last week.
a speed contest and exceeding 100 miles per hour. According to the SMPD, the driver of one
of the vehicles, a Bentley SUV, received an additional charge of consuming marijuana while operating a motor vehicle.