S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
April 16 – April 22, 2021 Volume LXXXIV, Issue 89
INSIDE DOLPHIN DIES AFTER STRANDING AT SANTA MONICA BEACH
PAGE 2
Santa Monica City Council Rejects Proposed Ban of Certain Items at Protests Lawmakers vote down item 4-3 at meeting this week By Sam Catanzaro
Santa Monica lawmakers rejected a motion this week that would have banned certain items from protests and public demonstrations. On Tuesday April 13, Santa Monica City Council voted down an emergency ordinance proposed by Interim City Attorney George Cardona and Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks “relating to restrictions on carrying, using, or possessing certain specified items during community events or public assemblies to promote public safety and welfare.” Under the proposed legislation, wooden sticks, metal and plastic pipes, baseball bats, aerosol sprays, weapons, glass bottles, shields, bricks and rocks would have been prohibited at protests, public assemblies and community events. While not explicitly mentioned in the ordinance, the proposal comes as police
departments across the country brace for potential unrest as the trial against Derek Chauvin, the police officer charged with killing George Floyd, is underway in Minneapolis. On May 31, 2020 in Santa Monica rioters, taking advantage of a peaceful protest against the killing of Floyd, looted hundreds of Santa Monica businesses. The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) was criticized for its response to the event, at one point firing tear gas and rubber bullets on a crowd of protestors while just blocks away looters tore through downtown Santa Monica. In a report, city staff also cited concern over violent protests that have occurred over the past few years in Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia; St. Louis, Missouri; Portland, Oregon, Berkeley, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. “out of concern that the City could see occurrences of violence arising from otherwise peaceful protests similar to those experienced in the cities referenced above and here in Santa Monica in May 2020, the Santa Monica Police Department asks the City Council to adopt an ordinance revising SMMC Section 4.08.780 to implement a ban
Protestors on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica on May 31, 2020.
at community events and public assemblies on the carrying or possession of items that can readily be weaponized and serve no legitimate purpose at a peaceful protest, public assembly, or community event,” reads a staff report.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro
“Adopting such an ordinance will further the goal of ensuring that community members may continue to exercise their constitutional rights
Protest Items, see page 8
ArcLight Cinema Santa Monica Closing Pacific Theatres will not reopen locations across country due to pandemic By Sam Catanzaro
The 12-screen ArcLight Cinema complex in Santa Monica will not reopen to moviegoers, the theater’s parent company announced this week.
“After shutting our doors more than a year ago, today we must share the difficult and sad news that Pacific will not be reopening its ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres locations,” the Decurion Corp. said in a statement on PacificTheatres.com. “This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company does not have a viable way forward.” The company has a dozen theaters in Southern California and a few in Boston, Chicago and D.C.-area. In addition to the shuttering of the
ArcLight, see page 8
The lobby of ArcLight Cinemas Santa Monica.
Photo: Official (Facebook)
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