Santa Monica Mirror August 27, 2021

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S A N TA M O N I C A

REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com

INSIDE

BARKING DOGS, PHONE PING LEADS TO ARREST OF BURGLARY SUSPECT IN SANTA MONICA PAGE 4

August 27 – September 2, 2021 Volume XCXIII, Issue 108

Santa Monica to Pay Additional $54.9 Million to Settle Child Abuse Claims Against Former City Employee City of Santa Monica will pay a total of $97.5 million to over 80 victims BY SAM CATANZARO

The City of Santa Monica will pay a total of nearly $100 million to over 80 alleged molestation victims who were part of a Cityrun youth program in one of the nation’s largest sex abuse settlements by a municipality. On Tuesday, Santa Monica City Council approved settlements with 61 claimants, resolving additional pending claims and lawsuits against the City arising out of allegations of sexual abuse between the 1980s and early 2000s by former City employee Eric Uller, who was a Principal Technology Analyst with the City’s Information Systems Department The settlement resolves all claims brought by 61 individuals who allege that Uller

sexually abused or attempted to sexually abuse them between the late 1980s and early 2000s when many were youth participating in the City-run Police Activities League (“PAL”) program, where Uller frequently volunteered. Uller died by suicide three weeks after his arrest in 2018. “To each of the individuals impacted by these horrific crimes, we are deeply sorry for the pain caused by one of our former employees and hope this settlement supports your journey to healing,” said Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich. City Council’s action this week comes a year after the City approved $42.6 million in settlements with 26 other plaintiffs who claimed they were abused by Uller. As reported by the Santa Monica Lookout, the 87 total cases filed against the City are among the most relating to child molestation charges against a single municipal employee. In addition, David Ring, who represented a majority of the plaintiffs, told the Lookout the total payout of $97.5 million is probably the largest child molestation settlement in the nation’s history against a city employee.

Santa Monica City Hall.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement approved Tuesday, the City will pay $54.9

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Settlement, see page 8

Santa Monica Partners with McCabe’s Guitar Shop for a Reimagined Annual Concert Series Americana in the Park, a New Free Concert Series Launches this September and October

BY SAM CATANZARO The City of Santa Monica is teaming up with beloved music store McCabe’s Guitar Shop for an outdoor concert series this fall. This week the City of Santa Monica announced it will partner with McCabe’s Guitar Shop this fall for a series called Americana in the Park in Gandara Park, located at 1819 Stewart Street. The concerts will take place on Sundays between September 19 and October

10 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. In a press release, the City described Americana in the Park as a pilot project intended “to create a new partnership model for outdoor events”, where local organizations are provided funding from the City.

“Our hope is that this new model of

partnership will engage and support local community organizations, and will strengthen our communities’ connectedness. Jazz on the

Americana, see page 11


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