City to Pay $20M For Discharging Untreated Wastewater into Santa Monica Bay See Page 7
Remembering Dr. Siroos Farzam: A Legacy of Dedication, Vision, and Community in Santa Monica
Pioneering
Hotelier Passes Away, Leaving an
Enduring
Legacy in Santa Monica
Dr. Siroos Farzam, a beloved figure in the Santa Monica community and a pioneering hotelier, passed away peacefully on Friday at his home. Dr. Farzam was not only a visionary
in the hospitality industry but also a man of deep compassion, hard work, and commitment to his family and the community.
Before he found his calling in the hotel business, Dr. Farzam was a dedicated medical doctor. His journey to the United States began in Seattle, Washington, where he first immigrated with his wife, Gina, and their three children at the time. In Seattle, they purchased their first motel, a business venture they knew little about. But with resilience and a strong work ethic, they made it their own. Dr. Farzam worked the front desk while Gina worked housekeeping, learning the ins and outs of the hospitality industry from the ground up.
Driven by a desire for new opportunities, Dr. Farzam and his family eventually moved to Los Angeles, where they discovered Santa Monica—a place they would come to call home and where they would build a lasting legacy. One of their first properties in the area was the Santa Monica Motel on Lincoln Boulevard, which was recently reimagined and reopened as the Santa Monica Hotel earlier this year.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Farzam’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to acquire several more properties, including the Auto Motel, Pacific Sands Motel, and Travelodge on Ocean Avenue. In 1993, he redeveloped the Auto Motel into what is now the Ocean View Hotel, a uniquely designed Ocean Avenue landmark. His vision didn’t stop there; Dr. Farzam also foresaw the potential in the Pacific Sands and Travelodge properties, which were ultimately transformed into the awardwinning Shore Hotel, a testament to his commitment to sustainability and excellence.
Dr. Farzam’s journey from a medical doctor to a respected hotelier is a story of perseverance, vision, and the American
dream. His impact on Santa Monica is immeasurable, not only through the properties he developed but also through the sense of community he fostered. He was a man who believed in the power of family, hard work, and giving back to the community that supported him.
Dr. Farzam is survived by his wife and five children, who, along with their extended hotel team family, are committed to carrying on his legacy of dedication, compassion, and excellence in hospitality.
Santa Monica Physician Charged in Connection to Matthew Perry’s Death
The Indictment Alleges That Plasencia Was Complicit in Distributing Ketamine to Perry During the Actor’s Final Weeks
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a Santa Monica physician, is among five defendants charged in connection with the fatal ketamine overdose of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. Plasencia and
alleged San Fernando Valley drug dealer Jasveen Sangha were arrested today and face serious consequences under an 18-count superseding indictment unsealed this week.
Plasencia, 42, also known as “Dr. P,” is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of the drug, and two counts of altering documents related to the federal investigation. If convicted of all charges, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count related to ketamine distribution and up to 20 years for each records falsification charge.
The indictment alleges that Plasencia was complicit in distributing ketamine to Perry during the actor’s final weeks. Perry, who struggled with addiction, suffered a fatal overdose on October 28, 2023, after receiving multiple injections of ketamine. The court documents claim
that Plasencia distributed the drug to Perry outside the scope of legitimate medical practice and failed to monitor him after administration.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada stated, “These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” emphasizing the importance of holding drug dealers accountable for the harm they cause.
Sangha, 41, who is known as “The Ketamine Queen,” faces even harsher penalties, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a potential life sentence if convicted. The indictment cites that her actions on October 24, 2023, directly contributed to Perry’s death.
Both Plasencia and Sangha are expected to be arraigned later today in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. The charges come as part of
a broader investigation into the illicit distribution of drugs that led to Perry’s tragic demise, which has garnered significant public attention.
The ongoing investigation involves the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, among other agencies.
Dr. Farzam, wife and two children at the Eastlake Inn (the first property he bought in Seattle, Washington).
Dr. Farzam, wife and three children at the demolition site of the Auto Motel located at 1447 Ocean Ave. (now Ocean View Hotel).
Dr. Farzam, wife and three children at the demolition site of the Auto Motel located at 1447 Ocean Ave. (now Ocean View Hotel).
FILM REVIEW IT ENDS WITH US
BEHIND THE SCREEN
By Kathryn Whitney Boole
These are my first impressions of this movie before learning about any actor/ producer/director conflicts that have been publicized since. The romance novel of the same name, on which the film is based, was written by Colleen Hoover during the pandemic and spent two years at the top of the New York Times Best Seller List. Christy Hall, who directed Daddio (which I loved) wrote the screenplay. This movie is directed by Jason Baldoni, who also produces and stars in the film. Blake Lively also produces and stars as “Lily Bloom,” an up-and-coming florist.
The opening minutes are promising: a drone’ s-eye view of a pretty and peaceful New England town paints a sense of place for the audience. This was my favorite sequence in the movie. Later in the film, there are too many close-ups, some a bit awkward. A lot more could have been done cinematically to give a vivid life to Lily’s flower shop, with Lily
creating gorgeous arrangements. The shop is at the center of the story, and it seems to just exist as a backdrop.
Overall, this is not a fun movie to watch. The story is moved along relentlessly at the expense of the natural messiness of reality and of giving the characters rich personalities. The characters are projected from the beginning, leaving no layers to peel back. The film (and I’m sure the book which I haven’t read) has all the classic attributes of a romance novel - the sweet protagonist opens a lovely little shop and the sister of a handsome man she has just met by chance, walks into the shop, again, by chance, and asks for a job. I wanted to think, “Oh, those two are conniving to kidnap our damsel in distress and demand ransom.” Alas, that sort of excitement never materializes here.
Nothing is really left to guess in this story. There are so many coincidences in the service of moving the story along, so many people just happening to be in the same place at the same time it becomes hard to identify it as reality. There are holes in the narrative that leave you asking, “But wouldn’t they have thought to do this now?” I found the attributes
Rated PG-13
130 Minutes
Released August 9th
and choices, or lack of choices of the characters, to be too black and white. Real relationships are more nuanced, even when people cause one another anguish. Jason Baldoni’s character, “Ryle Kincaid,” is the only one who is more complex because he is two-faced.
Lively’s Lily is one-note, as is the “good guy, “Atlas,” played by Brandon Sklenar. She is the classic victim, and he is the kid who comes from nothing and is all goodness. I didn’t feel the chemistry there should have been between Lively and Baldoni’s bad boy, “Ryle.” Lily’s relationship with her mom, which contains deep pain, is a key to the story and is barely touched on. In the end, there should have been a lot more grief, anger, and distress. It appears the road leading to the final scene is a painless detour, not the real route full of potholes and bumps. This could have been a deep behavioral study.
I’ll stick to the facts regarding the reallife drama and publicity buzz surrounding a perceived rift between Baldoni and the rest of his cast and crew. It has been reported that there are two different cuts of the film, one from Baldoni and one from the Lively/Reynolds camp.
Baldoni, Reynolds and Lively were all producers on the project. One crucial scene on a rooftop was reportedly rewritten by Reynolds.
Baldoni has now hired PR Crisis Manager, Melissa Nathan, who is known for her work with Johnny Depp in the wake of his damaging publicity in recent years. The press tour drama is perhaps outperforming the movie, but all that drama may drive people to see the film, following a classic example of the Hollywood maxim: There is no such thing as bad publicity.
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
Santa Monica Man Vandalizes Over 300 Water Meters, $45K in Damage Caused
The Santa Monica Police Department Is Continuing Its Investigation
A Santa Monica man has been arrested and charged with felony vandalism in connection with the destruction of over 300 city-owned water meters, causing approximately $45,000 in damages, according to local authorities.
On June 5, officers responded to a multi-unit residential complex in the 2100 block of Ocean Park Boulevard after the building owner reported that wires to his sprinkler system control box had been cut. Surveillance footage from May 31 showed a male suspect tampering with the sprinkler box around 8 p.m. The suspect was seen jumping over the gate into an alley, opening a city water meter box, and cutting the wires inside. He then walked east in the alley south of Ocean Park Boulevard. Officers canvassed the area and
discovered that seven additional cityowned water meters had been vandalized. By mid-July, the City of Santa Monica Water Resources administrator reported that a total of 304 water meters had been similarly damaged across several weeks. Most of the damaged meters were located in an area bordered by 14th Street to 25th Street and from the I-10 Freeway to Ashland Avenue, with another cluster of incidents occurring between Ocean Park Boulevard and Pico Boulevard.
On August 13, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Santa Monica, where they collected evidence linking 51-year-old Richard Martin to the vandalism spree. Martin, who has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, felony elder abuse, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was arrested and charged by the District Attorney’s office with felony vandalism. The Santa Monica Police Department is continuing its investigation and urges anyone with information regarding this incident or the suspect to contact Esteban.Hernandez@santamonica.gov.
1 OF 2 DISPENSARY IN SANTA MONICA
WELCOME TO HARVEST OF SANTA MONICA
SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY: LOCAL-ONLY DEALS AWAIT
Santa Monica, CA – In an effort to bring our vibrant community closer together, we are thrilled to announce a series of exclusive localonly deals designed specifically for Santa Monica residents. These deals aim to celebrate our community, support local businesses, and offer unique benefits to those who call Santa Monica home.
BUILDING A STRONGER & SAFER SANTA MONICA TOGETHER
In today’s fast-paced world, community importance is often overlooked. In Santa Monica, our spirit thrives through local efforts. Enjoy exclusive deals, support the local economy, and trust our California-compliant, clean products. Choose local, invest in our flourishing community! Together, we can make a difference.
Trust our commitment to quality and community, celebrate milestones that define our journey; at Harvest of Santa Monica, blending integrity with innovation, offering products reflecting dedication to excellence and well-being, each interaction and deal a brushstroke on the canvas of our thriving community— embrace our shared adventure, face the future with confidence, and remember: We’ve got this! Believe in our community's power to craft a story of success, growth, and togetherness.
Part 1: The Affordability Crisis: Unmasking California’s RHNA Process and Its Role in Gentrification
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
In the world of economic policy, good intentions often pave the way to unintended consequences. Nowhere is
this more evident than in California’s approach to its housing crisis through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process. What began as a wellmeaning attempt to address affordability has morphed into a textbook example of misguided intervention, with potentially dire consequences for the very people it aims to help.
It’s known California’s housing crisis is real and pressing. The median home price in the state is more than double the national average, and in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, the situation is even more extreme. It’s a crisis that demands action. But as economists have long understood, not all action is created equal.
In 1969 the state began RHNA as a regional advisory growth planning tool for cities and jurisdictions. By 2014 the developing affordability crisis triggered the state legislature to refocus of the RHNA process from a housing growth tool into a redevelopment tool for cities. Eliminating local city land use control was a central and required feature of this pivot. On its face, the idea seems simple: mandate that cities plan for more housing, particularly affordable housing. But here’s where things go off the rails. In its new form, RHNA sets housing production targets for cities, but these targets are, to put it charitably, questionable. They lack any coherent economic basis for determining housing production rates.1 It’s as if policymakers decided that more housing is good, so let’s just pick some big numbers and call it a day. But the housing market is far more complex than that. Under their present policy, the state cannot even predict what would happen to affordability if targets were met. It’s like trying to steer a ship with a compass that’s been deliberately miscalibrated. Despite RHNA’s intent, the affordability crisis continues within each city to this day.2
Simply said, the RHNA process, as it’s currently implemented, relies on the continuation of the affordability crisis to function. How’s that for irony? The entire scheme is predicated on the assumption of ever-increasing property values. If housing prices were to stabilize or decline, new development would grind to a halt. It’s a perfect example of a policy that’s not just ineffective but actively counterproductive. In fact, if housing costs were to flatline or decline, development would cease, undermining a key investment strategy for public pension funds and real estate investment funds.3 The state’s narrative thus serves as public relations for investment entities seeking competitive returns, framing misleading supply-side assumptions as well-intentioned policy. 4,5
RHNA: Fueling Gentrification Under the Guise of Affordability
While ostensibly addressing affordability, RHNA exacerbates the problem by encouraging high-density, luxury development attractive to investors seeking long-term value increases. That value increase is driven by investor
dependence on increasing rents and purchase prices. There is no relationship to addressing the true affordability needs of our most vulnerable citizens. This begs the question, how much more housing supply does California really need? The answer from a group of non-economist academic “experts” that consult for the state was, “. . . a lot more housing – especially multifamily housing – but setting targets depends on messy guesswork.” 6 This is the ironic key to all iterations of the RHNA concept – it requires gentrification to deliver any housing.7
A significant discrepancy exists between RHNA’s stated goals and its implementation. In Santa Monica, RHNA allocations call for 69% affordable units. This creates a “hidden multiplier effect,” resulting in far more luxury units than the allocation suggests. RHNA will allow developers to build with as little as 10% affordable units. The result? A flood of luxury units with a token sprinkling of affordable housing. It’s gentrification masquerading as progress.
Consider the Gelson’s project on Lincoln Boulevard. Instead of the 359 affordable units, the RHNA allocation would suggest, we’re getting just 53, alongside 468 luxury units. This isn’t solving the affordability crisis; it’s exacerbating it. The fundamental problem here is a misunderstanding of how housing markets work. Simply increasing supply doesn’t automatically lead to affordability, especially when that supply is skewed heavily towards the luxury market. It’s a bit like trying to solve hunger by opening more five-star restaurants.
We see the fundamental contradiction in the RHNA process, is the paradox
of gentrification. RHNA’s success in spurring development actually undermines its goal of improving affordability. The new developments often cater to smaller, wealthier households, replacing larger, lowerincome families, which is a definition of gentrification. This aligns with the types of units developers are incentivized to build under current mandates.
Moreover, the RHNA process ignores the role of demand in housing markets. California’s housing crisis isn’t just about supply; it’s also about the concentration of high-paying jobs in certain areas, income inequality, and speculative
investment in real estate. A policy that focuses solely on supply while ignoring these demand-side factors is doomed to fail.
The housing crisis in California is a complex problem that demands sophisticated solutions. The current RHNA process, despite its good intentions, is a blunt instrument being used for delicate surgery. Rethinking the state policy would put economics, not politics, at the forefront. In the end, as Mark Twain might have said, it’s not just lies and damned lies we need to worry about but misguided statistics enshrined in bad policy. California’s residents deserve better. They deserve housing policy that actually addresses affordability, not one that perpetuates the very crisis it claims to solve.
Next week’s Part II article of this discussion, also well-footnoted, will focus on how affordable housing is not a supply issue.
FOOTNOTES:
1 - SB330 §3L Cide 65589.5(a)(2)(a)
2 - “Room to build: The zoned capacity question”, by Tim Helm and Cameron Murray, Aug 11, 2024, Fresh Economic Thinking
3 - “Pension systems stoke rising rents”, by Andrew Khouri & Ben Poston, Aug. 1, 2024, LA Times
4 - Stein, S. (2019). Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State (Jacobin). Verso Books.
5 - “California has a housing supply and affordability crisis of historic proportions.”
SB330 §3: Code 65589.5(a)(2)(a)
6 – Background paper prepared for the California State Auditor in relation to the audit ordered by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Oct.11, 2021 (p12)
– Chris Elmendorf, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law; Paavo Monkkonen, Associate Professor of Urban Planning & Public Policy, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs; Nicholas J. Marantz, Associate Professor Urban Planning & Public Policy, UC Irvin School of Social Ecology.
7 - “Housing Production, Filtering and Displacement: Untangling the Relationships” Authors: Miriam Zuk and Karen Chapple, 2016
“Upzoning New York City: Analyzing the Impact of Zoning Changes on Displacement” Authors: Zuk, M., & Chapple, K., 2019
Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect for SMa.r.t.
Send comments to santamonicasmart@ gmail.com
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA; Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect; Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission; Thane Roberts, Architect; Samuel Tolkin, Architect & Planning Commissioner; Michael Jolly, AIRCRE; Marie Standing, Resident; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect
For previous articles, see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing
City to Pay $20M For Discharging Untreated Wastewater into Santa Monica Bay
is part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California to resolve a federal criminal investigation into the incident.
Hyperion, Los Angeles’ oldest and largest wastewater treatment facility, serves more than 4 million people across multiple municipalities, including Beverly Hills, Culver City, El Segundo, Santa Monica, San Fernando, and West Hollywood. The facility treats an average of 260 million gallons of wastewater daily, with 225 million gallons discharged into Santa Monica Bay and 35 million gallons sent to a water recycling facility for advanced treatment and reuse, according to a report by Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Subsequent water quality tests revealed levels of total coliform bacteria, E. coli, and Enterococcus that exceeded federal water quality standards.
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $20.8 million to address issues at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and fund environmental projects following the discharge of over 12 million gallons of untreated wastewater into Santa Monica Bay in 2021. The settlement
In July 2021, a significant influx of debris overwhelmed the Headworks area of Hyperion, triggering the plant’s relief system. This resulted in the discharge of approximately 12.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the bay through the plant’s 1-Mile Outfall.
As part of the agreement, the City will spend no less than $20 million on improvements at Hyperion, including upgrading the plant’s Distributed Control System and integrating additional safety measures. The City will also expand its water quality testing program and add two new testing sites between Dockweiler Beach and King Harbor.
Additionally, the City will conduct a one-year community outreach project
in collaboration with the Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment Department and a nonprofit organization. This project will include meetings with local officials, an improved emergency communications plan, and educational outreach efforts. The cost of these initiatives is estimated at $800,000.
“This agreement requires the City to take concrete steps and commit substantial funds to improving the Hyperion facility and thereby prevent a disaster like this from reoccurring,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
