Santa Monica Adopts $765M Budget, Focuses on Public Safety and Homelessness
Adjustments
Involve the Addition of Police Officer Positions and Enhancements to the City’s Security Camera Program
The Santa Monica City Council recently adopted the Fiscal Year 202425 operating and Capital Improvement Program budget, investmenting in areas such as public safety, addressing homelessness, sustainability, mobility and inclusive programs.
The $765.3 million operating and CIP budget for 2024-25 incorporates $1.8 million in adjustments to support public safety and economic recovery, based on council direction from the May 28 budget study session. The budget also includes grant funds to support
homelessness programs.
Significant adjustments involve the addition of four police officer positions, a one-year waiver followed by a second-year reduction on outdoor dining fees for businesses on the Third Street Promenade, enhancements to the city’s security camera program, and investments in mobility, road safety, and transit, including improvements to unsignalized intersections.
The budget reflects key investments in five community priority areas: Clean & Safe, Addressing Homelessness, Sustainable & Connected, Justice, Equity & Diversity, and Economic Growth and Cultural Vitality.
Key initiatives funded by the balanced budget include ongoing resources to address homelessness, such as a contract with The Salvation Army for drug abuse treatment services and funding for the completion and implementation of the citywide Homelessness Strategic Plan.
The budget also expands operating hours for the Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team in the Police Department and allocates $119 million for police and crime prevention, including increased deployments of the mobile command post and the build-out of the Real Time
Crime Center. With the addition of four officers in this year’s budget, the City Council has allocated resources for 11 new police officers over the past two fiscal years. Enhanced recruitment efforts to fill Police Department vacancies are also included, along with the creation of a small business assistance and tenant improvement fund and the streamlining of the city’s permitting processes.
The Council also advanced a $194.7 million FY 2024-26 Biennial Capital Improvement Program plan, paving the way for safety cameras and other public safety improvements, transit upgrades, parks and community services, tree planting, and other key infrastructure projects over the next two years.
The two-year CIP includes projects funded by 22 different sources, including enterprise funds from rates and fees, such as the Water Fund, as well as tax revenues from voter-approved ballot measures, and federal and state funding.
Notable capital projects for the next two years include $29 million for the Pier Bridge replacement project, $11.95 million for street and sidewalk maintenance, $6.45 million to construct two groundwater recharge
wells through the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), $4.77 million for the completion of the Wilshire Transportation Safety Project, $1 million for streetlight modernization, $2.1 million for a new playground at Virginia Avenue Park, $500,000 for tree planting and landscape improvements as part of the Urban Forest Master Plan, $450,000 for the completion of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and $850,000 for a new community garden on 19th Street.
As part of the budget adoption, the Council directed city staff to schedule a study session to explore additional measures for public safety and homelessness and to discuss potential budget revisions to reallocate resources accordingly.
This Former Thomas Edison Powerhouse is Becoming a Bagel Shop
With the Acquisition, the Buyer Looks to Grow His East Coast
Bagel Operations to the West
By Zach Armstrong
In 1909, a Santa Monica property was constructed as a power facility for Thomas Edison’s electric company; providing power to the Ocean Park neighborhood. Between 1982 and 2011, the vibrant “Powerhouse Theater” put on local plays out of the space. In recent years, Luigi al Teatro served up Italian cuisine from the premises up until a late closing.
Now, an entrepreneur is transforming the property at 3116 2nd Street once more. This time, to expand his bagel ventures to the West Coast.
The 1,500 sq. ft. property was recently sold for $2.5 million from Temple Mishkon (who owned the property and leased it out for the past 70 years) to 2nd Street Santa Monica LLC. Ian Strano of NAI Capital represented Temple Mishkon in the transaction. 2nd Street was represented by Compass.
According to Strano, the buyer is a “wealthy businessman” who owns Uber Bagels; an East Coast bagel shop chain which operates numerous locations across Maryland. Its menu boasts a wide range of breakfast and lunch sandwich items served on several bagel options such as Asiago Bay, Garlic, Whole Wheat, Sesame and Rosemary Sea Salt. With the new acquisition of the Santa Monica property, the Uber Bagels owner looks to debut Godspeed Bagels, a concept that Strano says will
be similar to Uber, only meant for the West Coast. The bagel shop will likely launch operations sometime next year, said Strano.
The property was constructed in 1909 for Edison, which operated several transformers in the facility, providing electric power to those in the surrounding neighborhood. For years, Southern California Edison Power operated out of the property before it was transformed into a theater in 1982 and earned the nickname “Powerhouse.”
In the mid-90s, the theater underwent a revitalization by Powerhouse Theatre Co. which operated the space until 2011. The property was then marketed as a retail or creative office space. After another renovation in 2016, the space now includes an outdoor patio and garden space. Westside Italian chef Luigi Fineo opened Luigi al Teatro from the property in 2018 before closing in recent years.
Santa Monica Conservancy also
established the structure as a historic landmark in recent years, thus protecting it from demolition, according to Strano.
“The interior roof and structure are original and protected from being demolished.” said Ian Strano, Executive Vice President of NAI Capital, in an email to Mirror Media Group. “This is a one of a kind and, therefore, achieved higher pricing. The buyer understood the value of owning a historic building.”
Golda Zahra In Concert In Concert
“A promising young opera singer.” -The Los Angeles Times
By Daniel Suk With Conducted By
Join us for an unforgettable evening as Golda and the Dream Orchestra perform the opera music of Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, as well as Broadway classics including The Sound of Music, West Side Story, and so much more! Join us evening the Orchestra
perform the opera of Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, as classics including of West Side Story, and so more!
Homeless Woman Assaults Multiple Victims in Pacific Palisades
The Attacks Occurred at Will Rogers Beach and Temescal Canyon Park
By Zach Armstrong
A homeless woman was arrested on Will Rogers Beach last Wednesday after carrying out a series of assaults at multiple locations, officials with Palisades Patrol confirmed.
The spate of attacks began past 5 p.m. at Temescal Canyon Park, just north of Pacific Coast Highway, when the suspect approached a family eating sandwiches at one of the park’s tables and allegedly punched them. The family consisted of four adults and four children ranging from four to 16 years of age, according
to Pali Patrol Asst. Patrol Manager Andrew Higashi.
The female suspect then fled across PCH to Will Rogers Beach where she attacked a mother who was washing sand off her child at one of the beach showers. The mother then fell over her kid, prompting her to ask for help. A third victim also reported being punched in the side of their neck by the same suspect while setting up a tent on the sand, according to Higashi.
After receiving and responding to a report about the incident, Pali Patrol came to the scene and took the suspect into custody before LAPD and LAFD officials also arrived. The suspect told LAPD she was from Van Nuys, CA and had a history of drug use, according to Higashi. The woman is described as an approximately 30-year-old Hispanic who was wearing mostly black clothing. The victims were assessed by LAFD; one of whom was provided ice for their injuries while another was taken to a hospital by a friend.
Venice Resident, Known for Trash Cleanup Volunteer Work, Gets Brutally Attacked
The L.A. Times Ran a Feature Story on Peters, Describing His Hobby of Cleaning up the
Ballona Creek
By Zach Armstrong
Josey Peters, a Venice resident known for his voluntary work of picking up debris and trash from local beaches and tributaries, was brutally attacked in Santa Monica over the weekend; an incident that reportedly left him unconscious without knowing who carried out the attack.
Peters described to KTLA how he was bagging garbage near lifeguard tower 25 in Santa Monica around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday when a man in his 20s wearing black walked up next to him. People nearby told Peters the suspect walloped him several times before fleeing the scene. A lifeguard on duty told KTLA the weapon was likely a bat. Peters suffered a concussion, broken ribs, a
broken collarbone and facial contusions.
“He could’ve killed me, his first strike was on my temple, on the side of my head and it knocked me unconscious,”
Peters told KTLA. “He did have what looked like a big nose piercing kind of poking through his face mask … All of a sudden, I was unconscious, I was on the ground. This guy hit me on the side of the head with a martial arts-type staff.”
According to KTLA, SMPD responded to the situation, although the status of the investigation isn’t clear.
In November of 2019, the Los Angeles Times ran a feature story on Peters, describing his hobby of cleaning the Ballona Creek of plastic cups, fast-food containers, spray paint cans and chip wrappers. The piece stated that Peters, detailed as someone who “still looks like the rock ‘n’ roll guitarist he once was” with “electrified hair” along with a “soul patch and skinny goatee”, would spend hours per week filling trash bags on L.A.’s beaches.
“My dad showed me how to pick up trash along Lake Michigan when I was seven,” Peters said to The Times. “I don’t know why more of us aren’t engaged in this kind of stuff … [concern about climate and the environment] are just part of being a normal human being.
WISHES ALL A VERY HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WEEK
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
We trust you are enjoying this holiday in celebration of Independence. Independence to be embraced, personally and civically, thru active participation in your community. Maybe you came to the Main Street Ocean Park Parade and joined the crowd lining the street and cheered your friends and neighbors in their colorful, enthusiastic, sometime slightly irreverent but always respectful, and always fun march from the civic center down Main Street to the beach celebrating that independence.
Then, while at the beach, we bet you looked around, enjoying what it is to have unlimited views, blue skies, shade where you might find it, or brought with you in the form of an umbrella, and reflected on what a free and open beachfront community this is and what it provides to those that swelter in the heat of the adjacent valley’s and east side. People come to Santa Monica for relief from their dense, hot neighborhoods, not for a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day type parade squeezed between high-rise buildings. (Excuse the two towers that are a symbol of a previous misguided effort to build high and dense in our beach town. A lesson not to be forgotten.)
So let’s continue to celebrate what Independence Day symbolizes by doing everything we can, every day, to maintain our independence in planning and controlling responsible growth as a
free and independent low rise beachfront community. Free and independent of developer and developer financed State legislation that is, once again, pushing against our providing the beach front ‘Central Park’ relief for the entire region that Santa Monica has always provided. This is an election year, and the choice of candidates to fill what will be four seats on the City Council this November is critical if we are to maintain that ‘Central Park’ low rise beachfront role. Like ‘Joe’ has said, when you’re knocked down, get back up, don’t quit. Any candidate backed by any of the council members that served prior to 2020 should be looked at with concern as they will be supporting those backers and would most certainly continue their over-development policies. Policies that did not ‘get up and
Frozen Yogurt Chain Opens Second Santa Monica Storefront
This location offers a self-serve frozen yogurt experience with over 200 handcrafted flavors
Yogurtland has opened a new location in Santa Monica’s Promenade, marking its 204th store nationwide and second in the city.
This location offers a self-serve frozen yogurt experience with over 200 handcrafted flavors and a wide variety of toppings. Customers can enjoy their yogurt on the patio or at home, with delivery, pickup, and catering options launching soon.
push back’ on State legislation and that have resulted in what you see rising up around you on Wilshire, on Lincoln, and downtown, taking the sun from the streets and sidewalks now lost in the shadows of more and more tall structures. We can push back.
Be careful and attentive in your choices. Your vote will matter, and remember, you are celebrating that you do have a choice by having honored Independence Day on the 4th of July.
Continue to enjoy the celebration, and be safe.
Bob Taylor, AIA
For SMa.r.t. Send comments to santamonicasmart@ gmail.com
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect; Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and FireLife Safety Commission; Thane Roberts, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA, Architect; Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner; Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE; Marie Standing, Resident; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect
For previous articles see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing
The store is open daily, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Yogurtland is now located at 1321 3rd Street Promenade. For more information, visit www.yogurtland.com.
Gott’s Roadside to Open in Downtown Santa Monica: Report
Gott’s—Originally Known as Taylor’s Automatic Refresher—Is Recognized as a James Beard America’s Classic
Gott’s Roadside, a beloved Napa Valley eatery, is set to expand to Downtown Santa Monica, as per a report from What Now Los Angeles.
While the exact opening date and location remain undisclosed, a representative confirmed to the outlet: “Gott’s looks forward to opening in L.A. next year, but specifics are confidential at this time.”
Gott’s menu features items such as the California Burger with a fried egg, Zoe’s bacon, and balsamic onions; Ahi Poke Crispy Tacos with sushi-grade Ahi tuna; Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich with harissa and turmeric spiced mayos; Chicken Kale Caesar; and handspun organic shakes. The eatery is committed to sourcing ingredients from local vendors and offers a selection of California-centric wines and beers.
Founded by brothers Joel and Duncan Gott in St. Helena in 1999, Gott’s— originally known as Taylor’s Automatic Refresher—is recognized as a James Beard America’s Classic. The restaurant
is celebrated for its modern take on California-inspired cuisine.
Currently, Gott’s operates eight locations throughout California, according to What Now.
Five Arrested After Brawl Near Santa Monica Pier
Victims Were Transported to Local Hospitals for Treatment
A large brawl involving at least 20 people near the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday led to the arrest of five men, SMPD said.
Officers responded to a 911 call that afternoon over multiple men fighting near Tower 14. Upon arrival, authorities found one person suffering from a nonlife-threatening stab wound and another a possible broken ankle.
Both victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment, officials said.
The five men arrested face various charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and battery, according to police. Their identities have not been released. The cause of the fight remains unclear.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the brawl is urged to contact the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427 or NonEmergency Dispatch at 310-458-8491.
