Santa Monica Mirror: Mar 22 - Mar 28, 2024

Council Votes to Explore Possible Restitution For Black Entrepreneur’s Descendents

Silas

White Had Big Business Plans for the Local Black Community Until the City Used

Eminent Domain

By Zach Armstrong

In its Tuesday meeting, Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a motion to explore possible ways of compensating the descendants of a Black entrepreneur whose hopes were crushed almost 70 years ago when eminent domain seized his property.

Silas White had big ideas in 1957. This was to open a Black beach club at 1811 Ocean Avenue where members could lounge in the main entrance’s bar, enjoy jazz music or take a swim in a crystalclear pool. Further plans included an arts

and entertainment venue where “Black residents could indulge in the ‘social enjoyment, recreation, and entertainment’ that they were denied at ‘white’ beach clubs like Santa Monica’s famous Casa del Mar and Edgewater.”

A year later, before White’s plan could come to life, Santa Monica City officials used eminent domain to take the property.

At the time, the City reportedly declared the property blighted and claimed it was needed for a parking lot. According to a staff report, these “urban renewal policies” intensified racial segregation and displaced Black communities.

Today, the City still owns the property; a portion of which is leased to the world-class Viceroy Hotel which in exchange benefits the City with direct annual revenue.

“This puts the City of Santa Monica in the unique position to right this historic wrong by further investigating the seizure of the Ebony Beach Club Land and establishing a process to potentially return the land to the living heirs of those from whom the land was taken and compensate their descendants for wealth lost over the last 60 plus years.”

the report read.

“The City has underscored its commitment to racial equity, including the adoption of a Black Apology in November 2022 and the adopted City priority of advancing equity and inclusion with a Citywide equity

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier Sold to SC Holdings, $10M Investment Planned

The Cultural Institution Set for Exciting Upgrades

Santa Monica Amusements LLC (SMA), the operating group of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, today announced its sale to SC Holdings (SC), an investment firm with extensive experience in the consumer, entertainment, and hospitality sectors. Over the next five years, SC will make $10 million in capital investments in Pacific Park’s food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and welcoming destination for tourists, families, and the community.

David White, Santa Monica City Manager, responded to the sale and said, “SC Holdings’ purchase and planned improvements for Pacific Park reinforce the confidence we are seeing in Santa Monica’s future. We’re seeing more than a billion dollars in investment in local hotels, increased residential and retail projects, and new shopping, dining, and

entertainment coming online throughout our city.

Santa Monica continues to be a destination for travelers and locals alike and remains a thriving place to do business. I look forward to continued progress ahead for our city and the beloved, iconic Santa Monica Pier.”

Pacific Park is a cultural institution and hub for entertainment and recreation located on the Santa Monica Pier, which welcomes ten million visitors annually. As the only admission-free amusement park in Los Angeles, Pacific Park has delivered some of Southern California’s highest-quality entertainment for almost 30 years.

Pacific Park’s Vice President and General Manager, Jeff Klocke, and his long-tenured management team will continue to lead the Park’s day-to-day operations. Collectively, this team has 300 years of combined experience managing the Park’s operations.

SC Holdings, led by Managing Partners Jason Stein and Daniel Haimovic, brings substantial capital and operational capabilities to Pacific Park. Since 2019, SC has been an active investor in the entertainment and live

experience sectors, including The SpringHill Company, the merger of Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association, and celebrated chef James Kent’s Saga Hospitality Group, which is home to multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, a topranked bar in the world, events venues, and membership clubs.

In Santa Monica, SC will work closely with Pacific Park’s longtime management

strategic plan well underway.” it continued. The recently approved motion, which was put forward by Councilwoman Caroline Torosis, gives the City Manager 90 days to recommend, if any, possible ways to compensate the family of White.

team to further support the Pier as a premiere destination for visitors to California and the Los Angeles community. Lars Liebst, who served for 24 years as CEO of the celebrated Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, will serve on SC’s Pacific Park Advisory Board. He will be joined by David Swinghamer, the former CEO of Shake Shack, who brings his successful and highly regarded consumer, food, and beverage experience to the board.

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FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme

Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch

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The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to come forward if they believe they may have been victimized by John Douglas Burch, a 54-year-old resident of Santa Monica, in a recent FBI bulletin. Burch faces federal charges related to allegations of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and enticing others, with the investigation revealing a pattern of online exploitation that spans multiple states.

According to federal authorities, Burch’s alleged scheme, which originated in Los Angeles, California, is thought to have affected minors in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and possibly other locations since at least 2014.

The FBI’s probe suggests that Burch utilized social media platforms, often assuming the identity of a fitness professional, to target primarily underage females, though some adults may have also been targeted. Allegedly, he pressured

these individuals to participate in what he referred to as his “training program.” This program reportedly involved various tasks, including listening to explicit audio recordings, watching violent pornography, and creating and transmitting pornographic content online.

Once individuals complied with Burch’s demands, the FBI alleges that he would arrange to meet them in person and coerce them into engaging in illegal and nonconsensual acts with himself and other men.

Authorities believe that Burch may have used social media to contact women and minor girls both domestically and internationally. Additionally, they suspect that he may have coerced women into recruiting others via social media. Some interactions with Burch may have occurred in person or through various social media accounts associated with him.

These are some of the social media handles for the accounts Burch used to allegedly lure victims:

Snapchat: Just 9×6.5a (Display Name), Mr. Bigc0ck (Account Name)

Discord: @TheBurch9567

Telegram: Burch

Instagram: “@food_is_not_enemy”; “@ notyourfitguru2”; “@not_your_fit_guru_ original”; “@backup_notryourfitguru

Facebook: Notyourfitguru

Authorities in Santa Monica are seeking information from the public after a sexual assault incident occurred on March 1.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the incident took place at the 1700 Block of Ocean Park Boulevard around 8:15 PM. A lone female waiting for a ride was approached by a male suspect.

The suspect, described as pulling down his pants and making lewd statements, approached the victim. As the victim attempted to leave, the suspect grabbed her from behind and began touching her

Santa Monica Authorities Seek Public’s Help After Sexual Assault Incident Woman Drives Car In Ocean After High Speed Police Chase SMPD Urges Anyone With Information to Come Forward

inappropriately over her clothing.

The victim struggled with the suspect and broke free, fleeing the area. Surveillance footage captured the suspect leaving the location.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident or the individual involved to contact SMPD Detective Tavera at Ismael.Tavera@ santamonica.gov, Detective Sergeant Goodwin at Chad.Goodwin@santamonica. gov, or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110

A woman was apprehended after she careened into the Pacific Ocean while evading officers during a high-speed pursuit late Saturday evening, according to CBS News.

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110 and I-405 until she reached the vicinity of Venice Beach, where she veered into the ocean near Marina del Rey.

During the pursuit, the woman allegedly drove at speeds exceeding 100 mph, consistently refusing to yield to pursuing law enforcement.

Video footage captured the moments when the suspect zoomed through a parking lot and onto a still-crowded section of the beach near the pier, according to CBS.

Further footage depicts water spraying dozens of feet into the air as the woman’s vehicle plunges into the ocean. Subsequently, after her car submerged, the woman exited and began swimming farther into the water while officers pursued her along the pier.

Driverless Robotaxis Begin Expansion in Santa Monica

The Announcement Comes Shortly After the California Public Utilities Commission

Approved a Request From Waymo

By Zach Armstrong

Waymo One, the fully autonomous ridehailing service from the California company formerly known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, began scaling operations in Los Angeles last week in a 63 square mile area from Santa Monica to Downtown.

The announcement comes shortly after the California Public Utilities Commission approved a request from the Alphabetowned company to expand in the Bay Area and L.A. County, stating that it complied with regulatory requirements, as reported

by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Last month, PUC put a temporary halt to Waymo’s expansion for up to 120 days so staff could conduct a review. David J. Canepa, Vice President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, previously stated that Waymo stifled discussions on its expansion, going on to express concern over incidents in the Bay Area where Waymo cars blocked firehouse driveways and parked on fire hoses. Waymo said at the time that it reached out to stakeholders such as county officials, first responders, and cities, to discuss safety matters.

The recent ruling from PUC allows Waymo’s robotaxis to be deployed on local roads and freeways at speeds no faster than 65 mph.

In October, the company invited Angelinos to test the autonomous driving experience for themselves. Since then, Waymo says over 15,000 fully autonomous rides were taken across Santa Monica, Century City, West Hollywood, Mid-City, Koreatown and Downtown. The average trip rating issued by those riders, according to the company, stands at 4.7 out of 5 stars.

While transitioning to paid service in the coming weeks, Waymo will gradually onboard over 50,000 people who it says

currently sit on the L.A. waitlist. Temporary codes will be distributed at local events throughout the city.

“Once an unimaginable future, autonomous driving is now a real-world way of getting around for tens of thousands

of people each week,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. “After achieving key milestones in each city, we’re so excited to bring the safety, comfort and delight of our Waymo One service to more people in Los Angeles and Austin this year.”

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Congressman Secures $2M

Bolster Safety on Lincoln Blvd.,

Affordable Housing Access in Santa Monica

The Funding Aims to Enhance the Efforts of Three Local Projects

By Zach Armstrong

Nearly $2 million will go toward additional safety features in neighborhoods along Lincoln Blvd. and enhancing two Santa Monica affordable housing programs after Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA 36th District) secured the federal funds, the congressman announced.

“Safety and housing are two key issues that are top of mind for so many of my constituents. I am pleased to have fought for funding for projects that work to address those concerns.” said Rep. Lieu in a statement. “It is an honor to represent Santa Monica in Congress and to bring back funding for each of these projects,” A plurality of the announced funds

($850,000) will be used to revitalize a low-income housing building in the Pico neighborhood. The effort will include replacing its roofing, plumbing, heating and ventilation; removing lead and asbestos materials; and improving access to its spaces for those with disabilities.

The structure will also be decarbonized to become all-electric and environmentally sustainable. A new, large community garden will be added along with solar panels and electric cooking and heating.

Half a million dollars will be allocated to more pedestrian lighting and upgraded crosswalks, among other features, along Lincoln Boulevard. These improvements are part of a larger project that aims to make the community safer. Other elements of the project are set to include landscaped medians, pedestrian refuges and bicycle connectors.

The remaining funds ($469,100) will be used to renovate two interim housing programs housed in the Cloverfield Services Center.

The center helps “individuals who are

traditionally hard-to-reach” or apprehensive about receiving care and access to shelter and other assistance. The goal of the effort,

as described in a news release, is to enable the center to find permanent housing for these individuals.

Homeless Suspect Attacked 7-Year-Old Boy on Ocean Front Walk Days After Assaulting Girl in Santa Monica

According to an SMPD Spokesperson, the Suspect Was Arraigned on Two Charges of Felony Child Abuse

By Zach Armstrong

Days after a homeless man struck a sixyear-old girl in Santa Monica, the suspect did the same to a child of similar age along Venice’s Ocean Front Walk, LAPD confirmed.

On Sunday, March 10 at around 7 p.m., as previously reported by Mirror Media Group, Ahsante Lamar Morgan, 23, sat at a bus stop near the Main Street and Marine Avenue intersection. The child walked northbound on Main along with her parents when the suspect turned around from the bench and struck her. The young victim fell to the ground but was not seriously injured, according to SMPD. The suspect fled northbound from the scene and out of sight.

On March 14, Morgan allegedly assaulted a seven-year-old boy on the 1800 block of Ocean Front Walk. Police responded and he was taken into custody without incident.

According to an SMPD spokesperson, Morgan was arraigned on two charges of felony child abuse and pleaded not guilty. The case will go to a preliminary hearing.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiry from Mirror Media Group for an update on Morgan’s hearing.

ARB Courage (Part 1 of 2)

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

On March 4, 2024, your ARB (Architectural Review Board) ruled in favor of the 521-unit Gelson’s Project at Ocean Park and Lincoln Blvd. This controversial project was fatally flawed from the beginning, and by the time the project got to the ARB, very little could be done to make it beneficial. The flaws built into it were so numerous they have been discussed at length in previous SMart (Santa Monic Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) articles and also in public testimony and letters both at the ARB hearing and on social media. Because the ARB is the only venue where these monster projects typically still need to get a public review/approval, the ARB now has a particular responsibility and new increased relevance.

Reviewing the many Flaws

The project adds thousands of daily trips to an intersection that is already rated as F or D and is the source of many accidents. The project’s circulation overloads the adjacent alleys and streets because driveways coming out of Lincoln or Ocean Park can only turn safely north or east. Likewise, bikes leaving the project can only exit safely eastbound on Ocean Park Blvd (bikes cannot ride safely on Lincoln). The project makes no attempt to take advantage of its scale to enhance the LINK (Lincoln Blvd’s master plan for medians, landscaping, crosswalks, etc.).

There is, for example, no lane widening. or separated bike path proposed. The project is on a very noisy intersection whose noise levels were already too high for a school, prompting the move of then-proposed SMASH and John Muir elementary schools to Los Amigos Park thirty years ago. The project has a pitiful 10% (52) of affordable units: nowhere near the 6000 affordable units Sacramento mandates we permit and build in the next seven years. In other words, we would have to build 115 Gelsons-sized projects just to meet Sacramento’s delusional affordable housing mandate.

Killing the School District

Gelsons has no three-bedroom units, continuing the three decade free fall of our public school enrollment since it’s practically impossible for multigenerational families and families with different gendered children to find three-bedroom apartments. The project makes no attempt to recycle water (a previous state law, now expired, would have required a project this size, over 500 units, to provide a new source of water sufficient to last 20 years). The project makes no attempt toward getting us to net zero (buildings providing all the power they need generated on-site). Net zero buildings are rarely over three stories tall. Environmental progress would be, for example, exceeding substantially the City’s pitiful photovoltaic collector requirement or providing batteries to store the power generated for evening use. The high and too close buildings create conditions of gloomy, deep shade for the bottom rearmost units and no frontal privacy for most of the units due to the lack of open

space separating the 12 towers.

One easy way to mitigate these flaws would be to reduce the size of the project by removing one floor from the whole project. In fact, the developer is willing to meet with Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City next week to discuss such a proposal. We will see what the response will be.

Do we need to accept flawed projects?

But regardless of these flaws or possible mitigations you may say we need the housing? We should be willing to accept flawed projects just to get more housing? Actually, we need very little additional housing. The City’s natural growth rate is about 150 units per year (about 1100 units over the next eight years per the new Housing Element’s documentation). What we need is more AFFORDABLE housing. Instead of 90% market rate and 10% affordable provided by Gelsons, we need the exact opposite. In other words, the City’s overbuilding of market rate housing does not help our housing AFFORDABILITY crisis, which includes everyone paying more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage and also includes those that are homeless. First of all, through covid deaths and emigration, our City’s population has dropped at least one thousand residents (about 500 units) in the last few years, while the State’s population has also dropped by over a million residents in those last few years. Second, we currently have in Santa Monica a vacancy rate of about 10%-11%, contrary to the City’s claim, at the Gelson’s ARB hearing, that the vacancy rate was 3-4%. Third, in the near future, the vacancy rate will either increase with

the opening of all the new projects already under construction (see the Great Wall of Lincoln), not to mention the many multistory (some well over ten floors) already in the permit pipeline OR the rent for upperend apartments will drop slightly, OR both will occur simultaneously: increased vacancy rate and softening of the upper-end apartment market. Neither of these possible events makes Santa Monica more affordable for those who need housing and cannot pay market rates. So, in Santa Monica, we have no demand shortage for upper-end market housing but a huge unmet demand for lower cost apartments. In other words, Santa Monica does not need the Gelson’s project nor its kindred projects.

How did we get stuck with these oversized projects universally reviled by their neighbors and not meeting our real needs?

Next week, we will review Sacramento’s role in overbuilding Santa Monica, assisted by an ideologically driven city council that did not push back when it became apparent where the State was headed.

By Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA

S.M.a.r.t Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Thane Roberts, Architect, Mario FondaBonardi AIA, Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect, Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission, Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE Marie Standing. Jack Hillbrand AIA

For previous articles, see www. santamonicaarch.wordpress.com/writing

After Four Years, Vespertine’s Avant-Garde Culinary Experience Returns to Culver City Chef Jordan Kahn’s Michelin Two-Star Eatery Finally Reopens in April

By Dolores Quintana

After a four-year hiatus, Vespertine, the avant-garde culinary experience helmed by Chef Jordan Kahn, is poised to make its return on April 2nd. Reservations are now open for patrons at Open Table.

Vespertine offers diners an immersive narrative curated by Chef Jordan Kahn, complemented by Eric Owen Moss’s striking architectural design. As the restaurant’s website describes, “The intertwining elements of food, beverage, music, and design transport guests through a multi-sensory experience unlike any other.”

Vespertine’s previous accolades include 2 Stars in the Michelin Guide from 2019 to 2021, recognition as one of the Most Beautiful Restaurants by Condé Nast, and a spot on Time Magazine’s prestigious list of the World’s 100 Greatest Places. Additionally, the establishment received the Atmosphere of the Year award from the World Restaurant Awards.

The restaurant’s innovative program of at-home dinners during the pandemic is remembered with fondness by many diners. What will this new version of Vespertine be? How many changes have been incorporated into Vespertine 2024? It remains to be seen.

NOTICE

OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF HARRY G. GRANKFURT

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: HARRY G. FRANKFURT

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Joan Gilbert in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 24STPB02344

The Petition for Probate requests that JOAN GILBERT be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

NOTICE

Date:

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in Los Angeles County Superior Court as follows: Date: April 14, 2024, Time: 8:30 am. Dept.: D2 The address of the court: 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statues and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner JOAN GILBERT/Deb L. Kinney.769 Center Blvd. No 301, Fairfax, Ca. 94930

Published in the Santa Monica Mirror, 03/22/2024, 03/29/2024, and 04/05//2024.

Photo by Ed Gandara