WEEK: PumpkinThemed Events Hosted by Santa Monica Farmers Markets
SMC Shooter, Identified As School Employee, Dead After Police Pursuit
The Victim, the College’s Custodial Operations Manager, Remains in Critical Condition
Davon Durell Dean, an employee of Santa Monica College, has been identified as the suspect who shot and critically injured a fellow staff member on Monday night at the college’s Center for Media & Design, SMPD announced.
Dean, 39, fled the scene after the attack but was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit near El Segundo Blvd. in Hawthorne. The victim, the college’s Custodial Operations Manager, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
The college shooting took place around 9:50 p.m. at 1660 Stewart Street in an act of workplace violence. Following the incident, the suspect fled the scene,
leading to an extensive overnight search by SMPD, the Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD), and other law enforcement agencies.
On Tuesday afternoon, SMPD located Dean’s vehicle near El Segundo Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in Hawthorne. After a brief pursuit, officers used a pursuit intervention technique to stop the vehicle. Despite efforts by the Hawthorne Police Department’s Crisis Negotiations Team, Dean was found dead inside the car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dean, who had a history of prior arrests for violent crimes, including attempted murder in 2011, had only been convicted of misdemeanor property offenses, according to authorities. SMC officials stated that the college requires background checks and disclosures of prior convictions for all employees.
SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery expressed sorrow over the incident and announced that counseling services are available for students and staff. SMC campuses will remain closed through Oct. 20, 2024, with classes and operations shifting online.
“To help our community through
this very difficult time, SMC will be providing...counseling and mental/ emotional support,” said Dr. Jeffery in a message. “At this heartbreaking time, I urge us all to come together in kindness
and compassion as we navigate this unspeakable tragedy.”
The investigation remains ongoing, but police believe there are no additional suspects or threats to the public.
SMC Employee Dies from Shooting, Remembered For Decades of Service
Santa Monica College Foundation Has Established the Felicia Hudson Legacy Fund in Collaboration With Her
Family
Felicia Hudson, a 54-year-old Custodial Operations Manager at Santa Monica College, has died from injuries sustained in the workplace shooting at the college’s Center for Media & Design that occurred on Monday.
Hudson was transported to a local hospital, where she remained in critical condition until succumbing to her injuries on Wednesday, at approximately 5 p.m.
The suspect, identified as 39-yearold SMC custodian Davon Durell Dean, fled the scene after the shooting but was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his vehicle following a police pursuit near El Segundo Blvd. and Aviation Blvd. in Hawthorne. According to police, Dean had a history of prior arrests for violent crimes, including attempted murder in 2011, though his convictions were limited to misdemeanor property offenses.
The shooting occurred at 9:50 p.m. on Monday in what investigators are calling an act of workplace violence. The incident triggered an extensive search involving SMPD, the Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD), and additional law enforcement agencies. Dean’s vehicle was located on Tuesday afternoon, and despite efforts by crisis negotiators, he was found dead inside the vehicle.
Hudson, who had served SMC for nearly three decades, was remembered by SMC Superintendent/President Dr.
Kathryn E. Jeffery as a dedicated and beloved colleague. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic loss of our colleague Felicia Hudson. She took great pride in being a steadfast coworker and leader,” Jeffery said in a statement.
The college has offered crisis counseling services to students and staff and will be conducting a thorough review of the incident.
To honor Hudson’s memory, the
Santa Monica College Foundation has established the Felicia Hudson Legacy Fund in collaboration with her family, which will continue her spirit of service and support within the community. Donations can be made through the SMC Foundation’s website.
While the investigation into the shooting is ongoing, authorities confirmed that no other suspects are involved, and there is no continued threat to the public.
Cassia and Rustic Canyon Host Collaborative Dinners to Benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation
This Weekend Creative Teams of Chefs Will Spice Up Santa Monica For One Night Only
Two of Santa Monica’s favorite restaurants are taking part in a special dinner series that benefits the Southern Smoke Foundation this weekend.
Chefs Johanna Luat and Christina Nguyen are set to collaborate on a special dinner event exploring the flavors of Southeast Asia on October 18, 2024. The dinner, titled Cassia x Hai Hai: Powered by Resy, will take place at Cassia in Santa Monica as part of The Chef Conference. Luat, the executive sous chef at Cassia, and Nguyen, the chef behind Minneapolis’ Hai Hai, will bring their expertise to a one-night-only culinary experience, highlighting bold and diverse dishes inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine. The event starts at 5:00 p.m., and spots are filling up quickly, according to Resy.
You can make your reservation here.
Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica will host a special collaboration dinner on Sunday, October 20, 2024, as part of The Chef Conference. The event, Rustic Canyon x Southern Smoke: Powered by Resy, will feature renowned chefs Joshua Pinsky from New York’s Claud, Christina Nguyen from Minneapolis’ Hai Hai, Claudette Zepeda, and Rustic Canyon’s Jeremy Fox and Chef de Cuisine Elijah DeLeon.
The dinner will benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists food and beverage industry workers. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a menu
priced at $125 per person. Alcoholic beverages will be charged based on consumption, and attendees must be 21 or older to consume alcohol. You can reserve your space at Resy.
—Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock “ ”
Residents and businesses deserve safety. They deserve a fair chance at running their businesses and walking down the street without a crime happening
•Public Safety is my #1 Commitment
•Innovative Strategies to Reduce Homelessness
•Protect Rent Control
•Advocate for Affordable Housing
•Regain Local Control Over Excessive Development
•Enhance Green Spaces
•Preserve Santa Monica’s
•Prioritize
THIS WEEK: Pumpkin-Themed Event
Hosted by Santa Monica Farmers Market
Both Markets Emphasize the Importance of Supporting Local Agriculture
Santa Monica is gearing up for a family-friendly event celebrating fall at its Main Street Farmers Markets.
Later that week, on Sunday, Oct. 20, the Main Street Farmers Market will host the free “Pumpkin Adoptions” event. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until supplies last, children 12 and under can select a small pumpkin to adopt and take home. Along with this festive giveaway, the market will feature local produce, coffee, prepared food, live music, artisan goods, and free activities for kids. The Main Street market is located at 2640 Main St., near the intersection of Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard.
Both markets emphasize the importance of supporting local agriculture. All Santa Monica Farmers Markets accept SNAP/
EBT, P-EBT, and SunBucks cards. Additionally, the Main Street and Pico Markets offer a Market Match program,
Metro Seeks Input on Affordable Housing Near 17th St. Station
Residents Can Share Feedback via an Online Survey or During an Upcoming Virtual Meeting
Metro is advancing its 10,000 Home Commitment with a focus on affordable housing, targeting underutilized Metroowned land. One of the first developments planned is near the 17th Street/Santa Monica College station. Metro aims to
create income-restricted housing on the site and is seeking community input on the project’s design, services, and public spaces.
The public comment period began on Oct. 4, offering residents the opportunity to share feedback via an online survey or during a virtual meeting on Oct. 23. This project, though not directly affiliated with the city of Santa Monica, is being promoted locally to ensure community awareness and participation.
Metro’s 45-day comment period marks a key step in addressing housing affordability and homelessness by developing residential spaces near public transit, helping to connect residents with resources and opportunities.
where customers can receive up to $20 in coupons for fresh produce. For more information, visit
santamonica.gov/farmersmarket or follow on Instagram and Facebook @ SMFMS.
Chef Tony Messina to Host Exclusive Pop-Up at Sushi Roku Santa Monica This Weekend
Unique Fusion of Modern Sashimi and Street Food
From the James Beard Award Winner
Sushi Roku in Santa Monica will host a special pop-up event featuring 2019 James Beard Award-winning chef
Tony Messina from October 17 and 18. Known for his innovative approach to Japanese cuisine, Chef Messina will present a fusion menu inspired by his time in Boston, blending modern sashimi with street food influences and premium ingredients.
Reservations can be made at https:// www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/ rokusantamonica/exclusive-robata-barpop-up-with-chef-tony-messina
The menu will feature a range of standout dishes, including beef carpaccio with shellfish vinegar and black garlic tare, chicken liver toast on milk bread with strawberry and smoked onion, and
lobster skewers paired with rosé butter and roasted tomato.
A highlight for seafood lovers will be the whole grilled branzino served with shrimp cracker pangrattato. Dessert will round out the experience with an aerated miso cheesecake, complemented by apple, dulce de leche, and ras el hanout.
Reservations are encouraged for this exclusive dining experience, which promises to showcase Chef Messina’s mastery of flavor and technique.
SM.a.r.t Recommendations
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Our readers know that SM.a.r.t (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) members are an opinionated bunch and are never in consistent issue about any complex issue. The following recommendations are our general consensus but there is wide variation and disagreement in many issues. Please carefully read both the Official Voter Information Guide and the Official Sample Ballot brochure you received in the mail and do your own research. Discussing the issues with your friends can also be very enlightening to hear a side of an issue that perhaps you have not thought of. The recommendations below are a starting point for those discussions:
CITY COUNCIL: Phil Brock, Oscar De La Torre, John Putnam, Vivian Rocknian. This slate has a strong position on public safety and is not peddling the myth that all the skyscrapers we are being inundated with are going to increase housing affordability. They are not going to vote for destroying the single family zone by allowing 10 units per single family lot (or any City lot for that matter) as allowed by SB10 which needs City Council approval for enactment, SCHOOL BOARD: Vote only for Christine Falaguerra. She is a new candidate and is an experienced teacher, a qualification that is incredibly valuable for a School Board. She will introduce sanity and not increase the fiscal mismanagement of the 3 current incumbents running for re-election.
STATE ASSEMBLY: Rick Zbur
US REPRESENTATIVE: Ted Lieu
MEASURE F (public safety): YES.
MEASURE K (8% Parking cost increase): NO. Parking is already a scarce commodity and will become increasingly scarce and expensive as developers take advantage of the State mandated no parking requirements for new housing and ADUs dump all their displaced parking on the public street.
MEASURE PSK: YES, helpful if K passes
Generally speaking, when considering the myriad of bond choices we face (see below), our citizens are suffering from bond fatigue. We keep being asked to increase the burden on ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren because the fiscal burden of our decisions today will stretch 30 years into the future. We know full well that bonds always burden both renters and property owners and that the cost of these bonds will add billions more of interest to the bond
itself, amplifying its negative impact but only benefiting the financiers.
The fact that we are running up huge bond obligations means our cities, counties, school boards and states will all have their credit limits already “tapped out” when we face the inevitable real crisis eg earthquakes, tsunamis, brownouts, water supply collapse, etc. that will certainly appear in the next 30 years and that can only be mitigated in a timely manner by approving bonds. The bond is essentially a credit card being given to the public: which does not have an unlimited credit limit. The problems the current bonds are trying to resolve are all real and worthy but, for the reasons noted above, be very careful about adding to public’s increasing debt obligations and decreasing credit rating. Choose carefully the crises you believe in and vote yes only on those. You can vote no on others, not because, you don’t think they are important, but they have to be viewed in the context of our current and future limited borrowing capacity
MEASURE QS: NO. We don’t like to speak against education, but this is another runaway debt increase on top of the School District’s existing $1+ Billion in bonds for a mismanaged school district whose enrollment is shrinking, has a $100 million unsecured pension obligation and has had a disastrous maintenance record of upkeep of its existing facilities (see SMASH/John Muir closure for reconstruction) not to mention the horrible lack of protection for its historic assets. None of these horrifically high proposed expenses helps teachers, improves student performance, closes achievement gaps, preserves historical assets, or really fosters sustainability. Air-conditioning classrooms is perhaps the only exception to this list of education goals, but there is not half a billion dollars worth of airconditioning improvements in this bond. Finally, because of the bonds built in escape clause, there is no obligation for this bond to actually be spent on any of its listed projects.
MEASURE MM (Malibu School Bond). NO or ABSTAIN. Santa Monica residents should not be voting on another City’s indebtedness. Malibu citizens should decide this bond.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Nathan Hochman
The following 5 judicial recommendations are from a progressive public service attorney
SUPERIOR COURT #99: George Turner
SUPERIOR COURT #48: Erica Wiley
SUPERIOR COURT #97: Sharon Ransom
SUPERIOR COURT#135: Both are good vote for either Mac or Huerta
SUPERIOR COURT#137: Luz Herera
COUNTY MEASURE G: NO, increases number of County supervisors which is good, but the benefit is canceled by creating an undemocratic all powerful czar.
COUNTY MEASURE A (Housing Funding): NO. While the motive is good, the method, a regressive sales tax increase, is not good since it increases an already high sales tax that makes life less affordable for everyone, particularly the poorer residents. The results of the last expiring 1/4% sales tax dedicated to housing is a 37% increase in homelessness.
STATE MEASURE 2 (School & College Funding): NO. Citizens already face school bond overload ($1/2 billion for SM schools plus $10 billion for State schools etc) while the State’s school enrollment is collapsing.
STATE MEASURE 3 (Right to marriage): YES.
STATE MEASURE 4 (Water safety, nature open lands, etc): YES. Scarce safe water and preserving shrinking open lands are essential to surviving global warming.
STATE MEASURE 5 (55% bond approval for housing) NO. Because of lack of accountability and not clearly shown to increase affordability. Perpetuates state mismanagement of housing issues.
STATE MEASURE 6 (Ends involuntary work for prisoners) NO. Unclear where in the State prison work is involuntary servitude.
STATE MEASURE 32 ($18/hr minimum wage). YES. Minimum wage was originally intended for low skill entry level jobs often for students living at home, start up jobs, etc. Today however they are for paying people who need to stick together several minimum wage
jobs, or for whom the minimum wage job is their only job while raising a family, etc. Existing minimum wage is nowhere near a livable wage. This is a very minor but needed step toward an actual living minimum wage.
STATE MEASURE 33 (local rent control): NO. While local rent control is overall beneficial, the sweeping wording of this measure would allow a possibly well meaning but misguided City Council to extend rent control to single family residences and condos. The lack of this safeguard cancels its possible good effects.
STATE MEASURE 36 (crime penalty increase) YES. Reduces mounting “petty” crime
PRESIDENT: Kamala Harris/Tim Walz
US SENATOR (full-term): Adam Schiff
US SENATOR (Unfinished term): Adam Schiff
In making your selection think for yourself and be sure to vote in person or by mail. See the website below on how to vote:
https://www.lavote.gov/home/votingelections/current-elections/find-myelection-information
S.M.a.r.t Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow Thane Roberts, Architect, Mario Fonda-Bonardi 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
FILM REVIEW
JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX
“Folie a Deux” is a French medical term for an identical medical disorder shared by two people in close contact. Lady Gaga’s performance in Joker: Folie a Deux is exquisite. Her mode of expression is song, and it really manifests here, as she does not so much sing, but blends her song into her speech so that it becomes her mode of expression. Unfortunately, most audiences are not perceiving this brilliance from Gaga because they expect to see a comic book movie, and that’s not what this film is.
I would call it a musical drama. Director Todd Phillips has chosen to use a sort of musical style, with Joaquin Phoenix as “Arthur Fleck/Joker” and Lady Gaga as “Lee Quinzel/ Harley Quinn” singing many of their lines. Phillips and composer Hildur Gudnadottir have captured that elusive timing that makes breaking from speech into song seem natural.
With Lady Gaga’s extraordinary talent and skill, Phoenix’s months of song and dance training, and the rich and emotional score by Gudnadottir, I find that it all works. There’s even a parody of the classic Sonny and Cher Show (1976-77). Phoenix gives a memorable performance and proves to be an excellent musical performer, though his character is excruciatingly sad throughout, so much so that it made me feel great despair watching him.
This “Joker” has no forays into a lighter plane, and it’s not an action movie. Characters whom you believe
might bring redemption may surprise you. The mood is relentlessly dark.
The movie opens with a cartoon called “Me and My Shadow,” which seems to suggest that Joker is going to become a shadow of himself, which is exactly what happens
Phillips is known for The Hangover (2009) and its sequels, Part II and Part III. The essence of those movies grew darker in the later editions. Perhaps he’s following the same recipe in this sequel to his Joker (2019), drawing his audience in with the candy of upbeat and funny, and then let them slide down a dark hole as he stands at the top laughing. In Joker, the titular character could be celebrated. Here he slips into a depressive malaise, full of repression and unleashed anger.
Lady Gaga and Phoenix put their hearts into training and preparing for these roles. Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 2019 Joker. For Folie a Deux, he trained extensively in vocals and tap dancing. He hadn’t taken tap classes since the age of 8, so the large-scale dance numbers required 2 hours a day of training for months. As a tap dancer myself, I can vouch that proficiency in that art requires huge dedication. Phoenix is so good in his dance numbers; I wondered if there was a double doing the actual tapping.
Per Phillips, “There’s no CGI, no face replacement, there’s no stand-in for this dude.” Lady Gaga encouraged Phoenix to sing live, and he urged her to sing
without her learned technique, to unlock her character’s voice. The result is a very real, earthy rendition of both their characters.” The two actors participated in writing for their characters, learning changes on the fly before shooting a scene. Phoenix said they inspired each other with their musical performances.
The supporting cast members are superb. Brendan Gleeson stands out as a realistic prison guard, who is both funny
and mean. Catherine Keener’s “Maryanne Stewart” is a window to compassion and reality as Joker’s attorney, and Harry Lawtey as “Harvey Dent” appears to be nerdy but takes command of the courtroom.
I didn’t dislike the experience of this film as much as some, because I love Lady Gag’s musical sensibility. She “stuck the landing” of this unpredictable, dangerous nymph with a resounding emotional thud. In my estimation, this is her best cinematic performance so far. I would like to see what Lady Gaga and Phoenix could do together in a more upbeat musical. This movie is very wellmade, though excruciatingly painful to watch.
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
