Santa Monica Mirror / Yo! Venice: Mar 29 - Apr 04, 2024

INSIDE YOVENICE.COM

Santa Monica City Council Approves Partnership for Affordable Housing Expansion

Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to Spearhead Development of New Units

The Santa Monica City Council has given the green light to a partnership with Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to expand the city’s inventory of affordable and permanent supportive housing.

The proposed developments, subject to final approval by the City Council, are set to encompass around 130 units spread across three city-owned properties located at 1217 Euclid St., 1211-1217 14th St., and 1146 16th St., in alignment with the city’s Housing Element.

Upon completion, these projects aim to cater to individuals and families earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income and individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative

to bring these new developments to fruition aligns with the city’s strategic objectives of Addressing Homelessness and fostering Justice, Equity, and diversity.

The Euclid St. location is slated to offer permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals, with The People Concern taking the helm as the lead supportive service provider. The People Concern’s services will encompass mental health services, crisis intervention, therapy, rehabilitation programs, substance abuse services, life skills education, medication management, benefits assistance, and connections to external services as necessary.

Mayor Phil Brock underscored the significance of Santa Monica’s commitment to allocating city-owned properties for affordable housing endeavors, stating, “An important part of Santa Monica’s Housing Element is our commitment to dedicate several city-owned properties to advance much-needed affordable housing production. I am glad to see these projects moving forward as part of our city’s strategic effort to address homelessness and continue to build a community where all have the ability to live and thrive.”

Hollywood Community Housing Corporation was chosen through a

competitive bidding process, with selection criteria including experience and other qualifications.

Future steps involve engaging the community to gather input on the design

Caltrans Extends Closure

Canyon Boulevard Due to Mud

PCH Closure on March 26 Adds to Local Road Closures, Seek Alternative Routes

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced plans to maintain the closure of all lanes on a stretch of State Route 27 (Topanga Canyon Boulevard) indefinitely due to a weathertriggered mud and rockslide and an unstable hillside at postmile 1.8. Large rocks continue to fall at the site.

In addition, One lane of PCH will be closed at Topanga Cyn on Tuesday, March 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for work on the City’s Traffic Signal Synchronization Project

The closure, spanning from Grand View Drive to State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), will persist due to an active

landslide. With more rain expected over the weekend, traffic control measures will be in place, with flaggers directing traffic from Tuna Canyon onto southbound PCH in Malibu to help make it easier and safer for drivers to cross the northbound lanes of PCH and prevent wrong-way drivers from entering

one-way Tuna Canyon Rd. Additionally, striping in the median lane on PCH south of Big Rock will provide two northbound lanes. One northbound lane was taken up by K-rails to hold back the active landslide.

According to Caltrans, there is no set end date for the closure, and signs have been posted in the affected areas. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly by seeking alternate routes and should anticipate delays

due to the possibility of increased traffic.

The decision to extend the closure comes as Caltrans continues to monitor the slide, which has grown larger in recent days. Rocks are still falling, water is trickling down, and the hillside remains saturated from a series of atmospheric river storms this year, creating hazardous working conditions.

While recognizing the inconvenience

and development plan. A refined proposal, incorporating community feedback, is anticipated to return to the council for final consideration and approval in 2025.

caused to motorists and businesses in Topanga Canyon, Caltrans emphasizes its commitment to completing the necessary work as quickly and safely as possible. It’s important to note that all work is subject to change due to weather or constructionrelated issues. Real-time traffic information can be accessed at http://quickmap.dot. ca.gov/.

THE MUSIC MINUTE

After Securing $200K Grant, City Embarks on Action Plan for Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Caregivers

The City Will Engage Experts, Nonprofit Partners, Commissioners, and Stakeholders to Spearhead the Planning Process

The city of Santa Monica is embarking on a citywide initiative to bolster services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers, propelled by a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Aging Local

Aging & Disability Action Planning (LADAP) program.

This funding will kickstart the planning process for Santa Monica’s own age- and disability-friendly action plan, addressing current, emerging, and future needs of these communities.

The city will engage experts, nonprofit partners, commissioners, and stakeholders to spearhead the planning process. Opportunities for community input will be provided, with a draft plan slated for presentation to the City Council in early 2025.

The LADAP grant forms part of California’s Master Plan for Aging, underscoring the state’s dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in preparing for demographic shifts over the next decade.

When your loved one has Alzheimer’s, dementia, early stage memory loss, Parkinson’s or is recovering from a stroke:

Historic Union Contract Ratified by Thousands of Hotel Workers At 34 Hotels UNITE HERE Local 11 Negotiates Agreement

cleaning.

The successful negotiation of this contract marks the culmination of the goals set by hotel workers when they initiated the historic strike.

Ensuring Wage Increases

Hotel workers, who spearheaded the largest hotel strike in modern U.S. history, have ratified a groundbreaking new union contract at 34 hotels following a resounding vote of support. This historic agreement secures unprecedented wage increases, benefits, and rights for thousands of workers.

Under the terms of the contract negotiated by UNITE HERE Local 11, workers will receive wage increases that will see their earnings soar by an average of 40% to 50%. These substantial pay hikes aim to address the rising cost of living and ensure that workers can afford to reside in the communities where they are employed, particularly as rents continue to escalate and major events like the World Cup and Olympics bring economic influx to the region.

In addition to wage improvements, the new contract maintains robust, low-cost healthcare coverage for workers and their families. It also includes groundbreaking provisions ensuring fair workloads, prepandemic staffing levels, and daily room

While employees at 34 hotels will benefit from these transformative wages and protections, unresolved disputes persist at numerous other establishments, including the Hotel Figueroa, Hotel Maya, Doubletree Downtown Los Angeles, and the LA Grand. Workers at these locations continue to engage in strikes, pickets, or boycotts until a satisfactory contract is reached.

Ana Sanchez, a front desk worker at Sheraton Gateway Hotel LAX for over two decades, expressed her relief and gratitude upon signing the contract, emphasizing the newfound confidence it has instilled in her.

Similarly, Brenda Mendoza, a uniform attendant at the JW Marriott in Downtown Los Angeles, hailed the wage increase as a source of financial stability and peace of mind.

Arturo Huezo, a houseman at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica, underscored the life-saving importance of the healthcare benefits preserved in the contract, reflecting on his personal battle with cancer and urging solidarity among colleagues still fighting for fair contracts.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, commended the resilience of hotel workers and vowed to continue the fight until all workers receive just compensation and treatment.

City Commences Phase 2 of Beach Restoration Project

The Project Will Enlarge the Habitat for Significant Native Species, Including the Federally Threatened Western Snowy Plover

Phase 2 of the Santa Monica Beach Restoration Project commenced recently, aiming to further enhance natural dune habitat on Santa Monica beach, situated just south of the Annenberg Community Beach House, a post from the City read.

Building upon the success of the initial pilot program that restored three acres of beach dunes, the second phase seeks to expand to an additional five acres of native coastal strand habitat.

The kickoff this week entailed the

installation of post, rope, and sand fencing to restrict beach city-operated grooming at the site, planting seeds of California native vegetation to foster dune growth, and the addition of interpretive signage to inform the public about the project and the environmental advantages of native coastal habitats.

The project will enlarge the habitat for significant native species, including the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover. The first nest in the Los Angeles region in almost 70 years was discovered within the site for the first phase of the project in April 2017.

Advocates for the project include the

LA Audubon Society, Heal the Bay, Climate Action Santa Monica, LA County Beaches and Harbors, among others, along with numerous Santa Monica residents, according to the City. The project receives funding from the Bay Foundation through the Refugio Oil Spill Trust.

Mixed-Use Development Set for Sloping Property along Chautauqua Boulevard

“Canyon Place” Is Set to Include Two Apartment Units and 1,415 Sq. Ft. of Office Space

By Zach Armstrong

A low-rise, mixed-use structure on a hillside property is set for construction just a short walk away from Will Rogers Beach, as per an agenda item recently considered by the West Los Angeles Planning Commission.

The proposal, titled “Canyon Place”, calls for the demolition of an existing structure at 148 N Chautauqua Blvd. to make way for a 3,470 square foot, contemporary two-story building. The project would consist of two one-bedroom apartment units, 1,415 square feet of office space, six vehicle parking spots and seven spots reserved for bicycles.

The structure will reflect the sloping topography of the property, with the ground level providing the parking, the next lower level providing commercial office units and the lowest level featuring the two residential units. The front of the property faces Chautauqua Boulevard, while its downward slope leads to Channel Road at the rear.

According to the agenda time, access from Chautauqua Blvd. will be via an approximately 19’ wide bridge from the roadway to the parking level. The residential and commercial units will open to private, 147 square foot porches that look south, providing canyon and ocean views.

Currently at the subject site are two unpermitted buildings which were built in 1978. They are now used as an artist studio, chicken coop, storage and hair salon, per

the agenda item.

The project comes from applicant Frank Langen of Santa Monica, while BAM Construction and Design is serving as its project architect, according to Urbanize LA. Necessary project approvals include a plan exception to allow ground-floor parking, along with its greater floor area than what is normally permitted by zoning.

Cornelius Calvin Welch

passed away February 19, 2024, at the age of 98 years.

Born on January 10, 1926, in Helena, Arkansas, the family moved to St. Louis in his preteen years. He graduated from Sumner High School, as the class Valedictorian. After High School, Cornelius joined the US Army, in March 1944 and served until April 1946.

Cornelius attended Creighton University Pharmacy School, and subsequently completed Medical School, attaining the status of Medical Doctor.

Doctor Welch practiced in Hannibal, Missouri and Cleveland, Ohio where he started his family. While practicing medicine in Arizona and Colorado, Dr. Welch spent most of his career serving the communities of South Los Angeles and the Mid-Wilshire area. His California medical career stretched from 1969 until his retirement in 1999.

He was predeceased by his sister, Helen, and Brothers Edward and Arthur. He will join his second wife Norma Sklarek, who passed away in 2012.

Cornelius is survived by his first wife, Florence, his sons, Dale, Stephen, Theodore, and Arthur, daughters Rochelle and Veronica, along with Foster Son, Charles and Foster Daughter, Carol. His son, Kenneth, predeceased him.

He is also survived by four nephews, and one niece, along with thirteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren and a host of many other family members.

FILM REVIEW

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

BEHIND THE SCREEN

By Kathryn Whitney Boole

I can remember hearing the warm, flowing sounds of Bob Marley’s music on the radio in the 1970s. At that time, before the internet, his bright, colorful concert posters were much sought after, the kind you hang prominently on your bedroom or dorm wall, both to seem cool and because of his music and his message –PEACE. Marley was one of those rarified beings who created a spirit that lives on long after he died tragically of cancer at age 36 in 1981.

Bob Marley was born in 1945 to a Black Jamaican teenager and a white plantation manager, who married when he was born but separated soon after. No stranger to struggle, Marley endured a lot of bullying in school for being biracial. Later, in the 1960s, he became a member of the Rastafari movement, whose followers believe that Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, who had liberated his own people and culture, was God’s incarnation. Rastafarians believe that cannabis is the key to meditation.

As Marley put it, “When you smoke herb, herb reveals your Self to you.” Marley advocated for cannabis legalization and for the unification of African people worldwide. He also carried his Bible with him everywhere, along with

his guitar. He started playing music as a child, partly influenced by music from American R&B radio stations whose powerful signals reached all the way to Jamaica. Many of his songs are about Africans rising up against imperialist rule. Rastafarianism was born in the intense suffering endured by Afro-Jamaican slaves, and out of

that suffering rose Reggae music. Marley wanted to bring reggae and his philosophy to the world and to bring together Jamaica’s disparate leaders in peace. At the time of his death, he was putting together a world tour. Another major force in his life was football (soccer). This history may help you comprehend the quick scenes, montages, and flashbacks that comprise this movie, an honest, though not at all in-depth recounting of Marley’s life from 19761978., which does not paint him as a saint, but with flaws as well as incredible magnetism and talent.

Many of his children became musicians. Bob helped Ziggy get into music. His son was just

12 when his father died. He says of his Dad, “Pieces of you are a part of me…everything we do is connected to you.”

The film, produced in part by Marley’s wife, Rita, his son Ziggy, and daughter Cedella. has been a huge success at the box office, and its audiences span all cultures, ages, and ethnicities. The extraordinary portrayal of Marley by Kingsley Ben-Adir and Paramount’s and director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s decision to use authentic Jamaican Patois without subtitles as the language are reasons for this success. I’ve noted that often, comprehension of words is not as important as the rhythm, inflections, and melody of a language.

You may find Patois hard to understand in the beginning, but you will quickly capture its meaning and flow. In Jamaica of the 1950’s, Patois was vilified as the language of the poor. Today, it’s taught in schools along with English. The vernacular mixes English with influences from African languages, Spanish, Hindi, and Chinese. Kingsley Ben-Adir, who plays Marley, said that doing the film in Patois was like doing it in French because it sounds like English, but there’s so much that’s not English. Green employed a linguistics expert, and they developed a phonetic writing system for Ben-Adir, who is Trinidadian and English, to assimilate the dialogue successfully. He masters the dialect so well that he seems to be really communicating in it rather than mastering an accent.

Rated PG-13

107 Minutes

Released February 14th

Ben-Adir’s musical performances as Marley are incredible. It took someone who has star quality in his own right to play this role. He portrays Marley’s calm, thoughtful presence and exuberance, seeming at once in the moment and rising above it. He seems so effortless in the role; it’s hard to remember how difficult it is to play a recent legend whose music and personality is so well known. Lashana Lynch is spectacular as the indomitable Rita Marley as well.

I hope that more films will be made about Marley – with Ben-Adir playing him. Marley’s eulogy stated that he left “an indelible imprint.” Ziggy says, “Like my father’s music, this movie is meant for the people, and his message of peace, love, and unity is clearly connecting with audiences around the world.” The movie had the biggest opening of all time in Jamaica. Marley’s message of peace in his own words: “Because my Father’s White, my Mother’s Black – you know what them call me, half-caste or wh’ever. Well, me don’t dip on the Black Man’s side nor the White Man’s side, me dip on God’s side, the Man who create me, who cause me to come from Black and White, Who give me this talent.”

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

ARB Courage (Part 2 of 2)

OPINION

SMa.r.t.

Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow

Last week we discussed the numerous flaws of the Gelson’s project as a perfect example of what not to do in providing new housing in Santa Monica. Fueled by the artificially inflated “need” to build more housing, it is too big, is visually monumentally boring, with the wrong unit mix, has too few affordable units, has fatal traffic consequences, and is an ecological albatross on the City’s neck. Gelson’s is a case study of how development will unfold in Santa Monica, where the ARB (Architectural Review Board) is the last and only public hearing a project will face. That ARB public hearing inevitably happens when it’s too late for effecting any real change or input, thereby feeding the cynicism of the residents. This is not a bug of the system but a design feature specifically allowed (so far) by Sacramento to give the citizens the appearance of democratic control but to make sure any public review Boards and Commissions are actually neutered from the get go. When enough residents figure out the game is rigged against them, they will stop their pesky whining and shut up, giving developers free rein.

A Convenient Fig leaf

What has happened is that Sacramento, over the last five years, has passed dozens of bad laws designed to increase the value of the land of existing property owners by stripping away any local control, effectively up-zoning the entire state. Naturally, Sacramento knew there would be

serious local resistance to this land grab (you saw the public resistance at the Gelson’s March 4th ARB hearing), so a convenient fig leaf was wheeled out to cover this land grab: these bad laws would allegedly streamline the construction of more housing some of which might be affordable. Who could oppose more streamlined housing? It just required residents to believe some lies: that more housing makes it automatically more affordable or the lie that there is no limit to our water supply, among many, many other lies. Essentially, Sacramento wanted you to believe that making more Ferraris makes your Ford cheaper? These bad laws also had perverse interlocking effects: for example, once a parcel was up zoned, it could never be downzoned, or that a housing project cannot be required to provide an environmental impact report, or there is no required parking for housing projects, or if a City did not meet its Sacramento targeted unit buildout after four years (in Santa Monica’s case about 4500 units), every parcel in the City can then be built to any height or density (so called builder’s remedy) a developer desires. This last one is a ticking time bomb that practically no City can avoid, given current market forces. In Santa Monica’s case, we have to build 9000 new units in 8 years for a nominal 20% population increase which simply cannot happen in a depopulating County.

Essentially, Sacramento, by removing all development constraints, moved Santa Monica to Houston, a place with virtually no zoning codes, and then to China, a place with vastly overbuilt empty housing skyscrapers (can you say Evergrande?).

But won’t we get more affordable housing?

Yes we will get, from Gelson’s, a few more

affordable units. Every permanent affordable unit is a good thing. But it’s not necessarily true that we are getting more permanently affordable housing. First, affordable apartments are typically only mandated to be affordable for 55 years and then can go up to market rate. So today, affordable apartments built in 1969 will come up to market rate, and Gelson’s affordable units may offset that loss, but in turn, Gelson’s will be predictably part of the 2079 housing crises when its 52 units will go up to market rate. Second of all, building more housing skyscrapers often requires the demolition of some existing housing, often older, typically more affordable housing and businesses. Gelson’s 521 units don’t, fortunately, demolish any existing housing; they do eliminate neighborhood commercial services (cleaners, restaurant, pharmacy, etc.) that may never come back or may not come back at the existing price point since they will have to pay the inflated rents of new construction. Third, while this minuscule 10% amount of affordable housing is built, existing affordable rent controlled apartments inexorably continue to be taken off rent control (vacancy decontrol) and get pumped up to market rate every time a tenant moves out. This inevitable process of vacancy decontrol of previously affordable units may be possibly offset by Gelson’s affordable units, but at the end of the day, it’s uncertain we will actually get a net increase in the number of City wide affordable units. Fourth, there is a considerable body of literature that building massive projects in one area increases the rents in the adjacent areas. So Gelson’s most likely will raise the rents in a nominal 2-3 block radius as local landlords point to the new Gelson’s rents as a justifying basis for their own rent increases. This adjacency effect further reduces the affordability of the neighborhood.

Relying on honest developers

will never lead to an affordable City. Given the economics of land values and construction costs, Santa Monica cannot build its way to affordability using the 10% affordable formula. SMart (Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow) has written extensively that there are four things that actually create affordable housing: 1) DOLLARS (subsidies of some form are required: land, cash, or tax breaks are needed). 2) DEED restrictions (limits of 55 years are too short), 3) DISTANCE (construction and land is cheaper farther from urban centers), and, unfortunately, DISASTER (San Francisco’s rents actually got cheaper during Covid). Notice that DENSITY is not one of the sources of affordability.

Limited options

Finally, insuring that all apartments approved as affordable are kept that way, with no service reduction, for the entire 55 year period is almost impossible. The City has virtually no long term auditing capacity to restrain unscrupulous landlords from secretly converting the apartments to higher rents or Air Bnb uses. While the City may mandate affordable units, the scrupulous honesty of the developer or of all subsequent owners is the best and only guarantee of the 55 year affordability requirement. So, requiring 10% of the units to be affordable is a necessary but minimal and very marginal and vanishing benefit. However, the proposed massive twelve towers, with their gridlock, visual dominance, and water/ power drain, are unfortunately permanent.

Making 10% of the new units affordable

One of the key bad laws effectively says that no city process or codes can limit or reduce the number of units these new State laws entitle a developer to build. So, in the case of the Gelson’s project, the ARB could not require them to reduce the density or number of units or type of units, etc. In fact, the City staff at the hearing continually reminded the ARB they had no power over anything: over water, over traffic, over parking, over, over power generation, or over any other significant variables. The biggest variable of course, was how boring it is: massive buildings wedged together presenting a uniform deadly wall on Lincoln Blvd and a gloomy sunless prison for the rearmost lower tenants. It was Pruit Igoe 2.0 (see: https:// smmirror.com/2022/03/sma-r-t-column-thedevelopment-at-ocean-park-lincoln/) except with less open space and certainly does not have the differentiated grace of Park La Brea. Many good architects are on the ARB, but with their hands tied, they did the best they could with a losing hand. They tweaked balconies, corner conditions, walkways, and colors but eventually ran out of lipstick to put on this pig. What they could also have done, knowing they could not significantly alter the project in any case, would be to at the least expressed, for the record, a legitimate critique of the project and all of its negative impacts and then either vote no or at the least abstain. But they do have some limited design options.

What they should have done is lower the back of the project’s buildings: even 5’ would help its

the nest school is an intimate montessori preschool located in brentwood

contact us to learn more our program

website: thenestschool.org

email: hello@thenestschool.org

phone: (424) 256-2731

non-discrimination policy: the nest school admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.

boring skyline and would be friendlier to the alley neighbors. Then, they could have raised the central building one story, adding about eight units to the project. This would only crowd visually slightly more the biggest open space to its north. Raising the center building(s) could reduce the visual mass of buildings at the edges. Those “added” units would then be removed, for example, along the Lincoln facade, making it more interesting and less overbearing. Or, for example, removing the 4 unit stack at the noisy corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park, making it a more gracious corner of the intersection of these two important boulevards. Then, sprinkling the remaining subtracted four units along the top 7 units on Lincoln so as to articulate more that facade. The ARB while limited in so many ways, still has the tool of massing (where to put the project’s mass) that would not reduce unit count and thus not run afoul of the State laws. Unlike smaller parcels, in projects of this size, there are many opportunities to distribute the project’s mass, and the ARB should not be afraid to use that limited power. While the ARB should not negotiate from the dais, alternatively, it should have continued the project and invited the architect to come back with a redistribution

of, say, eight units where they felt would have the greatest benefit and least negative impact. A larger redistribution of units might have been entertained, but even eight would have significantly improved the project.

A Courageous ARB

In the future, I hope to see the ARB, which is currently the only public hearing approval required for many of these monster housing projects, has courage to extend their limited power and ask for massing changes or at least go on the record with their design critique. So, while we will certainly be burdened with flawed projects, the ARB could still have an impact by mitigating somewhat their worst tendencies.

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 FireLifeSafetyCommission,SamuelTolkinArchitect & Planning Commissioner, Michael Jolly, AIRCREMarieStanding.JackHillbrandAIA

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

Iconic Venice Beach Sculpture and Landmark to be Removed, Returned to Artist’s Property

Since the Money, Effort or Desire to Purchase the Piece Appears to Not Be There, the Artist Wants It Back

By Zach Armstrong

“Declaration”, an easily-recognizable 60-foot-tall steel sculpture which has been situated along the Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk for over twenty years, is slated for removal after the L.A. Louver Art Gallery (LAG) failed to raise sufficient funds or find a benefactor to make the piece permanent.

An exact timeline for its displacement hasn’t been determined. The artwork will be disassembled and returned to the private property of the artist who created it.

The 50,000 lbs. artwork and landmark was created by Mark di Suvero; an abstract expressionist sculptor who won the Smithsonian Archives of American Art Medal and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Sculpture. The L.A. Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved the structure in 2000 as a temporary installation for the Venice Art Walk. Four years later, the board approved its permanent placement on the condition that LAG

purchase and donate it to the City. Therefore, no public funds were spent on it.

According to a recent agenda item from a board meeting, LAG never purchased and donated the statue.

According to Kimberly Davis, Director of LAG, the City of Los Angeles created a $100,000 fund to reimburse LAG for liability insurance it paid since the artwork’s construction. However, Davis told Mirror Media Group the City has never reimbursed the gallery and spent those funds “elsewhere.”

In recent years, LAG has both seeked a benefactor and undergone a fundraising campaign to acquire the sculpture. No benefactor has stepped up and LAG raised less than $2 million via pledges; a fraction of various estimates on the piece. Its retail value is $7 million, according to Davis.

Suvero, 90, is requesting that, since the money, effort or desire to purchase the piece appears to not be there, he wants it back, said Davis. Authorization for conceptual removal was approved by the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners in a Jan. 18 meeting.

VNC Rejects Proposed Revisions in Board Composition, Election Reforms

Rules & Selections Committee falls short of required two-third’s majority in as many meetings

By Nick Antonicello

The Venice Neighborhood Council on Tuesday evening rejected for a second time a series of election composition reforms that would have shifted the board’s makeup from

twenty-one, at-large elected officers to eleven elected at-large, and the remaining ten elected in what was described as neighborhood representatives that would represent just a sliver of Dog Town.

At a special meeting last week, the revisions fell one short of passage as the required number needed for approval was fourteen with 17 members in attendance or 4-13-4. Tonight with 19 members in attendance, the vote was 7-12-2.

Passions ran high as about 100 or so residents were in attendance at the Westminster Elementary School located on Abbot Kinney that were clearly motivated by these BYLAW’s revisions that would have shifted a large portion of board representation (10) to newly proposed districts by that were for the most part compact and contiguous in size.

Notice of Public Hearings for Big Blue Bus Proposed Service Adjustments

Notice is hereby given that two (2) public hearings will be held by Big Blue Bus on the following dates.

• Tuesday, April 16 from 6pm-8pm

Online Public Hearing Register at brighterbluebbb.com

• Saturday, April 20 from 10am to 12pm Virginia Avenue Park

Thelma Terry Building, Workshop 3 2200 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405

A short presentation of the proposed changes will be conducted during the first 30 minutes of each hearing, followed by a public comment period.

Service changes are being recommended as part of Big Blue Bus’s Brighter Blue Comprehensive Operational Analysis.

• Improving weekday frequency to 10 minutes or better on major corridors.

• Expanding service hours earlier in the morning and later at night.

• Adjusting route alignments to connect with future Metro Rail D Line, C Line, and K Line stations. Further details of these proposed changes will be available on April 15, 2024 at brighterbluebbb.com.

Big Blue Bus will review all public comments submitted during the comment period between April 15, 2024 and May 24, 2024 . Based on feedback received, Big Blue Bus may adjust the draft improvements as needed before submitting a Staff Report for Santa Monica City Council review in July 2024. If approved by Santa Monica City Council in July, service adjustments would be phased in during Big Blue Bus’s regular service changes over the next five years.

Interested parties may comment in person at either hearing or may submit written comments prior to the hearing by mail at Big Blue Bus, 1660 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Attn: Alfredo Torales, Transit Planning and Performance , or by submitting an email to brighterblue@santamonica.gov

Virginia Avenue Park is wheelchair accessible. For disability and translation accommodation requests, please contact (310) 451-5444 or send an email to brighterblue@santamonica.gov at least 72 hours (3 business days) prior to the hearing. All written materials are available in alternate formats upon request. Big Blue Bus Route 7 serves Virginia Avenue Park. Visit bigbluebus.com for trip planning and schedule information.

Those supporting the proposed revisions were mostly residents from east of Lincoln and specifically members of EVNA (East Venice Neighborhood Association), as well as many longtime Venetians residing in the Oakwood section where many believe representation is lacking.

Currently, the election of community officers is a strange and bizarre process in which stakeholders select a single candidate, but thirteen are elected by candidates scouring for votes among friends, neighbors and relatives versus running a broad based campaign appealing to all segments of the community. Because of this strange and increasingly unpopular system, Venetians only elect 43% of the board or 9 of 21 members. The proposal would increase voter participation slightly to 57% or 12 of the 21 board officers.

And while no one seems enamored with the current selection configuration, there was skepticism and distrust of this hybrid proposal of at-large and district membership.

Animal Rights Groups Demand an End to Turtle Racing at Brennan’s Pub

The Organization Says Its Tried to Contact the Westside Bar for Months

By Zach Armstrong

Among its numerous entertainment events and games, bi-weekly turtle racing has been the specialty at Brennan’s Irish Pub since 1975. On March 21, while patrons inside the crowded Marina del Rey bar cheered for their wager, multiple animal welfare organizations stood outside with pamphlets, signs, megaphones and a cluster of protesters.

STOP EXPLOITING ANIMALS and EVERY BET HURTS TURTS and HALF A CENTURY OF ANIMAL ABUSE read signs which the demonstrators directed at passerby traffic. Their chants, led by activist Brittany Michelson, included “Turtles get stressed! (Just like us!) Turtles feel fear! (Just like us!) It’s not entertainment! (It’s cruelty!)” The demonstration was organized by In Defense of Animals, Los Angeles for Animals and the Los Angeles Animal Defense League; three animal welfare groups who contend that Brennan’s signature spectacle is a form of abuse. The organizations claim that the loud cheers and drunken screams of boisterous patrons during a race can traumatize, and even hinder the biology of, the reptilian creatures.

“It’s 2024. There’s no reason animals should

be used for racing. They should not be used for entertainment. They belong in a peaceful, outdoor environment.” said Brittany Michelson, who is also a campaign specialist at In Defense of Animals as well as the founder of Desert Oasis Turtle & Tortoise Sanctuary.

“It’s important not to support an event where animals are being exploited. [The customers] can go to Brennan’s any other night. Just please don’t go on those Thursdays when the turtle races are happening.” said former Baywatch actress and IDA supporter Alexandra Paul. “Please call Brennan’s to let them know you’re happy to come on a Thursday when they’re doing something else that’s fun, such as their trivia nights or karaoke.”

Brennan’s turtle racing began 49 years ago when then-owner Ab Lawrence started the tradition, according to its website. Every first and third Thursday, customers can gamble on the winner by paying for a ticket and placing their name in a turtle’s

hat. If their pick wins, and their name gets pulled, they get a prize.

Of course, the bar’s management doesn’t view things in the same context as Thursday night’s protestors. A certified veterinary technician is on staff, the turtles are monitored closely and none of them are required to race if they would rather nap or socialize, according to Sean Phagan, Chief of Operations at Artisan Brewers Collective. A series of provisions are also in place for the animals’ safety: no pointing, no booing, only specially trained turtle wranglers are allowed to touch them and they don’t leave their habitat for more than ten minutes.

“When we purchased Brennan’s Pub seven years ago, we found the long-term resident turtles were living in an inadequate habitat. They were not well cared for, and some were in poor health.” said Phagan via email. He went on to say that, after consulting with turtle experts, the bar built a new habitat with enough space for the creatures to swim and sunbathe.

Tender Box and Vietnamese Sticky Wings. Starbird partnered with GiftAMeal, allowing customers to donate meals to the Los Angeles Food Bank with each scan of the QR code and social media share. Over 1,000 meals have already been contributed through this initiative, according to a news release.

The chain’s expansion plan includes forthcoming locations across California, such as ones in South San Francisco, Palo Alto and Torrance.The Marina del Rey restaurant will operate Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering dine-in, carry-out, and contactless delivery options.

Superior

TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

To all interested persons: Luna Marie Katich

Petitioner: filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. Luna Marie Katich to Luna Marie Lopez-Katich

The court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING:

Date: 04/26/24 | Time: 8:30AM | Dept: K A copy of this ORDER to SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county:

SANTA MONICA MIRROR | Dated: Jan 3, 2024

Judge Lawrence Cho

Published: 03/22/20224, 03/29/24, 04/05/2024, and 04/12//2024

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.

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