SMMUSD Board Approves Plan to Acquire Property Leases, Boosting General Fund
The Buyout Opens the Possibility of Relocating the School Bus Yard to a Colorado Avenue Property
By Gail Pinsker
In an SMMUSD news brief, authored by Gail Pinsker, Community & Public Relations Officer for SMMUSD, the school district has announced new plans for rental properties.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education announced plans in open session to buy out the ground leasehold interests in two rental properties, thereby increasing the general fund revenue to pay for teachers, staff, and supplies. To move this forward, the Board of Education adopted a resolution at its Nov. 21, 2024, regular meeting authorizing staff to proceed with a financing plan to acquire all right, title, and interest of STG Three Properties, LLC (STG) in and to these rental properties. The resolution authorizes a Certificate of Participation (COP) for an amount not to exceed $13.4
million to purchase the STG leasehold interest.
The subject Santa Monica properties are located at 902-926 Colorado Ave., and 1631-1645 16th St. and 1630-1646 17th St. (adjacent to the old District Office.) The current ground lease was contracted to expire on June 30, 2051.
This plan will allow the District to: Manage the property more efficiently increasing revenue to the general fund that can be spent to support students, teachers and operational costs; Remove the contracted 27½ years remaining on the lease and thereby provide the District flexibility and options for future uses of the two properties; and potentially relocate the current school bus yard, which is currently leased from a private owner at $550,000 per year, to the Colorado property. STG has leased the properties on District land since 2006, and the properties were ground leased by STG’s predecessors since 1984.
A COP is a lease agreement between an investor and a government or issuing entity. The investor receives cash flow in exchange for their investment, and the governmental agency uses the money to finance a project. The investor’s share of the lease payments is paid out through a trustee, who creates shares from the total investment and distributes them to the investors.
help governments reduce or replace debt.
The COP will be paid off with capital funds that can only be used for facility needs while increasing revenue to the general fund. This is funded through redevelopment funds and not facility improvement bonds approved by voters in 2018 or 2024.
“This project furthers the educational goals of the District by using its assets more efficiently to increase funding for
student learning. This buyout provides the District more flexibility for future uses that will benefit and provide opportunities for our students and staff,” said Carey Upton, Chief Operations Officer. “We are pleased with the school board’s approval of this resolution as this benefits the District’s general fund and its future. This action does not have any impact on our exciting and necessary facility improvement projects that will continue, thanks to the voters’ support for SMMUSD bond measures — Measure QS for Santa Monica schools and Measure MM for Malibu schools.”
Santa Monica College Presents “Romeo and Juliet” Through Dec. 8
Directed by Perviz Sawoski With Music Direction by Gary Gray
Santa Monica College’s Theatre Arts Department will stage William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet from November 22 to December 8 at the Theatre Arts Main Stage on the college’s main campus, located at 1900 Pico Blvd.
Directed by Perviz Sawoski with music direction by Gary Gray, the production explores the enduring story of starcrossed lovers caught in a feud between their families. The play remains one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated and frequently performed works.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, November 22 and December 6, as well as Saturdays, November 23 and December 7. Matinees will be held at 2 p.m. on Sundays, November 24 and December 8. All showtimes are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Tickets are available in advance online at smc.edu/tickets or by calling (310) 434-4165 during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prices range from $15 for SMC students and staff to $20 for general admission, with a modest service fee. Tickets purchased at the Events Box Office on performance weekends will include a $3 surcharge.
COPs are a common alternative to municipal bonds and offer investors tax benefits similar to municipal debt bonds. They can also
Man Arrested in Brutal Assault of Homeless Woman
Suspect Identified and Charged With Attempted Murder
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a violent, unprovoked assault on a homeless woman in Santa Monica, according to a press release from the Santa Monica Police Department.
The attack occurred on Sept. 22, 2024, around 12:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Alley 5. Officers responding to a report of an assault found the victim, a 25-year-old woman new to the area and experiencing homelessness, with severe injuries. She suffered facial trauma and signs consistent with strangulation, according to authorities.
A witness reported seeing the suspect repeatedly punch and kick the woman as she lay on the ground. Surveillance footage captured the incident and showed the suspect fleeing the scene, but initial efforts to identify him through the video were unsuccessful.
On Nov. 3, detectives received a tip that led to the identification of the suspect, Oscar Benn, a resident of Altadena. Benn was apprehended on Nov. 14 near the VA facility in West Los Angeles. He has since been charged with attempted murder under California Penal Code 664/187(a) PC and is being held in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department custody.
Police said Benn has a criminal history, including arrests for aggravated assault and burglary.
Santa Monica police credited the community for assisting in the investigation. “This arrest highlights the critical role of community partnership in ensuring public safety,” the department said in a statement. SMPD wanted to thank the community for its help, “which was instrumental in bringing this suspect into custody.”
The victim’s current condition has not been disclosed.
Santa Monica Place’s Value Falls by Nearly
60%: Report
Retail Vacancies Have Compounded the Mall’s Struggles
Santa Monica Place, a high-profile shopping destination in Santa Monica, continues to face significant financial setbacks as its valuation plummets and its ownership navigates a challenging economic climate, according to reports.
The Macerich Company, a real estate investment trust based in Santa Monica, defaulted on a $300 million loan backing the 534,000-square-foot mall earlier this year, as reported by The Real Deal. The loan, which entered special servicing for the second time in two years in April, was originally set to expire in December 2023 but was extended by lender Wells Fargo, according to Globest.
Morningstar Credit recently reported that the mall’s value has declined by 59 percent since its loan issuance, from $622 million to $255 million, TRD reported. CFO Scott Kingsmore explained during a Q1 earnings call that the decision to default was due to the property’s declining performance and “challenging underlying capital structure.” Macerich reported a $127 million loss in Q1 2024,
partly due to the bankruptcy of Express, a retailer with 23 stores across Macerich properties, as reported by Globest. Retail vacancies have further compounded the mall’s struggles. Bloomingdale’s and ArcLight Cinemas
vacated approximately 150,000 square feet of space in 2021, leaving more than half of the mall available for lease by early 2023, TRD reported. Efforts to draw foot traffic, including pop-up events like a Barbie-themed exhibit, have
yielded limited results.
Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, Santa Monica
opened in 1980 and underwent a $265
renovation in 2007.
Place
million
Former SMC Student Named Future Nobel Laureate Scholar
His Inspiration Stems From Family History. His Mother Fled El Salvador During Its Civil War, and His Grandfather Was Killed There Before He Was Born
Hunter Doradea, a transfer student from Santa Monica College (SMC) to Columbia University, has been named a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar.
Doradea is one of 11 scholars worldwide chosen for the prestigious program, which is sponsored by EF Study Abroad, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the Nobel Prize Museum. He is the first student from both SMC and Columbia University to receive this honor.
The program, which takes place Dec. 5-12 in Stockholm, Sweden, includes a fully funded project-based course, immersive field study, and participation in the Nobel Week Dialogue.
Scholars were selected for innovative projects addressing global challenges.
Doradea’s project, “Modesto,” named after his grandfather, uses artificial intelligence to help war-torn nations rebuild infrastructure by providing virtual training through AI avatars of engineers, professors, and humanitarian workers.
Doradea’s inspiration stems from his family’s history. His mother fled El Salvador during its civil war, and his grandfather, Modesto, was killed there before Doradea was born. “This project is about resilience, hope, and honoring sacrifices that made my journey possible,” Doradea said.
SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery praised Doradea as an “extraordinary success story” who exemplifies the potential of community college transfer students.
At Columbia, Doradea studies film and computer science while pursuing pre-law, with ambitions of running for Congress.
Watermark Communities Create Colorful, Enriched Lives
Every day, an assisted living facility in Beverly Hills, tucked into a charming neighborhood, celebrates the power of the human spirit.
The Watermark at Beverly Hills, a boutique-style assisted living residence and luxury senior living lifestyle, believes every person — no matter where they come from, how they look, what they believe, who they love, what they can do, or how old they are — deserves a life filled with purpose, possibility and joy.
From California to Texas, New York to Florida, The Watermark residents demonstrate what it truly means to create
colorful, enriched lives on their terms. For more than 30 years, The Watermark has relentlessly focused on transforming senior care by creating extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive — where the human spirit flourishes.
“We do assisted living differently. Customized care and choice are the order of the day. Our expert support is tailored to your needs, on your schedule — not ours,” said James Howland, the executive director. “Just imagine your favorite boutique hotel, then add extraordinary cuisine, fun events, interesting classes and unsurpassed personalized care.”
The Watermark at Beverly Hills boasts 14 different plans for its residents to match their needs and lifestyle. Each newly renovated luxury studios and one-bed apartments feature designer kitchenettes, high ceilings, private balconies to enjoy the warm California sun, and a variety of safety and security features to enhance residents’ lives.
In an elegant setting dedicated to helping residents feel comfortable and content, The Watermark takes care of the day-to-day so you can focus on fun — social activities, classes and outings to keep you learning, laughing and
connecting with others.
Offering boutique assisted living and short-term stays, The Watermark residents found the home to be a closeknit community, quant, and a place where neighbors become friends.
With its premier location minutes from Rodeo Drive, The Watermark’s wide variety of amenities and services set the community apart: extraordinary outings, dining, 24/7 associate support, catering and in-room dining, complete building, residence and grounds maintenance, computer and technology center, delicious healthy meals, dry cleaning services, elegant dining room, fitness center, housekeeping, library, move-in coordination service, pantry program, personal shoppers, salon and barber services, transportation services and more!
“We’re committed to supporting you every step of the way, ensuring your family member’s transition is handled with comfort and reassurance,” Howland said.
In Beverly Hills, The Watermark is surrounded by world-class dining, shopping, entertainment and culture. Residents can enjoy a small-town atmosphere with all the benefits of
Los Angeles living; including mild, year-round climate, luxury shops and restaurants, cultural attractions, beautiful beaches and sporting events.
From its highly trained associates to its full suite of amenities and supportive services, every aspect of The Watermark is designed with your well-being in mind. For both assisted living and short-term stays, The Watermark offers an enriching change of pace ideal for seniors, caregivers and loved ones alike. Enjoy the comfort of home as you relax, recharge and recuperate at your own pace.
For more information about The Watermark at Beverly Hills community, visit watermarkcommunities.com.
Upgrade Your Lifestyle
Let us do the work at The Watermark at Beverly Hills, a Boutique Assisted Living community located in the world-renowned, heart of Beverly Hills, California. Live maintenance-free with 24-hour “white glove” personal concierge services, including personal drivers and shoppers, five-star gourmet cuisine, fully stocked personal wine cellar and pantry, and a rooftop patio with breathtaking 360-degree city views.
Every day is a new adventure here. How will you choose to spend your days? The choices are endless.
Rare Limited-Time Savings
Sign your lease by November 31, 2024, and we’ll waive your $15,000 membership fee AND lock in your 2024 rental rate for a full year. Call 424-512-7129 today to schedule a private tour.
Breakaway Café Opens New Venice Location with Beachside Grab-and-Go Window
Bayse Brothers Bring Their Signature Breakfast Dishes and Good Vibes to Venice
Breakaway Café, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery in Culver City’s Helms District, has opened a new location at 1301 Ocean Front Walk in Venice.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere and creative menu, the café has been a neighborhood favorite since it opened in March 2022, over two years ago, on Washington Boulevard.
Owned and operated by brothers Zach and Nick Bayse, Breakaway Café’s newest venture is a compact grab-and-go window offering breakfast all day, coffee, tea, and their signature “good vibes.” Chef Nick Bayse, who has experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants, brings culinary expertise to the menu, while Zach manages the business side of the operation.
New Beachside Menu Highlights: the Venice location offers an array of inventive dishes alongside some Breakaway Café classics. New items include:
• Da’ Big Muffin Sandwich: Fried egg, hash brown patty, aged cheddar, chipotle aioli, arugula, and an English muffin.
• Bulgogi Beef Breakfast Burrito: Grilled skirt steak, two fried eggs, scallion kimchi, crispy potatoes, Monterey Jack cheese, sriracha crema, and spinach tortilla.
• Little Big Muffin | Breakfast Happy Hour: Fried egg, hashbrown patty, aged Cheddar, chipotle aioli, arugula, and English muffin. Comes with a complimentary drip coffee.
Fan favorites such as the avocado tartine, the Breakaway breakfast burrito, and the breakfast sammy are also available, along with a selection of coffee and beverages.
With their success in Culver City, the Bayse brothers are excited to bring their culinary flair to Venice’s bustling Ocean Front Walk with a convenient yet delicious new spot for Venice denizens or Culver City residents visiting the beach.
YOVENICE.COM
Megacity Review: Genaro Trejo’s Global Platform for Urban Arts and Literature Launches in Los Angeles’ Westside
Santa Monica, CA – A new voice has arrived on the Los Angeles literary scene with the launch of Megacity Review, an ambitious journal dedicated to capturing the narratives of urban life from around the world. Founded by Genaro Trejo, a former investor turned arts advocate, Megacity Review has emerged as a platform for voices often sidelined in mainstream media, including those from LGBTQ+ communities. With roots in East Los Angeles and a career spanning continents, Trejo merges his local insight with a global vision, celebrating the diversity of urban life.
Trejo’s journey to creating Megacity Review is one of passion and purpose. Raised in East LA, he studied political science and Chicano Studies at UCLA and earned a master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago. His career led him through Latin America and Asia as a private investor, where he observed the challenges and complexities of urban landscapes in cities like Mexico City and Shanghai. Eventually, he shifted his focus to nonprofit work in Los Angeles, serving as COO of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) while partnering with groups like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Weingart Foundation. Now, Megacity Review blends Trejo’s business expertise with his commitment to the arts, creating a platform for voices seldom heard.
“Cities are filled with dynamic people and untold stories,” Trejo says. “My goal with Megacity Review was to create a space that captures urban experiences from every angle. Cities are rich, complex spaces, and we want the journal to reflect that.”
A Fresh, Inclusive Voice in LA’s Westside Literary Scene
The debut issue of Megacity Review demonstrates the journal’s commitment to diversity in both content and contributors. With pieces by New York Times-recognized artist Lauren Halsey and Vietnamese American writer Lynn Lieu, the issue delves into themes of identity and culture. Lieu’s story, “Eyebrows,” explores body dysmorphia and cultural pressures, offering readers a candid, authentic perspective.
Other contributors include Lisa McKamy, a managing editor at the University of Chicago Press, and Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You, whose presence underscores Megacity’s mission of inclusivity. Inspired by The Paris Review, the journal combines uncoated text pages with semi-gloss inserts to elevate its art features, giving readers an immersive experience that’s both visually and tactilely engaging.
From Global Investment to Local Impact
Trejo’s career path, from global investment to community work in Los Angeles, gives him a unique lens through which he views urban life. His years as an investor in Latin America and Asia brought him a deep understanding of urban challenges. Now, he applies this knowledge locally, serving on boards like The Survivor Center (formerly The Center for Law and Justice) and PS Science, where he channels his expertise into community work.
“After years in business, I wanted to bring that experience to the literary arts,” Trejo says. “Megacity Review allows me to support both emerging and established voices, showcasing stories that shape city life.”
A Platform for Urban Arts and Global Perspectives
Available for pre-order at megacityreview.org, Megacity Review invites readers across Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and the broader Westside to engage with the diverse realities of city life. Trejo hopes the journal will become a staple for those interested in urban stories that matter, whether they’re readers in Los Angeles or global citizens.
With its debut, Megacity Review is more
than just a publication; it’s a movement. Advocating for free expression and connecting people through stories, it reveals the depth, beauty, and resilience
of urban communities. Megacity Review is a vital new presence in arts and literature, inviting readers into a world where every city’s story matters.
Historic Venice Post Office Building to Become a New Hub for Creatives
“The
Lighthouse”
will offer workspace, production facilities, career development, and artist studios in Venice’s
iconic Windward Circle
By Zach Armstrong
The Venice Post Office Building at 1601 Main St., an 85-year-old historic art deco property at Venice Beach’s iconic Windward Circle, is transforming into a new “creative playground”.
Dubbed The Lighthouse, the shared workspace campus concept aims to be a place where artists of various kinds can foster their productions and support one another. Complete with a 50-person theater, production facilities, event space, artist studios, a coffee shop, and an outdoor garden, the campus will also offer career development courses, business coaching and workshops.
“We believe creativity is sparked by the coming together of original minds and bold spirits. Your muses, competitors and co-conspirators; those who challenge you to learn more and imagine bigger.” as the company’s ‘manifesto’ states on its website. “Inspired by those rare, hidden coffee shops, pioneering art schools, silicon valley garages and magical recording studios that were the fertile ground for the great cultural movements and tech revolutions. We built a campus where all the tools, support, and inspiration exist under one roof.”
The Venice campus is set to open in December and is accepting applications. A second Lighthouse location in Brooklyn, New York, situated one block from the East River in the heart of Greenpoint, is slated for opening by April of next year, per the company’s website.
This isn’t the first attempt to turn the two-story, 23,690 square ft. structure into a hub for artistic ventures. In 2012, Hollywood producer Joel Silver purchased the property with plans to convert it into a new headquarters for his film production company Silver Pictures. But those plans never came to fruition.
Just before Silver exited Silver Pictures, and after years of minimum construction activity as the building sat covered in graffiti, London-based real estate investment firm Allied Commercial Exporters purchased the building in 2019
for $22 million (3x what Silver doled out for it, according to Hollywood Reporter). Plans were filed with the city that year to convert the building into an office, according to The Real Deal.
The Louis Simon-designed post office was one of many built as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Completed in 1939, the Mediterranean Revival-style property was also one of about 800 USPS buildings adorned with an interior mural; a federally funded arts initiative which counteracted the Great Depression with bolstered morale and job creation, according to the L.A. Conservancy.
Situated within the lobby is the “Story of Venice” mural by modernist artist Edward Biberman that pays homage to the early days of the beachside community. At the center of the mural is city founder Abbot Kinney, surrounded by the canals, a wooden roller coaster, oil rigs, and a bustle of jovial activity once regularly drawn by the Venice Pier.
City Councilwoman Traci Park stated in an announcement that the building’s original 1930s lobby will be preserved as part of the revitalization, while recent photos of the inside posted by the local official showed Biberman’s mural in the background.
One-to-three person office spaces are available for $5K-$7.5K/month, while individuals can reserve flexible access for $5,750/year.
Here’s How Venice Voted in the 2024 General Election
See How Ballots Were Cast in the Venice Area’s Voting Precincts
By Zach Armstrong
Preliminary results show how voters in the Venice, Mar Vista, and Marina del Rey precincts voted in the 2024 general election.
Former President Donald Trump won a second presidential term after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris last Wednesday. The Democratic candidate won all of California’s 54
electoral college votes, while also having a stronghold across LA County (save for a few precincts in the Beverly Hills and Glendale areas), according to data reported by the Los Angeles Times. Ballots cast in the 13 voting precincts that largely constitute Venice, Mar Vista, and Marina del Rey overwhelmingly went to Harris compared with the now President-elect, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who threw support behind the Republican nominee in late August.)
Of the more than 29,000 votes cast from those precincts, 79.91% went for Harris, while Trump, Stein and RFK Jr. received just 18.92%, 0.62% and 0.55% of the Venice area vote, respectively in
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Richard Michael Noriega
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: Richard Michael Noriega
A Petition for Probate has been filed by Brooke Palmer, on behalf of Kemp & Associates in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 19STPB09803
The Petition for Probate requests that Sara Forkenbrock aka Sara Skousen be appointed administrator with will annexed for 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: January, 3 2025 Time: 8:30 am. Dept.: 67 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.
that order.
The largely liberal-leaning political leaders of California and Los Angeles have already sprung into action as they anticipate a second Trump administration.
City council members said Friday that they seek to pass L.A.’s “sanctuary” law
(an ordinance that would bar federal immigration enforcement officials from accessing city databases), while Gov. Newsom announced a special session aimed at strengthening civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate initiatives, and immigration, to counteract expected policies from the incoming executive. That session is set to begin Dec. 2.
President-elect Trump is set to be sworn in at his inauguration on Jan. 20.
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