Thank You Rabano for Joining OPA as a “Gold Business Member”! We encourage all community members to share their appreciation at the 2507 Main St. eatery for their community support. If other businesses are interested in joining, business memberships range from $50-$250 and include a variety of benefits. Individual and family memberships start at only $10! More details here or reply to this newsletter with any questions.
The Street Seen: Santa Monica Municipal Auditorium: This week’s write-up details it’s history at 2850 Ocean Front Walk Between Kinney and Ashland. It opened “in 1921 and is used for community programs until the late 1950s, when it becomes part of Pacific Ocean Park. The structure is destroyed by a fire in 1974.”
Pacific Park on the Pier Sold: This SMDP article details the deal and the new owners’ plans to invest “$10 million in capital investments in food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and ‘keeping it a fun and welcoming destination for tourists, families, and the community.’”
Waymo Rolling Out Fully Autonomous Car Service in SaMo: Here is the Waymo press release announcing that as of this past weekend “fully autonomous ride-hailing service will be available to select members of the public in Los Angeles [including Santa Monica].” And here is a SaMoNext write-up with more details. OPA plans to have a Waymo rep attend a future monthly meeting to answer community questions.
Sustainable & Connected – SaMo Furthering Vision for a Safe, Multimodal Transportation Network: This SaMo.gov blog post details the City’s progress on its Bicycle, Pedestrian and Vision Zero action plans.
Westside Food Bank Kicks Off Phantom Dinner Gala: This SMDP article details that “To maintain its mission, the Westside Food Bank did away with the gala setting decades ago, freeing up fundraising to go towards its annual Phantom Dinner tradition. Now in its 28th year, the Phantom Dinner gathers supporters to give toward food that reaches local food insecure residents via 38 food pantries, including five direct-service mobile pantries operated by Westside staff. For 2024, a pool of anonymous donors have pledged that every dollar donated through April 30 will be matched up to $100,000.” Donate at wsfb.org.
Little Bean Cold Brew Opening Soon @ 707 Pico Blvd.: This article details that “there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information out there, and there are other coffeeshops that use the term “little bean” in their names, but this one will offer ‘specialty small batch cold brew'” near Samohi.
Things To Do This Week:
- Social Service Assistance provided by Providence St. John’s Community Health Program (Tuesday, 9:30am- 5pm): “The trained Providence St. John’s staff can assist with enrollment in CalFresh, the state of California’s food subsidy program created to improve the nutrition of families through access to healthy foods. Staff can also help navigate enrollment or questions for MediCal and Medicare.” More details here.
- Free Walk-In Legal Clinic (Wednesday 4:30 – 7pm): Santa Monica residents can meet one on one with a lawyer from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles for help with HOUSING issues. More details here.
- Free “Vulnerable Innocence” Sex Trafficking Documentary Screening (Wednesday 7pm): “Online sexual solicitation and exploitation of minors is running rampant and is easily spread through social media. The proliferation of technology have made young people easy targets. The need for digital defense has never been greater. FREE event is focused on prevention will include a screening of the award winning, 45 minute documentary followed by panel discussion and audience Q&A. The goal of the event is to arm the audience with tools to protect young people from being sexually assaulted exploited. More details here.
- Bystander Intervention Training (Thursday 6pm): Explore what it means to be an active and empowered bystander in this 60 minute introduction to bystander intervention by LMU Cares. You’ll learn tools to help keep your community safe and disrupt hateful behavior when you encounter it. More details here.
- Pier Locals Night (Thursday): “This event is the perfect opportunity for friends and families to break free from the routine and enjoy quality time together every third Thursday of the month from September to May. Don’t miss out on the chance to embrace the community spirit and make lasting memories.” FREE! More details here.
OPA & City Meetings:
- City Council Meeting (Tuesday 5:30 pm – public portion starts no earlier than 7:00 pm): Meetings are hybrid and can be viewed on this YouTube channel. Click here for agenda.
- OPA Connects Meeting (Wednesday 12pm): Here is the Zoom link.
- Planning Commission Meeting (Wednesday 6pm): More details & agenda here.
