S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
March 24 - March 30, 2023 Volume CLXXXV, Issue 188
INSIDE Negotiations for Independent Malibu School District Progressing PAGE 4
Proposal for Improved Communication With Street Vendors Sparks Contentious Debate in City Council Meeting Councilmembers divided over proposal calling for City Manager to engage in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies By Sam Catanzaro A proposal to improve communication with street vendors on and around the Santa Monica Pier sparked a contentious debate during a City Council meeting on Tuesday. The proposal, sponsored by Councilmembers Jesse Zwick, Caroline Torosis, and Oscar de la Torre, called for the City Manager to ensure staff engages in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies.
Under Santa Monica’s street vending ordinance, street vendors are required to obtain a permit from the City in order to operate and must comply with various regulations relating to hours of operation, equipment use, and waste management. The city has also designated specific vending zones for street vendors, in order to minimize conflicts with other businesses and pedestrians. The prohibited areas include any city-owned parking lots, beach parking lots, and parking structures, as well as the Palisades Beach Road and Pacific Coast Highway. Vending is also not allowed on the beach bike path, on the Pier, within 100 feet of the Pier or Pier Bridge, and within 25 feet of beach buildings, recreation centers, restrooms, and lifeguard towers. In addition, stationary vending is prohibited in the portion of Pal Park within 500 feet of the Pier Bridge entrance, on the beach pedestrian path, and on the beach itself. During the meeting this week, while Zwick stressed that the proposal did not propose any changes to current vending rules, Councilmember Lana Negrete argued that it was unnecessary
since staff had already been working hard on the vending program. Negrete also accused the proposal of being condescending by calling for staff to engage with vendors in a culturally competent and linguistically appropriate manner. “What is the point of this?” Negrete asked. “Is this, like, identity politics?” Negrete also said that numerous vendors are violating the law, not paying fines, and using physical violence to threaten enforcement staff. Councilmembers Christine Parra and Phil Brock also expressed offense at the proposal. However, de la Torre defended it, citing the $3.5 million spent annually to control the vending program and the need to create a culture where vendors become a part of that culture. Zwick then took to defending his proposal, taking issue with his colleagues’ pushback on the item. “There are a lot of side issues that need discussing, and I wouldn’t make assumptions about anybody’s motivation about bringing an item,” Zwick said. “I took multiple tours with many vendors. I talked to a lot of different
vendors who had different concerns.” Mayor Gleam Davis grew frustrated with the heated discussion, calling for a vote at 12:56 a.m. Ultimately, the Council directed staff to engage in ongoing dialogue with permitted sidewalk vending communities regarding vending cart compliance, enforcement practices, enhanced signage, expanded opportunities and zones for permissible vending, and methods of allocating designated spaces to vend. The vote passed 5 to 2, with Parra and Brock dissenting.
Shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel to Rebrand and Reopen as a Regent Hotel Hotel’s new operator announces plans for $4 million renovation, including rebranding and upgrading accessibility for guests with disabilities By Dolores Quintana IHG Hotels & Resorts will bring the iconic Regent Hotels and Resorts brand back to the United States with the reopening of the Regent Santa Monica Beach Hotel in late 2023. The hotel’s $4 million renovation will include updating 342 guest rooms and introducing a new concept restaurant in collaboration with a celebrity chef. As reported in January, The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel temporarily suspended operations after Loews decided not to renew
its lease on the hotel property and a thenunnamed company chose to close the hotel for renovations. A press release from Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) stated that the hotel would re-open at a later date under the management of an unnamed new operator. The hotel’s new owner and operator’s name is now known. IHG Hotels And Resorts will reopen the former Loews space and the hotel will be a re-emergence of the Regent Hotels and Resorts brand in the United States. The hotel will reopen in late 2023. As a result of the renovations, 320 hotel workers have been laid off. However, according to union Unite HERE Local 11, the workers have been granted recall rights, free family health insurance, and pension contributions for the expected nine-month closure. The Loews Santa Monica Hotel opened in 1989 and was unionized in 2002 after a 2.5-year labor battle. The new agreement is valued at over $4 million and was reached with the hotel’s new operator, IHG, and its owner, Strategic
Hotels. The agreement includes fully paid family health insurance, $ 3-an-hour pension contributions, and a severance package for workers nearing retirement. Workers will also receive “penalty pay” if the renovations take longer than nine months. The renovation work will include updating 342 guest rooms, including the conversion of 20 existing guest rooms into hearing-impaired rooms and upgrading 12 guest rooms to be accessible for people with disabilities. Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer, Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said in a press release, “More than five decades ago, Regent changed the face of luxury hospitality and set the new standard through innovation, extraordinary views, landmark destinations and exceptional service. We’re redefining what it means to be a luxury hotel by combining Regent’s renowned legacy with the expertise of IHG Hotels & Resorts. Regent Santa Monica Beach is the start of a bright future for the brand in the Americas, emphasizing our
Photo: Sam Catanzaro The shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel.
strategic focus on luxury and lifestyle growth globally. We are also particularly thrilled to be partnering with Strategic Hotels & Resorts, a trusted owner of IHG-branded hotels for many years, on this endeavor.” The hotel will “usher in a new era of extraordinary experiences to the California coastline. The resort will set a new standard
Regent Hotel, see page 7