S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
May 19 - May 25, 2023 Volume CXCIV, Issue 195
INSIDE
The Anchor Venice Launches The Little Anchor Lobster Truck PAGE 4
Updated Rules Make Santa Monica Easier To Do Business In WalletHub Ranked Santa Monica 834th Out Of 1,261 Small-Sized Cities To Start A Business. By Zach Armstrong The City Has Simplified Rules. Story Body - Some have taken Santa Monica as a difficult place to do business due to regulations and rules pertaining to space, size, placing signs and other matters. Years ago, WalletHub ranked Santa Monica 834th out of 1,261 small-sized cities in its Best & Worst Small Cities to Start a Business study. The site used metrics such as business environment, access to resources, business
costs, average length of a work week, growth of small businesses in the city, working-age population and corporate taxes. Now, the city has simplified zoning and permitting rules for businesses so they can open faster and become successful. “Businesses had asked the City of Santa Monica to reduce time, efficiency, and space barriers to doing business in Santa Monica, and the City responded, making impactful changes to the ease of starting or doing business,” Judy Kruger, president and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, said in an email. “Each and every permitting or zoning category is now faster and simpler allowing for businesses to open in fewer days and expand their market share.” Here are some of the ways the city has made it easier for businesses to operate. There are reduced restrictions on the size and
Who Was Beau Mann? The Tech Founder Whose Remains Were Found in Santa Monica The Sober Grid App, Founded By Mann, Is A Social Media-Style Platform Launched In 2015 By Zach Armstrong After missing since 2021, the skeleton remains of Beau Mann were discovered in Santa Monica on an abandoned property leading to international speculation as to what occurred on the night of his death. Many reports have indicated that Mann could have been under the influence of drugs on that night and died in the home of a drug addict. A tragic death for a man who became a startup founder to help people in addiction recovery. The Sober Grid app, founded by Mann, is a social media-style platform launched in 2015 that provides people recovering from addiction with peer support coaching, an online community and other resources. It is designed
to decrease relapses and improve treatment outcomes. “Beau was our light. After an experience in his early years with drugs and addiction, he turned his focus and passion towards helping others,” the company said in a statement. “In 2015, he created the first digital app to house a 24/7, online, worldwide community for people in recovery. As you know, Sober Grid, with your help, has saved thousands of lives and no doubt, will save thousands more.” The New York Times reported of Mann and his company: “Beau Mann, the chief executive and a founder of a new app called Sober Grid, says that for some users, joining this social network could be a matter of life and death. ‘It sounds somewhat dramatic, but it’s realistic,’Mann was last seen at a convenience store in the 11000 block of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. He got into an Uber outside a convenience store close to the metro L.A. offices of Sober Grid. He texted 911 from inside the car and was dropped off in Santa Monica.
width of tenant spaces. There are now Parklet, Sidewalk Dining and Private Outdoor Permit programs for outdoor business operations such as restaurants, fitness, salons and retail stores. A non-conforming retail or food space vacant for over a year can be reoccupied without new zoning approvals. Signs and sign programs are now approved at staff level. Restaurants up to 5,000 square feet are allowed to provide off-site alcohol per ABC allowances. No public hearings or appeal processes are required for restaurants providing on-site alcohol within operational conditions. Restrictions on the number of restaurants per block on Main Street have been eliminated. The following rules are for downtown and third street promenade, which is bounded by 2nd Street, Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Street, and Broadway. More signs are allowed such as upper-level signage, business-adjacent portable
“A” frame signs and limited signage on outdoor dining barriers. No minimum parking is required. Entrances and doorways to upper floors are allowed directly onto sidewalks and Promenade. To do business with the city, there is a new 311 customer service online portal to help answer questions and a new online Virtual Counter Review service for minor projects.
These Agencies Will Get $10M From Santa Monica To Fill Gaps In Service Systems The HSGP Aims To Improve The Quality Of Life Of Santa Monica By Zach Armstrong The Santa Monica City Council will allocate approximately $10 million to 21 programs run by 18 agencies to address community needs and gaps in service systems, while also offering funding stability to local social service agencies. The funding is part of the four-year fiscal year 2023-27 Human Services Grants Program funding cycle. The HSGP aims to improve the quality of life of Santa Monica’s youth and families, people with disabilities, seniors, low-income households, and people experiencing homelessness. The council staff recommendation allocates funding across participants to these service areas as follows: 26% to homelessness, 2% to disabilities, 18% to seniors, 17% to the underserved population
not specified and 37% youth and families. The following shows the agencies receiving the funding (Top) for these services, the programs they run under the funding (Middle) and how much they will receive (Bottom). The FY 2023-27 HSGP funding cycle will begin July 1. Chrysalis SM Employment Center $ 282,783 CLARE MATRIX Help Empower Linkage Program $ 340,240 Connections for Children
Service Systems, see page 6