S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
October 6 - October 12, 2023 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
INSIDE
Free “Masters of Dance” Workshops and Classes Open by SMC PAGE 8
Homophobic Comments Lead to Termination of Downtown Security Contract Two Months Ago, City Council Approved DTMS’ Contract for Additional Security By Zach Armstrong Concerns over homophobic comments have led to the termination of a $1.7 million private security service contract for Santa Monica’s downtown area. Private security firm Covered 6 terminated its agreement with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. after anti-LGBT statements from an alleged employee of the Moorpark, CA-based safety firm came to light, a source told Santa Monica Mirror. About two months ago, the City Council approved a proposal by DTSM to contract Covered 6 for additional security and clean
up services downtown in the form of a yearlong pilot program. The funding was set to come mainly through reductions to DTSM’s ambassador services with the rest coming from DTSM’s budget toward supplemental private security services. The decision came months after the DTSM Board of Directors appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to recommend changes to its budget for enhanced safety. On May 3, the committee recommended allocating as much as $1.7 million from its budget toward supplemental private security services. In July, Santa Monica Mirror asked readers if they approved of the private contract with Covered 6. Our results were as follows: Yes, it is what is needed to keep the local community safe – 58.67% Yes, but preferably that money wouldn’t have gone to a private contract – 10.67% No, upgraded security is the last thing we need – 5.33% No, that money should have been spent on the City hiring officers themselves – 25.33%
$10K of Pickleball Equipment Destroyed in Memorial Park Arson Thanks to an Outpour of Donations and Support, Storage Bins Should Be Set Up by the End of Next Week By Zach Armstrong An investigation is underway after a potential arson incident led to the loss of approximately $10,000 in Pickleball equipment at Memorial Park. Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 25, a fire was set to a shed adjacent to the park’s tennis courts. The shed was owned by Santa Monica Pickleball Club, a nonprofit that aims to allow anyone to play pickleball cost-free by providing paddles, nets, balls and barriers which were stored in
the burned structure. Memorial Park is the exclusive location for the nonprofit’s storage, which it pays a permit to the city for. Lynn Soodik, President of SMPC, says she saw eight batteries wrapped in copper and copper wire within the rubble when she arrived at the scene. She also said authorities have video footage of the incident but that she’s “not at liberty” to disclose its details. “There’s a lot of people have motives but I
don’t think anyone I now would be deranged or evil enough to do it,” said Soodik. “There’s people that don’t like us for various reasons, but we also get love letters about the sport.” Thanks to an outpour of donations and support, Soodik says storage bins housing equipment should be set up on the court by the end of next week. The nonprofit has approximately 1,800 members, many of whom Soodik says offered
to donate a piece of equipment even though they don’t have much money. Luckily, they didn’t need to. The Santa Monica Pickleball Center held a fundraiser that raised 2,200 dollars, Selkirk Pickleball Paddles donated 12 nets and 20 paddles and pickleball equipment companies Picklepop and Pickletown are working with the nonprofit to set up a fundraiser for Monday night at Picklepop location.
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