INSIDE
These Santa Monica Businesses Took Top Honors at Sustainable Quality Awards smmirror.com
April 12 - April 18, 2024 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
See Page 8
Lyft Driver Charged with Sexual Assault Following Investigation The Incident Occured in September By Zach Armstrong A Lyft driver who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman last year has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts following an investigation by Santa Monica detectives, according to SMPD. On Sept. 7, SMPD responded to an assault report at the 2900 block of Pennsylvania Ave. The victim, a Santa Monica resident, alleged that after a Lyft driver picked her up from a West Hollywood restaurant, she woke up in the car to inappropriate touching. Upon arriving home, after declining the
suspect’s offer to escort her to the door, she realized it had been several hours since she was picked up. Los Angeles resident Fernando Macias Morales, 34, was identified as the suspect after an investigation by Santa Monica detectives. He was apprehended on April 5 in the San Fernando Valley. Morales was charged by The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with felony counts including kidnapping to commit a sexual act, sexual penetration of an intoxicated or sedated person and oral copulation of an intoxicated or sedated person. His bail has been set at $500,000. Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Det. Stephanie Davis at 310-458-2201 ext. 4400, Sgt. Chad Goodwin at 310-458-8931, or reach the Watch Commander desk at 310-458-8427, operational 24 hours a day.
This is Santa Monica’s First-Ever Poet Laureate Her Work Touches Subjects of Personal Narrative, Individual/ Cultural Identity, Philosophy, and Spirituality By Zach Armstrong As part of an effort to magnify literary works and bolster literary creations that celebrate the dynamic nature of Santa Monica, the City along with its public library have announced the seaside charter town’s first-ever Poet Laureate. Anne Carmack, a local, mixed-race multidisciplinary artist, has been selected for the position. Her work, as described by a City government post, touches subjects of personal narrative, individual/cultural identity, philosophy, and spirituality through various modalities: poetry, painting, photography, filmmaking, storytelling and screenwriting. Within a day of its 2020 release, Carmack’s debut poetry collection, “My Own Body Breathing,” became an Amazon #1 Best Seller. It can be found for check out at: https://tinyurl.com/4wmv4w77.
Her other writings and artwork can also be viewed at https://annecarmack.substack. com/. “As a long-time resident and dedicated poet/artist, Anne embodies the spirit and the soul of Santa Monica through her words and her art. We look forward to experiencing the inclusive, unifying, and powerful nature of poetry in all its forms with our community.” said Library Director Erica Cuyugan in a statement. Carmack’s two-year term, which commenced on March 21, comes with several key tasks: creating an annual poem that glorifies Santa Monica; conducting two yearly writing workshops at a local public school, the Library or at community events; coordinating poetry programs each year for the Library’s National Poetry Month activities; among others. The term is accompanied by a $5,000 annual stipend. Applications opened for the honorary role in late October and concluded in MidDecember; open to Santa Monica residents aged 18 and above. At the time, it was reported that the selection process would be executed by a Poet Laureate Review Panel, consisting of community members drawn from the Arts Commission, Library Board, Friends of the Library Board, and city staff. Westside locals have a chance to meet Carmack at the following events: • A poetry workshop and welcome reception for the Poet Laureate. Taking place on Saturday, April 20, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Main Library, Multi-purpose Room and Central Courtyard.
• The Arts & Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park. Taking place Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees can contribute words to a poem by Carmack in honor of the Pico Branch Library’s 10th
Anniversary. The poem will be revealed and read by the Poet Laureate at the Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, June 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
BACK OR UNFILES
TAXES?
ALL FORMS • ALL TYPES • ALL STATES SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA
(310) 395-9922
100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1753 • Santa Monica 90401