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Sometimes delayed.
Weekly arrests.
Unemployment checks
Drought Causing saltier water.
Arrest log
TUESDAY
Volume 21 Issue 225
08.09.22 Report offers update on efforts to address homelessness EMILY SAWICKI SMDP Staff Writer
In the three months from April 1 through June 30, 2022, Santa Monica programs designed to combat homelessness have resulted in 80 households being served by the Senior Household Task Force and 88 Community Response Unit (CRU) calls for service. The data comes from a July 28 Information Item outlining “local efforts addressing the regional homelessness crisis” for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021-22, and was created after City Council began requesting quarterly updates on the City’s progress. This was the first quarterly report available since the 2022 homeless count numbers and accompanying data became available, and also included a broader overview of 2021’s homeless outreach efforts. This February’s homeless count showed 807 unhoused individuals living on Santa Monica’s streets, in its shelters or in vehicles or makeshift shelters. “Last year, the three City-funded multidisciplinary outreach teams made more than 11,000 contacts with people experiencing homelessness, provided direct medical or psychiatric services to 808 participants, placed 57 people into interim housing, and placed 24 individuals into permanent housing,” the report stated. “Later this summer, staff will present a recommendation to advance local efforts to help meet behavioral health needs of housed and unhoused residents in Santa Monica.” City Council has highlighted a “four pillars framework” for addressing homelessness, focusing first on housing and prevention, second on behavioral health, third on maintaining clean and safe open spaces, and fourth on strengthening the regional capacity to address homelessness. Three of the four “pillars” were addressed in the latest report.
WATER POLO TEAM TAKES GOLD
BRYNN SHAFFER SMDP Intern
Team Santa Monica U18 boys earned gold at the July 2022 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.
See Pg 6
Courtesy photo
Street vendor sues City, alleging vehicle seizure policy is unconstitutional EMILY SAWICKI SMDP Staff Writer
A July lawsuit filed against the City of Santa Monica alleges that current vehicle towing policies — in particular, the impounding of vehicles operated by unlicensed drivers — violate constitutional protections. The complaint, Reyes Contreras Murcia v. City of Santa Monica, claims damages on the grounds that Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) seizing the vehicles of unlicensed drivers and impounding them violates the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth, Fifth and 14th amendments, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Murcia is represented by attorney Christian Contreras. Defendants in the lawsuit include the City as well as SMPD Chief Ramon Batista (both as an individual and “in his official capacity,” ) City Manager David White (also as an individual and “in his official capacity,” ) All City Tow Service and several “Does.” Murcia, the plaintiff, alleges that on July 23, 2022, SMPD officers unconstitutionally seized his vehicle after he was found to be operating it without a valid driver’s license. “On Saturday, July 23, 2022, Plaintiff Reyes Murcia was and still is the registered owner of a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe … On such date, Defendant City Of Santa Monica Police Department impounded Reyes Murcia’s Chevy Tahoe which he used to transport goods and work as a street vendor,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff Reyes Murcia’s Chevy Tahoe was impounded after two Santa Monica police officers stopped him in a parking lot in Santa Monica for having a broken rear taillight. During the stop, Plaintiff Reyes Murcia was asked for his California driver’s license but was only able to produce an expired Mexican driver’s license.” The lawsuit claims Murcia’s vehicle was “not a traffic hazard nor was it a danger to the community.” The complaint goes on to state
SEE HOMELESS PAGE 8
SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 8
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