3
Police & Fire Logs
See the calls for service.
4
9
Vendor bill needs work.
Plus crossword.
Legislation
Horoscope
WEDNESDAY
Volume 21 Issue 238
08.24.22 SMEF hires new executive director
Cost estimate for Muir/SMASH repair nears $20 million
Lifeguard memorial
EMILY SAWICKI SMDP Staff Writer
About four-and-a-half months after longtime Santa Monica Education Foundation Executive Director Linda Greenberg announced her imminent retirement from the nonprofit, the Ed Foundation recently announced it had selected her successor: veteran fundraising professional Mikko Sperber. A Los Angeles native and Venice High School alumnus, Sperber comes to Santa Monica with years of nonprofit management experience including on the Westside, where he currently serves on the board of the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. Most recently, Sperber has served as the managing partner of a nonprofit management and fundraising advisory firm he founded called Fundamental Strategy. A press release from the Ed Foundation detailed Sperber’s extensive resume of work in the nonprofit sector: “Sperber is an active leader in the greater Los Angeles non-profit community. He has been heavily involved as a member of the Los Angeles County Equity in County Contracting Project Team for the past two years, working to streamline and improve contracting policies and practices for the benefit of all nonprofits who do business with the county.” In addition to serving on the board of directors of Theatricum Botanicum, Sperber is also on the board of Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles and the Claremont Courier, as well as on the advisory
EMILY SAWICKI SMDP Staff Writer
The millions of dollars needed to restore the heavily water damaged John Muir Elementary/SMASH (Santa Monica Alternative School House) campus in Ocean Park are expected to soak up funding that was earmarked for modernization projects on other elementary school campuses. When it comes to financing the so-called Water Intrusion Project, currently estimated at $19.6 million, the local school district needs to make some tough financial decisions, deferring projects at other school sites around Santa Monica. SEE MUIR SMASH PAGE 8
Rent relief program opens Monday EMILY SAWICKI SMDP Staff Writer
Courtesy photos
PADDLE-OUT: The Los Angeles County Fire Department, together with its Lifeguards Division and other
county agencies, family and friends, mourned the death of ocean lifeguard Derek C. Traeger on Sunday with a paddle-out memorial service at Royal Palms Beach near San Pedro. Traeger, a lifeguard stationed in Santa Monica, died in a crash on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Torrance last Sunday, Aug. 14. He was 28 and had served with LACoFD - Lifeguard Division for six years.
The City of Santa Monica announced it would open up applications for rent-burdened residents to apply for relief beginning this Monday, Aug. 29, at 8 a.m. The program is designed for residents in rent controlled units who are unable to afford this year’s Rent Control General Adjustment, which is set to increase rents for all rent controlled tenants 6% (up to $140 per month) beginning Sept. 1 — the highest hike in more than 30 years.
SEE SMEF PAGE 7
SEE RENT RELIEF PAGE 5
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339
In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP? TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • CORPORATIONS
SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA
(310) 395-9922 100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800
CalRE # 00927151
Santa Monica 90401