Tag: Businesses

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, February 5 the city of Santa Monica announced on its website that to assist with impacts of the recent wildfires on local businesses, they waived its license fees for outdoor dining areas, sidewalk dining, parklets and pier deck extended dining for the month of February in a supplement to its Emergency Order in response to the Palisades Fire.

“The city is committed to supporting our local businesses, and as a small business owner, I understand firsthand how a disaster can reverberate across a business community,” said Mayor Lana Negrete. “Waiving outdoor dining fees this month can provide much needed relief as we recover, and I encourage everyone to support our local restaurants, shops, hotels and businesses and enjoy everything our beautiful city has to offer.”

At the moment, a total of 101 businesses are enrolled in the city’s outdoor dining programs, which started during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pilot program that became permanent in October 2022. Businesses can apply for the Sidewalk Dining or Outdoor Parklet programs. For more details on the city’s outdoor dining programs, click here.

“As a city, it’s important that we are responsive to our business community, and we heard from many of our restaurants about their severe loss of customers and overall sales due to the impacts of the fires,” said Economic Development Manager Jennifer Taylor. “We hope that by waiving the fees for a month, they’ll be able to get back on their feet and continue to benefit from these outdoor programs, which we know our community loves and enjoys.”

Santa Monica’s emergency proclamation in response to the wind and firestorm remains in place to ensure the continued support of regional wildfire recovery. The Emergency Order was updated on January 31 to provide additional flexibility for schools and businesses impacted or displaced by the wildfires and to refine criteria for housing support for fire victims.

For details and resources for businesses impacted by the regional fires, click here.

By Trevor

SANTA MONICA—On Wednesday, October 23, the city of Santa Monica disclosed that the Santa Monica City Council approved updates to city zoning rules to provide greater flexibility for businesses downtown and on Third Street Promenade.

Updates include:

-Allowing game arcades and arcade bars on Third Street Promenade

-Simplifying review for larger restaurants

-Allowing large-scale commercial entertainment and recreation on city-owned property

-Making it easier for more businesses on 2nd and 4th streets to get alcohol licenses

-Relaxing limits on signage to support creativity, including animated/digital signage, for greater on-site business promotion

-Eliminating restrictions on business size for the Third Street Promenade, such as banks, pet stores, food halls, general personal services and others. Tuesday’s decision will help launch outdoor-only uses in Santa Monica’s office campus districts.

“Encouraging a thriving business community is a key priority for our city and especially in our downtown and Third Street Promenade,” said Community Development Director David Martin. “We will continue to listen and look at holistic approaches to how best to continue to support our city’s economic recovery.”

The recent slate of zoning updates continues the city’s efforts to encourage Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality, directly addressing inquiries and interest from the business community. They remove unnecessary city processes and approvals, providing greater certainty and predictability for property owners and their existing tenants, along with prospective businesses considering locations downtown.

“These changes represent a critical step in supporting the economic recovery of small businesses within Downtown Santa Monica,” said Downtown Santa Monica Inc. CEO Andrew Thomas. “By removing unnecessary barriers and providing new opportunities for businesses to thrive, these updates will help create a more dynamic, engaging environment for both locals and visitors.”

Changes to the sign code will go into effect immediately. The zoning ordinance will go back to the Santa Monica City Council for final adoption on November 11 and go into effect in 30 days.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Monday, June 24, the city of Los Angeles removed planters that were placed on the sidewalks by business owners to halt homeless encampments in the region of Highland and Sunset Boulevard.

Homeless encampments have been blocking sidewalks throughout Los Angeles for a period of time impacting businesses in the region with trash and decrement that has impacted foot traffic to businesses in the region.

The planters were placed outside of businesses in May 2024 to halt the blockage of sidewalks and paths to businesses for the past 2 years. According to reports, the planters have helped deter crime in the region.

Last week the city of Los Angeles placed notices noting the planters were obstructions and had to be removed or the city would remove them, as the business owners who installed them did not have permits to do so.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said in a statement to NBC 4 Los Angeles:

“We understand the frustration that local businesses feel about this issue, and we encourage residents to follow the legal process and work with the city to obtain the proper permits to install community beautification projects in the public right of way.”

Sunset Sound Recorders, a business on Sunset Boulevard was surrounded by homeless encampments in earlier February 2024, which impacted business for its high-profile clients who were concerned about safety. In early June 2024, a homeless encampment outside of the business was cleared by city officials.

The removal was part of the Mayor of Los Angeles Inside Safe program which is aimed at housing the homeless in the area. The program has helped move 21,000 Los Angelenos off the streets since December 2022. The program has spent over $341 million as of May 31, 2024. A total of $105 million has been spent by the program to house individuals in motels.

Only 539 individuals are currently in housing, with 305 in limited subsidized housing, 68 in permanent supportive housing. A total of 1265 individuals have housing courtesy of motels that have bene paid for by the program. A total of 842 people have exited the program, with 735 individuals returning to homelessness, 50 being incarcerated and 44 dying.

The Los Angeles Homelessness Service Authority reported more than 75,000 people living in homelessness in 2023 in the region. The number of homeless individuals in LA rose 14 percent from 2022 to 2023.

By Trevor

TOPANGA CANYON—On Tuesday, January 9, the Los Angeles Police Department Major Crimes Division announced they are asking victims of a vandalism suspect to come forward. The LAPD reported on January 8, around 3:30 p.m., Topanga Area patrol officers arrested Edelidio David Wallace, 64, in the 21000 block of Victory Boulevard. He was arrested and booked at Valley Jail for 594 (b)(1)PC: Felony Vandalism, with an outstanding felony warrant, booking number 6739226.

Authorities indicated on January 6, at approximately 3 a.m., Topanga Area patrol officers responded to three vandalism incidents within three blocks of the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard. The suspect used rocks and cement bricks to smash glass windows and doors belonging to several closed businesses. The suspect fled from the location on foot.

On January 8, between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., Wallace vandalized additional closed businesses on Vanowen Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Sherman Way, again throwing rocks and bricks. All the vandalism occurred within a two-mile radius. Major Crimes Division is investigating the vandalism series to determine if there is a hate crime nexus based on three businesses being Jewish owned. The rocks recovered had “Glory” and “Pay Up” written on them.

Major Crimes Division is investigating additional vandalisms that occurred on January 5 and January 7 in the same general area to determine if they are related. During the incidents, authorities noted that Wallace was wearing the following items:

-January 6: Nike green sweatshirt, black pants, white Nike shoes

-January 8: Nike burgundy sweatshirt, black pants, white Nike shoes

Investigators believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. Anyone who may have been a victim or have information about the investigation is asked to contact Major Crimes Detectives Beard or Patin at 213-486-7280. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

By Trevor

WOODLAND HILLS—The Los Angeles Police Department are currently investigating a string of businesses that were vandalized in the Woodland Hills region.

Video captured a man tossing a rock at one business. The glass was not shattered as a result of the object being thrown. The LAPD are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime after receiving two other reports on Saturday, January 7 on the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard.

According to CBS Los Angeles, one business owner indicated several other businesses were targeted, all Jewish owned that had damage to their establishments with windows being shattered because of object that were thrown at them. Messages written on the businesses included “Pay Up” or “Glory.” One of the businesses damaged was a dance studio.

The LAPD have not reported any arrests or additional details on a suspect or suspects in any of the incidents.

By Trevor