r/SantaMonica

$80.00 for this pizza, two sodas and a tip. They better open a bigger location charging these prices for a 6/10 pizza.

....TMNT fan as a kid, it was hook, line and sinker.

Hey folks, I've been working with City Council & Santa Monica Police Department to better understand the arrangement we have with Flock. There was some bad reporting that suggested the program was only approved "through 2026," when, in fact, it extends deep into 2027.

Here is the information I was able to get from a Lieutenant at SMPD:

• The Flock Camera Agreement was executed on June 5, 2024.
• Service term did not start on that date. It began only after each camera was installed, configured, and validated.
• Installation happened in phases, so the camera service terms expire in phases too.
• First 8 cameras: service expires in June 2027.
• Remaining 46 cameras: service expires in October 2027.
• Therefore, the current agreement effectively runs through October 2027.
• No City Council vote is currently scheduled for renewal or additional funding.
• Any renewal/funding requiring Council approval would likely come sometime in early 2027, well ahead of the June 2027 renewals.
• The public would have an opportunity to comment when a renewal/funding item goes before Council.
• They cannot explain why some reporting said the agreement ran “through 2026,” but say that reporting does not match the current phased service-term information.
• The underlying contract and service documents can be obtained through a California Public Records Act request.

I followed up, and checked in after an article was published stating that LAPD had "suspended use of Flock Cameras due to safety violations", and asked if SMPD had followed suit:

• SMPD is not suspending its Flock camera program whatsoever.
• LAPD’s suspension applies only to LAPD’s own ALPR system, not Santa Monica’s.
• SMPD says it reviewed the concerns raised by LAPD’s Inspector General and believes Santa Monica’s program has a different arrangement w/r/t data access
• SMPD said the federal government has not requested any data from them (yet)
• SMPD retains ALPR data for 30 days.
• SMPD concluded that the problems identified in LAPD’s program do not justify suspending Santa Monica’s system.
• SMPD will continue using Flock, while maintaining oversight, conducting audits, and updating policies where needed.

This was a troubling response, as SMPD seems to trust the technology and the people behind Flock (who are imo not to be trusted). The fact that SMPD have not yet had to share access with the federal government does not mean that day won't come, and I believe it is naive to leave this oppressive system in place—especially given LAPD's recent suspension.

This ignores the evidence of misuse of Flock data (cameras pointed at playgrounds, footage used to stalk citizens, let alone the worrisome implications of AI tracking our daily movements regardless of its legality).

City Council was not forthcoming with a vote date, but if the Flock Contract is on a rolling basis and the first 8 cameras renew in June 2027, we need to organize and ensure that the SMPD and City Council understand the major sentiment that these cameras do not belong in our community. The sooner we get an established collective, the sooner we can get framework in place to make sure our voices are heard.

I do not advocate for cutting down cameras, as we are up against literal billionaires and the replacement cameras (which will undoubtedly be installed) will likely be funded by our tax dollars which are badly needed elsewhere. We need to work together, band together, and stand up against the surveillance state; against the fearsome and oppressive nature that these cameras create. Cutting down a camera is like swatting a single mosquito when the deeper solution is to find their breeding grounds and remove the issue at its source.

SMPD can't renew the contract without the support of City Council, and City Council won't renew the contract if enough voices band together and stand up for our privacy & future. If we leave these cameras in place, even in a "suspended" state, the implications for future misuse by the oligarch class are enormous. We need to get these cameras the flock out of Santa Monica.

Drop a comment below if you are interested in getting a committee or organization effort together. I don't have much experience (outside of work politics and student council) but I have energy and want to help however I can. Thanks all 🙌

Note: here is a map of all the existing Flock Cameras, which helped me identify how close to home this issue really hits.

This was last Sunday August 9. Called the non emergency number and they answered right away but they never followed up for the video. The driver turned off the road when they saw me trying to get the plates after this. Hoping someone on here recognizes the car

First, MAJOR SHOUT OUT to the reddit community who came through when we posted our story running in The Argonaut last week about the current state of the state with our home-delivered meal program waitlist. Linking to that post HERE if you want to see the thread.

Since this is important news, more outlets are picking up the story, including our local Santa Monica Daily Press. Today's cover story can be read HERE.

A few quick facts about the current client base at Meals On Wheels West:

• The median age is 78 years old
• Nearly 8 in 10 live with a disability, most often mobility problems or chronic pain
• At least 83% of clients state they cannot safely cook for themselves
• More than one in five are veterans or the spouses of veterans
• Nearly one in four have experienced homelessness

On the waitlist are possible clients with those same data points, waiting for an opportunity to receive fully subsidized meals delivered to their homes.

All for free speech and open air entertainment etc, but just wondering if I am being nitpicky to find him a bit irritating, odd, unnecessary and unfunny

These poor kids! This will be the third time they have to move in two years. https://santamonicasun.com/schools/seven-arrows-elementary-relocate-santa-monica/

Wellside Cafe soft opened Saturday at the NW corner of 16th and Wilshire. Had solid foot traffic that day even without promoting the open.

Some immediate pluses:

1. Offers a discount to healthcare workers (perf since they’re situated in a hotbed of medical facilities and hospital - get your coffee cheaper!)
2. Thicc food menu offerings (come in clutch for a quick breakfast or lunch situation)
3. Will be introducing more vegan and gluten free baked goods to the bar soon (as a dietary nightmare, I’m personally thrilled to have an option with my coffee).

They serve Groundworks beans (edited to update my sleepy misnaming). My oat milk was Minority Figures (one of my fav oat milks), so def have quality products in house.

Parking feels like it’ll be a nightmare in that stretch, but I always find a spot (metered or not) on 16th.

I'm a liaison for the Westside Comedy Theater and I just wanted to let you all know the next batch of classes are starting up! They do Stand up classes as well! If you've ever had the itch, why not give it a shot!

For the first time in our organization's history (more than 50 years), we had to put a waitlist in place last winter for clients who can not pay for their meals. Economic pressures have compounded to the point where we on track to see 100 neighbors on our waitlist with no solve in the immediate future.

How did we get here...? Here's a few factors that come into play.

• The increase in aging adults (known as the "gray wave" or "silver tsunami") will have our population sitting with more people older than 65 years old than children (under 18 years) by 2030. Infrastructurally, most sectors and communities are not equipped to manage this shift in our population.
• Meals on Wheels programs are all independently run as their own nonprofit organizations, meaning we are all working hard to secure our own funding for our own programs. Only a select few receive government or health insurance support/coverage (despite "food as medicine" being a cornerstone of healthcare nowadays). Just in LA County, there are more than 20 Meals on Wheels programs all working hard to secure funding for their programs.
• In this country, food insecurity has quadrupled for seniors over the last 25 years.
• More than 60% of Meals on Wheels programs in California have a waitlist (double the national average)

We will continue to share these insights with the community, as neighbors helping neighbors is our path forward. Read more about the waitlist and challenges in the cover story in this week's The Argonaut HERE.