May 24, 2025 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

New 3rd Street Promenade Banner Depicts City Officials as “Mount Drugsmore”

As With the Previous Placard, David White Is the Primary Subject of Ridicule

By Zach Armstrong

The longstanding “Santa Methica Is Not Safe” sign along the charter city’s signature shopping district has been replaced with a more creative, comedic one that upholds the same sentiment.

Along the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade, adjacent to the 2bella women’s clothing boutique, a new banner from John Alle and the Santa Monica Coalition depicts black-and-white headshots of City Manager David White, L.A. City Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Barbara Ferrer and City Councilmember Gleam Davis along an illustrated mountaintop. These four city officials constitute, as the poster proclaims in bold lettering between drawings of heroin needles and meth pipes, “Mount Drugsmore”.  

As with the previous placard, White is the primary subject of ridicule. But whereas that one simply accused the city manager of supporting the controversial needle & meth pipe distribution program, this one makes an explicit demand that White should be fired from his post while other officials be held “accountable.”

Alle, owner of the building space and co-founder of the coalition, said that the sign will remain until either its demands are met, White resigns or he can lease the space; an effort he says is difficult in light of the promenade’s safety conditions. 

The allusion to public officials creating some kind of drug-filled hellscape is a criticism of L.A. County’s needle exchange program in public parks and spaces; an effort that has provoked ire among citizens as a possible facilitation of drug use for the city’s transient population.

In an emailed statement in response to the new sign, Supervisor Horvath said “County partners with Venice Family Clinic to provide harm reduction services for up to three hours each week in Santa Monica. Through harm reduction and other efforts, deaths among people experiencing homelessness held steady for the first time since 2015, as opposed to continual increases the County had historically seen.” Horvath added that since the County and the City of Santa Monica declared states of emergency on homelessness, there has been a 20% decrease in homelessness on the Westside.  

A spokesperson with the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in an email, “Communities across Los Angeles County are currently facing the worst overdose crisis in our history, driven by the increasing presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in our communities … Research shows harm reduction initiatives like syringe service programs save lives without increasing drug use and are cost-effective. Participants in these programs are more likely to seek treatment and reduce drug injections. LA County’s harm reduction programs currently reverse over 700 overdoses monthly. Last year, the County saw its first plateau in overdose deaths in a decade, a significant step forward in this escalating crisis.” 

In February, the SM Coalition filed a lawsuit against Ferrer, the Los Angeles County Health Department, and the Venice Family Clinic, alleging former Santa Monica mayors Sue Himmelrich and Gleam Davis, former City Manager Lane Dilg and White of covertly acknowledging and approving the program. 

Two months later, the nonprofit organized a protest at Reed Park against the program. Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock and Vice Mayor Negrete both spoke at the demonstration, with the ladder saying a mother said her son was hospitalized after stepping on one of the needles, and the former proclaiming “Stop the distribution of syringes and needles outside in our city!”

However, at the tailend of a meeting earlier this month, just weeks ahead of the recent poster swap, Santa Monica City Council unanimously supported a condemnation of the “Santa Methica” sign that was first placed at 1335 Third Street in December of 2022.

The item, raised by Mayor Brock, Vice Mayor Negrete and Davis, requested City Attorney Doug Sloane create a resolution that both acknowledges First Amendment rights to free speech, while pointing out that some instances can cause harm “from expression that is false and/or counter to the public interest.” During the meeting’s comment period, Andrew Thomas, CEO of Downtown Santa Monica Inc., described the banner as having generated “millions of negative media impressions” for the city.

In a prepared statement, White said that while he would implement policies adopted by city council, the syringe exchange program is initiated by a county contractor pursuant to state law. “The city plays no role,” he said. 

Alle countered that claim during his turn at comment period, saying that while city council can approve harm reduction or needle and glass pipe distribution in the city over the county, the mayor hasn’t used that authority. “There is no malice in the messaging on my building,” he said.

A defamation lawsuit against city council over its recent claims is in the works, according to Alle.

in Hard, News
Related Posts

 Venice Shorts: Chaos Derails Venice Neighborhood Council Vote on Homeless Encampment Crackdown

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

Motion Calling for Removal of Encampments & Rv’s Could Not Be Heard as Two Vnc Members Walk Out in Protest...

Bay Cities Deli Temporarily Closed After Health Violations

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

Eleven violation points were attributed to the presence of rodents and insects Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery, a popular...

Resilient Palisades Named Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Ben Allen

May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

Volunteer-led group honored for climate resilience work and wildfire recovery efforts Resilient Palisades, a grassroots environmental organization based in Pacific...

Marina del Rey to Celebrate 60th Anniversary with Free Culture Jam Event

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Family-friendly festival to feature music, art, games, and historic harbor tours The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors,...

Governor Announces Early Reopening of Pacific Coast Highway After Wildfire Closures

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Major Stretch of PCH Reopens May 23 After Months of Wildfire-Related Closures Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that State Route...

Summer at Annenberg Beach House to Include Sunset Picnics, Yoga Classes and the Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

The Beach House, located on the former Marion Davies estate, remains free and open to the public The Annenberg Community...

10th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street Comes to Santa Monica This Weekend

May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Annual board game-inspired food event set for Sunday, May 25 The 10th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street will...

Muscle Beach International Classic Set for Memorial Day

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Annual bodybuilding and physique competition returns May 26 The iconic Muscle Beach will once again host bodybuilders and fitness competitors...

Venice Shorts: Washington Square Pizza Now Close to Completion

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

Formerly the Cheese & Olive, the Latest Food Offering Completes the Neighborhood By Nick Antonicello  Washington Square Pizza is finally...

Santa Monica Airport to Host Air Taxi Flights for VIPs and Fans During LA28

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The aircraft will also support emergency services and security operations While Santa Monica will no longer serve as a competition...

Getty Villa to Reopen Next Month with Mycenaean Civilization Exhibit

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The Villa will operate on a limited schedule of Fridays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with access...

$2.2M Awarded to LA County for Wildfire Prevention Ahead of 2025 Fire Season

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

The grants mark the first disbursement of funds from Proposition 4, a bond measure that provides millions for wildfire resilience...

(Video) Classic Cars and Hot Rods Showcased During Santa Monica Pier’s Locals Night

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season It Was The Last Locals Night of the Season. pic.twitter.com/mUo6hMJpPZ —...

Last Thursdays Concert Series Returning to Venice Boardwalk

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Shows will take place by the pergolas on the north end of the boardwalk at Dudley Ave., facing the beach...

Pedestrian Struck by Sports Car Near Marina del Rey, CHP Investigating: REPORT

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

The pedestrian was reported down in the roadway, and medical crews were immediately dispatched A pedestrian was struck by a...