Santa Monica Police Officers arrested an unpermitted vendor for battery at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, November 27, 2021. According to the victim, a Playland Arcade Security Guard, he alleges that an unpermitted vendor tried to cut through the arcade with his food cart. The Security Guard tried to stop the vendor, then the vendor headbutted the guard in the nose. Santa Monica Fire Medics treated the security guard. He had a bloody nose, but they did not believe it was broken.
Santa Monica Code Enforcement Officers, with the support of Santa Monica Police Officers, try to clear unpermitted street vendors off the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, November 27, 2021.
The unpermitted vendors came to a stand-off with the Officers. The Code Enforcement Officers were able to prevent some sales by warning customers of the health violations. No citations were issued, and nothing was impounded.
The unpermitted vendors were able to get on the Pier earlier this morning before Allied Private Security Guards started their shift around noon.
Former California Governor Jerry Brown decriminalized street vending in 2019 with Senate Bill 946 (“SB 946” - the “Safe Sidewalk Vending Act”).
The Santa Monica Pier has a worldwide identity. The City wants to preserve our decades old wooden Pier so it can be enjoyed for years to come. Because each unpermitted butane/propane cook-cart is a potential fire hazard for the Pier, the City’s Code Enforcement, the County Health Department, and the City’s Police Department periodically conduct educational and enforcement campaigns to help keep the Pier safe. This safety focus calls to eliminate all unpermitted carts, while addressing improper hot grease and trash disposal, and unsanitary food service conditions on and immediately adjacent to the Pier.
A new emergency ordinance passed on August 24, 2021, which prohibits dumping of commercial trash in public receptacles, disposing of liquid waste in public spaces and in storm drains or on any street, sidewalk, bike path, public parking lot, public park, the beach, the Santa Monica Pier, or any public receptacle citywide, and the use of unpermitted combustible fuels on and around the Santa Monica Pier.
Street vending is restricted on the Santa Monica Pier.
All vendors need a City of Santa Monica business license and vending permit to sell any items in the City, and vendors selling food must also obtain and display a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health permit.
As part of the City’s program, sidewalk vending is restricted in certain congested, high-traffic areas to protect public safety. This includes on and around the Pier, where all vending is prohibited except the City’s existing licensed vendor cart program, and the beach, Third Street Promenade, and Palisades Park, where stationary vending is not permitted.
A new ordinance passed on August 24, 2021, prohibits any person from using any combustible fuel (including propane, butane, any other liquid gas, kerosene, steno, charcoal or wood) on the Pier (including the Pier Bridge) or within 25 feet of the Pier, for any purpose involving the fuel’s combustion including heating, lighting, or cooking without a permit from the Fire Marshal.
Violations of the new ordinance may be handled as infractions, misdemeanors, or through issuance of administrative citations, in addition, combustible fuels used in violation of the new ordinance will be subject to impound by the Fire Marshal.
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