SM to Keep its Mask Mandate Until June 15

By Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer

Local residents and visitors – including those vaccinated – must continue to wear face coverings indoors and around crowds in Santa Monica, city officials declared this week.

Interim City Manager Lane Dilg signed on Wednesday morning the 36th supplement to the local emergency aligning Santa Monica’s guidance for face coverings with Los Angeles County and the State of California, which will keep its mask mandate until June 15.

“This supplement further signals the return to normal we’ve worked so hard to reach. We are grateful to the 71 percent of Santa Monicans who have been vaccinated and all community members who have worked together to promote public health.” said Dilg.

Under this guidance, face coverings must continue to be worn indoors and around crowds, including for those who have been vaccinated, city officials said in a press release. “This allows time for the vaccination rate to increase leading up to the full reopening of the state’s economy on June 15, when face coverings will only be required in certain settings.”

Santa Monica defines crowded space as places outside of people’s residences where a person cannot maintain at least 6 feet of distance from non-household members and it is unknown whether all persons present are fully vaccinated, according to the city. A crowded space includes, but is not limited to, live performances, parades, sporting events, and the Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Front Walk, and the Third Street Promenade on weekends, national holidays, and after 12 p.m. on Fridays.

The 36th supplement also modifies parking enforcement. It sunsets certain provisions from previous supplements regarding parking-related citations and enforcement. Now the city will resume enforcing the following:

Imposition of late payment penalties for unpaid or delinquent parking citations;

Enforcement of parking restrictions and limitations in Green Parking Zones; and

Towing for violations of the California Vehicle Code related to delinquent parking citations and expired registration.