In a decisive move by the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, a lawsuit has been filed against Saeed Farzam and Goharshad Farzam, the owners of Pavilions Motel. The legal action charges the owners with operating a den of illicit activities, marred by drug sales and disruptive behavior, according to the City of Santa Monica. The complaint zeroes in on the motel's proximity to an elementary school and a public park, emphasizing the hazard it poses to the neighborhood.
The Santa Monica Police Department's persistent fight against the drug trade has led to multiple arrests this year at the property, where evidence of methamphetamine and fentanyl sales was uncovered. A detail that has not gone unnoticed is the motel's "take out" windows, apparently serving as a conduit for drug transactions. Alongside the narcotics, police have also seized paraphernalia indicative of drug sales, including baggies scales, and weapons. The city's legal motion aims to root out these activities through court-mandated property improvements and, if necessary, a one-year closure, slapping the defendants with $25,000 in civil penalties each and costs for the city's efforts in ending the misdemeanor.
City Attorney Douglas Sloan has taken an unyielding stance, stating, "Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their properties are not a nuisance or a danger to the neighborhood, and a city will hold them accountable when they fail to do so," as per the City of Santa Monica. This sentiment is echoed by Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista, who heralded the filing as vital to crafting long-term solutions for the community's safety and well-being.
Despite past enforcement actions, including a temporary shutdown in 2007, the Pavilions Motel continues to be a thorn in the side for Sunset Park residents. With the new lawsuit, city officials seek to permanently stifle the cycle of public disturbances emanating from the motel. The case, The People of the State of California and the City of Santa Monica v. Saeed Farzam, Goharshad Farzam, and Pavilions Motel, Inc., has been filed under case number 24SMCV02305 at the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Interested parties can read the full complaint here.
