Mourners pay tribute at Promenade memorial
By PATRICK KINMARTIN Special to the Daily Press
Nearly 24 hours after a car plowed through a crowded farmer’s market killing 10 people, Santa Monicans began to recover Thursday from what many considered the worst tragedy in city history.
As donors lined up to give blood for the injured at a Red Cross Bloodmobile and mourners laid flowers at a makeshift monument, local businesses along Arizona Avenue initially opened their doors to an empty street normally filled with customers.
“It’s been eerie and quiet all morning,” said Megan Sheehy, a manager at Lago restaurant on Third Street and Arizona. “I’m still in awe. Everything that happened was way too close for comfort.”
Sheehy stood in front of Lago at noon Thursday and watched while police officials removed yellow tape that had blocked off Arizona Avenue, allowing the public to walk through the street for the first time since 1:47 p.m. on Wednesday — the time Russell Weller’s 1992 Buick LeSabre blasted through the farmer’s market at speeds some witnesses said approached 60 mph.
“I guess this is the part where we’re all supposed to move on,” Sheehy said. “It won’t be easy at all. We’ll see what happens, but it won’t be easy.”
“I guess this is the part where we’re all supposed to move on.” — — MEGAN SHEEHY Manager, Lago restaurant
Directly in front of Lago, mourners paid tribute to the 10 victims by laying flowers, candles and cards under the dolphin statue in front of Cafe Promenade. Others stopped in front of the makeshift monument and pausing while saying a silent prayer.
“It isn’t much, but it’s the least we can do,” said Gia Aron, who along with her 7-year-old son, Adam, placed a candle and card on the monument.
Adam Aron watched the evening news Wednesday and was deeply affected by the events, his mother said.
“He loves to watch the news all the time, but I really tried to keep him away from it when they showed what was happening,” Gia Aron said. “It’s tragic and sad and we came out here today because we feel so awful for those families.”
Further up the Promenade, on Third Street and Santa Monica Boulevard, hundreds waited in front of three Red Cross Bloodmobiles to donate blood.
Among the large crowd that gathered was Jorge Jimenez, an economics teacher at Santa Monica High who brought most of his summer school class to donate blood.
Jimenez was troubled by what he saw Wednesday because he has been taking students to the downtown farmer’s market for years to teach them the principles of supply-and-demand.
“The market has always been Santa Monica’s Shangri-La,” Jimenez said. “When I saw all the damage on television, I was shocked.”
When Jimenez expressed that shock to his class of 15 students Thursday morning, many asked what they could to help. After Jimenez suggested they help at the Red Cross drive, many of them called parents to get verbal consent and then immediately went to the Promenade to help.
“I’m so glad I came out and did this today,” said Makan Hoorizadeh, a senior in Jimenez’s class. “Everyone’s been super nice and it’s great to be a part of something so positive.”
Jose Huarango, who was waiting to donate blood Thursday, said he came out because Wednesday’s tragedy affected him too.
“It’s my opportunity to help others and the community,” he said.
Tiffany Burchard, who works nearby, felt the same way.
“I haven’t given blood in years because I’m afraid of needles,” she said. “(But) it’s important to give blood because it’s a way to give back to the community.”
Though many were turned away from the Bloodmobiles because so many people turned out, a press release from Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center said that less than a day’s supply of O-negative blood, traditionally the least common blood type, remained in Southern California.
“UCLA Medical Center needs healthy donors of all blood types to come and donate,” according to the release. Those interested should call the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center at 310-825-0888, ext. 2.
Karen Rodriguez, who works for the Red Cross, said “there is always great need” for blood in Southern California.
“Even though it’s wonderful (that so many people volunteered Thursday), we need this much participation every week,” she said. “Only 3 percent of California residents donate blood.”
With the announcement that Saturday’s farmer’s market will take place as usual, it seems the healing process has begun.
Caroline Bessolo, a resident of Santa Monica all her life until she moved to Thousand Oaks 10 years ago, returned to the Promenade on Thursday. She said she still would like continue to shop at the farmer’s market as she has her whole life.
“Santa Monica should never be a ghost town,” Bessolo said. “It’s always been the best place to walk around and shop. I hope that never changes.” (Daily Press Staff Writer Lauren Wolman contributed to this report.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 18, 2003. Read the original PDF.