> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Samohi students need a space to call their own
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/samohi-students-need-a-space-to-call-their-own/
- Published: 2004-02-26T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:52:15.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By LAUREN J. BONIFACIO Special to the Daily Press*

It seems as though everyone in Santa Monica has a nightmare story to tell about the lack of parking here — and the high school is no exception.

Chanting “raise the roof,” more than 30 Santa Monica High School students and local residents gathered in front of City Hall Tuesday, demanding the City Council do something to fill the students’ parking shortage.

Samohi students suggested the City Council raise the proposed six-and-a-half level Civic Center parking structure by one level, thereby adding about 120 parking spots they said should be reserved for student use.

“Students weren’t factored in even though (the structure) will be right across the street,” Samohi senior Kesha Ram said. “It’s kind of like a slap in the face.”

Students said they are in a parking crunch. With only 40 campus parking spots available for an estimated 300 students who drive to school, they said they are often forced to park blocks away from the campus, filling up nearby residential streets.

“My neighborhood is jammed,” said Ninth Street resident Christian Boyce. As one of the last streets in the city without permit parking, he said his has become a second parking lot for Samohi students.

> “My neighborhood is jammed... It’s not fair to us and it’s not fair to the students.” — — CHRISTIAN BOYCE

“It’s not fair to us and it’s not fair to the students,” Boyce said.

And with residents like Boyce pushing for permit parking on their streets, students said the City Council needs to find long term solutions for both residents and students.

The students came to the City Council after the Santa Monica- Malibu School Board told them that because of limited funds, parking was not a priority, said Samohi senior Bryce Maddock, the student body representative to the school board.

Mayor Richard Bloom expressed doubt at the viability of raising the parking structure, saying that even at the structure’s current height, the adjacent Doubletree Hotel was contesting the city’s plans because it would block their guests’ ocean views.

City Councilman Kevin McKeown said more parking would come at a price. Parking costs from $10,000 to $15,000 per spot, he said. The City Council didn’t take any action on the students’ suggestions, but will address the problem at a later time.

Students would be willing to consider other options and share the burden of the cost, Maddock said.

Students said the lack of parking also presents a safety issue. Those participating in after-school clubs or sports often have to walk back to their cars late at night while carrying musical instruments or athletic equipment, they said.

“The extracurriculars that students participate in while in school can be just as great of an influence in building their character as world history,” said Marc Sanschagrin, a representative from the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Union who attended the students’ rally. “In order to participate, though, they’ve got to get there.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/022604-01_01.jpg)

parking situation around Samohi keeps people on their toes. (Photo: File photo The)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 26, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/022604.pdf?ref=smdp.com)