A fish out of water Officials to remove one of two bronze dolphins to save cash
Tired of watching good money go to waste, literally, those responsible for promoting and managing downtown have decided to remove one of two bronze dolphin sculptures here that visitors place cash in as an alternative to panhandlers.
City staff and representatives from the Bayside District Corp., a public-private partnership that helps promote and manage downtown, are pulling the plug on the 1200 block’s dolphin because water, grime and other debris are continually seeping into the lockbox where money is stored, rendering much of the money useless, according to those familiar with the project.
The lockboxes for the two dolphins on the promenade are flush with the ground and quickly fill up with water from rain and pressure washing, requiring a wet vacuum and toilet auger to clean them out. The 1200 block dolphin poses even greater problems because it is located on a downward slope, making it especially vulnerable to water and debris.
When it was last emptied in June 2006, six gallons of water runoff were removed from the lockbox.
City and Bayside officials have tried to come up with solutions, including installing a new lockbox with water-proof pieces, but nothing has worked permanently, said Kathleen Rawson, executive director of Bayside.
“The lockbox is full of water, scum and who knows what else the money is swimming in,” Rawson said. “There has been a maintenance problem with the dolphins for some time now.”
It makes sense to remove the dolphin near the North Pavilion now because a wine and cheese bar is moving into the space, bringing with it an outdoor dining area that will overtake the dolphin’s digs.
In addition, city officials may be considering new ways in which the public can donate. A recent review of Santa Monica’s continuum of care for the homeless suggested other programs for the donating public, including one in Baltimore where the city installed old parking meters in hotels, stores and restaurants where shoppers were encouraged to drop coins into them for future distribution to providers.
The ditched dolphin will be stored until a future use for it is determined, Rawson said.
“I’m not sure what we are going to do with it yet,” she said. “I think it really depends on what the city wants to do in terms of other fundraising options.”
The Dolphin Change Program was created in 1993 by Bayside and was funded in partnership with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce to help raise money for social service providers working with the homeless. The program, with the tagline “Make your change help, not hurt,” was created in response to aggressive panhandling that was becoming prevalent on the promenade and throughout downtown.
Each dolphin, which are made from bronze and aluminum, cost approximately $5,000. Since the program’s inception, a total of four dolphins have been installed, including two on the promenade, one on the Santa Monica Pier and one on Main Street.
In 2006, Bayside collected $7,000 from the dolphins and awarded a grant in the amount of $5,000 to OPCC (Ocean Park Community Center) Daybreak Day Center and Shelter. To date, grants exceeding $120,000 have been given to groups including Step Up On Second, OPCC, CLARE Foundation, Westside Food Bank and Chrysalis, according to a city staff report.
The dolphins were designed by sculptor Peter Ehrlich, who could not be reached for comment. City staff has likewise received no response from the artist. The cultural affairs division has been consulted and agrees with the removal of the dolphin, as it is not part of City Hall’s public art program.
Miriam Mack, director of economic development for City Hall, expects the dolphin to be removed in the coming weeks and said city staff is committed to finding another location to place the public piggy bank.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 21, 2007. Read the original PDF.