A high-end restaurant in Santa Monica, Elefante, closed recently due to health code issues, and a notable critic is laying the blame on a nearby homeless shelter funded by taxpayers.
Dr. David Hemmati, an ophthalmologist who often critiques California’s policies, argues that the pest issues at Elefante aren’t the restaurant’s doing.
“This is called Step Up on Second, and it’s a city tax-funded homeless shelter,” Hemmati stated in an X-video, indicating the restaurant’s close location. “In the heart of downtown Santa Monica, just a block away from the beach, we have many homeless individuals here at our expense. They’re living here. It smells bad all the time, and there are flies everywhere. If you place a homeless shelter next to gourmet restaurants, you can expect rats and cockroaches.”
Step Up on Second is a supportive housing organization for those experiencing homelessness, claiming on its website to receive “significant funding” from the city.
According to the California Post, health inspectors shut down Elefante on January 20 due to a pest problem, temporarily closing the establishment where steaks go for over $120.
The restaurant was given a “B” rating after a routine inspection revealed “major” violations linked to the presence of pests. Health officials noted it was allowed to reopen just two days later.
Elefante has yet to respond publicly to Hemmati’s criticisms regarding the homeless shelter’s proximity.
Mr. Elefante did not reply to requests for comment.
