Vermin Infestation At Santa Monica Restaurant Blamed On Nearby Homeless Shelter: Report

SANTA MONICA, CA -- A recent pest infestation at the swanky Santa Monica restaurant Elephante was actually the fault of a homeless shelter a few doors down, an observer claims in a social media video, the California Post is reporting.

The premium eatery Elephante was closed for two days in January due to health code violations. But according to a report this week in the California Post, Dr. Houman David Hemmati, an ophthalmologist and vocal critic of California policies, claims the pest predicament isn’t the restaurant’s fault.

In a video posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), Hemmati said that Step Up on Second, a city-funded shelter, was the source of the roaches and rodents that caused the restaurant to fail a mandated health inspection in January, leading to it being closed for two days.

Patch Media reached out to Elephante for comment, but did not hear back before publication of this story.

The full Post article can be read here.