A popular Santa Monica pottery store has apologized after a recently viral video showed two of their employees dumping chemicals down a storm drain that flow directly into the ocean.
The video, shot by Santa Monica native Cisco Quintana, shows a brightly colored liquid being poured down a drain on Main Street on Tuesday. Above the drain it clearly reads in all caps and bold blue letters: ‘No Dumping. This slopes down to the ocean.”
Once they’re done, the two walk past Quintana without sparing a second glance as they walk back into the store.
“It’s really a slap in the face to me growing up in Santa Monica and going to that beach my whole life,” Quintana said. “This is a big deal, it’s a big problem. As a plumber, I know it didn’t take that long for the drain to clog.”
Color Me Mine, located at 2525 Main Street, took to social media to address the issue that has sparked outrage across the country.
“We at Color Me Mine would like to offer our deepest apologies and take responsibility for the actions of our employees,” the statement on Instagram said. “These actions were not enforced, tolerated or recommended by management or owners. … We are ashamed that such a major mistake was caused by one of our own.”
They say the liquid poured down the drain was not chemicals, despite popular belief, and that it was “non-toxic, water-based and soluble” glaze.
“Please note, this is not an excuse to dump it down the storm drain,” the statement said, noting that they have already contacted Santa Monica city officials to pay for the fines and cleanup process. The amount of the current fines remains unclear.
Additionally, the store’s owner says the employees in the video have been reprimanded and that all staff have been retrained in the proper way to dispose of frosting.
“It was shocking,” said Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock. “I immediately forwarded it to our city government for action. … We’re desperately trying to get our storm drains, everything, to make sure our water is clean enough for people to swim in, for fish to live in – this isn’t helping.”
Since the video went viral, workers have reportedly been threatened with violence and even death, says the owner of Color Me Mine.
