Split Council votes 4-3 to participate in litigation over new ‘zero bail’ system:A contentious closed session during an Oct. 10 meeting of Santa Monica City Council concluded with a 4-3 vote to join a lawsuit over Los Angeles County’s newly implemented Zero Bail system. Integrated into the county on Oct. 1, every police agency must follow the new system that largely eliminates the need for cash bail while evaluating the severity of the crime, a suspect’s risk to the public and repeat offenses. The most serious crimes such as murder do not qualify for pre-arraignment release. The city will join a group of cities that filed a lawsuit to delay implementation of the policy, with councilmembers Phil Brock, Cristine Parra and Oscar de la Torre voting to join, along with Mayor Pro Tempore Lana Negrete. Mayor Gleam Davis, as well as councilmembers Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick, voted against joining the suit.