A catalog of programs and classes has opened for Summer at Crossroads an immersive experience for students to continue to explore their academic studies enrichment opportunities and have fun over the summer.  Summer at Crossroads values community and has created an environment that supports strong bonds among the students as well as student and teacher connections This inclusive environment allows students to explore new topics of interest and engage in creativity while making lasting memories Emotional and physical safety for every student is a priority for Summer at Crossroads.  “Students from local schools are excited for the opportunity to spend part of their summer with us We always suggest enrolling early to get into the classes of your interest,” said Laura Presburger This summer, Summer at Crossroads’ “Your Summer, Your Way” morning and afternoon sessions which includes exciting field trips and excursions to off-campus destinations are available for elementary and middle school students This program is designed to inspire creativity teamwork and intellectual growth while fostering a welcoming space where students can learn Students enjoy weekly instructional swim lessons along with a lively midday community time featuring songs friendly challenges and brain-teasing activities along with themed dress-up days “Our aquatics team provides a wonderful safe place for our youngest students to learn and swim in the pool,” said Presburger Middle school students begin each day with grade level academic enrichment such as writing setting the stage for a day filled with interactive learning and exploration in their chosen classes.  Upper school students entering grades nine through twelve can choose from two-week intensives or five-week or three-week academic credit classes New this year is a Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard Certification Training Program that teaches aquatic safety and CPR/First aid The 2025 program dates are June 16 to July 25.  To view the Summer at Crossroads catalog, visit Xrds.org/summer-at-crossroads/catalog. Questions emailsummer@xrds.org The 2,091-square-foot condo occupies the second floor of a 1972-built structure and features sweeping ocean views A beachfront condominium in.. kids are invited to make magic as they journey into the fun-filled is celebrating one year of business this spring... Health Officials Urge Residents to Get Vaccinated Amid Rising Infections  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has declared.. Each station offers access to COVID-19 antigen test kits A public meeting to discuss the proposal and gather community feedback is scheduled for May 8 Santa Monica is preparing.. While algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks have occurred this particular bloom has reportedly impacted more animals than in recent.. well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers .. Displaced Families Are Reshaping Los Angeles’ Housing Market on the Westside Home sales and prices across Los Angeles surged in.. Federal prosecutors said the defendants submitted false claims following the devastating January 2025 wildfire Three people have been charged in.. Support Services Lead to Reduction in Frequent Emergency Calls A collaborative effort between the Santa Monica Fire Department and Wise&Healthy.. No injuries reported after unexpected landing in Pacific Palisades On Friday a Cessna 172  that was unable to complete its.. IBEW Teams Up with LADWP to Advance Gender Equity in Public Utilities The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.. and automated rulesets California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Santa Monica and the surrounding areas Junior Cookies has developed a loyal following in West Hollywood for its fresh Many teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When am I ever going to use.. Made with ❤️ by ENKI Tech The views expressed here are the author's own The best way to learn history is to listen to the stories of the people who have lived it Otis College of Art and Design students interviewed six elders who have stories to tell students created six original books that share some of these life stories and the students’ artwork in response Join us for a program in the A-Frame Theater as the Otis students present their works and share highlights from the project An ADA-accessible entrance to the Glorya Kaufman Community Center is available through the gate from the parking lot at 10858 Culver Blvd Thursday, 6:30 pmCulver City, CA Friday, 8:00 pmVenice-Mar Vista, CA Displaced Families Are Reshaping Los Angeles’ Housing Market on the Westside Home sales and prices across Los Angeles surged in the first quarter of 2025 as thousands of residents displaced by January’s devastating wildfires scrambled to find new housing according to a report released Thursday by Douglas Elliman Fueled by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires which destroyed homes and forced roughly 13,000 families to relocate real estate activity soared in many neighborhoods Total home sales across the city’s Westside climbed 25.2% year-over-year Some of the most dramatic spikes were seen in areas adjacent to the burn zones Santa Monica and Venice saw single-family home sales more than double while West Hollywood and Century City reported gains exceeding 80% Inventory increased 47.7% citywide as more homeowners and developers rushed to take advantage of rising prices Those prices didn’t disappoint: The median sales price in the Westside region climbed 7.7% to nearly $2 million up 12.4% to a record-high median of $1.18 million Luxury condos rose 26% to a median of $3.9 million bolstered by the delivery of high-end new developments selling for as much as $4.7 million Brentwood led the city in price acceleration with the median price of a single-family home reaching $5.1 million Although some of the market’s momentum is expected to taper as the wildfire crisis stabilizes experts say L.A.’s Westside remains highly competitive especially in areas with newer construction and walkable amenities an immersive experience for students to continue to.. this particular bloom has reportedly impacted more animals than in recent times A rise in dead and dying dolphins and sea lions washing ashore in Santa Monica and Venice is being linked to a harmful algal bloom producing a potent neurotoxin prompting public warnings from marine wildlife organizations and increased concern from rescue agencies at least four dead dolphins were found on Venice Beach just days after another was discovered in Santa Monica according to a video published by local outlet Santa Monica Closeup on April 24 is believed to stem from an outbreak of domoic acid poisoning—a condition caused by ingesting algae-contaminated fish like sardines and anchovies explained on Instagram that while serious and harmful algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks have occurred for the past few years this particular bloom has impacted more animals than in recent times They note that the severity of this outbreak has led to a noticeable increase in affected wildlife appearing on beaches (Instagram/@healthebay Heal the Bay issued a public advisory on Instagram warning that these strandings are not accidental but are the result of serious illness or death “Pushing dolphins or whales back into the ocean causes more harm as they often drown,” the organization said it’s crucial to give them space and dignity” (Instagram/@healthebay They also emphasized the importance of caution stating that visitors to the beach may encounter wildlife affected by domoic acid poisoning and should avoid approaching any animals that appear sick Heal the Bay underscored that it is always illegal to approach a marine mammal due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act Rescue groups including the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) report they have been inundated with calls about stranded or deceased animals The MMCC urges the public to report live strandings to their 24-hour hotline at 1-800-399-4253 Dead marine mammals in Los Angeles County can be reported to the California Wildlife Center at 949-276-2237 NOAA’s hotline is 866-767-6114 (Heal the Bay Instagram post the Gondoliers have clinched the top spot in their league and will look.. Firefighters from both departments worked together to inspect the aircraft for potential damage A small aircraft made an emergency landing.. Open houses for the property are scheduled to begin May 6 A rare stretch of undeveloped property along the Venice.. well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers .. The grandmother’s injuries were not life-threatening A woman was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing her grandmother during a domestic.. Roll out the … robots.  An afterschool learning center for robotics and STEM is hosting weekly camps this summer designed.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Venice and the surrounding areas Voodoo Doughnut has become a cultural phenomenon since its inception known for its imaginative flavors and sideshow activities Voodoo Doughnuts,.. Support Services Lead to Reduction in Frequent Emergency Calls A collaborative effort between the Santa Monica Fire Department and Wise&Healthy Aging to combat the growing challenge of non-emergency 9-1-1 calls from aging residents has proven successful since its pilot launch in 2023 the goal of the program is to reduce strain on emergency services and improve the quality of life for older adults with chronic health issues By co-locating a part-time WISE care manager at the fire department emergency responders can identify and refer adults that need short or long-term health management services;to proactively manage the frequency these individuals need to call emergency responders we found our paramedics who were engaging with these folksneeded services from our community partners,” said Patrick Nulty SMFD’s Emergency Medical Services Battalion Chief “WISE became a very strong partner of ours to provide dedicated nuanced services that connect folks with services they need.” SMFD identified a group of 40 people in need of support services that frequently called 9-1-1 over a six-month period They found that six months after receiving direct case management from WISE there was an 86% reduction in calls from those individuals “This has been a missing piece of the puzzle for us at the fire department providing emergency medical services in our community This tool is widely accepted by our paramedics who especially appreciate that they can go into a person’s home and have a solution for them,” Nulty said The reduction in non-emergency 9-1-1 calls is a big win Vice President of Care Management at WISE says that collaborating with the Santa Monica Fire Department has helped identify and find the right services for vulnerable individuals before their living situation becomes unsustainable Other core objectives of this program include preventing homelessness by addressing the root causes that lead to housing instability such as chronic health issues andsafety at home to avoid hospitalization,as well as hoarding that can lead to eviction which ultimately reduces health and medical costs.  we connect people to proper support within WISE and the community and help them maintain aging in place independently for as long as possible without them getting hurt,” Louis said positive results have driven vulnerable people to receive support sometimes in ways they didn’t know they needed it “Sometimes people aren’t aware they are depressed or anxious or have isolated for as long as they have Whether that be because their spouse passed away or because they are having mobility issues they’re able to receive support and socially engage through activities boosting their overall mental and physical state,” Louis said the fire department and WISE hopes others adapt this model to help support aging and improve the quality of life for vulnerable older adults “I hope this becomes a standard of care in more communities because you can really bridge the gap for a lot of people in need,” Nulty said Wise&Healthy Aging serves more than 20,000 older adults per year and is committed to improving the quality of life for seniors through services such as its Adult Day Center for older adults with memory loss and The Club their senior center that provides a variety of social activities and classes to help older adults stay engaged and connected – and more To learn more about WISE, visit wiseandhealthyaging.org Hundreds of students in Santa Monica are receiving a boost of color and creativity this week thanks to a donation of $60,000 worth of Crayola products from Epic Entertainment Group to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica The donation includes tens of thousands of art supplies which are being distributed across the nonprofit’s seven elementary school-based playground club sites as well as additional programs at John Adams Middle School Lincoln Middle School and Santa Monica High staff and students at Franklin Elementary gathered for a celebration marking the kickoff of the rollout “We’re hoping to give these all out today,” said Brynja Seagren CEO for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica “And we have a whole other load at our office that we’re going to distribute to the other locations The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica serve approximately 600 students each day across 11 locations offering after-school programming focused on social-emotional learning around 30 to 40 children participate daily said the gift was meant to inspire joy and imagination in the wake of a difficult period for the region “Being a community member here in LA for almost 30 years and just seeing what our community has gone through we really felt like it was a poignant time to help kids dream again,” Hill said joy and creativity and I think it couldn’t have come at a better time.” which produces live shows and immersive experiences across the country has local ties to Santa Monica through its work with Pacific Park on the Pier and employees whose children participate in Boys and Girls Club programs Co-founder Steve Sheldon said the initiative was also motivated by recent wildfires that affected surrounding communities “This was an opportunity to hopefully deliver some hope Many of the items were sent home with students while others will be used in art programs and competitions throughout the school year well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers  As Pacific Palisades continues its long road to recovery following January’s catastrophic wildfires the local real estate market is feeling the weight of a growing inventory of burned lots and falling land values While rebuilding efforts are gaining traction the path forward for property owners remains uncertain According to a recent update from Anthony Marguleas nearly 100 burned lots are hitting the market each month This marks a significant increase from figures reported in early April when 131 lots were active and only 16 had sold “The market is seeing a sharp uptick in supply but demand has not kept pace,” Marguleas wrote in the email update we could see more than 1,300 burned properties listed over the next year.” Land values across much of the Palisades have dropped 35–40% since the fires The Huntington area has shown relative resilience the broader trend suggests values may continue falling over the next 8–10 months as inventory grows Marguleas said many owners are reluctant to sell now mistakenly believing the market has bottomed out we’re only four miles into a 26-mile marathon,” he said holding may pay off over the next few years.” well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers — including a burned parcel listed at \$999,000 that ultimately sold for \$1.65 million after attracting multiple bids the Palisades has issued 27 home-building permits — with the first granted just 57 days after the fire a pace Marguleas says is twice as fast as post-Camp or Woolsey Fire rebuilds Construction has already begun on several homes and local leaders hope some will be completed by January 2026 Plan check and permit fees have been suspended to accelerate recovery efforts Activity remains limited for existing homes and rental properties just 11 homes and 20 leases closed in the Palisades only eight homes and five leases were located in burn zones “The lack of data makes it difficult to price or evaluate properties that weren’t directly damaged,” Marguleas noted No injuries reported after unexpected landing in Pacific Palisades a Cessna 172  that was unable to complete its landing at Santa Monica Airport made an unexpected but safe touchdown Friday afternoon on the grounds of Riviera Country Club according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz Emergency crews from both the LAFD and the Santa Monica Fire Department responded swiftly to the scene This happened at Riv today. I pray I’m never this late for a tee time, but I do pray for the means to pull up this way if I was 😂 pic.twitter.com/00RzIdMrb8 All three occupants aboard the plane were evaluated and found to be unharmed Los Angeles Fire Department officials said there were no injuries reported on the ground and there was no fire or hazardous spill from the aircraft It remains unclear why the plane was diverted from its intended landing at Santa Monica Airport The specific location on the course where the plane touched down was not immediately confirmed Firefighters inspected the aircraft for possible damage and monitored the area for safety concerns as curious onlookers some of them confused golfers in mid-round The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the diversion and emergency landing No additional details were immediately available A single-engine plane made an emergency landing Friday on the golf course at Riviera Country Club startling golfers at the prestigious venue that will host the 2028 Olympic golf competition after reporting engine issues and being diverted from nearby Santa Monica Airport according to the Federal Aviation Administration All three occupants aboard emerged uninjured Video of the incident captured the plane winging low over the course before bouncing to a halt on the turf near the 10th tee Responders from both Los Angeles and Santa Monica fire departments quickly arrived at the scene the Los Angeles Fire Department said the plane landed safely at the golf course and all three occupants were uninjured located on the 1200 block of Capri Drive in Pacific Palisades is well-known to golf enthusiasts as the annual host of the Genesis Invitational The private club has previously hosted three major championships and is scheduled to be the dedicated venue for golf during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles The club was also narrowly spared from devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January which forced this year's Genesis Invitational to relocate to Torrey Pines in San Diego Emergency landings at golf courses are not uncommon in urban areas due to their open spaces actor Harrison Ford made an emergency landing at Penmar Golf Course The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident which occurred nearly simultaneously with another aircraft incident in Orange County where a plane reportedly overshot the runway at Fullerton Airport Riviera Country Club is also set to host the 2026 U.S impressive work by this pilot! Took off from Santa Monica airport, apparent engine failure, and landed next to my house at the Riviera golf course in Santa Monica. pic.twitter.com/9ungkMtwQ5 Copyright © 2025 SMDP. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2025 SMDP. All Rights Reserved. Print Santa Monica’s Erewhon grocery store closed its tonic bar after finding cockroaches in the facility The upscale store was ordered closed after the L.A County Department of Public Health found what it described in a public report as a “vermin infestation.” “We deeply regret that a roach was found in our tonic bar,” said a spokesperson for Erewhon in a statement to The Times “We sincerely apologize for this lapse in our standards.” A store worker who spoke with The Times on Thursday said two cockroaches were found The Department of Public Health noted in their report that they observed “two live nymph German cockroaches in the cabinet under the ‘Simonelli’ coffee machine.” The report also noted that a dead cockroach was found “Eliminate cockroaches and all evidence of cockroaches from the facility,” the department noted as the corrective action needed The grocery store received a “B” grade and a total score of 84 out of 100 An Erewhon corporate spokesperson said the store “voluntarily” closed the tonic bar The company said it anticipated reopening the tonic bar later Thursday In recent years, the popularity of the luxury grocery chain has soared. It has has cultivated a following of shoppers who regularly visit to buy a prepared meal or pricey, celebrity-backed smoothies. Three more locations are set to open in Southern California this year. In its closure order for the Santa Monica location, the Public Health Department found the store had a “major” issue with “rodents, insects, birds or animals,” according to records posted online. Noah Goldberg covers Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked on its breaking news team and has also written an array of offbeat enterprise stories. Before joining The Times in 2022, Goldberg worked in New York City as the Brooklyn courts reporter for the New York Daily News and as the criminal justice reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle. He graduated from Vassar College. World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission The world is in chaos and the Santa Monica Erewhon apparently has roaches The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found a “major” violation at Erewhon’s Wilshire Boulevard location according to an April 8 inspection report posted to the agency website (“I thought they were just doing a deep clean,” one employee said.) Erewhon’s corporate office confirmed the bug issue writing in a statement that “We deeply regret that a roach was found in our tonic bar and we sincerely apologize for this lapse in our standards.” A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health directed me to its website “which provides you with all information that is available right now.” Per agency guidance a cockroach infestation is “evidenced by one or more live cockroaches in the food preparation The Los Angeles health-food mini-chain, notorious (beloved?) for stunts like selling single-packed strawberries flown directly from Japan ($20 each) a Hailey Bieber–branded smoothie for glazed skin (also $20) justifies its prices in part by claiming impeccable sourcing and cleanliness It apparently met its roach issue with the same vigor according to the statement: “Upon receiving the report we immediately took action.” The company added that its locations get weekly visits from pest control and that it employs a “third-party food safety facilities consultant.” Erewhon expects the health department back this afternoon and hopes to reopen its tonic bar promptly By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Every product is independently selected by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. There was an error processing the request. Please try again later. Print One of the cornerstones in LA28’s Olympic venue plan has fallen through Santa Monica officials announced Tuesday that formal talks with the organizing committee for the 2028 Games about hosting Olympic beach volleyball have ended. Santa Monica State Beach was tabbed to be the L.A. home for Olympic beach volleyball since the organizing committee’s first bid in 2016. But when city officials and LA28 could not reach an agreement about community benefits, operational details and financial guarantees, LA28 informed Santa Monica last week that it will pursue a new venue to host the event, which has become one of the premier sports of the Summer Games. After getting several new sites approved through a Los Angeles City Council vote last month, the committee is expected to reveal an updated venue proposal to the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday. Olympics The Rose Bowl announced it is hosting 2028 Olympics soccer finals on the same day an L.A City Council committee approved an adjusted venues plan “There is no better place to host the Olympic beach volleyball competition than Santa Monica We would have loved to be a venue city in 2028,” Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete said in a statement “While we’re disappointed that an agreement was not realized we remain eager to share in the excitement the Olympics will bring to our region and are looking forward to being a regional partner in this historic event.” Santa Monica could still be involved in the United States’ first Summer Games since 1996 by hosting hospitality houses for visiting countries LA28 has already worked with other cities to finalize venue plans outside of Los Angeles, including playing soccer medal matches at the Rose Bowl and creating multisport attractions in Long Beach and Carson. Long Beach will host seven sports and Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson will host four as part of an updated venue plan for the 2028 Olympics. Thuc Nhi Nguyen covers the Chargers for the Los Angeles Times. She also contributes to The Times’ Olympics and college sports coverage. She previously covered a wide range of sports including professional basketball after joining The Times in 2019 from the Southern California News Group, where she covered UCLA, professional soccer and preps. Because she doesn’t use her University of Washington mathematics degree for work, it makes great decoration in her parents’ Seattle home. Sports A great time was had by all at The Godfrey Hotel’s Derby Day where the mint juleps flowed all afternoon.. Former Palisades Resident Moved to the South Bay After Losing Home in Fire Braun Levi Investigation Underway After Intruder Breaches Star’s Property An unnamed man was arrested Monday after driving his vehicle through the front.. Retail Project Could Redefine Fox Hills Corridor A new chapter in Culver City’s Fox Hills neighborhood is beginning.. Eight-Lot Mulholland Estate Includes a 1950s Ranch Home 31 Acres A sprawling canyon estate in the Beverly Hills Post Office.. the Couple Parts Ways and Prepares to Sell Their Family Estate Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba and.. FILM REVIEWTHE ACCOUNTANT 2Rated R124 MinutesReleased April 25th   I’m impressed with The Accountant 2 A Whimsical Adventure for Families and Fantasy Fans This Weekend Families and fantasy fans alike are invited to embrace.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in the Westside and the surrounding areas A great time was had by all at The Godfrey Hotel's Derby Day where the mint juleps flowed all afternoon.. Soon shoppers at the Third Street Promenade pedestrian mall may be able to grab a buzz while they grab a latte Santa Monica’s City Council is considering a plan to let visitors sip alcoholic beverages as they stroll the Third Street Promenade The new proposal aims to breathe new life into the shopping strip that’s still-recovering after the pandemic the proposal would let patrons buy drinks from nearby bars and restaurants and carry them around the designated area daily from 8 a.m The new law went into effect on January 1 of this year While many residents have expressed excitement regarding the new potential plan Some Californians worry it could lead to public drunkenness and rowdiness and undermine the Promenade’s family-friendly feel Back in 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill similar to Bill 969 That city tested an “entertainment zone” during its Oktoberfest celebration last September Foot traffic to the area was reportedly ten times higher than the previous year The experiment in San Francisco offers a promising sign for other cities in California hoping to boost local business and attract more tourists You can read more about Senate Bill 969 here. 2025 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AMSanta Monica Main Library – Martin Luther King Jr Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office for the 2025 Fair Housing Symposium Click here to register  Price Gouging Protections During the 2025 Wildfire Emergency anti-price gouging laws are in place due to the regional wildfire emergency These laws generally prohibit price increases of more than 10% during a declared state of emergency ➡️ Click here for more information The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit enforces state and local laws to make sure that all businesses and landlords in Santa Monica treat consumers and tenants fairly For questions or assistance, call 311 or email Consumer.Mailbox@santamonica.gov provide contact information for a wide range of essential services in Santa Monica:     Essential Services     Servicios Esenciales California law requires that all businesses play fair with their customers Here are some of the laws you may not have known A store can’t charge more for a product than the lowest price that’s posted or advertised Accidental overcharges are more common than you’d think Always check your receipt to make sure you were charged the right price (Business & Professions Code §12024.2.) False advertisingAny advertisement that’s untrue or misleading is against the law – as long as the business knows or should know that it’s untrue or misleading This includes “bait and switch” advertising: merchants can’t advertise a low-priced product that is unavailable simply to entice customers into the store to sell a higher-priced product (Business & Professions Code §17500.)Refunds and exchangesStores must give refunds or exchanges on all items that are returned within 7 days with a receipt The only exception is if they have clear signs stating a no-refund or no-exchange policy in one of the following places: at each cash register and sales counter; at each public entrance; on tags attached to each item; or on their order forms.  (Civil Code §1723.)“Going out of business” salesIn Santa Monica “going out of business” and “liquidation” sales can’t be advertised or held without a City permit The permit must be prominently displayed near the store entrance.  (S.M.M.C gift certificates can’t have expiration dates the business must either refund the amount in cash or give you a replacement certificate at no cost (Civil Code §1749.5.)Credit card surchargesRetail businesses can’t charge an extra fee when you pay by credit card they can offer a discount on the established price if you pay cash (Civil Code §1748.1.)Same prices for men and womenBusinesses are required to charge men and women the same price for similar goods and services dry cleaners can’t charge a higher price for cleaning women’s blouses than they do for men’s shirts.  (S.M.M.C §4.32.171.)If you have a complaint against a Santa Monica business or would like more information about your consumer rights call the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit at 311 or 1-866-311-SAMO California has strict rules for people who solicit money for charities: the person must show the prospective donor either a card or printed material that includes it can be given out during the course of the solicitation. (Calif 2.    Anyone paid to solicit for a charity must disclose prior to the solicitation: Anyone paid to solicit for a charity must first register and post a bond with the California Attorney General. (Calif 12599.5)If you’ve seen a solicitor who appeared to be breaking any of these rules in Santa Monica please contact the Consumer Protection Unit at 311 You have additional rights when you buy a car from a dealer: o   The odometer shows actual mileage and has not been altered; o   The car was never bought back by a dealer or manufacturer under state or federal warranty laws; o   The car was never in a collision or flood which substantially impaired the use or safety of the car; o   The car has no Lemon Law Buyback o   The car has no frame damage; and o   The car cannot be sold “as is.” If you are buying a used car and it is not "certified," you may want to ask the dealer why not (For details see Vehicle Code Section 11713.18.)    If you have a problem with a car dealer in Santa Monica, contact the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office at smconsumer.org or 311.  For dealers located outside of Santa Monica, you may file a complaint with the California Department of Motor Vehicles at www.dmv.ca.gov (go to Forms menu select Request for Records and Consumer Complaint California has tough laws to protect consumers from unfair practices by towing companies.Towing without authorization It’s illegal to tow a car from any private property without the written authorization of the property owner (or representative), who must also be present at the time of the towing. This means that even if someone parks in a “tow away” zone their car can’t be towed unless an employee of the business specifically requests the tow and is present at the time during off-hours a car cannot be towed from a private business lot unless someone from the business is there and asks for the tow Refusing to accept payment by credit card The towing company must accept credit card payments for towing and storage fees And they can’t charge extra for using the credit card.  (Calif Charging for extra days If a vehicle is released within 24 hours from the time it’s brought to the storage facility the storage charge shall be for only one day.  So only one day’s storage charge may be charged for any vehicle released the same day that it’s towed.  (Calif Penalties and consumer remedies When a towing company violates any of these rules consumers can sue the company in Small Claims Court and get four times the amount they paid towing companies that violate these rules may be guilty of a crime and prosecuted in appropriate cases.If you have a complaint or question about a Santa Monica business or want more information about the law Enter your email to sign up for news and updates from the city The God of War franchise may soon return to its mythological roots as reports swirl that Santa Monica Studio is crafting a brand-new installment set once again in Ancient Greece While the studio has not made any official announcements multiple industry insiders—including journalist Jeff Grubb—have hinted at a smaller-scale project that revisits Kratos’ original stomping grounds This potential side story could mark the most significant shift in the series since its Norse reinvention in 2018 This rumored title wouldn’t be a remake or remaster of the original trilogy but an entirely new game set in the same mythological timeline it may serve as a standalone experience—shorter in scope than the core titles—similar in format to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales or Uncharted: The Lost Legacy That structure could allow Santa Monica Studio to flesh out unexplored stories from Kratos’ past while staying agile and experimental in development Set possibly before or alongside the events of the original Greek-era trilogy this entry could shed light on Kratos’ early years as a Spartan general or delve into mythological conflicts only hinted at in the original games There’s also speculation that it could introduce new playable characters perhaps centering on Greek gods or warriors who crossed paths with Kratos during his rise to power The timing of this rumor feels too perfect to ignore 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the God of War franchise Santa Monica Studio has already acknowledged the milestone with the Dark Odyssey Collection—a free cosmetic DLC released for God of War Ragnarök in March 2025 that featured skins inspired by the original Greek games Fans saw this as more than just fan service; to many it felt like a breadcrumb trail leading back to Olympus Adding fuel to the fire are recent job postings from the studio seeking developers with deep familiarity with the God of War franchise including experience in “third-person melee combat” and “mythology-driven world design”—suggesting that the studio isn’t just done with Kratos yet but possibly looking to revive what made him iconic One of the most intriguing questions is how this hypothetical Greek installment will play The original trilogy was known for its frenetic combo-heavy combat and fixed camera angles more grounded approach with an over-the-shoulder perspective and a single-shot cinematic style Some fans are calling for a hybrid—blending the spectacle and speed of the older games with the weight and emotional depth of the newer ones this project could offer a playground for the developers to experiment with this hybrid gameplay model—satisfying both nostalgia and modern expectations The momentum behind the franchise isn’t limited to games Amazon Prime Video’s live-action God of War series is deep into development with Battlestar Galactica’s Ron Moore serving as showrunner the show is expected to cover the Norse storyline starting with the events of the 2018 reboot Early production rumors suggest the series could eventually branch into Kratos’ Greek-era backstory as well potentially syncing up with this rumored new game’s release God of War Ragnarök continues to receive updates and support focused on bug fixes and performance improvements Fans appreciated the continued attention but have been clamoring for meatier content—another reason this new Greek title could land at just the right moment recent reports revealed that Sony scrapped a planned live-service God of War project earlier this year this cancellation appears to reflect Sony’s shifting priorities as other multiplayer-first projects like Concord also faced setbacks it seems the company is doubling down on narrative-driven single-player experiences—exactly what the God of War fanbase craves With the 20th anniversary fast approaching and clues stacking up a return to Ancient Greece no longer seems like wishful thinking—it’s starting to feel inevitable this rumored game has the potential to reignite a beloved era while propelling the franchise forward the idea of revisiting Olympus is thrilling For newer players introduced during the Norse saga it’s a chance to understand what made Kratos a gaming icon in the first place Until Santa Monica Studio breaks its silence we’re left with speculation—but if the winds from Mount Olympus are any sign The God of War series has become one of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises since its debut in 2005 these action-adventure games have captured players’ imaginations with their epic storytelling and visceral combat knowing where to start can be confusing since the release order differs from the chronological story order To play the God of War games in story chronological order follow this sequence: God of War: Ascension This order follows Kratos’ complete journey from his early days serving the Greek gods through his eventual relocation to the Norse realms The first six games comprise the Greek saga while the last two represent Santa Monica Studio’s Norse chapter of the franchise Many fans recommend playing the games in release order for first-time players, starting with the original God of War on PlayStation 2. This approach allows players to experience the evolution of gameplay mechanics and graphical improvements as the series progressed across multiple PlayStation platforms Whether choosing chronological or release order each game provides crucial pieces of Kratos’ complex story Here are the God of War games in order of their chronological story: If you’d prefer to play them in order of their release: Many players recommend playing in release order for the best experience as it aligns with how the story and gameplay mechanics evolved over time God of War debuted on PlayStation 2 in 2005, introducing players to Kratos, a Spartan warrior seeking revenge against Ares. The game featured fluid combat, impressive visuals, and a compelling story rooted in Greek mythology Santa Monica Studio followed this success with God of War II in 2007 expanding on the original’s mechanics while continuing Kratos’s violent journey The game pushed PS2 hardware to its limits with larger environments and more epic boss battles the series also ventured onto portable systems God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008) for PSP served as a prequel to the original game showing Kratos during his service to the gods God of War III (2010) marked the series’ transition to PlayStation 3 taking full advantage of the console’s power and massive set pieces that showcased Kratos battling both Titans and gods This entry completed the main Greek saga with spectacular boss fights and an emotional conclusion to Kratos’s revenge story with battles taking place on moving Titans and environments that dynamically changed Santa Monica Studio refined their formula with each release gradually adding more depth to both combat mechanics and storytelling The fixed camera angles and combo-based action remained hallmarks of the franchise Sony released several collections and side stories God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010) for PSP explored Kratos’s search for his brother The God of War Saga collection (2012) bundled five games together making it easier for newcomers to experience Kratos’s journey The God of War: Origins Collection brought the PSP titles to PS3 with enhanced graphics God of War: Ascension (2013) served as a prequel to the entire series and introduced multiplayer to the franchise for the first time While the series stayed true to its action roots and narrative elements that grew the world and deepened fans’ connection to Kratos God of War titles consistently receive high praise from critics and players alike God of War (2018) holds a 94% rating on Metacritic showcasing the series’ consistent quality The franchise has collected over 200 Game of the Year awards across its installments Santa Monica Studio’s work on God of War (2018) earned it six awards at The Game Awards, including the coveted Game of the Year title. The game’s reimagining of Kratos as a father dealing with grief and responsibility was particularly praised for its mature storytelling Critics have highlighted the series’ combat mechanics, visual design, and character development. The transition from Greek to Norse mythology in the 2018 reboot demonstrated the franchise’s ability to evolve while maintaining its core identity. God of War’s combat system has inspired many action games since its debut in 2005. The blend of visceral combat, puzzle-solving, and platforming created a template that numerous titles have followed. Kratos has become one of gaming’s most recognizable characters. His evolution from a one-dimensional revenge-seeker to a complex father figure reflects the maturation of video game storytelling as a whole. The series pioneered cinematic techniques that are now industry standards. God of War (2018)’s single-shot camera approach influenced how developers think about immersion and storytelling perspective. The franchise’s success proved that single-player narrative experiences remain commercially viable in an era dominated by multiplayer and live-service games. This encouraged other developers to invest in story-driven adventures. Many players have questions about the God of War series. These questions range from the proper play order to platform availability and how the different titles connect within the overall storyline. The chronological order of the God of War series begins with God of War: Ascension, followed by Chains of Olympus, the original God of War, Ghost of Sparta, God of War II, and God of War III. The series then transitions to Norse mythology with God of War (2018) and concludes with God of War: Ragnarok. This order follows Kratos’s journey from his early days serving the Greek gods through his later life in the Norse realms. No single platform currently supports all God of War games. The original titles were PlayStation exclusive, with the first games appearing on PS2. The PSP hosted Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. PS3 offered the main trilogy and Ascension, while PS4 and PS5 support the newer titles. Some games have been remastered for newer platforms, but a complete collection on one system isn’t available. As of March 2025, there are nine main God of War titles in the franchise. This includes the original trilogy, two PSP games (Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta), Ascension, the 2018 reboot, Ragnarok, and the mobile game A Call from the Wilds. Several collections and remasters have also been released over the years, but these aren’t counted as separate titles. Yes, God of War: Ragnarok is the direct sequel to God of War (2018). It continues the story of Kratos and his son Atreus in the Norse realms. Ragnarok picks up a few years after the events of the 2018 game. The story addresses the consequences of their previous journey and confronts the approaching Ragnarok, the prophesied end of the Norse gods. God of War: Ascension serves as a prequel to the entire series. It takes place about six months after Kratos was tricked into killing his family. The game shows Kratos attempting to break his blood oath to Ares. While considered part of the main storyline, some fans view it as less essential to understanding the overall narrative compared to other titles in the series. God of War: A Call from the Wilds is a text-based adventure game released as a promotional tool for God of War (2018). It focuses on Atreus before the events of the main game. This mobile experience provides additional background on Atreus’s character development and his relationship with his mother. While not essential to the main storyline, it offers supplementary context that enriches the narrative of the 2018 game. Welcome to 9meters.com, where you can explore a wide range of articles, how-to guides, and news covering the latest in technology and entertainment. We provide insight into movies, shows, games, gadgets, new releases, and much more. Our content spans from current trends to future developments. Feel free to navigate through our categories or use the search function to find information on any topic of interest. This site participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com 2722 N Green Valley PkwyHenderson, NV 89014 Accessibility | Privacy | Terms | Articles | Sitemap | Contact The Cessna 172 aircraft was meant to land at nearby Santa Monica Airport but touched down at Riviera Golf Course instead Over the past two years, the city of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, or OSE, has been working with property owners and community members to develop a Building Performance Standards Policy that would require Santa Monica’s existing large buildings to meet energy use and/or greenhouse gas reductions over time called the Clean and Healthy Existing Buildings Ordinance will be presented to the City Council this summer The Building Performance Standards Policy would improve and modernize the city’s existing large buildings by requiring gradual reductions in energy and fossil fuel use over time These reduction targets would need to be met every five years beginning in 2031 for buildings greater than 50,000 square feet and in 2036 for buildings greater than 20,000 square feet CHEBO is an essential part of Santa Monica’s work toward reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 energy and fossil fuel use in existing buildings accounted for 33 percent of citywide greenhouse gas emissions the second largest contributor after transportation Reducing carbon emissions in existing buildings by improving energy efficiency and decreasing fossil fuel use is critical for the city to meet its climate action goals CHEBO would follow the goals and actions detailed in the Zero Net Carbon Buildings section of the city’s 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan: In addition to helping achieve building-sector climate action goals improving energy performance of existing buildings brings additional benefits such as: OSE will hold an online public meeting to share information and gather feedback on the Building Performance Standards Policy on May 8 from 4 to 5 p.m. Register here To learn more, and for details on other upcoming informational meetings, visit the Building Performance Standards Policy page Staff are tracking pending state legislation that may impact the city’s ability to adopt policies that affect residential buildings the policy recommendation may be limited to commercial buildings TRAFFIC EDUCATION & ENFORCEMENT - MOTORSWeekly Stats: Sexual Assault– 600 Block of Santa Monica Blvd The reporting party observed a sexual assault in progress and began recording the incident while calling 911 Officers located the suspect leaving the area Both the victim and suspect were transported to the Rape Treatment Center for evidence collection.   Assault W/ Deadly Weapon (Family Domestic) – 21st St A grandmother and granddaughter got into a verbal altercation which turned physical The granddaughter stabbed her grandmother in her shin with a knife Domestic Violence – 1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk The victim contacted PD stating her boyfriend had beat her up by punching her multiple times in her face and head; and possibly cut the back of her head with a box cutter The victim was located with multiple injuries on her face The victim advised that her boyfriend fled the scene and did not have a car The victim was transported to the hospital for further treatment Note: There has been prior domestic violence in their relationship.  Burglaries via Rear Sliding Door – Investigation Ongoing Criminal Threats w/ Firearm- SM Place Mall. DSU officers respond to a call where mall security was threatened by a female transient with a firearm The security guards lost sight of the suspect as she walked into Structure 7 Officers searched the parking structure while investigating 6th St/Broadway 368(b)(1) PC / 11377(a) HS An elderly BBB passenger was spat on by a bus rider after she asked him to stop smoking on the bus The suspect was located and found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  6th St/SM Blvd Warrant/11377(a) HS Officers contacted a subject known to have an outstanding SMPD warrant The subject was found in possession of methamphetamine.  PED stop 400 block of Arizona  Officers contacted a subject after they observed him manipulating drugs with additional drug paraphernalia in plain view Ultimately their investigation led to a  possession for sales arrest and felony possession due to prior convictions.  Juvenile Overdose-  Beverly Ave Officers responded to an assistance call for service The comments of the call stated a 16-year-old was not breathing in the house and dispatch was giving CPR instructions Santa Monica Fire Department Engine 2 administered Narcan and was providing rescue breaths The victim regained consciousness and was transported to a local area hospital It should be noted on 09/09/2024 SMFD responded to an overdose call for the same individual.  The juvenile was placed on a 5150 hold for making suicidal statements.  Estes Robbery/69 PC/Use of Force –420 Broadway Officers responded to an Estes Robbery at 420 Broadway The suspect had taken items and scratched the loss prevention agent on the face as she left the business Officers located the suspect on the train platform and attempted to detain the suspect She proceeded to also scratch the officer along the right side of his face and neck The suspect was placed under arrest with the assistance of responding officers Rollover Traffic Collision/DUI-900 Block of Broadway Officers were on patrol in the 1100 block of Broadway when he heard a loud crash near the 900 Block of Broadway They arrived on scene and located two vehicles overturned Only one driver was located and initially it was believed the driver of the second vehicle fled the location Video of the accident was located and showed the driver struck a parked unoccupied vehicle at a high rate of speed A search of the suspect’s’ vehicle and a backpack revealed bottles of Nitrous Oxide The driver was transported to a local hospital and eventually cited out for DUI.  & Pico Blvd.  Officers initiated a traffic stop for a moving violation It was subsequently discovered that the driver was on felony probation A probation search revealed the driver was in possession of narcotics.  Assault – Deadly Weapon (Skateboard) / 600 Block of Ocean Park Blvd. The victim sees a suspect coming from the direction of the front door of his apartment The victim confronted the suspect who swung a skateboard at the victim’s head The suspect fled but was located nearby.  Grand Theft (E-Bike) / 1000 Block of Pico Blvd (800 Block of Broadway) The victim reported the theft of an E-Bike from in front of his apartment building the victim was able to track (with an apple air tag) the stolen bike to a specific apartment building Officers responded and found the suspect in possession of the bike.   Aggravated Battery – 800 Block of Ocean Ave A homeless victim was contacted by six suspects riding scooters An unknown number of suspects punched and kicked the victim once on his body The victim was not very forthcoming with incident details The victim sustained redness all over his body and was transported to the hospital for further treatment.   Carjacking / Assault – 2100 Block of Ocean Ave Unprovoked the victim was struck multiple times in the head by three suspects wearing face masks One of the suspects took the victim’s car keys and they all fled in his vehicle southbound on Ocean Ave and out of sight 1500 block of Alley 4 ARREST-LAPD Warrant – The suspect was contacted for drinking alcohol in public and found to have a $200,000 LAPD warrant for Theft.    1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk ARREST-BHPD Warrant – The suspect was found to have a $75,000 Beverly Hills PD warrant for Arson.  Ocean / Colorado ARREST- SMPD WANT Officers were informed by Property Detectives of the suspect having an outstanding Felony WANT for Prop The suspect was located and arrested.    1500 Block of Palisades Park]ARREST- NO BAIL ADW Warrant The suspect was contacted for smoking a cigarette in the park It was discovered he had a No Bail warrant for Assault w/Deadly Weapon out of UCLA PD The suspect was also in possession of a meth pipe.  1600 Block of the Beach ARREST- Sex Registrant Failure to Register /Narcotics Possession. DART contacted a suspect who was in possession of a nitrous oxide canister The suspect was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender,  in addition to possession of nitrous oxide and crystal meth.  1000 Block the Beach ARREST- Drug Paraphernalia / Resisting Arrest / Probation Hold The suspect had a meth pipe in plain view and attempted to run when officers approached.  He was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia 1500 block of Palisades Park (SMPD Felony Warrant Arrest) The suspect was found to have a $100k SMPD warrant and was taken into custody.   (No Bail Parole Warrant Arrest) The suspect was contacted for having a tent on the beach A records check revealed a NO BAIL parole warrant The suspect was placed under arrest and drug paraphernalia was found in his property.  11377(A) Possession of meth /11364(a)(1) Poss of drug paraphernalia - The suspect was contacted for smoking in plain view He was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  11364(a)(1) Possession of drug paraphernalia (cite out) In plain view the suspect dropped drug paraphernalia on the sand.  (11377(a) H&S - Possession of methamphetamine Arrests Two suspects were detained for having an open container of alcohol Both were found in possession of meth and meth pipes One suspect was also in possession of cocaine.  CIT conducted a Retail Theft operation with assistance from DFR/ SMART Center and the Downtown Services Unit Crime analysis revealed the “hot spot” locations to be Sunglass Hut The operation yielded a total of 9 arrests 7 of which were felonies and 2 were misdemeanors Officers observed a suspect at 630 Wilshire who the officer  recognized as a suspect from a case he handled from 01/16/25 Officers detained the suspect and arrested him for burglary A search of the suspect revealed a meth pipe and a want/warrant check revealed two SMPD warrants for narcotics Officers located a suspect at 630 Wilshire Blvd who was known to have a stay away order from the location The suspect was detained and it was discovered he had a $51k SMPD narcotics warrant The suspect was also in possession of a meth pipe Loss Prevention from Victoria’s Secret contacted officers regarding a “theft occurring now” Officers responded to the area and detained two suspects in the 1200 block of Alley 3 Both suspects were found in possession of stolen property and burglary tools One suspect was also in possession of meth and the possession charge was elevated to a felony due to his superseding priors Lululemon Loss Prevention contacted the sergeant in the SMART Center regarding a theft in progress DFR was deployed to the location and monitored the suspects’ movement from the store to Structure 5 but officers were able to locate them as they were leaving the structure in a vehicle CIT conducted a traffic stop and detained the suspects Follow up revealed the suspects to be in possession of stolen property from several stores from the downtown area Officers were monitoring the CCTV in the security room of Sephora when they observed a suspect commit a theft and quickly exit the store Officers coordinated with DFR and DFR observed the suspect enter her vehicle in the 400 block of Arizona She was detained and in found to be possession of the stolen property from Sephora she was in possession of stolen property from Lululemon Officer  were flagged down by TJ Maxx loss prevention regarding a theft that just occurred They located the suspect and arrested him for theft CIT conducted a crime suppression operation targeting the 1700 block – 2200 block of Lincoln Blvd. Officers observed a suspect smoking near to 300 block of Bay St The suspect was detained for the smoking violation and gave a false ID to officers He was arrested and found to have $81K in SMPD warrants for weapons and narcotic violations he was in possession of 1.6 grams of meth.  Officers contacted a subject at Lincoln Blvd The suspect was found to be an Oxnard gang member and on parole for carjacking.  Neighborhood Associations and Community Meetings CET team visited the Village school at the Colorado Center to welcome the students who are relocating due to the Palisades fire The goal was to establish a positive presence on campus and build familiarity with the school community helping to create a sense of trust and approachability between law enforcement and families.  Staff participated in the YMCA Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday Approximately 150 people attended the event which focused on promoting health and wellness among children Personnel actively engaged with families throughout the day supporting the event’s mission and fostering positive community connections.   Staff attended multiple planning meetings for the upcoming opening of Palisades High These meetings focused on developing a comprehensive communications plan and fostering collaboration with various city agencies and law enforcement partners The joint planning aims to ensure a smooth and safe first day of school for students CET discussed SMPD’s Strategic Plan and presented each goal with the members of the class Staff were contacted by the manager of Habit Burger regarding a chronic subject who has been repeatedly causing disturbances at the business it was determined that the subject was committing theft and willfully disrupting business operations The manager was advised on how to initiate a private person’s arrest and instructed to call the non-emergency line for any further incidents NROs will be working with patrol officers to address the issue and plans to conduct periodic checks at the location beginning next week CET joined Code Enforcement officers for a follow-up visit to the American Motel to assess whether any improvements had been made to the property since the previous inspection The visit was part of a continuing effort to ensure compliance with safety and maintenance standards NRO Wang and CPC Aguilar responded to a noise complaint at Pavilion’s Market the noise was traced to a grease collection company that services Panda Express during the early morning hours CET was contacted by a resident who resides in the 1800 block of 10th Street The resident’s son was involved in a solo vehicle traffic collision in February 2025 The resident advised NRO Avila that an unknown subject filed a claim with their insurance and claimed that her son struck their vehicle and fled the scene The resident recently received a letter in the mail stating that she owed $17,000.00 to the insurance company and she could not locate her incident number that SMPD officers provided her in February NRO Avila conducted a computer search and was able to locate the report number and informed her how to obtain a copy of the traffic collision report.  A subject was observed to the rear of Salvation Army with his belongings spread out and blocking the rear entry way He stated he was willing to return to Oklahoma where he was originally from HLP team members contacted the Salvation Army to assist the individual with bus fare to get him home to Oklahoma He was able to get a bus ticket due to the efforts of Salvation Army employees HLP team members transported him to Union Station so he could catch the bus.  HLP Team Officers responded to 16th St and Arizona Ave regarding a disturbing the peace call Officers ultimately contacted a male subject who was recently discharged from Santa Monica Hospital and looking for assistance with housing/shelter resources Salvation Army staff responded to the scene and assisted with transporting the male subject to a shelter in the Los Angeles area identified and removed the following abandoned encampments/property located throughout the city Animal Control continues to receive an influx of calls on the beach due to the toxic algal bloom and dogs on the beach Dead animals picked up on the beach: (6) Sea Lions at approximately 8:00am Animal Control Officers were flagged down in the 900 block of the beach by a resident who wanted to report an injured dolphin ACOs responded to the location and assisted lifeguard personnel already on scene with accessing and monitoring the injured dolphin.  At approximately 8:30am Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) personnel arrived and transported the injured dolphin to the rescue center in San Pedro for medical treatment.  On 04/21/2025 at approximately 4:30pm ACOs responded to the 800 block of the beach regarding another an injured dolphin Animal Control Officers assessed the dolphin’s injuries and requested MMR personnel to responded and assist At approximately 1700 hours the injured dolphin succumbed to its injuries MMR arrived on scene and took custody of the deceased dolphin and transported the dolphin to MMR for a necropsy.   On 04/22/25 Animal Control personnel were flagged on the 1700 block of the beach regarding a dolphin in distress at the waterline Lifeguards advised that MMR had a 40-minute ETA Personnel assisted with crowd control and then assisted MMR in loading the dolphin for transport.  Note: 4 deceased dolphins were transported by Animal Control Officers to Dockweiler’s State Beach for O.R.R.A (Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance) personnel to conduct a necropsy and research study on their cause of death.   Pier Jumper/5150 HSOs were flagged down in the Harbor Office regarding a pier jumper HSOs entered the water and rescued the victim by bringing him to the hoist The victim was loaded into the stokes basket for transport SMFD Engine 7 and PD Beach Detail responded to the west end to assist The victim was transported via the Harbor Truck to an awaiting ambulance and taken to the hospital for a 5150 evaluation Medical Aid - Pacific Park HSOs responded to Pacific Park for a report of a fainting A 17-year-old passed out after riding the sea dragon ride Care was transferred over to SMFD E7 upon their arrival.  Medical Aid - Pacific Park  HSOs were flagged down by a Pacific Park employee The patient tripped and fell and was experiencing pain to his ankle with obvious swelling HSOs assessed the ankle and wrapped the injury with an ace bandage The patient refused further care and said the bandage helped Medical Aid 1500blk of the Beach Personnel received a radio call of two juvenile females found face down unresponsive in the sand possibly with alcohol bottles around them and LA County Lifeguards responded and found one patient extremely intoxicated Sworn personnel arrived on scene and the subject was assessed before being transported to the hospital.  The suspect is wanted for grabbing a woman at SMC Santa Monica College Police Department issued a crime alert Wednesday following a sexual battery incident that occurred in the college's main campus library a suspect approached a student in the library tapped the victim on the shoulder and asked for a kiss the suspect grabbed the victim's groin area without consent before fleeing in an unknown direction The suspect was described as a male with black hair No additional physical description or vehicle information was provided Campus police personnel offered support and resources to the victim The investigation is ongoing under case number 25-82 Santa Monica College Police Chief Johnnie Adams encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at 310-434-4300 The crime alert reminds students and staff to remain vigilant about campus safety and utilizing safety resources like the LiveSafe app for virtual escorts The notification was issued in compliance with the federal Clery Act which requires timely warnings when certain crimes are reported on or near college property The All-American tradition of celebrating the birth of the country by blowing up a small piece of it has come to an end in Santa Monica with the cancellation of the City’s only public fireworks display Santa Monica College announced this month that Celebrate America has been canceled due to a lack of funding At the SMC Board of Trustee’s April meeting Jeffery said contracts for the event are typically submitted to the Board in April partners that have traditionally helped fund the event have dropped out and as the college cannot use general funds to support a non-educational event Celebrate America costs the college about $100,000 a year to organize that cost was split up to 50-50 between sponsors and the college Senior Director of Government Relations and Institutional Communications said the City of Santa Monica contributed about $20,000 SMC student government would contribute about $15,000 sponsorships from the business community ranged from $5 - $10 plus some additional revenue from the school’s parking lots on the night of the show “The City has used its own financial circumstances to say that it’s not a priority of the city so they’re not interested in supporting it and the associated students are also spending their money elsewhere and on other things so those sources weren’t available to us The business community is dealing with its own stresses and on top of that the college is dealing with its own financial stresses.” Girard said the City hasn’t actually funded the event for several years and the combined loss in funding is just too much for the college at a time when its own revenues are in decline Celebrate America has been the only official fireworks show in the City for decades The City of Santa Monica used to organize a municipal show on the beach but ended the practice about 25 years ago after crowds and violence marred the beach-front event Santa Monica College stepped into the void and held a show every year up to Covid The show was put on hiatus from 2020-2022 returning in 2023 everyone involved in paying for the show has seen their fortunes decline in the post Covid era requiring the use of $33.2 million from General Fund reserves over the next five years to maintain balance Compounding this strain are substantial legal liabilities particularly from the Eric Uller settlement which has already cost the city $230 million The ongoing California Voting Rights Act lawsuit also continues to drain resources with legal costs projected at $6 million over the current and next fiscal year The city's once robust tourism industry continues to suffer and an exodus of corporate businesses have driven the daytime population to 60% of pre-pandemic levels The lack of people has in turn hit local businesses and key revenue streams like sales tax Those impacts were magnified recently due to the nearby wildfires that have disrupted the region’s workforce and spending habits Santa Monica College has seen its reserves steadily decline in recent years and has a projected deficit of up to $9 million for the next year Locals still have nearby options to see something go boom Marina Del Rey traditionally hosts a fireworks show and the Beach Club straddles city limits on the northern edge of town allowing them to secure a Los Angeles permit for a private show Jeff Jarow said he is planning to expand the already popular July 4 parade He said this year's event will incorporate many of the Palisadian residents who were burned out of their homes “This is the 150 year anniversary so we’re going to really ride on that wave and bring in the Palisades as well,” he said “I’m going to try to get the Pali marching band I want to do things that we’ve never done before it will be a high bar to set for future parades For more information on the parade, including sponsorship and participation information, visit https://www.santamonicaparade.com/ Santa Monica's beaches are open and welcoming visitors and locals for both sand and water activities.  As debris removal efforts continue in the burn areas north of Santa Monica high tides may wash up large pieces of fire debris along the coastline Beachgoers should continue to stay away from fire debris in the water or on beaches.  Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that PCH north of Santa Monica will reopen to public travel by the end of May The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct The American Red Cross has set up a 2025 California Wildfire Bridge Financial Assistance Enrollment Site at the Santa Monica YMCA A large crowd of local aviation industry professionals gathered at the Sling Pilot Academy A new chapter in Santa Monica’s aviation legacy unfolded on Thursday as Sling Pilot Academy officially opened its newest flight training center at Santa Monica Airport The academy’s expansion marks its fourth location Its presence at Santa Monica Airport signals not only a strategic investment in the future of aviation but a reaffirmation of the airport’s vital role in Southern California’s economy and infrastructure “This airport is where air travel for the masses began,” said Matt Liknaitzky “We’re proud to continue that legacy by uplifting people’s lives through aviation and creating career pathways for local residents.” despite the significance of a new business opening no members of the Santa Monica City Council or senior City staff were present I think they're missing out on a great event,” said Phil Derner Western Pacific Regional Director for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) “This is about building well-paying careers that are now accessible to a diverse audience was similarly struck by the lack of official presence there was no real representation from City Hall,” Rogers said Sling is offering exactly the kind of innovation Santa Monica needs more inclusive aviation and they’re doing it the right way.” Despite the uncertain future of the airport with federal agreements set to expire in 2028 “We recognize there’s a group that opposes the airport’s continued existence,” Liknaitzky said “But we’re here to show the community how aviation uplifts lives providing local residents with opportunities that are faster and often more lucrative than many traditional college degrees.” students typically transition to flight instructors within two to three years gaining the necessary hours and experience to secure airline jobs Starting salaries of $100,000 are common and within five years pilots can see their earnings climb to $300,000 annually “Aviation offers one of the few remaining unicorn career paths,” Liknaitzky said “It’s transformative for individuals and for the communities they live in.” The grand opening featured remarks from industry partners including SkyWest Airlines all praising Sling’s rigorous safety standards efficient training methods and emphasis on community compatibility Manager of the Pilot Pathway Program at SkyWest emphasized that Sling's graduates consistently exceed expectations “The pilots we get from Sling are top-notch,” Youngs said “They are trained on the best equipment and they’re ready to fly from day one.” Liknaitzky also introduced the “Whisper Sling,” a proprietary set of aircraft modifications designed to reduce both noise and emissions exhaust silencers and sound-dampening insulation built around a lightweight Rotax 912iS engine is designed for both high efficiency and reduced community impact With a top speed of 135 knots and a range of about 700 miles miles the aircraft consumes just 3.7 gallons of unleaded fuel per hour at cruising speeds less than half the typical burn rate of legacy training planes Equipped with a special Whisper propeller and exhaust silencer lower-frequency sound signature aimed at reducing noise annoyance for nearby residents The aircraft’s short takeoff roll and low stall speed also make it especially suited for community airports like Santa Monica “We approached the problem not just by reducing decibels but by lowering the pitch and muting the tone,” Liknaitzky said “We want people around the airport to notice less noise and more opportunity.” Environmental sustainability was a recurring theme throughout the day. Scott Burgess, President of the Eco Aviation Foundation praised Sling’s leadership in advancing cleaner aviation “There was a real sense of community in that room a vision for aviation’s future,” Burgess said “These young pilots are going to contribute to the world in major ways The growing roster of new businesses at Santa Monica Airport “Even with the political cloud over the airport they’re long-term commitments because the people who understand aviation’s future see Santa Monica Airport as essential.” noting that respected voices within the industry continue to push for a future rooted in innovation “There’s a group that feels there is a sustainable dynamic future for this airport,” Burgess said Derner stressed the airport’s broader significance “This airport isn’t just about flying planes not just for aviation but for the entire city.” the airport's fate remains closely tied to public awareness “The citizens of Santa Monica need to understand what’s truly at stake,” Derner added The event closed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the sense that Santa Monica Airport remains a vital and irreplaceable part of the community’s future “We believe in what aviation can do for communities and individuals,” Liknaitzky said the West Hollywood bakery known for its hand-decorated is opening a second location on Santa Monica’s Main Street Construction is already underway at 2726 Main St. with signage in the window promising a Spring/Summer 2025 opening The expansion marks a new chapter for founder Halil Sevis who opened the original Junior Cookies in April 2022 at 8703 Santa Monica Blvd “We’ve signed our lease in Santa Monica and are just waiting on plan checks,” Sevis told WeHo Times in a December interview The bakery specializes in decorated cookie cups and stuffed cookies Salted Almond Chocolate Chip (plant-based and gluten-friendly) and a Nutella-stuffed signature called the “Not-So-Junior” Cookie The cookies are made to order throughout the day including the *Oreo Confetti Cheesecake Cookie* by reality TV star Heather Dubrow Sevis credits the success of the business to his close-knit family who help with everything from recipe development to day-to-day operations Junior Cookies rose to prominence through food delivery apps during the early days of the pandemic eventually ranking among Uber Eats’ top 1% in the U.S Sevis told WeHoTimes that he’s eyeing future locations in Culver City “We’re expanding with our family,” he said and we want to keep Junior Cookies a family affair.” Kavahana is redefining how people hang out in Santa Monica Join us for a conversation with multidisciplinary artist Gary Tyler, whose moving textile work “In Memoriam of An Ashanti Warrior, 1996” was recently acquired by the city of Santa Monica and is now featured at City Hall Tyler is joined by Isabelle Lutterodt and Sabra Williams in a free-ranging conversation about art currently living and working in Los Angeles Gary Tyler was wrongly convicted of murder and placed on death row at Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana during which the US Supreme Court ruled his sentencing unconstitutional and was finally released in 2016 Tyler participated in the prison hospice program and chaired the prison drama club for almost three decades using the transformative power of the arts to confront the challenges of incarceration Tyler dedicates his life to the visual and dramatic arts using them as tools to foster community and heal the scars of mass incarceration Tyler is the 2024 Frieze Impact Prize winner a 2024 Center for Art & Advocacy Fellow His work is in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington Isabelle Lutterodt brings over two decades of experience working in both community arts and art gallery/museum environments In her previous roles as the Deputy Director of the California African American Museum (CAAM) and Art Center Director of Barnsdall Art Park Lutterodt organized exhibitions and projects centering the stories and voices that illustrate the diversity of lived experiences in California She currently serves on the board of the Sacatar Foundation based in Bahia Sabra Williams has received international acclaim for her work as an actor and host She is founder of The Actors' Gang Prison Project and co-founder of Creative Acts She is a member of The Independent Shakespeare Company Williams was honored to be named a “Champion of Change” by President Obama and has received a British Empire Medal for services to the Arts & Prison Reform by Queen Elizabeth She is a Visiting Lecturer at UCLA and an Adjunct Professor at USC a Pamela Krasney Moral Courage Fellow at The Mesa Refuge and an in-demand speaker on justice and arts issues Beauty in the Beast: The Power of the Arts Behind Bars is on its way Join us for a conversation with multidisciplinary artist Gary Tyler, whose moving textile work “In Memoriam of An Ashanti Warrior, 1996” was recently acquired by the city of Santa Monica and is now featured at City Hall The new software helps automate permits for fire rebuilds Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday the launch of an artificial intelligence-driven software system aimed at accelerating building permit approvals for communities recovering from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires will be provided free of charge to Los Angeles City and County governments through a partnership between the state and philanthropic organizations including LA Rises and Steadfast LA with contributions from Autodesk and Amazon "The current pace of issuing permits locally is not meeting the magnitude of the challenge we face," Newsom said California is partnering with the tech sector and community leaders to give local governments more tools to rebuild faster and more effectively." The AI-powered e-check software uses computer vision machine learning and automated rulesets to instantly check designs against local zoning and building codes Property owners can pre-check their building plans before submission to ensure they submit valid plans avoiding delays and expediting the review process "Bringing AI into permitting will allow us to rebuild faster and safer reducing costs and turning a process that can take weeks and months into one that can happen in hours or days," said Steadfast LA Chairman Rick Caruso "Working with our coalition partner Mike Hopkins and Amazon I'm proud Steadfast LA identified Archistar as the right company to develop and apply this game-changing technology." While the state has no direct role in local permit approval processes Newsom said he has worked to cut red tape and provide resources to help local governments fast-track permits The technology is already being used by more than 25 municipalities across the United States Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed support for the initiative "Getting residents home quickly and safely is my top priority," Bass said I signed an Executive Directive to spearhead an AI pilot program to streamline the permitting process for Palisades residents we're infusing new technologies into City Hall processes to ensure nothing stands in the way of families getting home." Los Angeles County has also committed to using the software and passed a Board Resolution to establish a unified permitting authority for the Altadena one-stop recovery center "This AI tool has the potential to save homeowners valuable time by helping them submit code-compliant plans from the start," said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger "Our collective work will help ensure we're delivering real efficient solutions to those working hard to rebuild their lives." The announcement is part of a broader effort to streamline rebuilding after the fires Newsom has issued multiple executive orders suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act and providing regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild Construction and recovery challenges have been top of mind for Los Angeles following the fires including conversations at this year's Luskin Summit A survey of fire-affected residents in both Pacific Palisades and Altadena found that more than 80 percent want to return to their communities If rebuilding stretches beyond two or three years many respondents said they would make other plans experts presented strategies to accelerate rebuilding including streamlining permitting through self-certification and launching a builders' alliance to reduce construction costs who chaired the permitting reform workstream at the summit said one effective way to reduce delays is allowing licensed architects and engineers to self-certify plans for compliance with building codes He pointed to Santa Rosa's recovery after the 2017 Tubbs Fire where the Coffee Park neighborhood was 85 percent rebuilt within three years partly due to expedited permitting "The gold standard is to get through the permitting process in 30 days," Waite said Of the approximately 10,000 homes destroyed and another 8,000 structures including apartments and commercial buildings as many as 4,000 homeowners are expected to need financial assistance A funding gap of around $3 billion is projected between insurance coverage and actual rebuilding costs introduced a Builders Alliance seeking to reduce costs through bulk purchasing shared labor resources and standardized floorplans "We're treating this like one unified pipeline," Foley said "If trades and suppliers know what's coming they can offer better rates and we can pass those savings on to the homeowners." Transportation challenges add another layer of complexity With up to 3,000 homes expected to be under construction each year during peak rebuilding the strain on already fragile infrastructure could be severe according to UCLA Professor of Planning Michael Manville experts believe it's possible to rebuild thousands of homes within three years by aligning political will private-sector efficiency and academic insight "This isn't just about construction," Foley said "It's about restoring faith that recovery is possible." The new AI tool will be available on a statewide contract that any local government can access to streamline their own plan review process. More information about LA's recovery, including air quality results, is available at CA.gov/LAfires The 38 Best Tacos in Los Angeles The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors The Best Places to Eat Near Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, According to an Eater Editor Where to eat right now around the City of Angels Though the local dining scene has endured tremendous challenges in recent years the city’s spirit of breaking ground and exploring new cuisines and forms continues every month we narrow the field to those places that are drawing the most excitement focusing largely on restaurants that have only been open for six months or less When an Eater editor visits a new restaurant we share insider tips on what to expect and what’s worth ordering as well New this update: Santa Monica California Italian restaurant Cosetta cult-favorite South Korean dessert shop Cafe Knotted Chinatown’s new-school Chinese American restaurant Firstborn chef Mei Lin’s fine dining destination 88 Club and Mar Vista’s Beethoven Market have been added this month For even more of an insider’s perspective on how to eat well in Los Angeles, pick up our guidebook: The Eater Guide to Los Angeles. For restaurants that have established themselves as one of the city’s best, check out Eater LA’s Essential 38 Pasjoli chef Dave Beran has returned to a tasting menu-only format with Seline a spiritual successor to his previous Michelin-starred restaurant Dialogue Beran acknowledges Seline as the more complete fully thought-out effort that Dialogue helped establish a former chef de cuisine of Alinea and executive chef of Next tailors the ingredient mix to seasonal California offerings 14-course journey that includes roast squash and caviar-topped coffee custard sauce for dessert brooding room offers pops of color from controversial artist David Choe while the fully open kitchen lets one watch the action from start to finish The Best Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Los Angeles Prolific South Bay chef David LeFevre and protege Alice Mai have finally opened their California Mediterranean restaurant Attagirl in the former Dia de Campo space in Hermosa Beach serving an expansive array of modern mezze Themed around the kinds of foods chefs like to eat every day of the week expect puffy focaccia rounds and plush pita scooping up spicy whipped feta or charred cucumber tzatziki Spaghetti alle vongole or spinach rigatoni will help scratch the pasta itch while most folks will opt for a variety of wood-grilled skewers like wild Mexican shrimp or rosemary-marinated beef tenderloin boisterous dining room segmented between tables all meant to accommodate a dedicated Hermosa crowd who have descended in droves since day one Korean dessert cafe and cream doughnut specialist Cafe Knotted has landed in the U.S for the first time with a location at the Westfield Century City Cafe Knotted serves a full lineup of its signature cream doughnuts in flavors like strawberries and cream Knotted offers a mega-thick gluten-free chocolate chip cookie and cream-topped lattes in flavors like chestnut tiramisu former two-Michelin-star restaurant Somni has opened in a new West Hollywood location under chef Aitor Zabala Somni occupies a cloistered set of buildings just north of Santa Monica Boulevard serving precise Spanish-inflected modernist tasting menus to a rounded duet of countertops The high-ceiling space acts as a theater of sorts to Zabala’s kitchen crew assembling dashi meringue fish topped with Astrea caviar or escabeche mussels dressed with borage flowers Expect every flavorful turn to be delightful especially for the sky-high $495 price that will inevitably feel justified after experiencing perhaps the most innovative meal in Los Angeles from tight little sports cars to adorable animated characters and this latest bakery that opened in late January is no exception Espresso &’s name is all forgiven once one takes a bite of the plush mou bread shaped like cubes and often stuffed with sweet and savory ingredients There’s one topped with frosting and flavored with cinnamon while the next one is cut into two squares and filled with garlicky pork slices The buttery French toast comes piping hot on a little cast iron skillet and a drizzle of honey provides the ideal sweet finish a wide array of coffee and matcha options are available to pair with the carb fest Given its popularity on social media already and the product has sold out well before its scheduled closing time So be prepared to wait for one of the hottest bakeries in Southern California The team behind Michelin-starred Kali just opened Koast a casual seafood spot along Melrose Avenue chef Kevin Meehan and Drew Langley continue their longtime partnership with their first new restaurant in nine years offering East Coast classics like chowder and fries tossed in Old Bay alongside a dry-aged cheeseburger Meehan hopes to offer a casual weeknight spot for neighbors to come in for a glass of wine and some clams or go all out with caviar and Champagne The main dining room leans into minimalism with rich blue banquettes balanced by medium-hued wood tables and concrete floors One of LA’s best Korean barbecue restaurants has moved into new digs on Western Avenue in Koreatown leaving behind its tight space on Olympic Boulevard The restaurant specializes in gopchang (pig’s intestines) and daechang (marinated beef intestines) alongside a lineup of high-quality cuts like rib-eye cap and marinated galbi The best way to try the house-specialty intestines is in the Chang Combo Get Into the Guts of LA Dining With 19 Delectable Offal Dishes Sri Lankan restaurant Kurrypinch has settled into a new location on Hollywood Boulevard This is the third iteration of Shaheen Ghazaly’s cult-favorite restaurant which previously operated out of locations in Van Nuys and Tarzana Ghazaly cooks his version of popular street food kottu roti (chopped roti with scrambled egg and curry seasonings) lamprais (basmati rice with eggplant and potato curry wrapped in banana leaves) and string hoppers (rice flour strands stir-fried with eggs Pair the dishes with a Sri Lankan take on a michelada with tamarind juice or an aligetapera drink with avocados is making her mark on Highland Park’s pastry scene with her new bakery Santa Canela which is right next door to vinyl bar Gold Line serves a lineup of Mexico City and LA-inspired treats like concha croissants bringing her own twists on classic pastries like kouign-amann with cajeta Santa Canela also serves a potato soyrizo croissant and a cured beef and kale chimichurri focaccia sandwich topped with fried chile güero The mid-century leaning interior was designed by Studio Lena’s Lena Kohl and features striking marble countertops and rich wood cabinets the Santa Monica Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint at an undisclosed location between 6pm and 2am DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety SMPD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in\ncollaboration with SMMUSD presents the annual Arts & Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park on Saturday This year’s theme is “Dinosaurs!” and the event will host over\nthirty different community organizations offering games and activities\nthat align with the Santa Monica Cradle to Career Building Blocks for Kindergarten (BBK) campaign Building Blocks for Kindergarten promotes social and emotional development self-care,\nphysical well-being and motor skills language development and early learning\nto help parents and other community\npartners work together to make sure all Santa Monica children start\nkindergarten ready to learn inside and outside the\nclassroom.  Getting to the Arts & Literacy Festival at\nVirginia Avenue Park: Walking and biking are encouraged Additional free\nparking is available at Venice Family Clinic 2509 Pico Blvd or at SMC Parking Lot 3 between 16th and 17th Streets on Pico Blvd The park is served by Big Blue Bus\nLine No Virginia Avenue Park is wheelchair accessible and welcomes persons\nof all abilities contact (310) 458-8688 or TTY\n(310) 917-6626 ·       Dinosaur Costume Parade ·       Santa Monica Public\nLibrary (SMPL)’s Storytime Stage features\ndinosaur themed books read by local\nlibrarians ·       Collecting stamps from activity\nbooths on the event’s Explorer Card,\nredeemable for a free book at the Santa Monica Public Library booth ·    Various Performances on the Main\nStage The Santa Monica City Council has asked staff to explore a nighttime curfew along the shoreline after a recent spate of violence has rekindled debate about the safety of the sand during overnight hours along with Councilmembers Jesse Zwick and Natalya Zernitskaya requested that the City Manager and City Attorney investigate the possibility of establishing nighttime restrictions at Santa Monica State Beach in conjunction with various state agencies that hold sway over the shoreline “I think it’s time for us to look at a curfew,” said Mayor Negrete who emphasized that the move comes in response to a disturbing pattern of incidents over the past two years The mayor highlighted particular concerns about beach maintenance workers who rake the sand in early morning hours noting there have been instances where people sleeping on the beach were accidentally run over by maintenance equipment She also pointed to a series of recent crimes targeting young women on the beaches “There’s a saying the police use - ‘nothing good happens after midnight’,” Negrete added Councilmember Jesse Zwick reinforced these safety concerns possibly three individuals had been run over while sleeping on the beach at night in a way that’s very troubling and concerning to me,” Zwick said suggesting that a curfew could be tailored to allow for activities like early morning jogging while still addressing the primary safety issues The proposal isn’t without precedent as some other coastal cities like Santa Barbara or Huntington Beach already have rules governing nighttime access Past attempts for regulation in Santa Monica have been rejected the Coastal Commission had previously indicated that a total beach closure would not be permitted I’m not in favor of a total blanket beach closure but there are serious public safety issues that we who proposed narrower options that might satisfy the Coastal Commission’s concerns about public access while addressing safety issues Negrete clarified that the intent isn’t to prohibit public access entirely “The idea is not to not allow public access it’s to protect those that are sleeping on the beach It’s for their own safety to not be run over in the wee hours of the morning.” She also noted that the beach lacks proper lighting at night and that the Santa Monica Police Department can’t patrol the entire beach all night creating conditions that have contributed to violent incidents Councilmember Dan Hall expressed support for exploring options while suggesting geographic limitations to any potential curfew particularly around the Pier where trespassing and unsafe fire use have been reported “I would like to limit this to our operational needs “I generally don’t like measures that are simply tools used to make unhoused people feel uncomfortable in the hopes that they’ll go somewhere else But I trust our staff and ourselves to tailor this in a way that addresses specific safety concerns while maintaining appropriate access to our beautiful coastline.” The Council directed staff to report back with options that balance public safety concerns with the Coastal Commission’s requirements for beach access No timeline was specified for when these options would be presented to the Council The scheme caused an estimated tax loss to the IRS of $3.8 million A Santa Monica man has pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and laundering money through real estate and gold investments Christopher Scott King admitted in court to running a large-scale bookmaking operation using a Costa Rica-based sports betting website to facilitate illegal wagers on sporting events in violation of California and federal law He faces up to five years in prison for each count of tax evasion and accepting financial instruments for unlawful internet gambling as well as up to 10 years for money laundering.  King failed to report more than $13.5 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service he claimed just $143,258 in taxable income while actually earning over $5 million that year King also admitted to laundering money by funneling proceeds from the gambling operation into real estate development ventures and gold purchases Prosecutors said he used the illicit funds to bolster brokerage and financial accounts King will pay $10 million in forfeiture at sentencing and has agreed to restitution totaling nearly $14 million 2025) – The Santa Monica Fire Department has launched Community Connect a forward-thinking preparedness tool that makes available critical and detailed information or medical needs to first responders in the event of an emergency By tapping into the detailed knowledge of residents and business owners Community Connect makes the city’s emergency response more efficient and also fortifies the safety of Santa Monica community members making it an invaluable asset for a safer community The project is a collaboration with First Due the leading developer in fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) software "Community Connect is a vital piece of technology that provides first responders with critical information regarding your residence or business,” Fire Chief Matthew Hallock said “The information residents and business owners input allows first responders to make strategic and tactical decisions enroute to an emergency Having information such as specific floor plans or specialized medical needs will assist responders in those critical moments when every second matters."  Community Connect prioritizes the safety and privacy of its users by implementing a bank-level security system The information put into Community Connect is strictly utilized for emergency response and planning purposes For more information about Community Connect and to create your profile, visit santamonica.gov/departments/fire Long Beach’s Alamitos Beach will host the Olympic beach volleyball tournament during the 2028 Los Angeles Games organizers announced Tuesday as part of a comprehensive venue plan that spans the Southern California region the organizing committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games bringing the popular event to a coastal setting that will also host coastal rowing and open water swimming competitions and every venue selected for the 2028 Games will provide athletes and fans the best possible experience,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover “The 2028 Olympic venue plan invites communities from across the region to celebrate the Games coming to their backyard.” The announcement comes after speculation about where the beach volleyball competition would be held following the breakdown of negotiations with Santa Monica which had originally been anticipated as the host venue Olympic officials said Long Beach’s selection as the beach volleyball venue represents a significant win for the city which has been designated as an official “2028 Venue City” and will now host multiple high-profile Olympic events Santa Monica was originally considered for the beach volleyball venue but negotiations ended after city officials and LA28 organizers failed to reach terms A financial analysis commissioned by Santa Monica found that hosting Olympic beach volleyball would bring in $14.09 million but cost the city $15.54 million The same report projected that even without hosting the event the city could see $11.3 million in tourism revenue with just $650,000 in related expenses Santa Monica officials cited concerns about “community benefits operational details and financial guarantees” in a statement explaining why the deal fell through The original plan had included a temporary 12,000-seat stadium north of the Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica City Councilmember Dan Hall said the decision was difficult but suggested the city could better use its resources elsewhere including “paying down our unfunded pension liabilities rebuilding our reserves and housing trust fund repairing infrastructure” and other priorities The comprehensive venue plan announced Tuesday spans the entire Southern California region and includes both iconic locations and new venues Venice Beach will serve as the new home of the triathlon competition The historic beachfront neighborhood will host the official starting locations for the marathon and cycling road courses “This plan brings the Games to all corners of our city like never before — from the Sepulveda Basin to the iconic shores of Venice Beach our world-famous neighborhoods as well as our hidden gems will be on full display for all to experience and enjoy,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley will host Olympic events for the first time including 3x3 basketball and modern pentathlon squash will make its Olympic debut at Universal Studios Lot’s Courthouse Square recognizable from films like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Back to the Future.” Dodger Stadium will host baseball as the sport returns to the Olympic program while cricket will make its Olympic comeback after more than a century at a temporary facility at the Fairgrounds in Pomona Surfing competitions will take place at Trestles Beach in San Clemente while equestrian events return to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia which previously hosted the sport during the 1984 Olympics The City of Carson will stage archery at its stadium while volleyball moves to the Arena in Anaheim Boxing will be held at the Peacock Theater and Arena in Downtown Los Angeles and rhythmic gymnastics relocates to the USC Sports Center Long Beach will also host sport climbing at the Convention Center Lot and target shooting at the Convention Center while shotgun shooting events will take place at the Shotgun Center in South El Monte the IOC Executive Board confirmed a record number of Olympic medals will be awarded at LA28 with several new mixed team events and significant steps toward gender equality the women’s soccer tournament will feature more teams than the men’s competition with 16 women’s teams compared to 12 men’s teams Water polo and boxing will achieve gender equality for the first time with women’s water polo expanding to 12 teams to match the men’s tournament and boxing adding a new women’s weight class for a total of seven in both men’s and women’s competitions Six new mixed gender team events will debut across archery Swimming will add six medal events with the inclusion of 50-meter races in backstroke Sport climbing will separate the previous combined event into three distinct medal competitions: speed “We are opening the door for more athletes to compete and live out their Olympic dream at the LA28 Games where athletes have always been the heart of the Games,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans “We are proud to champion an athlete-centric vision that celebrates excellence and the unifying spirit of the Olympic Movement.” The 2028 Olympic Games will bring together approximately 10,500 athletes across the 31 sports on the initial program with up to 700 more competing in the five additional sports proposed by LA28 and added by the IOC in October 2023 which will mark Los Angeles’ third time hosting the Olympics and first time hosting the Paralympics SANTA MONICAPARISBRAZILTICKETS PARISWATCH SLS MIAMI RESULTSNEWS I agree to receive all marketing communications © Copyright 2023 Street League Skateboarding LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brewery Artwalk (@breweryartwalk) The live/work spaces of the Brewery only open up to the public twice a year, and the 16 acres of art space represent some of the most dynamic and exciting work in the city. You may need the entire weekend to take it all in, so plan ahead and check out the map for a list of more than two dozen artists showing everything from painting to sculptures to photography and sound installations. Meet the artists, buy a new piece for your home or just enjoy the atmosphere. The Pop-Hop has become a community hub in Highland Park, offering arts workshops and events alongside its primary function as a bookstore. Swing by to help celebrate Pop-Hop's fifth anniversary for a full day of events, including a vendor fair, live music, a dance party and of course books and zines. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museums Of The Arroyo (@museumsofthearroyo) The six museum of the Arroyo — The Gamble House, the L.A. Police Museum, the South Pasadena Historical Museum, Heritage Square, the Pasadena Museum of History and the Lummis Home — all open their doors for free. Plus, there will be a shuttle connecting them all afternoon. Each has special events going on: Get your mugshot taken at the Police Museum, try to find everything at one of the scavenger hunts or watch a blacksmithing demo at Heritage Square. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIBŌ NOBORI—Kodomo No Hi 🎏 (@kibonobori) The annual Children’s Day festival, Kibō Nobori, is a great way to kick off AAPI Heritage Month in Little Tokyo. The day honors the Japanese festival Kodomo No Hi, a holiday celebrating health and good fortune for all children. With music and dance performances, art from festival founder Faith-Ann Young and a market with local crafts, the festival is free and a great opportunity to bring the whole family to get to know Little Tokyo better. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Santa Monica Public Library (@smpubliclibrary) If the crowd around the life-sized Mr. Darcy cutout at the Festival of Books last weekend is any indication, The Jane Austen Society’s two-day spring gala is the place to be this weekend. Celebrating Austen's 250th birthday and the screen adaptations of her novels, the weekend has two main events. First, at Hotel Dena, there will be speakers and a luncheon, followed by reticule and headdress workshops, an interactive regency ball, with caller James Hutson and musicians The Whirled Peas leading the merriment. On Sunday morning at the Huntington Library, there will be a preview screening of the first episode of the BBC’s Miss Austen, based on the novel by Gill Hornby, shown in partnership with PBS SoCal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Talks Los Angeles (@livetalksla) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Long Beach (@visitlb) The Congressional Cup started in 1965 right here in Southern California. The races, often billed as the “gateway to the America’s Cup,” are some of yachting’s premier events, and you can watch for free right from the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, with live commentary. Hosted each year by the Long Beach Yacht Club, match racing teams come from around the world for daily competition, culminating in the winning “Crimson Blazer.” Get waxed and head to the Academy Museum for a special screening of the now 20-year-old film, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. The 2005 comedy is a who’s who of writer-director Judd Apatow’s favorite folks to work with, including Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and many more. And of course, because this is an Academy Museum screening, expect a special treat: Apatow and Carell will be there in person to answer all your burning questions. Watch the race and get your BBQ on at Santa Anita Racetrack, where they’ll be grilling up hickory-smoked Angus Prime brisket, dry-brined free-range chicken, smoked hot links and all the sides. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baltaire Steakhouse (@baltaire) Don a big feather hat and enjoy a Derby Day brunch at Baltaire with a prix fixe menu, bloody Mary and champagne carts, mint juleps (natch) and even a caviar service. Fancy! BOA in Manhattan Beach is offering classic Mint Juleps ($20) and decadent Derby Pie ($15), plus guests are encouraged to dress in their best race day attire! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Redbird (@redbirdla) Chef Neal Fraser is creating Southern bites and bar director Tobin Shea is crafting cocktails “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” Wear your Derby finest and enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres food stations and desserts; beverages are à la carte LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio Pictured: Rendering of the proposed development at 1211-1217 14th St. courtesy of Hollywood Community Housing Corporation The changes from the original development proposal include:  The development designs are anticipated to be discussed at a future meeting of the city’s Architectural Review Board, either in December or early 2025. Board agendas are available here For future updates on HCHC’s proposal, please visit the development web site. For a detailed FAQ about the project, go here * Construction timelines are approximate and subject to change based on timing of public funding application cycles and award announcements Please visit the development website for future updates on the construction schedule in partnership with Virginia Avenue Park and Santa Monica Public Library presents: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program  The VITA Grant program is an IRS initiative that supports free tax preparation services for the underserved This service helps low- to moderate-income individuals and limited English speakers file their taxes each year.  Registration RequiredTo schedule an appointment, please call Virginia Avenue Park staff at (310) 458-8688 or email vap@santamonica.gov to request a call back (include your name and phone number in the email). For more information and additional dates, please visit havenservices.org Registration RequiredTo schedule an appointment, please call Virginia Avenue Park staff at (310) 458-8688 or email vap@santamonica.gov to request a call back (include your name and phone number in the email). For more information and additional dates, please visit havenservices.org The city of Santa Monica’s approved Housing Element details the city’s plan for building 1,880 affordable homes on city-owned sites Two of the five sites identified in the Housing Element are now in the pre-development phase The Housing Element requires that a Request for Proposals for the next site be issued by June 30 of this year staff recommended focusing on Bergamot Station Arts Center and 4th/5th/Arizona as the next properties for development and holding off on the Main Street parking lots due to the complexity of the site and additional due diligence needed before moving forward The Housing Element commits the five-acre Bergamot Station Arts Center site for the development of 707 affordable apartments The site currently consists of five buildings that are leased to 30 galleries and other creative uses and a restaurant The Housing Element commits the city-owned properties at 1301 4th St for the development of 331 affordable apartments The sites are currently leased to Bank of America and Chase Bank through 2026 – both banks having expressed their desire to stay at these sites for as long as possible – and these leases generate $2.5 million to the city’s General Fund annually Staff also noted in the staff report that city-owned Parking Structure 1 will require a $14 million seismic retrofit in October 2027 to continue to serve as a parking structure and that it may make sense to consider combining this site with 4th/5th/Arizona to create a larger parcel that would allow for more revenue-generating opportunities and community benefit opportunities in addition to affordable housing the City Council discussed when to release Request for Proposals for each site and determined that rather than wait two years between the release staff should proceed with both Bergamot Station Arts Center and 4th/5th/Arizona The city must enter into a 90-day negotiation process with each developer that responds to the NOA If the city decides to move forward with one of the proposals If none of the proposals are acceptable to the city the city would then begin a regular RFP process Either scenario satisfies the requirements of the Housing Element For more information, read the full staff report and this blog post By now we’ve all heard the news that Santa Monica will not be the venue for beach volleyball in the 2028 Summer Olympics We learned this week that the sport will be played down the road in Long Beach who have expressed disappointment about not hosting beach volleyball ― especially as the birthplace of the modern sport Our negotiating team fought hard for a responsible deal that would best benefit Santa Monica the parties could not agree and LA28 chose to walk away We understand it may take a moment to process the disappointment but we’re focusing on the opportunities ahead ― and there are a lot of them Be assured that our collaboration with LA28 continues and we remain focused on supporting the Games through regional priorities such as transit sustainability and community events.  When the world comes to Los Angeles in 2028 just as they do whenever we experience large events in the region We’re committed to offering the best of Santa Monica when they do We now have new economic opportunities and the chance to host community events in the city during the Games that we wouldn’t have been able to do if we were a venue.  Santa Monica is strategically located near key Olympic activities ― including several competitions slated to take place just south of us in Venice Beach ― and the Athletes Village at University of California This makes our city an attractive choice for media broadcast centers our city is already in high demand for these uses.  Imagine live broadcasts from the iconic Santa Monica Pier or other key locations showcasing our beautiful coastline Hospitality houses hosted by different countries will offer immersive cultural experiences and entertainment for community members Major brands will bring the party to Santa Monica creating themed houses to connect with global audiences through interactive experiences Most of these hospitality houses will be open to the public All of these exciting activations will stimulate local businesses and generate revenue through increased tourism and international exposure And some could even begin to bring excitement and community benefits well ahead of the Games’ arrival in Los Angeles City teams are already hard at work pursuing these unique opportunities and seeking partnerships The CELEBRATE28 initiative local leaders and other partners to plan inspiring events and initiatives that celebrate our diverse community foster unity and highlight the spirit of Olympic pride If you're interested in bringing your presence to Santa Monica in 2028, please contact us at partnerships@santamonica.gov Let’s build something extraordinary together pride and economic opportunity that will most certainly reach our shores in 2028 and will make sure all of our visitors ― regional national and international ― experience the uniqueness of our community during an Olympic summer in Santa Monica.  Submitted by the City of Santa Monica LA28 Negotiating Team This year marks the 150th anniversary of Santa Monica – a time that naturally lends itself for self-reflection on both our impressive collective accomplishments over the past 150 years as well as the mistakes we’ve made along the way the city has an incredible opportunity to look at the harm that has been done to our marginalized communities over the course of our history and to make amends for that harm through a community-driven restorative justice process On Feb. 11, the Santa Monica City Council approved moving forward with the creation of the Landback & Reparations Task Force and now we invite the community and restorative justice experts to be a part of this important work.  Landback and reparations are both forms of restorative justice gaining traction in communities across the country Landback centers around returning land taken from Indigenous peoples or restoring it with Indigenous land management practices ranging from mandated racial impact analysis with policy decisions to increasing housing options to mitigating pollution from highways built in communities of color.  About Santa Monica’s Landback & Reparations Task Force  Similar to California’s reparation process, the city’s Landback & Reparations Task Force will study the harms done to Santa Monica’s marginalized communities and develop recommendations for how to address those harms These recommendations would ultimately be presented to the City Council for formal adoption The Task Force will meet virtually and consist of up to 11 community members and subject matter experts and will report to the city manager The work of the Task Force will be divided into three phases:   Phase 1: Orientation & Planning – April to July 2025  Phase 2: Truth-Telling & Listening – August to October 2025  Phase 3: Repair – November 2025 to May 2026  Supporting landback and reparations in Santa Monica is a crucial step in addressing injustices and systemic discrimination faced by marginalized communities not only in the past Santa Monica’s residents of color have endured laws and policies that enforced racial inequities limiting their access to opportunities for housing Neighborhoods such as the historically Black Belmar Triangle and the beautiful diversity of the Pico Neighborhood have faced gentrification and erasure under the guise of “progress” and redevelopment These harms continue today through the resulting harsher realities faced by the city’s Black, brown, and Indigenous communities that experience worse outcomes across measures of wellbeing, including income levels and homeownership the city can choose a future today that doesn’t mirror our past and break cycles of harm and pain for our entire community