Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles written by David Ganezer


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  • BREAKING NEWS: City Lifts Evacuation Order South of San Vicente; Warning Remains In Effect San Vicente to Montana Avenue

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 12, 2025

    9: The City of Santa Monica has lifted its evacuation order for all areas of Santa Monica South of San Vicente Blvd. It also lifted the Evacuation Warning for Montana Avenue South to Wilshire Blvd. The message from the City reads An Evacuation Order remains in effect for all areas of Santa Monica north of San Vicente. Residents should continue to stay out of the area, which remains closed to public access and residential reentry. All areas of Santa Monica between San...

  • BREAKING NEWS: National Guard Begins to Require ID's to Enter Firestruck Areas of LA County

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 12, 2025

    The National Guard has been deployed to the Pacific Palisades area to assist with law enforcement duties and to help prevent looting amid the ongoing wildfires. They are stationed at checkpoints and are actively monitoring evacuation zones. We photographed Specialist Etheridge and PFC Tito, as they checked ID Saturday morning. They are allowing in residents, police and firemen, reporters and medical personnel. Only local residents and emergency responders are allowed into...

  • Emergency Alert Goes Out on LA Cell Phones, And Temblor Shakes Southern California. Epicenter Near Julian, San Diego

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 14, 2025

    A preliminary 6.0 #earthquake has jolted Southern California. The epicenter was in North #SanDiego County at Julian, near Escondido. This on Monday Morning, April 14, 2025. The earthquake at 10:10 am, was felt over a wide area of Southern California and Mexico. "This the first time I actually got at least a 10 second warning on my phone before feeling the earthquake." posted one man in Temecula. "I placed down my phone, went to get my coffee, then me and my girlfriend heard...

  • Nightclub Roof Collapse in Dominican Republic Kills 27, Injures 130 Including MLB Pitcher

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 8, 2025

    At least 27 people were killed and more than 130 injured when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed in Santo Domingo early Tuesday, local officials said. The Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo occurred during a performance by Rubby Pérez, a renowned Dominican merengue singer known for hits like "Buscando Tus Besos." Octavio Dotel, a former MLB pitcher who won a World Series and logged 36 saves in 2004 with the Astros and A's, was among those rescued from...

  • Buildup of US Military Forces in the Middle East Indicates the US Anticipates Bombing Iran ASAP

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 7, 2025

    It appears that amidst the Trump Tariffs and all that stock market volatility, the Trump Administration is also actively preparing for a military conflict with Iran and its Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. typically maintains 156,000 troops overseas, but the post highlights a significant increase to 300,000 in the Middle East, aligning with a Haaretz report of 140 heavy transport aircraft delivering equipment to the region in March 2025, signaling a major military buildup....

  • As Wall Street Continues to Fall, We Asked: Just How Bad Are China's Non-Tariff Barriers?

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 7, 2025

    China's non-tariff barriers (NTBs) are a significant hurdle for international trade, often more impactful than its tariffs, which have dropped considerably over the years (averaging around 3.5% today). NTBs are tough to quantify precisely because they're not as straightforward as a tax-think opaque regulations, sudden inspections, or licensing rules that seem to shift depending on who's asking. But their effects are real and hit hard, especially for countries like the U.S....

  • Desk Buddies Raise Money for Local Causes

    David Ganezer, Observer STaff Writer|Updated Apr 4, 2025

    Spring is here, and some local students are on the beach. Others are playing soccer, while still others are raising money for special causes. Aria, Shanti and Sequoyah have been selling arts and crafts to raise money for a cause near and dear to their hearts. "The girls chose these specific crafts," explained Aria's mom, Kathy, "because the three of them typically work well together. They are all very skilled in creativity and bringing ideas to life," she said. "What they...

  • Summary of Which Government Offices are Closed Today for Cesar Chavez Day, March 31, 2025

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 31, 2025

    Since today is Monday, March 31, 2025, and César Chávez Day is being observed, I'll use the provided web search results to determine which offices are closed in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties for the holiday. César Chávez Day is a state holiday in California, but closures can vary by county and jurisdiction, so let's break this down systematically. Understanding César Chávez Day Closures César Chávez Day, observed on March 31, honors the legacy of the civil rights...

  • Earthquake Causes Collapse of 40 Story Building in Bangkok, Thailand.

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 29, 2025
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    A 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand today, destroying a number of building and killing hundreds of people. Hundreds of km from the epicenter, a 40 story building in Bangkok Thailand collapsed, burying many of the 400 men working on the project. 1. Overview of the Earthquake and Building Collapse On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing widespread damage in Myanmar and affecting neighboring Thailand. According to the web search results: Mya...

  • Police Chase Ends in a Crash at the Santa Monica Pier

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 26, 2025

    Tonight, March 26, 2025, a police chase that began in Simi Valley ended near the Santa Monica Pier with a crash and the suspect's surrender. The pursuit started when Simi Valley Police chased a stolen work van through Ventura County into Los Angeles County. The driver led officers on a high-speed chase along freeways, reaching speeds over 100 mph, before moving to surface streets in Santa Monica. In Santa Monica, the suspect rear-ended a vehicle-reportedly hitting a Prius,...

  • Mudslide Caused by March 14 Storm Closes Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 14, 2025

    LA County, in coordination with Caltrans, closed a portion of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) today, Friday, March 14, 2025, due to storm-related issues from this week’s weather. The closure was triggered by a mudslide in the Palisades burn scar area, as reported by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) at 3:50 PM PDT. PCH is under a hard closure from Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu to Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades until further notice, with additional clo...

  • Never Give Up Hope: Aggie the Cat Returns Home From The Ashes of the Palisades Fire

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff|Updated Mar 14, 2025

    Aggie the cat was reunited with her owner, Katherine Kiefer, on March 8, 2025, after surviving for two months in the rubble following the Palisades Fire, which began in January 2025 and destroyed her owner's home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The reunion occurred at VCA Chatoak Animal Hospital. Aggie's discovery was reported earlier this week, with details emerging around March 11–12, 2025, across various news outlets like AP News, FOX 11 Los Angeles, and NBC Los A...

  • Does the Vastness of the Universe Rule Out God's Existence? (200 Trillion Galaxies With an Average of $200 Billion Stars Each)

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 1, 2025

    (Note: Twitter's Artificial Intelligence Grok 3 assisted me in writing this story). If the universe is that vast, is it possible that it's directed by one intelligence? in other words, does the vastness of the universe rule out the existence of God? The vastness of the universe-2 trillion galaxies, 200 trillion stars, 93 billion light-years across-doesn't inherently rule out a single directing intelligence, like a God, but it sure complicates the idea. Scale alone doesn't...

  • Westside Assemblyman Wants to Get Rid of the Stand Your Ground Defense

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 1, 2025
    1

    Assembly Bill 1333, introduced by assemblyman Zbur, seeks to significantly restrict the ability of crime victims to claim self-defense. This legislation proposes to eliminate the right to defend oneself within one's home or property. Furthermore, it introduces a stipulation that individuals must retreat, if safely possible, before resorting to self-defense. Under this new framework, if a person is outside their home and faces threats such as robbery or assault, they would be...

  • White Woman Files Lawsuit After Giving Birth to African American Baby With No Relationship to Her or Her Husband

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 23, 2025

    Georgia woman Krystena Murray is suing a fertility clinic after carrying another couples baby through birth. Murray didn't find out about the mixup until she gave birth to a baby that was a completely different skin complexion than her. She and her husband were forced to give up the child she carried to the biological parents, after they sued. "The birth of my child was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life, and honestly, it was. But it was also the scariest moment of...

  • "Is the left really just a giant kleptocracy?" Asks Elon Musk. X.com's AI Grok says "nope."

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 15, 2025

    The phrase "a dream that was Rome" refers to Marcus Aurelius' vision of transforming Rome into a democratic republic, where power is held by the people rather than corrupt leaders. This ideal is central to the story of "Gladiator," symbolizing hope for a better governance system in ancient Rome. "Is the left really just a giant kleptocracy? tweeted Elon Musk Sunday night. "The evidence increasingly suggests it is." So we decided to ask GROK, Twitter's AI protocol, if it...

  • Trump orders US Mint to Cease Production of Pennies, Saying at 2 cents each "It Doesn't Make Sense."

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 9, 2025

    President Trump said on Sunday night that he had ordered the Treasury secretary to stop producing new pennies, a move that he said would help reduce unnecessary government spending. "Let's rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it's a penny at a time," he said in a post on Truth Social. He characterized the production of pennies, which "literally cost us more than 2 cents" each, as wasteful. The United States Mint has not officially announced plans to stop...

  • SamoHi Students Protest at City Hall On Thursday, Saying "America Was Never Great."

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 8, 2025

    Shouting that "America has never been great," a group of Santa Monica High School students protested against Donald Trump, Elon Musk, the end of Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies, the deportation of illegal migrants, and other issues on 2.6.25. The event drew about 250 Participants carrying Mexican flags and signs that said "Trans Rights are Human Rights," "Elect a clown, expect a circus," and "No one is illegal on stolen land." Santa Monica High School students...

  • Ethereum, Bitcoin Prices Collapsing Sunday Night. Bottom So Far, $91,000 for BTC, $2,150 for ETH

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 2, 2025

    No, It isn't the Trump Tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Here are the reasons for BITCOIN's sudden decline. Bitcoin is currently in a steep dive, having lost almost $8,000 in Value over the last 24 Hours. Bitcoin is experiencing a decline due to a combination of factors, including stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, which has diminished hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts, and significant liquidations in the crypto market. Additionally, the U.S. government's planned sale...

  • Has California Diverted Infrastructure Funds From Reservoirs, to Bike Lanes and Road Diets?

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 26, 2025

    California has allocated significant funding for both bicycle infrastructure and reservoir projects, but there is no indication that funds specifically for reservoirs have been diverted to bike lanes. Instead, the state is investing in a variety of transportation and water management projects simultaneously to address different needs. National Guard checks ID on California Incline. Foreground, forest of bollards and bike lanes is what your infrastructure money was spent on,...

  • What did President Trump say When Visiting Pacific Palisades on Friday?

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 24, 2025

    US President Trump visited Pacific Palisades on 1.24.25. Here are my notes of what he said to a room full of Congressmen, County Supervisors, Mayor Bass and others: You know what's amazing? Every homeowner I met with wants to rebuild. It's like a family. It's incredible when you think about it I just met with homeowners in NC, and it's the same thing, it's water disaster not fire. But it's the same thing They gave me a little helmet that says 47, I said is this real? Your gove...

  • Jeep Hits a Building On the Corner of Wilshire and Lincoln Blvd., Barely Missing a Homeless Couple

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 24, 2025

    On Monday night a jeep collided with a building on Wilshire Blvd. The collision involved just one vehicle, but the jeep nearly hit a homeless couple standing where their possessions and holding their dog by a store window. Christian and Ingrid told this author that "we lost the puppy," who ran off after the accident. They also said they had been living in a campsite in Malibu until 2 weeks ago. The fire forced them to move to Santa Monica. There are about 2 incidents a month...

  • Moments Before Trump Sworn In, Biden Pardons Anthony Fauci

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 20, 2025

    Former president Joe Biden engaged in a round of pardoning close associates during his final hours in office. In addition to Fauci, he pardoned members of the January 6th committee and Gen. Mark Miley. Having previously pardoned Hunter Biden, who had been recently convicted of firearm possession and drug related offenses; this morning Joe Biden pardoned all the other members of his family. There is no indication that incoming president Donald J. Trump intended to prosecute...

  • Pete Hegseth Defends Nomination In Fiery Senate Hearing

    David Ganezer, Observer STaff Writer|Updated Jan 14, 2025

    13. Pete Hegseth finished his 3 hours of verbal beating on the Senate defense committee. Sitting next to his 3d and current wife, liz Rauchet, Hegseth argued for equality but not equity. The women on the Senate Defense committee questioned the qualifications of Pete Hegseth. Financial mismanagement and sexual misconduct allegations come from Tammy Duckworth and Elizabeth Warren. Pete Hegseth has expressed opposition to women serving in combat roles, stating that he...

  • LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley Again Throws Mayor Karen Bass Under the Bus for Cutting LA Fire's Budget

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 12, 2025

    LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley publicly criticized Mayor Karen Bass for budget cuts that she claimed made it harder for firefighters to perform their duties, especially during the recent wildfires. She also pointed out that a significant number of fire hydrants ran dry during the crisis, which she attributed to the city's lack of resources. Crowley said Bass' leadership did "negatively impact" their efforts to stop the fire. The Dept. has received 50% more calls since 2010,...

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