Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

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  • Santa Monica Pier Evacuated Due to Lightning

    Observer Staff|Updated Nov 20, 2019

    The City of Santa Monica issued the following alert through its electronic system at 9:30 am on Wednesday morning: An electrical storm with lightning has been reported in Santa Monica. Please evacuate all ocean and beach/sand areas. If on the beach or on the Santa Monica Pier, seek shelter indoors until the storm has ended. In 2008, two surfers were struck by lightning on Venice Beach. One of them, a 22 year old man, died. The other man, named Bob Kilroy, was a 64 year old...

  • As City Council Extends Scooter Rules, SMPD Gets Traffic Safety Grant

    Observer Staff|Updated Nov 18, 2019

    2/13: The Santa Monica City Council voted to extend Santa Monica’s Shared Mobility Pilot Program. You may recall that Bird started putting its scooters in Santa Monica without first obtaining any sort of permit. The City initially resisted, after some residents complained. Then it devised a plan to allow 4 companies including Bird and Lyft, to put their scooters and semi electric bikes in Santa Monica. “The extension through May 2020 will pave the way for a second pilot pro...

  • Homeless Man Arrested For Stabbing Another Homeless Man in DTSM on 11/06/19

    Observer Staff|Updated Nov 18, 2019

    A homeless man named Jalen Perrot, 27, was arrested for stabbing a second homeless man in the 700 block of Santa Monica. The stabbing took place around 6 pm November 6, 2019. Perrot was arrested the next day. "(Police) they observed a male bleeding profusely from his arm," writes Santa Monica Police Dept. Public Information Officer, Lt. Candice Cobarrubias. "Officers on scene provided emergency medical aid in order to prevent significant blood loss. The male subject had a...

  • Transient Sentenced to Life in Prison For 2016 Westlake Fire That Killed Five People

    Observer Staff|Updated Nov 11, 2019

    A 25-year-old transient was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing five people after he set fire to a vacant building in the Westlake District three years ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. Last November, Johnny Josue Sanchez, 26, was found guilty of five counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. The special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and arson murder were found to be true....

  • Pair Pleads to Running High-End Automobile Sublease Scam

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 31, 2019

    Two men have admitted to stealing nearly $4 million in cash and luxury vehicles in a high-end automobile sublease scam from 2017 to 2019 in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today. Arman Mave Hazarian (dob 11/5/71), aka Dean Hazarian, of Tarzana and Afshin Hashemi (dob 8/8/71), aka Al Hashemi, of Hollywood both pleaded no contest yesterday to three felony counts of grand theft of an automobile and one felony count of grand...

  • Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy Celebrates 75th Anniversary With Ribbon Cutting

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 31, 2019

    SM Homeopathic Pharmacy celebrated its 75th anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, October 29th 2019. In 1944, Norman and Mary Litvak felt it was "their patriotic duty to serve people by providing a pharmacy that would help keep them healthy" despite the World War, explains a publicist. Their store was originally founded as the Santa Monica Drug Company on October 8, 1944 on 7th Street and Broadway. "Norman and Mary pioneered a new kind of pharmacy, with care of the...

  • Malibu Schools Closed on Halloween, but SM Schools Will be Open

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 30, 2019

    What some authorities are calling the worst "Red Flag Alert" since 2009, has caused fires mostly in Ventura County. LA County has so far escaped the worst of it. Nevertheless, the SMMUSD will close Malibu Schools on Halloween, 10/31. Santa Monica Schools will remain open. Malibu schools were closed on 10/30 as well, but not Santa Monica Schools, which were open. Below is the press release from the District: Dear Santa Monica parents and staff, Based on current and predicted ai...

  • LA Fire Dept Announces Repopulation of Areas Impacted by Getty Fires

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 30, 2019

    The Los Angeles Fire Department is announcing the repopulation of areas impacted by the Getty Fire. Effective October 30, 2019. http://tinyurl.com/y3ozamzm . #GettyFire #Repopulation; INC#0074; 5:00PM; 1800 N Sepulveda Blvd; http://lafd.org/news/getty-fire; #LosAngeles Effective October 30, 2019 at 5:00PM, All Mandatory Evacuation orders and Warnings are lifted with the exception of the areas between: 1) West border: Kenter Ave 2) South border: Sunset Blvd 3) North border:...

  • Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi's Replacement Terminated by US Troops, Tweets Trump

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 30, 2019

    Being the apparent successor to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a lifetime appointment, but you might not live very long. Bagdadi's successor is also dead, President Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. According to Mr. Trump, the unidentified "number one replacement has been terminated by American troops." "Just confirmed that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's number one replacement has been terminated by American troops. Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!" the...

  • Photo of a Wedding Rehearsal Near Sonoma Captures the Kincaide Fire

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 30, 2019

    Karna Roa shot the photo of her career on Saturday at a rehearsal dinner in Sonoma County. Curtis and Katie Furland, a couple from Chicago were rehearsing for their wedding, wearing masks over their faces. A yellow sun can be seen in the background. Vendors and guests were forced to evacuate themselves before the wedding, and the newlywed couple evacuated Sunday morning--after the wedding. "The sunset was red and smoky because of all the smoke from the fire," said Roa. The new...

  • DA Files Charges in Santa Monica Pier Party Bus Shooting Case from 2017

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 28, 2019

    Prosecutors announced today that they have filed homicide charges against two men who killed a 28 year old woman on a party bus near the Santa Monica pier. The two men have been identified as Ron Simmons, 23 and Cameron Lee, 22. The shooting occurred early in the morning of November 3, 2017. The victim, De'Ommie de la Cruz was on a Lion Limousine Corp. bus in order to celebrate the birthday of a friend. When the passengers asked for a bathroom break just before 1 a.m., the...

  • LA Firefighters Battle Thirty Acre Brushfire Threatening Homes in Pacific Palisades

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 21, 2019

    The fire is now largely contained, as of 345 pm PST. Firefighters will stay on scene for 48 hours at least, they said in a press conference. People were being escorted home in the fire areas. 2 injuries, one firefighter with a minor injury, one local resident with a respiratory disorder required hospitalization. A total of 40 acres were involved, firemen were letting the fire burn to fire breaks. Update #PalisadesFire - EVACUATION ORDER Brush Fire; INC#0580; 12:30PM; 500 N...

  • SMPD Identifies Suspect in Pepper Spray Scuffle on Santa Monica Pier Saturday, 10/18/19

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 21, 2019

    It's unclear who started it or why. But a scuffle on the Santa Monica Pier Saturday afternoon resulted in several people being pepper sprayed and one arrest. Santa Monica Police on Monday Morning, identified the arrested person as David Dempsey. SMPD PIO Lt. Candace Cobarrubias writes that Dempsey "dispersed a canister of bear repellent into the crowd. Numerous protestors and non-involved pier patrons were affected by the chemical. Mr. Dempsey was immediately detained by...

  • Jury Recommends Death Penalty for Santa Monica Man Who Murdered Two Women

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 20, 2019

    A jury today recommended the death penalty for a 43-year-old man who killed two women and tried to murder a female neighbor over a seven-year period, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced. A six-man, six-woman panel deliberated for several hours before determining that Michael Gargiulo, 43, should be sentenced to death. Gargiulo is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28 in Department 106 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. In August, jurors found the...

  • SMMUSD Struggles With Painting John Muir School Building To One Named for the Obamas

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 20, 2019

    In order to change the name of a building to Michelle and Barack Obama Center for Inquiry and Exploration, the SMMUSD will have to paint over a mural of Muir Woods. Not everyone was happy that Muir Woods was being painted over. Some former hippies, now in their 60's and 70's, held a rally to celebrate the artwork, and try to convince the district not to paint over their mural. "Michelle and Barack Obama Center for Inquiry and Exploration, is the new name of the facility that...

  • Police Seek Suspect After Shooting at Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 20, 2019

    Police Seek Suspect After Shooting at Santa Monica Pier Parking LotAn argument over a parking space resulted in one man shooting another in the parking lot immediately north of the Santa Monica pier Wednesday night. On October 16, 2019 at 9:58 pm, the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call of a single shot fired in the south end portion of the 1550 Lot. Officers arrived on scene and found a male subject who had sustained a single gun shot wound to his lower leg....

  • Reaction of Fur Industry to California Gov. Newsom's Signing of Fur-Ban Bill

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 20, 2019

    The following comments were made by Keith Kaplan of the Fur Information Council of America, after Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed Assembly Bill 44 into law, which bans the sale and manufacturing of fur products in California. "Governor Newsom has now made California the first state in the nation to abolish a centuries-old, lawful, highly regulated, job-producing, environmentally sound, tax-paying industry. He has failed to recognize the human toll here resulting from the govern...

  • 100,000 Evacuated from Porter Ranch area due to #Saddleridge Fire return home

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 12, 2019

    Update 6pm Saturday: Fire continues to burn. Red Flag warning expires. All evacuated persons allowed to return home. The particulate matter in the air in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, has returned to normal levels. As authorities predicted, high winds in the northern San Fernando Valley caused 7500 acres to burn by Friday morning. 100,000 residents have been evacuated and two deaths have been reported as a result of the fires. The Los Angeles Fire Department has declared a...

  • Rent Control Board to Consider Whether a Rental Unit May be Removed from Rent Control

    Observer Staff |Updated Oct 12, 2019
    1

    At its Thursday night meeting, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board will consider the removal of a rent controlled unit from the rental market. A recent California Court of Appeal decision seems to say that when the RCB grants permission for a landlord to remove a unit from the rental market, they are in fact removing rent control itself from that property. "This item was initiated by the Board's General Counsel in response to the Court of Appeal's July 30 opinion in 1041 20th...

  • CVS Pharmacy Will Move Into Building at 5th and Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica

    Observer Staff|Updated Oct 10, 2019

    CVS pharmacy will move into a building at the Southeast corner of 5th Street and Wilshire Blvd in downtown Santa Monica, according to signs posted at the site. The building was previously occupied by Whole Foods Market, which was a Wild Oats market previous to that incarnation. The building has been vacant for more than 2 years. Brick and mortar retail businesses have suffered in recent years as a result of competition from online retailers. Another problem for local...

  • SamoHi Swimming Pool Incident Leads to Government Tort Claim Against SMMUSD

    Observer Staff|Updated Sep 28, 2019

    A high school student suffered "severe and debilitating lung injuries" after swimming in the Santa Monica High School pool according to a government claim filed this month against the SMMUSD. "(name redacted) is a senior at Santa Monica High School, a member of the water polo team and an exceptionally strong swimmer. During the team's swimming and water polo meet, he suddenly was unable to breathe, and after gasping for air several times, he immediately became ill. Upon...

  • SMPD Arrests Man with Rifle at 18th St. and Santa Monica Blvd

    Observer Staff|Updated Sep 26, 2019

    On September 20, 2019 at approximately 1:30am, officers were dispatched to the area of 1800 block of Santa Monica for a loud disturbance being caused by a male yelling and screaming. Upon arrival, officers can hear the yelling and screaming coming from the alley. As they made their way down the alley, a light was shone in their direction. Officers saw a man armed with a rifle. The officers took a position of cover and began to order the suspect to surrender. The suspect...

  • Police Cancel Suspicious Package Alert on Santa Monica Blvd Near Third Street Promenade

    Observer Staff |Updated Sep 26, 2019
    1

    On Sunday September 22, 2019, the Santa Monica Police issued another alert for the Third Street Promenade. The alert from the Santa Monica Police said "Santa Monica Police activity in the 400 block of Santa Monica. Please avoid the area." One policeman told our reporter that a suspicious package has been found. The Santa Monica PD confirmed this in a tweet at 1024 am PST: “Good morning. Please stay out of the area of 4th and Santa Monica. We are investigating a suspicious p...

  • FedEx Duplicates Itself at 11th and Wilshire, Closes at 6th and Wilshire

    Observer Staff|Updated Sep 22, 2019

    For 24 years, it has been open 24 hours allowing students to coffee Project late at night and businessman to send overnight packages at all hours. But on Tuesday, September 17 at 5 PM, the Federal Express (FedEx) store on Wilshire Blvd and 6th Street closed for good. Not to worry, as they will reopen at 11th and Wilshire soon. That location will also be open 24 hours a day. The building will be torn down for six floors of mixed use retail and apartments above the ground...

  • Rideshare Driver Charged with Kidnap, Rape of Female Passenger

    Observer Staff|Updated Sep 17, 2019

    A 38-year old Lyft driver has been charged with the kidnapping and rape of a Los Angeles woman last October, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced today. The assault allegedly occurred in October. It is unclear why it took the DA's office almost a year to charge Octavio Alvarez Gomez. The 38 year old man faces one count each of kidnapping to commit rape and rape of an unconscious person. The criminal complaint also alleges an enhancement related to...

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