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  • Final Death Toll in Lahaina, Maui Fires May Exceed 1500. Do the Math Yourself.

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 13, 2023

    No one in an official capacity will admit it, and it's too horrible to contemplate. But it's also a question of simple mathematics. Only 89 people have been confirmed dead in the August 9th fire that destroyed Maui's old town of Lahaina. But up to 1500 people are reported to be missing. The New York Times posted Saturday that only 3% of the wreckage had been searched. 89 bodies have been found. 89 times 33 equals 2937. Disturbingly, cell phones failed minutes before the...

  • Maui's Main Town Lahaina Destroyed in a Forest Fire; US Coast Guard Rescues Civilians Fleeing Fire Into the Ocean

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 12, 2023
    1

    Update, 8.11.23: State authorities say the death toll has risen to 59. Emergency workers and volunteers from Maui and other parts of the State search the burned out town. The governor and sheriff pledged to rebuild Lahaina, which is 80% destroyed. The fires on Maui were said to be 80% contained by Thursday night. Hotels and shelters were lined up for several months of housing. Power and water were still out in West Maui. Update, 8.10: At least 36 deaths were connected to the...

  • Stockton Police Deny Investigating 7-Eleven Workers for Violating the Civil Rights of a Shoplifter In Their Convenience Store

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 12, 2023
    2

    Update: Stockton mayor denies that the 7-eleven clerks in the now famous video, are or ever were under criminal investigation. 8.9.23 Stockton, CA police say that they are now investigating the Sikh 7-Eleven workers for assault on a shoplifter. The shoplifter, who emptied cigarettes, aspirin and other inventory into a trash can to wheel them off, happens to be African American. So they are being investigated for assault and for violating his civil rights. The employees were...

  • Suspect in Beach Bathroom Murder, Has Long History of Arrests

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 5, 2023
    4

    The man accused of stabbing to death another man outside a Santa Monica beach public restroom has a long history of arrests beginning about two years ago. Juan Evarastico Bahena, 48, identified by the Santa Monica Police Department as homeless, is accused of stabbing and killing a 27-year-old male in the breezeway next to the men's restrooms shortly after 2 pm on Monday in the 2000 block of the beach. According the the SMPD presse release, "Witnesses told officers that they...

  • Dead Man Found in a Barrel on Malibu State Beach

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 2, 2023

    A dead man was found in a 55 gallon barrel on Malibu beach Monday afternoon. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were seen looking into the black barrel on Monday afternoon. Authorities did not immediately identify the victim, who appeared to be an African ancestry male. They did not say how the man died or whether his death appeared to be foul play. It's hard to imagine, however, a non criminal manner in which the man's body could have found its way into the barrel. "No...

  • United States Federal Trade Commission Prepared to File Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon and May Break Up Their Monopoly

    The Counterfeit Report|Updated Aug 1, 2023

    July 27, 2023 - Los Angeles, CA – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is on the verge of filing a highly-anticipated antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (AMZN), aiming to potentially break up certain aspects of the e-commerce behemoth, according to a Politico report. The lawsuit, expected to be filed in federal court as early as August, has been a long time coming, with FTC Chair Lina Khan and her team scrutinizing various aspects of Amazon's business practices. Khan has b...

  • SMFD Puts Out Fire at Wooden Sculpture at South End of California Incline in Santa Monica

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 1, 2023

    A pre-dawn fire scorched the sculpture at the entrance to the California Incline, connecting Santa Monica to the Pacific Coast Highway. The blaze, which may have been intentionally set, occurred at the sculpture Beacon Overlook (2000)] by Jody Pinto, near California Incline. This is at the terminus of California Avenue, as it descends to PCH. While the cause of the fire was not immediately known, dozens of homeless people reside in Palisades Park and on the cliffs that...

  • To Avoid Mudslide, Dirt Removed From Cliffs Below Palisades Park

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 28, 2023

    19: Work crews from the Dept. of Transportation and the City of Santa Monica have prevented a partial collapse of mud and dirt unto Pacific Coast Highway. On Tuesday, they removed part of a natural formation that seemed in danger of falling. Traffic on PCH was interrupted for 3 hours while the crews worked, in order to prevent damage or injury to traffic on the highway. There are occasional mudslides from Palisades Park. This year has seen about 42 inches of rain in LA...

  • Man Beaten in Palisades Park by Scooter Riders

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff|Updated Jul 28, 2023

    July 25, 2023 - The Santa Monica Police Department has confirmed the details of an email circulating regarding a 66-year-old man getting beaten by a group of six people on scooters in Palisades Park. According to Myesha Morrison of the SMPD, officers were called to the 800 block of Palisades Park on Friday night around 9:20 pm. A large group of people on scooters drove by a 66-year-old man who was approaching his vehicle. When one of the scooters rode over the man's foot, he...

  • Found Inside Area 51 is Trending on Twitter (Ok, so it's now X)

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 25, 2023

    #FoundInsideArea51 is trending on Twitter 7/25, Tuesday evening. Poeple are posting a lot of strange photos, mostly of Democrat politicians. "The identity of the J6 unexploded bomb placer. The name of the SCOTUS leaker. Anthony Weiner's laptop. Hunter Biden's abandoned damaged laptop and the external hard drive with the recovered information on it." #FoundInsideArea51 Zombies. That is where the Zombie Apocalypse Testing Facility is located." tweeted Dan Ashley "An Extra...

  • Biden Administration Secures Voluntary Commitments from Leading Artificial Intelligence Companies to Manage the Risks Posed by AI

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 25, 2023

    The Biden administration says that it has secured voluntary commitments to "manage the risks" posed by AI. The companies named in the press release include Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI. "Today, these seven leading AI companies are committing to: Ensuring Products are Safe Before Introducing Them to the Public." People like Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey have said that artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to mankind. Frequently the...

  • City Considers Sale of Santa Monica's Historic Civic Auditorium to Developers

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 24, 2023
    1

    In a closed session last Tuesday and this coming Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council will discuss two offers from developers who want to replace the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with ten stories of luxury condominiums. The 3000 seat auditorium is part of Santa Monica history, but has been closed since 2003. The move is a desperate measure to right the City financially, by loping off a piece of its Civic Center. Santa Monica wasn't in great shape financially prior to the...

  • Stanford University Fires It's President, Stating that He Had Manipulated Data in 12 Research Papers

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 21, 2023

    In a very flowery email written by Jerry Yang, Chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees, the University accused Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne of misconduct in 12 research papers apparently written years ago. The email also announced Appointment of Richard Saller as Interim President. Stanford (which is my alma mater), has been involved in a number of scandals in recent years. Crypto wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried grew up as a faculty brat there. Recently...

  • Westbound Wilshire Blvd Blocked at 24th Street by Police Activity

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 20, 2023

    Wilshire Blvd is blocked in a Westbound direction, at 2321 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica. There are at least 3 Santa Monica Police vehicles present. It seems to involve a homeless resident, though it was uncertain how....

  • Santa Monica to Consider Selling Civic Auditorium to Developers in a Closed Session

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 20, 2023

    The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was built in 1958 and holds about 3000 people. The City closed it permanently in 2002, stating that it was too small and acoustically challenged to serve as a concert venue any longer. One local resident says that in a closed session, the Santa Monica City Council could sell it off to developers in a desperate attempt to close a budget shortfall. Tricia Crane, Chair of the Northeast Neighbors Association, believes the potential sale is a...

  • Report: Missing Girl, 13, Said to be Walking South of the Santa Monica Pier

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 19, 2023

    There is a report on Twitter that the LAPD are searching for a missing girl South of the Santa Monica pier. "Critical missing child in Santa Monica. 13yo girl last seen walking SB from the Santa Monica Pier. Wearing a white top with blue jeans. Also wearing a blue bathing suit underneath." says the Tweet, from @downtownlascanner. The account monitors police scanners and is ordinarily reliable....

  • Video: City Councilman Injured in Tussle With a Homeless Man on the Third Street Promenade Sunday

    Janet McLaughlin, Special to the Observer|Updated Jul 18, 2023
    4

    Santa Monica City Councilman Phil Brock was apparently assaulted by a homeless man on the Third Street Promenade Sunday, 7/16 around 3 pm PST. "Phil and Cathy were walking on the Promenade," posted one source on social media, referring to Phil's partner, Cathy. "As they approached John Alle's building, a vagrant was tearing down a sign that said "Get the needles out of our parks and Promenade". It had a QR code for people to sign a petition circulated by The Santa Monica...

  • Crimean Bridge Again Attacked and Disrupted, As Kharkiv Comes Under Assault

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 17, 2023

    There are reports Sunday evening (Monday morning in Ukraine), that the Kerch bridge connecting Crimea so Southern Russia has once again been attacked by Ukrainian missiles. "One span of the #Kerch #Bridge collapsed, another one came off its support. Bridge support damaged," read one such report. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian deputy defense minister said that East of Kharkiv, the "situation is difficult," with positions changing hands several times in one day. The news comes amidst...

  • 700 Block of Santa Monica Blvd to be Torn Down in August for Block Apartment Building

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 12, 2023

    7/5/23: Tenants of Victor's Cleaning and Tailoring, Santa Monica Rubber Stamp, Crisp Imaging, Tibetan Arts and Santa Monica Guitar this week received notice that they must be out by August 15th, 2023. The one hundred year old structure is about to be demolished and replaced by density. Four stories of pack and stack apartments will replace the 1920's era, one story building with parking in back. Downtown Santa Monica has pretty much turned over and into block apartments which...

  • Hunter Biden Drops a Bag of Blow In the White House Library On the 4th of July. Cocaine Causes an Evacuation and Hazmat Team

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 10, 2023

    7/5/23: When asked by a reporter, Hunter Biden vehemently denied that he had anything to do with the Cocaine found at the White House. https://nypost.com/2023/07/07/post-irresponsible-for-asking-about-cocaine-in-white-house/ Mainstream media will ignore it. But cocaine was found in the White House Library Tuesday, where Hunter had been using his laptop. So put two and two together, folks. Hunter was kicked out of the military over his cocaine use. The White House tried to...

  • What the Mainstream Media Doesn't Want you to Know About This Summer's Riots in France

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 8, 2023

    A series of civil disturbances in France began on 27 June 2023 following the killing of Nahel Merzouk by a police officer. In Nanterre, residents started a protest outside the police headquarters on 27 June, which later escalated into rioting as demonstrators set cars alight, destroyed bus stops, and shot fireworks at police. In Viry-Châtillon, a town just south of Paris with residents who are frequently violent towards police, a group of Moslem youths set a bus ablaze. These...

  • Dog injured in Knife Fight Between 2 Homeless Men in Downtown Santa Monica

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 4, 2023

    Santa Monica Police report that they have arrested a man who had a knife fight with one or two other men. In the course of that fight, a dog was injured. The dog was taken to a veterinarian, where the animal is said to be in good condition. "A suspect is in police custody following an altercation this evening on Colorado Avenue near 4th Street," the SMDP posted to Facebook. "The fight between two subjects (possibly 3) resulted in minor injuries to the suspect under arrest as...

  • Hundreds Gather to Celebrate America's Birthday at Santa Monica College Sunday

    Morgan Genser, Observer Staff Photographer|Updated Jul 4, 2023

    Santa Monica residents and neighbors gathered on the lawn to celebrate the 247th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It was the first time since the Covid emergency began in March 2020, that the City sponsored the annual gathering. Attendees were treated to fireworks, music and a show, but brought their own food. Several hundred people attended, including this photographer. IMG 1) Many people like the ones above brought their own food and had picnics on Corsai...

  • Seals, Sea Lions Suffering From Toxic Algae Bloom and Domoic Acid

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jun 30, 2023

    Algae blooms are at a record high this year, and they are causing a record high number of dead and dying aquatic mammals on California beaches. Experts are not sure why the bloom is thicker than it has been in fifty years; this years heavy rain and runoff of fertilizer is a good guess. But they are sure that 100's of marine mammals are beaching themselves. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine mammals once they are ready. Marine Mammal...

  • Motorists Avoid Fireworks at the Pump This July 4, Save $500 Million Daily Compared to a Year Ago

    Gas Buddy|Updated Jun 30, 2023

    (June 27, DALLAS) – Good news for summer road trippers: the fireworks displays will be back this year, but the fireworks at the pump are behind us. Independence Day weekend this year will be much more affordable when it comes to fueling up, according to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most money on fuel. Gas prices this July 4 are projected to be over $1.30 per gallon less than they were in 2022, with the national average e...

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