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  • Dutch Farmers Block Highways As They Protest Country's Newest Greenhouse Policy

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 11, 2022

    17: Dutch farmers have shut down the small country as they protest new restrictions on the use of fertilizer, they say will cut their production of food by 30% or more. The restrictions on Nitrogen are intended to cut the tiny country's carbon footprint. Which is already negligible, because there are less than 6 million people living there, representing 0.1% of the world's population. The small European Union state is almost entirely urban, but there are a handful of farmers, mostly dairy...

  • Enough Signatures to Recall George Gascon Turned in at Los Angeles County Recorder's Office

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 11, 2022

    The political action committee behind the petition to recall LA County DA George Gascon today turned in 717,000 signatures. Backers need 566,000 of the signatures to be qualified as those of registered voters, for the Gascon recall to be on the ballot on November 7th, 2022. Inevitably some of the signatures will not qualify, so it is not yet known whether or not they made it Funded by George Soros, Gascon was formerly the progressive District Attorney of San Francisco. He has released convicts...

  • In Russian Prisons, Criminals Recruited to Serve as Wagner Mercenaries In Ukraine War

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 8, 2022

    In a scene right out of a movie, inmates at Russia's prisons are being recruited to serve as mercenaries in Ukraine. Those who survive will win their freedom. Terms of service include large payments of Rubles if they survive. But they will have no identity cards or papers, and if they are killed, their bodies will not be returned to their families. Russian Armed Forces have lost tens of thousands of men prosecuting their invasion of Ukraine. It is said to be extremely difficult to recruit even m...

  • Fully Boosted Are Catching Covid-19 More Frequently than Those with Primary Vaccine Series Only, Both in Los Angeles County and the Nation

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 6, 2022
    2

    June 23, 2022 - Both the Centers for Disease Control and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are revealing that individuals who are up to date with their Covid-19 booster shots are becoming infected with the virus at nearly twice the rate as the merely vaccinated. The unexpected reversal of the vaccine's effect is more pronounced in some age groups than others, according to data from the LADPH. On June 19, CBS news showed a case rate chart from the CDC that showed the simply...

  • Ben & Jerry's Parent Company, Unilever, Puts a Stop to Israel Boycott

    Simon Wiesenthal Center|Jul 6, 2022

    The Simon Wiesenthal Center received a call Wednesday morning from Unilever CEO Alan Jope, who informed the SWC of the company's decision to put a halt to Ben & Jerry's Israel boycott. Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and CEO of the SWC, was informed of the decision personally in a phone call Wednesday morning from Unilever CEO Alan Jope. Shortlybenandjerrys-unilever-quote_2022 after the call between Rabbi Hier and Mr. Jope, Unilever officially announced it reached a new agreement with its current...

  • Covid-19 Death Rate for Under-50 Population Negligible According to Los Angeles County Health Department

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 4, 2022

    June 24, 2022 - The death rates from Covid-19 for the past month have been so low for those under 50 years old that the Los Angeles County Health Department is unable to show them on a bar chart. Even the unvaccinated are not expiring from Covid at a rate that can be shown on the chart at the health department's Covid central. "Rates for some age categories are not shown due to small numbers," is the explanation given on the chart that only shows death rates for those over 50 years of age. The...

  • City Council Okays Plan to Construct 9,000 More Units Under Santa Monica Housing Element

    Jack Simon, Observer Staff Writer|Jul 1, 2022

    15: The Santa Monica City Council this week approved revisions to the city's 6th Cycle Housing Element Update which will be resubmitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Last October, the Council adopted the 2021-2029 Housing Element, which "prioritizes 100% affordable housing in city-owned land" and "addresses historic discrimination and satisfies affirmatively furthering fair housing." The Element also included the city's plan to build 8,895 units...

  • Construction Crews Break Ground on New Pedestrian Bridge at Will Rogers State Beach.

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Jun 29, 2022
    1

    15: The State of California has broken grounds on a new pedestrian bridge over PCH that connects Will Rogers State Beach with the George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon. The State budgeted $11 million to build the bridge, and to widen the existing bike path. Located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Will Rogers State beach is owned by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. However, it is managed and maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches a...

  • Election Results of the California June 7 Primary For Santa Monica

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff|Jun 15, 2022

    June 10, 2022 - Results from the primary election that was held on June 7 are still preliminary as vote-by-mail ballots still have several days to reach their destination. But results are available from the 580,358 vote-by-mail ballots already received and the 242,187 votes cast at vote centers. The following data from the California Secretary of State and the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder are as of June 9 and June 8 respectively. For almost all offices, candidates must run in the...

  • Transfer Tax Signature Gatherers Promote Initiative Outside Santa Monica Markets

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Jun 6, 2022

    You may have seen paid solicitors gathering signatures for Santa Monica's half percent transfer tax on real estate. Mayor Sue Himmelrich has proposed the tax to fund homeless programs. Local property owners are bitterly opposed to the proposal. So we spoke to one of the signature gatherers outside Bob's Market on Ocean Park Blvd. "Want to sign the safe homes and schools initiative?" he asked me. I responded as if he was a Russian warship invading my island, and he just smiled. He said his name...

  • Mike Bonin's Los Angeles City Council Office Protected From the Homeless by Private Security

    Alyssa Erdley, News with Attitude|Jun 6, 2022

    June 2, 2022 - The Westside Current broke the news yesterday that Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin of District 11 has hired a private security company to guard his government office in Westchester. On Tuesday, Bonin voted against a Los Angeles City Council motion to prohibit homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools. Debra Huston, a resident of Westchester, discovered the private security guarding Bonin's office when she attempted to enter the building yesterday. The security guard...

  • "Green" Santa Monica Wastes Reusable Furniture, Sends it to the Dump

    Alyssa Erdley, News with Attitude|May 23, 2022

    May 18, 2022 - The city of Santa Monica prides itself on being environmentally sustainable. In fact, an entire division of the city is devoted to sustainability, where the government website states, "For more than 25 years, our mission has been to use the power of community to enhance our resources, prevent harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic well-being of the community for the sake of current and future generations." But when it comes to the...

  • Rent Control Board Commissioner Nicole Phillis Resigns Thursday Night

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|May 18, 2022

    12: Rent Control Board Commissioner Nicole Phillis announced Thursday evening that she was resigning her position on the Rent Control board. Apparently Phillis is moving away from Santa Monica, and that is a requirement for her to sit on the board. "I am with a heavy heart resigning," Phillis said, her voice choking with emotion. "Effective on the adjournment of this meeting tonight. And to represent people that are often forgotten on this board. I appreciate the openness and inclusiveness...

  • Ben Allen Faces Only Write In Candidates In His June Campaign for Re-election to California State Senate

    David Ganezer|May 16, 2022

    In an unexpected turn of events, California State Sen. Ben Allen is on the ballot unopposed in the June 7th Primary. However, he will probably have to run against one of two write in candidates in the final vote on November 4th. Kristina Irwin describes herself as a local mom and real estate agent, who believes in "medical freedom." She says that more school lockdowns and mandatory covid vaccinations are a threat to our schools. She is running in part to prevent the next wave of school...

  • Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Says it's Time to Dissolve DTSM Inc and Remove Safety Ambassadors to Get Real Safety and Security Downtown

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff|May 13, 2022
    5

    May 2, 2022 - Santa Monica City Councilmember Phil Brock says he "got triggered" when he discovered that the dumpster rooms in downtown's public garages are left open at night for the homeless. They are used as bedrooms, bathrooms, drug dens, and have served as initiation points for numerous fires. Brock claimed in an interview he had been promised the dumpster rooms would be closed at night months ago. This clearly had not happened. In response to this information, Brock wrote the below email...

  • Putin Says he Invaded Ukraine Because US and the West were Threatening Russia and Refusing Security Guarantees

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|May 13, 2022

    Russian president Vladimir Putin addressed a colorful and well choreographed parade, full of salutes and military Hurrahs on Monday morning in Moscow. Putin said that they had to invade after the United States and the West refused to negotiate for security guarantees. He did not mention Ukraine by name or make any announcements about changes in policies or mobilization. He did draw vague comparisons to Russia's defeat of the Nazi's and the current struggle in the Donbass. The air portion of the...

  • 350k Signatures Collected on Recall Gascon; CA AG to Investigate Big Oil for Plastic Pollution (Really); Chain Retailers Fight Back Against Shoplifting; Hertz Customers Falsely Arrested After Rentals

    Association of Deputy District Attorneys|May 13, 2022

    Special Note To Readers Oral argument in the appeal of ADDA v. Gascon and the companion case People v. Nazir will occur at 1:30 pm Monday, May 9th. The hearing can be viewed using the BlueJeans app vial this link. It is recommended that viewers download the app in advance of the hearing. The audio feed can be accessed by calling +1 (415) 466-7000. Courts & Rulings City attorney must provide discovery in infraction case A city attorney's office is obliged to respond to discovery requests in infra...

  • Push Poll Tries to Convince Santa Monica Voters to Vote for New Transfer Tax

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff|May 9, 2022

    April 28, 2022 - A push poll interview company is calling Santa Monica voters to gauge their response to Sue Himmelrich's ballot proposal to establish an increase over the current tax on sales of property over $8 million. Push polls are billed as surveys of opinion to the respondent but actually give information in an attempt to sway the voter. Himmelrich, who happens to be the mayor of Santa Monica, is allegedly spending her and her husband's own personal money to pay signature gatherers who...

  • Villaneuva Says Santa Monica's Political Leaders Instructed The SMPD to "Stand Down" The Night of the George Floyd Riots

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Apr 29, 2022
    1

    Sheriff Alex Villaneuva spoke at the Santa Monica Bay Women's Club on April 21. He was asked to contrast whether the SMPD's response to the George Floyd riots of May 31, 2020 was adequate or not. He said that the City's response to the rioters was too soft, "too woke," and that the City of Santa Monica called the Sheriff's dept for back up after two hours. "They should have called us immediately, like Beverly Hills did. Santa Monica could have avoided damage with our help," he said. "It's a...

  • Video of Putin Gripping Table Feeds Speculation that he has Parkinson's Disorder

    Apr 25, 2022

    It was first reported in November 2020 that Russian President Vladimir Putin has Parkinson's disorder. The 68 year old has grown increasingly pale and seems strained during public appearances. In a recent televised interview, he was seen to be gripping the edge of a table, as if fearing his hands would start to tremble and reveal his condition to a hostile world. Video tape is making the rounds of a recent televised meeting between Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Putin where officially he...

  • Much of Russia's Air Force Appears to be Made of Styrofoam. Yes, that's right. Fake planes.

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Apr 22, 2022
    1

    17: Potemkin Villages originated in Russia in the 19th Century. Today's Potemkin village consist of Russian air fields full of styrofoam planes. "Google's increased resolution over Russian military bases is already yielding hilarity," tweeted Kyiv Expat. "Just how much of the Russian Air Force is styrofoam?" Russia had said it possessed over 1200 fighter jets before the Ukraine war (in contract with Ukraine, which had around 90 aging Soviet fighter planes when the war began on February...

  • Calabasas Spurns Los Angeles District Attorney Gascon's Request to Meet

    Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff|Apr 19, 2022
    2

    The City Council of Calabasas has published an open letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, spurning his requiest to meet and discuss his "vision" of law enforcement. Citing a spiraling increase in crime in Calabasas and the continued presence on the street of an accused serial child predator, Councilmember James Bozajian, a past president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, posted the below letter to Gascon, outlining the reasons a meeting with Calabasas would...

  • 200k Signatures Collected in Recall Gascon Campaign; LA County Assessor Accused of Giving Tax Breaks to Friends; Predator Ed Buck Files Motion to Overturn Jury Verdict; Dodgers' Bauer Sues for Defamation over Sex Crime Allegations and Other Stories: Monday Morning Memo

    Association of Deputy District Attorneys|Apr 10, 2022

    Courts & Rulings Sergeant can't use qualified immunity to stop lawsuit in Riverside fatal police shooting, court rules A California judge on Thursday denied an appeal for qualified immunity from a Riverside County Sheriff's Department sergeant who is accused of shooting and killing a man with excessive force. Nearly every key detail of the years-long case against the sergeant and the county is disputed, including whether the man was retreating from the property at the time of the shooting; wheth...

  • Shades of Mein Kampf: Official Russian News Agency Calls For Ukraine to be Ethnically Cleansed and Erased

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Apr 7, 2022

    One of the more astonishing aspects of Russia's actions in Ukraine is that Russia has not been subtle or shy about proclaiming hatred for all things Ukraine. A recent piece equates Ukrainians with Nazis, and says they should no longer have national identity. The author is Timofey Sergeytsev, a well known Russian political theorist. "Yesterday, RIA Novosti published a lengthy article entitled "What Russia should do with Ukraine", which explains in detail what Russia understands by...

  • Russia threatens Wikipedia with 4 million ruble fine for inaccurate information about Russian invasion of Ukraine

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Apr 5, 2022

    The Russian censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has decided to fine Wikipedia 4,000,000 rubles (about $44,000), for disseminating false information about the Russian "special operation" in Ukraine. "Roskomnadzor sent a notification to the administration of the Internet resource to immediately remove inaccurate information on the subject of the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine," the agency said on Telegram. Separately, Novaya Gazeta, the last liberal website to dare...

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