Articles from the August 5, 2021 edition


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  • Female Jogger Chased, Attacked on Culver City Bike Path

    Aug 5, 2021

    A 17-year-old female jogger was chased and assaulted last week by a man on a Culver City bike path, police said. The assault happened about 10 a.m. on July 10 near National Boulevard and Wesley Street, according to the Culver City Police Department. The victim was running north along the bike path near National Boulevard when she noticed the suspect riding his bicycle behind her, CCPD said in a statement. "The suspect seemed to be intently watching her, while one of his hands was in his pants, possibly committing a lewd act," police said. "The...

  • City Council to Tackle Trial Redesign of Overland/Ranch/Kelmore Intersection

    Aug 5, 2021

    The City Council will discuss at its August 9 meeting a plan calling for the temporary Quick Build re-design of the Overland/Ranch/Kelmore intersection which is expected "to enhance safety for all users of the intersection, while preserving existing parking, adding high-visibility crosswalks, and beautifying the gateway to/from the Culver Crest Neighborhood." In response to community concerns regarding operational and safety conditions -- especially regarding pedestrian crossings at the Overland...

  • Culver CityBus Launches Free Fare Program for Local Students

    Aug 5, 2021

    Culver CityBus has launched a new pilot program offering free rides to students in the Culver City Unified School District during the upcoming school year. This week, Culver City announced it is partnering with CCUSD to offer students unlimited rides at no cost on Culver CityBus, LA Metro bus and rail, and LADOT Dash. Additional transit agencies are being added to help kids ride transit for free, city officials said. Using the provided TAP card, students can ride for free to and from school, on...

  • Ocean Water Use Warning for Contaminated Los Angeles County Beaches

    Aug 5, 2021

    The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) continues cautioning residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to be careful of swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters around discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers: • Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach • Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey • Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica • Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent...

  • Motorist Killed on 405 Freeway in CC

    Aug 5, 2021

    A motorist was killed in a fiery, single-vehicle crash last Sunday on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Culver City, authorities said. The crash occurred about 4:35 a.m. on the northbound freeway at Washington Boulevard, the California Highway Patrol reported. The Culver City Fire Department shut down the Washington Boulevard off-ramp at 4:45 a.m....

  • Plan to Clear Homeless Encampment from Venice Boardwalk Brings 191 People Indoors

    Aug 5, 2021

    At least 191 homeless people have decided to move from their encampment on the Venice Beach boardwalk to permanent housing, Los Angeles city officials announced today. The Encampment to Home program “has demonstrated that when offered real housing, people jump to say yes, people want to be housed," said Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin, who launched the six-week initiative that offered homeless people a pathway to permanent housing and appropriate services to help them succeed. "A metric that people are judging this by is how the boardwalk l...

  • Chargers should be better in 2021

    Bill Seals, Sports Reporter|Aug 5, 2021

    Out with the old and in the with the new. The Los Angeles Chargers are a new team. With a new head coach, new offensive, defensive, and special team coordinators, and new offensive and defensive schemes to learn. Everything has changed. Even some of the players have changed. But what has not changed is the level of talent on this team, which remains good. After a week of practice, it is easy to see how good this team can be. The return of safety Derwin James on defense is going to make a...

  • Sparks Sign Karlie Samuelson to 7-Day Contract

    Aug 5, 2021

    LOS ANGELES (Aug. 3, 2021) – The Los Angeles Sparks announced today the signing of Karlie Samuelson to a 7-day contract. Since joining the Sparks on June 4 under a hardship contract, Samuelson has been a consistent contributor on both ends of the floor. On June 24, she helped the Sparks defeat the Washington Mystics with a career-high 13 points off the bench. Across her 10 appearances and three starts for the Sparks in 2021, Samuelson has put up single-game career-highs in points (13), rebounds (6), steals (3), field goals made (5), field g...

  • Former USC track star Andre de Grasse wins Gold

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Aug 5, 2021

    The 2020 Olympics, taking place in Tokyo, Japan this year has produced an abundance of happy and disappointing moments. Two of those moments involved former USC track stars, Andre de Grasse and Isaiah Jewett. Finally, de Grasse won a gold medal after knocking at the golden door for several years on the international stage after leaving USC. He came from behind and overtook two Americans to win the 200 meters in a blazing time of 19.62. He took third in the 100 meters last week to win a bronze...

  • Los Angeles Chargers Host FanFest and Open Practice

    Aug 5, 2021

    WHAT: The Los Angeles Chargers are hosting FanFest and Open Practice at SoFi Stadium on August 8. Prior to practice, pre-registered fans will be treated to a free concert by local punk icons The Offspring and a special performance by The Maine. WHEN: Sunday, August 8 12-3 pm: Alt 98.7's "Come Out and Play" concert at American Airlines Plaza (the concert will also be aired live on the Infinity Board inside the stadium bowl) 3:30-5:30 pm: Chargers Open Practice WHERE: SoFi Stadium 1001 S. Stadium...

  • LAKERS SIGN JOEL AYAYI AND AUSTIN REAVES TO TWO-WAY CONTRACTS

    Aug 5, 2021

    EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guards Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves to two-way contracts, it was announced today. Ayayi appeared in 32 games (31 starts) for Gonzaga last season, averaging 12.0 points (.575 FG%, .389 3P%), 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.3 minutes. The 2020-21 All-WCC First Team honoree ranked third in the conference in true shooting percentage (.665) and scored in double figures 21 times last season. In three seasons at Gonzaga, Ayayi averaged 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 88 career...

  • Del Mar Racetrack Opening Day 2021 with Happy Fans, Big Hats and Fast Horses!

    Aug 5, 2021

    By Rachel Ganz On Friday July 16, 2021 the Del Mar Race Track, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA, opened its doors to about 14,984 fans for its 82nd racing season. In past seasons, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club at Del Mar Racetrack had close to 40, 000 attendees on Opening Day, but due to Covid-19 protocols there was a restriction to allowing this type of crowding. Seating was available in the Grandstand, Clubhouse, Turf Club, Skyroom's Luxury and Celebrity suites and the five major...

  • New City Manager Signs Contract

    Aug 5, 2021

    By Jack Simon, Observer Staff Writer The Santa Monica City Council this week approved the employment contract with its newly-appointed City Manager David White. White will earn an annual salary of $340,000 plus benefits and start his new post on October 11, city officials said. Under the negotiated contract, Santa Monica will also reimburse White’s moving and relocation expenses, provide up to seven months of temporary rental assistance (maximum of $21,000) as well as use of a city car and “make available a home loan not to exceed $1.5 mil...

  • Coyotes Kill Cat

    Aug 5, 2021

    By David Ganezer West LA residents report that they have seen newly dead house cats killed by coyotes. Brazen coyotes have been seen in busy intersections such as Olympic and Sepulveda, which carry freeway levels of traffic. Residents report seeing corpses of cats across the fine trimmed lawns of West Los Angeles. "Coyotes are hunting in our neighborhood again and are a threat to pets and children!" warns a poster that has appeared in the neighborhood. "The cat looked like it had been alive...

  • Local Briefs

    Aug 5, 2021

    Jetpack Guy Seen Again at LAX "The jet man is back." an air traffic controller told a SkyWest flight after another possible jetpack sighting reported Wednesday evening near Los Angeles International Airport. The sighting comes after at least four pilots reported seeing a similar aerial mystery last year in the same area. "A Boeing 747 pilot reported seeing an object that might have resembled a jetpack 15 miles east of LAX at 5,000 feet altitude," a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson...

  • Council 'Amplifies' Noise Law to Muzzle Loud Protests

    Aug 5, 2021

    By Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer The City Council unanimously voted this week to pass an amendment to the city's noise ordinance to "reduce prolonged noise from protest activities in residential neighborhoods." The move was in in response to the fall 2020 protests that targeted the Santa Monica residence of County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and disturbed her neighbors through the prolonged use of amplified sound. At Tuesday night's meeting, the Council admitted that Supervisor Kuehl never...

  • Samohi History Building

    Letters|Aug 5, 2021

    Letters to the Editor They Didn't Suddenly Decide to Demolish It During the Pandemic Photo: The History building at SamoHi. People could have looked into these plans long ago, but they don't pay attention until it's too late Opinion by Rufus N. Baker As a SAMOHI alum, class of 1970, and an SMMUSD employee since 1998, I, too, wish the District could save the combined SAMOHI History/Art/Business building complex. But they didn't just suddenly decide during the pandemic. It's nothing new. We've...

  • Parking Structure 3 Lawsuit Filed

    Aug 5, 2021

    By Sarah Storkin Observer Staff Writer The City of Santa Monica and the Coastal Commission are being sued by the Santa Monica Bayside Owners Association (SMBOA) regarding the approval of the demolition of Parking Structure #3 in downtown Santa Monica. According to the lawsuit filed on June 15, 2021, SMBOA is a 501 (c) (3) organization composed of commercial property owners, business owners, and residents who are concerned about the current state of the downtown area of Santa Monica as well as...

  • Will City Mandate Vaccine?

    Aug 5, 2021

    By Jack Simon, Observer Staff Writer Santa Monica is on the verge of requiring its municipal workforce to get the COVID-19 vaccine, city officials said on Tuesday. City officials will be meeting with the labor organizations that represent the municipal workforce to discuss the impacts of a mandatory vaccination policy, civic leaders said. “Just as the City of Santa Monica is often a strong model in local government, we do all we can to safeguard the wellbeing of our Santa Monica community and dedicated City workforce,” said Interim City Man...

  • School Starts Aug. 19th

    Aug 5, 2021

    By David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer The SMMUSD has issued a press release, reaffirming that in class instruction will begin in Santa Monica and Malibu on August 19th, 2021. It is unclear whether or not masks will be required of students. "Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is returning to in-person instruction for the 2021-22 school year with health and safety protocols in place as directed by our guiding agencies," writes the District. "The California Department of Education (CDE)...

  • SM Council Delays Discussion on Gascon

    Aug 5, 2021

    by Observer Staff July 29, 2021 The City Council did not end up discussing a resolution regarding Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon that had been proposed by Councilmember Phil Brock. The resolution did not go so far as to express no confidence in the DA, as has been done by 24 other area cities. Instead, the resolution asks Gascon to follow state law regarding bail and sentencing of criminal defendants. Brock's resolution digs into the specific directives Gascon has issued that both...

  • Pedal on the Pier

    Aug 5, 2021

    The Pedal on the Pier fundraiser returns September 26, transforming Santa Monica Pier into a high-energy outdoor cycling studio to raise money for the Harold Robinson Foundation’s Camp Ubuntu, which provides LA’s underprivileged children in South LA with a unique, three-day camp experience. With the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, Pedal on the Pier’s 4-hour spin-a-thon features teams riding on stationary cycling bikes, live musical performances, DJs, LA’s top spin instructors, celebrities, athletes, food and drinks from local restaur...