Articles from the August 6, 2020 edition


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  • Homeless Man with Knife Killed During Confrontation with Culver City Police

    Aug 6, 2020

    A knife-wielding homeless man was shot and killed during a confrontation with localpolice in a parking structure Monday afternoon, authorities said. During the confrontation, a Culver City police officer also suffered a "friendly-fire" gunshot wound to the leg. The shooting occurred around 3 p.m. at the garage on Washington Boulevard and Landmark Street after local officers responded to call about a white man who allegedly pulled a knife on a maintenance worker, authorities said. According to...

  • LAFC Gets Knocked Out in Quarterfinals

    Fred Altieri, Sports Reporter|Aug 6, 2020

    LAFC's expectation of playing in the final week of the MLS is Back tournament in Florida were derailed by local darlings Orlando City SC in a 5-4 shootout following a 1-1 tie in regulation in. A stunning equalizer on a corner kick in the 90th minute by Orlando's Joao Moutinho snatched almost certain victory away from the Black and Gold, sending the match into uncertainty and finally pain. Surprisingly, the Lions of Orlando will now take on Minnesota United FC in Semifinal action. The winner...

  • 5 Candidates Seeking Seats on City Council, So Far

    Aug 6, 2020

    With filing deadline fast approaching, the Culver City municipal election has so far attracted 5 candidates vying for 3 seats on the City Council. The Council candidates who filed their papers before the August 7 deadline include Yasmine-Imani McCorrin, Albert Vera, Khin Khin Gyi, Freddy Puza and Darrel Menthe. Dr. Kelly Kent has announced that she is seeking re-election to the School Board. This year, both the City Council and School Board elections will be held Nov. 3...

  • Culver City Seeing Decline in Covid-19 Cases

    Aug 6, 2020

    As of press time Wednesday, the number of local residents with Covid-19 rose to 330 cases, a 5% increase from last week's total of 313. Deaths related to Coronavirus increased to 29 in Culver City. More than half of the deaths occurred in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. According to Public Health officials, 67 cases of Covid-19 and 14 deaths were reported at Marina Pointe Healthcare and Subacute and 5 cases and 1 death at Anchor Retirement Homes. County-wide, the total infected...

  • Coronavirus Infection Rate Slowing Down in Culver City

    Aug 6, 2020

    The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Culver City is rising at a slow rate while Los Angeles County is setting new daily records of infection and deaths, the County Health Department has reported. As of press time Wednesday, the number of local residents with Covid-19 rose to 313 cases, a 4% increase in the past week. Deaths related to Coronavirus totaled 27 in Culver City. In Los Angeles County, there were 91 new deaths and 4,825 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday. Health officials said...

  • City Council to Place Real Property Transfer Tax Initiative on Nov. 3 Ballot

    Aug 6, 2020
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    City Council held a special meeting this week to discuss whether to add an initiative to the November 3 ballot to increase the city's real property transfer tax (RETT) and shore up its financial state. Following a two-hour debate, the Council passed a motion to place the measure on the ballot and to create an ad hoc subcommittee to fine tune the measure to reflect concerns of councilmembers and residents prior to its next reading at the August 3 council meeting. Councilmembers wanted the...

  • City Council Okays Rates of Real Estate Transfer Tax Initiative

    Aug 6, 2020

    City Council this week approved the "fine-tuned" resolution to place an initiative on the November 3 ballot to increase the city's real property transfer tax (RETT) for sales above $1.5 million. The tax measure was initially discussed by the Council last week in its effort to shore up the city's financial state "slammed by the pandemic induced recession." During a special meeting, Councilmembers expressed their support for the measure but also directed an ad hoc subcommittee to come up with tax...

  • Salter keeps the ball rolling at Culver City High School

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Aug 6, 2020

    Almost every successful organization is led by brilliant people at the top and a lot of times they are unsung heroes. They don't get a lot of credit but everyone in the organization knows who that person is. When you talk about Culver City High School sports that person is Athletic Director Tom Salter. Salter came to Culver City High School 22 years ago from Bishop Amat High School in La Puente as one of the best high school football coaches in the state. After coaching football at Culver City...

  • Pac-12 announces revised 2020 football schedule

    Bill Seals|Aug 6, 2020

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pac-12 conference has announced a revised 2020 football schedule. The revision means that UCLA and USC will not play any non-conference games this season but will add one conference game. UCLA has gone from an opening day game at home against New Mexico State on August 29th to an opening day game at home against USC on Saturday, September 26th. The Bruins would been heavily favored to beat New Mexico State and a win in that matchup would have given head coach...

  • When will Justin Herbert become the starting quarterback?

    Bill Seals|Aug 6, 2020

    When a quarterback is drafted as high as Justin Herbert was, it is always just a matter of time before the player becomes a starter. The Los Angeles Chargers picked Herbert with the 6th overall pick in the first round, and when a quarterback is picked that high in the draft, he is expected to eventually become the starter and hopefully a franchise quarterback, a title Philip Rivers held with the Chargers for the past 15 seasons. Unfortunately for Herbert, the pandemic cost him valuable time in...

  • LOS ANGELES RAMS LAUNCH SCOUTING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

    Aug 6, 2020

    The Los Angeles Rams are kicking off the inaugural Scouting Apprenticeship program for 10 deserving minority and female candidates to strengthen their pursuit of a career in scouting. The program will engage participants in experiential training, one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities through virtual summits and touchpoints beginning in August through the 2021 NFL Draft in April. Throughout the year, the scouting apprentices will work with Rams advisors and football operations...

  • DODGERS ACTIVATE LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW

    Aug 6, 2020

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the injured list and have optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch White. Kershaw, 32, will make the start today after missing the first nine games of the season with lower back soreness. The Texas native is entering his 13th season in the Major Leagues and is 169-74 with 2.44 ERA (617 ER/2274.2 IP) and 2464 strikeouts. Last season, he went 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA (60 ER/178.1 IP) and 189 strikeouts in 29 games (28 starts),...

  • Is COVID Worse than Gunfire?

    Aug 6, 2020

    by Alyssa Erdley News with Attitude A woman was shot and killed and four others sustained wounds after an unknown number of gunmen fired multiple rounds at a house party in the exclusive Beverly Crest neighborhood. The shooting occurred Tuesday around 1:15 am after the party had already attracted the attention of the neighbors, LAPD, and local news agencies for its flagrant violation of county health orders. An estimated 200 people filled the 3-story rented mansion, none of them wearing masks. Party-goers were eating, drinking, and playing in...

  • Wuitusu Stores Subsidize Native Craftsmen in Venezuela and Columbia

    Aug 6, 2020

    Wuitusu is a local business that was born two years ago from the passion of immigrant Lisset Verde-Sungur. About 2 years ago, Lisset fell in love with a Wayuu hat and bag online. However, they were too expensive, and she could not afford them. She started doing research and found out that Wayuu is the original name of the people she knew in her home country Venezuela, as Guajiros (the name of the tribe in Spanish). The Wayuus handmake gorgeous bags, hats, and other items in bright, eye-catching...

  • SMRR Coronation Goes Online

    Aug 6, 2020

    By Leonard “Guzz” Brophy IV Every two years in August, there is an event that designates who will be the leaders in Santa Monica—the Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Convention. Receiving an endorsement from this organization, commonly known as SMRR, is vital to winning an elected position in this city. SMRR endorsees are four of the seven council members, six of the seven SMMUSD board members and the entire Santa Monica College and Rent boards. At one time, the SMRR Convention was an occasion for progressive people to choose their candida...

  • RANDom UFOs and What to Do About Them

    Aug 6, 2020

    By Mister Mystify Way back in 1968, a man named George Kocher from the RAND Corporation, a local institution that does good work but is the subject of various conspiracy theories worldwide, wrote a paper titled "UFOs: What to Do." The 48-page document, which was labeled as an "internal document," is an interesting read and does not talk down to believers, nor does it say they're definitely right. But that wasn't the purpose of the paper. Its purpose was to cut through the nonsense surrounding...

  • Rent Moratorium extended

    Aug 6, 2020

    The City of Santa Monica has extended its eviction moratorium to September 30 for residential tenants, and August 31 for "some" commercial tenants. The rent moratorium, which went into effect on March 14th, tracks a City of Los Angeles rent moratorium. Landlords in both cities have threatened to withhold property taxes, an important source of municipal revenue, if they cannot collect rents from tenants. Separately, the housing default rate has risen in California. Sources differ on how much. A...

  • County Takes Newbury Church to Court

    Aug 6, 2020

    Ventura County officials on Wednesday sued Newbury Park Pastor Rob McCoy and the chapel he heads to force compliance with public health orders intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The filing came a day after the Ventura County Board of Supervisors authorized legal counsel to seek restraining orders and other enforcement actions against individuals and entities who refuse to comply with the orders. Supervisors Steve Bennett, Linda Parks and John Zaragoza voted in favor. Chairwoman Kelly Long and Supervisor Bob Huber opposed the...

  • California Prisons Empty

    Aug 6, 2020

    Over 17,000 California prisoners - 70% more than earlier estimate - could be released early due to COVID-19 Photo: File photo of inmates at San Quentin California state prison officials say as many as 17,600 inmates may be released early due to the coronavirus. That's 70% more than previously estimated and a total that victims and police say includes dangerous criminals who should stay locked up. Among those released last week was Terebea Williams, who served 19 years of an 84 years-to-life...

  • Homeless Man Stabbed in Reed Park Thursday Morning

    Aug 6, 2020

    Photo: Det. Haro of the SMPD and other officers comb through Reed Park for evidence. Photo by David Ganezer Santa Monica police arrested one suspect, following the stabbing of an older homeless man in Christine Emerson Reed Park Thursday morning. The victim was transported to the hospital where he is reported to be in a fair condition with one stab wound. SMPD reports the victim is in custody, and the incident is under investigation. Both the victim and the perpetrator were homeless men...

  • SM Pier Reopens

    Aug 6, 2020

    By David Ganezer The Santa Monica Pier reopened on Wednesday. The 110 year old iconic wooden structure had been closed due to Covid19 since the lockdown began on March 19, 2020. Images on social media as well as the Pier's website, www.santamonicapier.org, confirmed the reopening. "The Santa Monica Pier is now open with limited hours and operations. Your health and safety are our top priority, which is why you'll see a lot of changes around here. From limited hours and capacity to expanded outdo...

  • The Princess and the Teakettle

    Aug 6, 2020

    by Sabine Ganezer Welcome to the wacky Kingdom of Sardinibikinislandia, where the multispecies royal family is ensnared in hot debate over whom the young princess Margretta will marry. This first installment of the cartoon takes place in the palace's family therapy room. I'm Sabine Ganezer, and this is the second cartoon of mine that the Santa Monica Observer is publishing. My first series, The Benthophonicks, is still ongoing, but since production for that series was too complicated to produce...

  • Life at Costco has changed

    Aug 6, 2020

    . By Mary Leipziger Life has changed. Usually Sunday a parking space at Costco was golden- you had to walk to one edge of the lot to find one, but not any more. I found one in aisle A Getting into the building before the virus was on axis- straight through the door. Now management has set up metal barriers- three in parallel formation. You pick up a shopping cart, that has been sanitized with spray and enter the facility along the front wall edge-. where you are counted at the doorway. There...

  • SMPD Enforces Mask

    Aug 6, 2020

    Santa Monica Police will commence "targeted enforcement" of face coverings in Santa Monica beginning this week, the City announced in a press release. "Save $100 and save your health by masking up," the tweeted on 8/5/20. The enforcement action will take place at City parks, the Promenade, Main Street, Montana Avenue, and other business districts. In July, the city of Santa Monica strengthened its face covering requirements. It designated fines for scofflaws who fail to wear masks in public. “Face-coverings are critical to preventing the s...

  • Rams Prepare for 2020 Season

    Fred Altieri, Sports Reporter|Aug 6, 2020

    The Los Angeles Rams have finally and officially opened their 2020 Training Camp at their facility located at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. With the current Covid-19 health policies in place, players, coaches and staff will have a two-week isolated acclimation period to prepare and train. The media will be allowed to physically cover the final two weeks of camp beginning Tuesday, August 17. Having missed the playoffs while finishing third in the NFC West with a 9-7 last season, one...