Culver City Observer -

The voters spoke loud and clear on April 3, 2018 when Sydney Kamlager received 65 percent to assume the 54th District Assembly seat vacated by Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, due to health concerns. Sidney’s background will allow Kamlager to hit the floor running - she ran the district office for Holly Mitchell when Holly was both the Assembly member from Culver City, and also State Senator.

These figures from the information sent to Sacramento by the Culver City Unified School District and Transparent California are the percentage of District-paid employee benefit increases for fiscal year. (FY)

FY 2011-12 to 2012-2013 103.6%

FY 2012-13 to 2013-2014 102.0 %

FY 2013-2014 to 2014-2015 125.3 %

FY 2014-2015 To 2015-2016 119.7%

Total from 2011-12 to 2015-16: 158.4%

Workers' Memorial Day this year will be April 28, when we pause to remember those who died in workplace accidents.

Good news. As reported by Gary Walker, Cal-Trans wants to widen Lincoln Blvd from Jefferson to Fuji Way, Marina Del Rey. I can hardly wait, because at that location traffic is so bad, it’s a zoo on wheels.

Invitation: The public is invited to the Ocean Water Desalination Project, by the West Basin Municipal Water District, to review the environmental impact report (EIR). Meetings to be held April 25, 6-9 p.m. and May 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Richmond Street Elementary Auditorium, 615 Richmond Street, El Segundo.

Recently, a Town Hall meeting was held to discuss “Destination Crenshaw,” a community-inspired public art and streetscope design project. On Crenshaw Boulevard between 48th and 60th streets, it's expected to be completed in Fall, 2019.

If you love good music, like we do, then you need to high-tail-it to the California Jazz and Blues Museum in Leimert Park. This museum is dedicated to jazz and blues, and showcases inspired art. Info: californiajazzandbluesmuseum.com, (310) 462-1439.

Save the date!!! On April 18, 2018, The Culver City Historical Society takes a look back at the history of the Olympic games. All are invited to this free program at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room at Veterans Memorial Building 4117 Overland Avenue.

Anyone who pretends there is NO risk of a catastrophic earthquake from well stimulation (which includes fracking) in Culver City is either ignorant or a liar. Any Culver City official who thinks there are no carcinogenic toxins floating in our air has not read the EIR, or has a vested interest in keeping this a secret.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is looking to fill more than 200 bus operator positions on April 7, 2018 at their Central Maintenance Facility at 490 Bauchet St. DTLA; although the date has passed, you can get ready for the next hiring event and you know they do pay well. (metro.net/careers).

A while ago the Cerritos City Council recently approved leasing two additional Ford Explorer patrol vehicles that feature Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. The original two ALPR-equipped patrol vehicles were added in 2016. Three more were added early this year, and two additional ones were later added. The Explorers have four roof-mounted high-resolution infrared digital cameras, providing 360-degree coverage, and a computer that automatically photographs and instantly checks license plate numbers. The ALPR immediately notifies a patrolling officer if the license plate belongs to a stolen vehicle, a person with an outstanding warrant, or a person of interest.

Do you aspire to get appointed to a California Board or Commission? Last year (October 18, 2017) in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, they held an appointments seminar. If you are interested, call your assembly member's office for required forms and other documents.

Updated renderings of the Obama Presidential Center, to be located on Chicago's South Side, reveal that the center will be a multipurpose campus that will do far more than commemorate the presidency of Barack Obama. The complex will include a two-story public meeting space called the Forum, a library, an athletic center, a museum tower, and a public plaza. The lower floors of the museum will house exhibits telling the story of the Obama family. The plaza will serve as a town square for the local community, and will include a hill for sledding, paths for walking, and areas for markets, fairs and celebrations. It will also feature a broadcast studio, restaurant and winter garden.

Are you an animal lover, and who isn’t? So when you need to fly and take your four-legged friend along, which airline do you avoid? Well, friends, in 2017, out of 506,994 animals that flew on U.S. commercial airlines, 24 dogs died, of which 18 flew on United. The odds are miniscule, so you decide for yourself.

The State Department will open its embassy in Jerusalem in May, 2018.