Santa Monica News, CA Local News

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier wants to hire for more than 200 spring and summer positions

Sat, 08 May 2021 19:09:19 +0000

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier wants to hire for more than 200 spring and summer positions. Job seekers can apply online.

Wendy Burch reports from Santa Monica for the KTLA 5 News on May 8, 2021.

Mom who couldn’t see newborn for weeks while battling COVID in Santa Monica celebrates 1st Mother’s Day with baby

Sat, 08 May 2021 05:41:36 +0000

A mom who missed out on the first month of her baby’s life while battling COVID-19 in a Santa Monica hospital says this Mother’s Day will be extra special.

Natahlie Herrera was 37 weeks pregnant with her son, Felipe, when she and several other members of her family tested positive for the virus. Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she delivered the baby via cesarean section to avoid exposure, and he was taken away before she could hold him.

“My biggest fear was my baby not knowing who I was,” she told KTLA Friday.

Doctors say Herrera was paralyzed, sedated and “near death” when she arrived at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. When she woke up, she found out her father had died and been buried, and her infant was 5 weeks old.

She was discharged from the hospital Dec. 15 after being apart from Felipe for 37 days. Herrera went home to her husband and 4-year-old son Joaquin, and held her infant for the first time.

Herrera’s still recovering from long-haul coronavirus symptoms but says she’s simply grateful to be alive.

“I don’t know if the side effects will go away. But I do know I’m alive,” she said. “I’m grateful about the vaccine. I’ve gotten my second dose already.”

Although it’ll be a special Mother’s Day, Herrera is still a college student and says she plans to spend the holiday studying to make up for the time she lost in the hospital.

Rescue Dog Togo, Killed In Suspicious Venice Fire, Mourned At Beach Candlelight Vigil

Mon, 03 May 2021 16:49:40 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A beloved family dog who was killed in a house fire was remembered Sunday with a candlelight vigil on the beach.

(credit: Laurie Fernandez/CBS)

Togo, a rescue dog recently trained as a service animal, was killed on April 21 in a house fire. Locals in the Venice neighborhood where he lived believe the fire was started by homeless people in the area.

“What we need to do right now is hopefully find – not blame, but find a way to move forward through all this, especially through a tragic loss in not only a human, but a beloved pet, who is not only meant to love and help others,” Togo’s trainer, Devon Steigerwald, said at the vigil.

Neighbors have been expressing concern for months about the fire risks that come with homeless encampments in the area, and they say they hope Togo’s death will prompt changes. However, the Los Angeles fire Department says the cause of the fire that killed Togo remains undetermined, and there’s no evidence that any homeless persons were involved.

However, to address the concerns of Venice residents, the city and Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a fast response vehicle unit dedicated to fire risks in the ocean front walk area of Venice.

Gas Leak Prompts Road Closures, Evacuations In Santa Monica

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 23:55:53 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A gas main was ruptured during an excavation in Santa Monica Thursday, prompting road closures and the evacuation of about 65 homes.

Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded to the gas leak around 11:40 a.m. in the area of Stanford Street and Lipton Avenue.

According to the fire department, a 16-inch underground gas main was ruptured during excavation causing a natural gas leak.

Firefighters and the SMFD hazmat team were monitoring the area.

Street closures were in place on Lipton Avenue from Centinela Avenue to Stanford Avenue and the intersection of Franklin Street and Wilshire Boulevard.

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) – People are flocking to the beach to get relief from a heat wave sweeping through Los Angeles.

“It’s too much,” said Yisel Parra. “It’s too much. It’s pretty hot.”

The bike paths in Santa Monica were filled with people taking in the breeze as COVID-19 restrictions are eased in Los Angeles. Some people welcomed the heat.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Bob DeRomo. “The heat is great. The beaches are crowded. It’s great to be in California.”

Some people were worried that the heat would bring high fire danger.

“We haven’t had a lot of rain, it’s dry and it’s been really hot today,” said Helen Kim. “And I’m not sure if we’ve done brush clearing and stuff like that. It is a concern for sure.”

Health experts recommend reapplying sunscreen and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water before feeling thirsty in the heat.

Third Street Promenade In Santa Monica Expanding Safety Ambassador Program

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:24:27 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is enhancing security by expanding its safety ambassador program.

The expansion will include eight ambassadors in blue uniforms who are trained to patrol the area on foot and on bikes.

The crime-fighting crew will address quality of life offenses and relay urgent public safety information to the Santa Monica police and fire departments.

“They go through rigorous training and so they become the face of help in downtown whether you’re a visitor or a transient in need of services,” said Downtown Santa Monica Inc. CEO Kathleen Rawson.

Safety ambassadors are also CPR certified and first aid trained.

Man with ties to Orange County, Santa Monica charged in suspected stock fraud scheme

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:09:03 +0000

SANTA ANA — A former Santa Monica and Orange County resident was charged in federal court Wednesday with ripping off about 100 investors to the tune of $14 million in an alleged stock fraud scheme.

Ronald Shane Flynn, who is the founder of Vuuzle Media Corp., an online streaming and entertainment company, is charged in a federal grand jury indictment with 15 counts of wire fraud.

According to prosecutors, Flynn, 57, hired high-pressure sales representatives to solicit investments starting in September 2016.

He’s accused of telling investors the money would pay for the business and to take his company public, which would yield high dividends. Flynn, however, never intended to conduct an initial public offering, and pocketed millions of dollars to buy luxury items for himself at resorts and from jewelers, prosecutors allege.

Flynn is also facing a lawsuit filed in January by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which alleges he misappropriated $4.9 million of the investments to take luxury flights and for hotel stays, subscriptions to dating websites and nightclub revelry.

Flynn is believed to be living outside of the country. It’s not clear where he lived in Orange County in the past.

Amid California’s unemployment crisis, a tech gold rush

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 14:55:26 +0000

By Lauren Hepler | CalMatters

Stacy Lira was nearly a year into her unofficial job as an unemployment detective when things went from bad to worse.

The 46-year-old mother of three, who lost her job managing a Victorville convenience store last spring, was rushed to the hospital in mid-February. She was struggling to breathe after testing positive for COVID-19. But Lira was adamant that she couldn’t leave home without one thing: She needed her carefully filed unemployment records so she could keep calling from the hospital about the nearly $20,000 she says the state owes her family.

“If you miss one day,” Lira explained, “that could have been the day that it all worked out.”

As the ranks of desperate California workers like Lira swell, the state’s Employment Development Department insists that it’s getting things under control. It has help from an ever-expanding roster of private contractors that are staffing up call centers, modernizing tech systems and rooting out fraud, officials stress on social media and at political hearings in Sacramento — an effort that, all told, has so far cost the state at least $236 million during the pandemic, the agency told CalMatters.

The contracts are part of a nationwide unemployment gold rush, as tech companies and consultants pitch overwhelmed public agencies new solutions for fraud and outdated claims systems. One Bloomberg Law report last summer tallied $173.8 million in pandemic-era unemployment contracts for consulting giants Accenture, Deloitte and EY alone.

But in California, it’s not easy to track who’s getting paid for what, because there is no easily accessible public list of all state unemployment contracts. The state and its contractors stress that both the demand for benefits and volume of fraud are unprecedented. Still, ongoing confusion adds to what state lawmakers have called the Employment Development Department’s “very poor history”of paying outside entities to patch holes in the safety net as workers try to survive in financial limbo.

The $236 million in contracts that the department has signed since last March pay for outside companies to help track jobless claims, verify worker identities, analyze records for potential fraud, assist with customer service and more.

CalMatters requested and analyzed detailed contract records for five vendors working on key customer service and anti-fraud projects — Deloitte, Maximus, Thomson Reuters, ID.me vendor V3Gate and Salesforce vendor Outreach Solutions as a Service — which total at least $103.8 million and have ballooned in cost over time, but which the state says were crucial in a crisis.

“The volume of work was staggering,” Employment Development Department spokesperson Aubrey Henry said in a statement. Calls from the public jumped 3,400% to 48 million in April 2020 as the state scrambled to process more than 20 million claims, he said, up from 3.8 million claims at the peak of the Great Recession.

“Vendors, mass hiring, redirecting workers from within the department, and borrowing workers from other departments, and continued staffing up, were all part of an effort to respond to the historic demand for benefits,” Henry said.

The majority of these new contracts went to consulting giant Deloitte, but several other vendors have also signed major deals in recent months, according to the contracts provided to CalMatters:

At least $69 million went to Deloitte in no-bid emergency contracts for call center and IT services.

Government contracting giant Maximus signed on to provide up to $11.5 million worth of phone staffing services.

The state paid $9.5 million to IT firm V3Gate to obtain ID.me identity verification services.

Outreach Solutions As A Service, a Sacramento consultancy, sold the state $9.4 million worth of services and software, mostly from Salesforce.

Thomson Reuters signed $4.2 million in contracts for analytics related to fraud.

The state has yet to disclose a price tag for another recently announced deal with Accenture, which the Employment Development Department said it is still negotiating.

While recent state audits recommend more tech vendors to deal with remaining challenges, some government watchdogs question what the EDD and agencies like it are getting for their money with the pricey contracts. In recent years, the trend toward outsourcing increasingly large chunks of the social safety net has led to a trail of lawsuits and investigations in other states, including scrutiny of Deloitte and Maximus.

California lawmakers, meanwhile, have called Deloitte’s call centers “a mess” and blamed the company for failing to answer millions of calls from jobless workers, CapRadio has reported.

In one notable exception to the unemployment spending spree, the department has kept making money during the COVID recession on a high-profile contract with Bank of America. Under that deal first detailed by CalMatters, the bank provides prepaid unemployment debit cards to workers — many of whom have reported issues with fraud and frozen accounts — and the state and the bank split millions in revenue from transaction fees charged to merchants when the cards are used to buy something.

Since last fall, however, the EDD has refused to say how much Bank of America has made on the deal. It’s one example of broader anxiety about a lack of transparency.

“We understand other vendors are involved with EDD, but there is little visibility into all projects and contracts,” a bipartisan group of five dozen state lawmakers wrote to Gov. Gavin Newsom in August. “The public is owed a clear explanation.”

Whether the EDD and its widening array of contractors get it right this time will have huge consequences for workers and businesses who rely on the state’s job safety net. California’s $21 billion and counting in unemployment debt, with few prospects for major reform, is one factor that could undermine its economic recovery.

But the biggest question for state unemployment programs forged in the Great Depression, strained by the Great Recession and nearly broken by a global pandemic is who they are being built to serve. As taxpayers again pick up the tab to keep the program running, some jobless workers worry that they’re being victimized by panic about fraud while still not getting the money they’re owed.

Keeping up with a claim frenzy

Stacy Lira has always been the family bookkeeper, so it made sense that she would handle the unemployment paperwork when she, her husband and her daughter all found themselves out of work last year.

But she didn’t realize that would spiral into an all-day, every-day routine. Each morning, Lira wakes up in the living room of the family’s two-bedroom apartment in Victorville, pulls out the neat plastic filing bins she keeps stowed under the bed, and gets to work.

First, there were the months-long delays for her and her daughters’ initial payments. Then thousands of dollars in suspected fraudulent charges on her Bank of America unemployment debit card. Her husband still hasn’t seen a penny, Lira said, after filing for benefits last spring. All their tax forms are a mess.

“I am constantly trying to figure something out for those three claims,” Lira said. “If I’m lucky, I’m done around 6 or 7 at night.”

On top of all the long hours, extended stretches of little or no income have taken a financial and emotional toll. It’s hard for Lira to sleep at night. Every time she hears a truck outside, she worries the power company has finally come to turn off the electricity. With no money to pay the car registration, the family took a Lyft to the hospital when her son’s baby was born in January.

And then came the virus. Lira’s memory is still a blur, but her lungs seized up, and she was frantic that no one would be able to figure out the unemployment money or keep food in the cabinets if she was gone. Finally, after a week in the hospital — she said she started calling the EDD again around day three — Lira has mostly recovered.

“That day in there at the hospital,” she said, “I almost wanted COVID to take over.”

Behind the scenes at the unemployment department, a very different scramble has been playing out in response to millions of calls each month from claimants like Lira. In April, Deloitte signed an $11 million emergency call center contract; the department said that “staff cannot keep up.” By early 2021, the contract had grown to $55 million, plus another $14 million for “urgent and temporary” IT services from Deloitte.

Maximus is providing another 300 call center staffers for tax questions under an $11.5 million contract, according to the department.

In addition, a new crop of tech vendors has been brought in to augment the state’s old computer systems and beef up cybersecurity.

In April 2020, the unemployment agency started buying Salesforce software from Outreach Solutions As A Service to help with the bottleneck of claims. The cost started at $2.7 million and more than tripled by November.

ID.me was hired in September, via an IT firm called V3Gate, for its “robust and established identity verification” services in a $3.5 million contract, which nearly tripled by January.

Thomson Reuters, which acquired an analytics tool called Pondera previously used by the state, was hired in November for $771,000 worth of identification and fraud analytics work. That contract grew more than five-fold by January.

To Jon Coss of Thomson Reuters, the spike in contract spending was unavoidable, due to a combustible mix of historic under-funding of unemployment programs, the federal easing of verification requirements on emergency jobless aid during the pandemic, and an avalanche of increasingly sophisticated fraud.

“It was an impossible situation,” Coss said. “States have been passed, and they’re outgunned by these fraud networks now. I just don’t think it’s possible to do it purely with staffing.”

Coss, vice president of risk, fraud and compliance in Thomson Reuters’ government division, also argues that it’s better for the state long-term to contract out technical work during emergencies, rather than hiring new full-time workers whose positions may not be necessary when there are fewer jobless claims.

While some contracts went through a competitive bidding process, others did not. Now, as the unemployment debacle fuels the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, it’s colliding with bigger questions about how the state has doled out money during the COVID-19 crisis.

California has also signed hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public health contracts with UnitedHealth and other large Newsom political donors, some through no-bid or expedited emergency processes. “There is no time to do competitive bidding given the urgent need,” Krista Canellakis, deputy secretary for general services at the state Government Operations Agency, recently told CapRadio.

Technical problems persist

Underlying the race to answer clogged phone lines and sort out delayed payments is the EDD’s long-problematic tech backbone.

The computer system that California uses to track unemployment claims isn’t just old. It’s a relic of the post-World War II era, when COBOL was the world’s default programming language.

Last fall, as the department nearly came unglued amid mass account freezes and panic about fraud, Newsom said the agency’s 30-year-old system needed to be “strewn to the waste bin of history.”

But instead, state workers say they have been jumping between the old system and newer software from Deloitte and, most recently, Salesforce. The Deloitte claim management system, known as CUBS, has been around since after the Great Recession when the Employment Development Department started paying the company what would balloon to nearly $150 million for various online tools and services before the pandemic. Spiraling budgets aside, the problem is that CUBS developed its own reputation for glitches, earning a new moniker among some department personnel: “Completely Useless Bull S***.”

As far back as 2013, when Deloitte was blamed for cutting off payments to thousands of workers, state lawmakers questioned why the department was still working with the company. The scrutiny returned at a July 2020 oversight hearing, when Assemblymember David Chiu, a Democrat from San Francisco, said that Deloitte had “abdicated responsibility” for its role in running state unemployment systems.

“Why do we keep entering into no-bid contracts with someone with a history of cost overruns and problematic IT work?” Chiu asked.

Deloitte, which state records show was awarded two more major contracts during the pandemic totaling at least $69 million, maintains that it’s not to blame for the state’s problems.

“It is important to understand that many of California’s unemployment system functions have not yet been modernized — and they are not part of our contracted scope of services,” Deloitte spokesperson Karen Walsh said in a statement to CalMatters. Widely reported technical problems, Walsh added, “relate to functions that reside in systems Deloitte does not maintain or have not yet been upgraded.”

Still, there are practical reasons that the state may opt for repeat business with a long-term contractor such as Deloitte, said Michael Bernick, special counsel at law firm Duane Morris. A former director of the state jobless agency, he oversaw it through the dot-com bust during his tenure from 1999 to 2004, when talk of modernization was well underway but before Deloitte was hired. The selection process was always complicated, he said, with state technology departments often helping agencies pick vendors.

“Part of the explanation is these guys have the knowledge base built up,” Bernick said. “If you replace them, another firm has to come in.”

The pandemic has changed that calculation. In the face of fraud now estimated at as much as $31 billion, the state says it had no choice but to look to a new crop of tech contractors for help.

Silicon Valley saviors?

Blake Hall didn’t plan to get into the unemployment business. The idea for a one-stop-shop for identity verification — a “PayPal for digital identity” upstart that came to be known as ID.me — came to him around 2010, when he was in Harvard Business School after an Army tour in Iraq. The idea caught on with the federal government, retailers and hospitals.

Fast forward to 2020, when states still struggling to operate basic unemployment websites were suddenly grappling with Nigerian hacker rings. The founder of Virginia-based ID.me found himself on the front lines of a burgeoning anti-unemployment fraud industry. After signing contracts in California and more than a dozen other states, the company has announced plans to hire 1,000 new employees and open two new offices in its current phase of “hyper-growth.”

The EDD says ID.me has helped stop $60 billion in fraud, but its rollout has at times been turbulent in California. There are entire Internet subcultures dedicated to frustrated unemployment claimants swapping tips on uploading identity documents or navigating hours-long waits for ID.me video calls to verify their identities. Hall says the company is working to improve those times, and that many people don’t realize how extreme the fraud is. There are cyberattacks from Nigeria, China and Russia, “mask attacks” where someone dons a mask to look like the claimant they’re impersonating, and more.

“We have orderlies in the nursing homes who are taking the eldery patients in their care into the bathroom,” Hall said. “There is no criminal that’s not attacking us right now.”

Thomson Reuters uses buzzy technologies such as machine learning to spot fraud trends and suspicious activity in California’s million-claim backlog, which includes many suspected bogus claims. Coss said he sees evidence that the tech onslaught is working — for now. While it appears fraud targeting the Employment Development Department may be waning, other states and social service programs are now getting some of that unwanted attention.

“They’re gonna go to another system in California, or they’re going to go to an unemployment system in another state,” Coss said. “It’s what we call whack-a-mole.”

Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles on March 13, 2020. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

A more existential question some state workers ask about large tech contractors is whether it really makes sense to use software designed for corporations for unemployment claims. Staffers spend time behind closed doors musing about what it would take to build state-of-th

Convention centers, businesses hail summer reopening date

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:41:58 +0000

A newly announced plan that will allow California convention centers and other businesses to return more quickly to business as usual drew widespread praise from business leaders Tuesday, but the news arrived too late for one organization.

A trade group that was scheduled to hold its gathering at Anaheim Convention Center in August has shifted the event to Orlando, citing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings in California.

The American Public Transportation Association had initially planned to hold the event Aug. 31 through Sept. 3 in Anaheim but has rescheduled it to run Nov. 7-10 at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

“The decision to relocate was necessary due to current California restrictions on large gatherings and the unpredictability of planning such a large event when it is unclear when these restrictions will ease,” the organization said last week, adding that every other state has issued guidelines for trade shows and conventions.

American Public’s decision came just days before Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday, April 6 that California is on track to move beyond its current COVID-19 safety blueprint. That would jettison the color-coded tier system, he said, so the state can begin looking to “fully reopen” California’s economy.”

“We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” Newsom said. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”

Newsom designated June 15 as the turnaround point. Assuming the state’s vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older and hospitalization rates remain stable and low, every sector of California’s economy will be allowed to resume normal operations, he said, as long as public health policies remain in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

A new track for events

“Normal” will still be far from business as usual.

Anaheim Convention Center, which hasn’t hosted an event in over a year, will be able to resume operations beginning June 15 — but on a smaller scale.

“It will be a two-track system,” city spokesman Mike Lyster explained. “We’ll be able to hold events with up to 5,000 people through Oct. 1, although that would be small by our standards. An average event here would have 50,000 people and a large one would have 115,000.”

The second track beyond Oct. 1 would allow convention center operations to return to a “sort of normal,” he said.

“If an event organizer wanted to administer a program where everyone needed to show a vaccine card or proof of a negative test we could host more people,” Lyster said. “We’ve always looked at this as a transition year. That’s how 2021 shapes up.”

Lyster said Anaheim is grappling with a $108 million budget deficit for its current fiscal year, including about $20 million in lost convention center revenue.

Pasadena police check out the temporary hospital set up at the Pasadena Convention Center Thursday, April 16, 2020. The center took overflow patients from Huntington Hospital when needed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Pasadena Convention Center has hosted first responder training sessions, jury empanelments and TV commercials over the past year, although those activities have been few and far between.

It also provided space to handle overflow patients from Huntington Hospital due to the COVID-pandemic.

“We’re currently hosting ‘America’s Got Talent,’ but there’s no audience,” said Michael Ross, CEO of Pasadena Center Operating Co. which oversees the city’s convention center, skating rink, civic auditorium and convention and visitors bureau. “Our hope is that the ice rink will be open within a couple of weeks for lessons.”

Ross said Newsom’s June 15 timeline for getting businesses back on track sounds good.

“We feel we’re going to be very busy for half to three-quarters of the year,” he said.

Allan Zaremberg, president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, praised Newsom’s plan.

“Today’s announcement is especially welcome news as we enter California’s peak tourism and recreation season,” Zaremberg said in a statement. “As we all know, tourism, hospitality and restaurants suffered disproportionate economic hardships due to the pandemic shutdowns.”

Reopening Southern California

Los Angeles and Orange counties moved from the state’s red tier to a less restrictive orange ranking earlier this month, and 16 other regions, including Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, landed there Monday.

That allows a variety of businesses, including hair salons, museums, movie theaters, hotels and theme parks, to reopen with COVID-19 modifications.

Movie theaters, for example, can now operate at 50% capacity, or with 200 people, whichever is less. Restaurants must follow the same criteria, and wineries, breweries and distilleries can operate outdoors at 25% capacity, or with 100 people, whichever is fewer.

David Houston, who co-owns the Barney’s Beanery restaurant/bar chain with locations in Pasadena, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Westwood and Burbank, said it’s been a tough go to keep his operations running.

“June 15 is too far away,” he said. “This pandemic is essentially over.”

Houston was forced to lay off all of his workers when COVID-19 first took hold last year. When restrictions were later eased he brought back about 20% of his staff, but that was barely enough to keep things going.

Many employees didn’t want to return to work because they were receiving hefty government benefits while being unemployed, he said. The restaurants are currently operating at 50% capacity.

“That’s not sustainable,” Houston said.

Regal one of the nation’s largest movie theater chains, opened six of its Southern California theaters last week in Los Angeles, South Gate, West Covina, Temecula, Irvine and Santa Clarita and additional theaters set to reopen this month and in May.

A coalition of 134 California tourism officials, business owners and labor groups sent a letter to Newsom last month seeking guidelines for the reopening of convention centers.

They cited a pair of studies from Oxford Economics that said California business meetings, trade shows and conventions accounted for $66.1 billion in direct spending and 457,000 jobs in 2019.

The latest data from the state Department of Public Health show California has seen a total of 3,583,830 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 58,541 reported deaths and 20,267,689 vaccines administered.

Vista del Mar southbound lane to close beginning Monday, April 5

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 07:31:19 +0000

Emergency roadwork will begin on Vista del Mar on Monday, April 5, because rain-caused erosion has caused safety concerns, Manhattan Beach has announced. The city urged motorists to use alternative routes during the closure, which could last two to three weeks.

The “emergency slope stabilization” will close 1.7 miles of the right southbound lane between Imperial Highway and Waterview Street, a city press release said. The closure will last 24 hours a day Monday through Friday.

The northbound lanes will not be impacted, the press release said.

Lane closures on Vista del Mar caused controversy in 2017 when a “road diet” — an attempt to reduce pedestrian fatalities on major streets in Playa del Rey — was implemented, causing headaches for commuters on the busy street.

The controversy led to a recall effort of LA City Councilman Mike Bonin, as well as a lawsuit threatened by a coalition of cities, including Manhattan Beach, when commuters and small-business owners were heavily impacted by the gridlock caused by the reduction of lanes to make room for a bike lane.

The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering recommended the current roadwork be done “as soon as possible,” according to the city press release.

“At three sites,” the release said, “erosion gullies have undermined the southbound right lane and locally removed soils supporting the roadway resulting in an unsafe condition.”

Push to reduce plastic waste gains traction in Sacramento and D.C.

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:23:40 +0000

If the mountain of proposed legislation is any indication, lawmakers are increasingly primed to crack down on the plastic waste that is littering roadsides, washing onto beaches and into oceans, being digested by fish, and ending up in our own bellies.

In Sacramento, at least a dozen bills go after plastic pollution from a variety of angles, including reducing the amount of single-use plastics and refilling returnable beverage bottles. And in Washington, D.,C., a sweeping federal proposal co-authored by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would place much of the responsibility for plastic reduction and recycling on companies that make and utilize single-use plastics.

But there are obstacles, particularly opposition from business interests and a lack of consensus among lawmakers.

“In the past few years, we’ve had a breakthrough in terms of public awareness, but I don’t think we quite have the political will yet,” said UCLA’s Daniel Coffee, a public policy researcher whose specialties include plastic pollution.

Coffee compared the magnitude of the Lowenthal bill — the “Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act” — to the landmark Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, but said it went beyond what Congress was likely to approve this year. Some of the state proposals, which are more incremental, are considered more likely to become law.

“It is no longer a question of if California will do something, but when and how it will happen,” said Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, a statehouse leader on the issue who’s resubmitted a key plastic-pollution reduction proposal after failing to get it approved each of the past two years.

While solutions are a source of dispute, there’s little denying the extent of the problem.

Some 15 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean globally each year and the amount is on pace to triple by 2040, according to the United Nations. The U.S. leads the world in plastic waste, producing 42 million metric tons in 2016 — five times what it produced just six years earlier — according to the journal Science Advances.

Increasingly, that waste is ending up in landfills — and in the ocean — as overseas markets for recyclables have dried up. Less than 15% of California’s single-use plastics (and just 8% nationwide) are now recycled, while environmentalists clamor for stricter laws and polls show widespread public concern.

California has taken several high-profile but modest steps toward addressing the waste. In 2016, voters ratified a ban on single-use plastic take-out bags, and two years later the Legislature approved restrictions on single-use plastic straws. Last year, California became the first state to pass a law that requires plastic bottles be made with at least 15% recycled content, a standard that will be increased to 50% by 2030.

Additionally, a handful of coastal cities — including Long Beach and Santa Monica — have approved restrictions on single-use plastic utensils and containers.

But environmentalists say those measures merely scratch the surface of the problem.

“Californians, decision-makers and companies all know we can and should do better,” said Ashley Blacow of the environmental group Oceana. “We know this is possible because we are seeing other countries take meaningful action, and alternative business practices and products are available here at home.”

Industry pushback

The federal bill, introduced by Lowenthal and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OR, would phase out many of the most littered single-use plastics, including carryout bags, foam food and beverage containers, plastic stirrers and plastic utensils. And it would require a minimum recycled content nationwide for plastic beverage containers.

Among numerous other provisions, it would also require producers of packaging, containers and food service products to “design, manage and finance programs to collect and process product waste,” according to a bill summary.

“The European Union has been ahead of us in addressing the problem, but this would go beyond anything they’ve done,” Coffee said.

Within days of the bill’s March 25 introduction, the Plastics Industry Association issued a scathing attack on the proposal.

“This bill is a direct threat to the nearly one million men and women who work in the domestic plastics industry,” said trade group President Tony Radoszewski in a press release. “Additionally, this misguided legislation could have the unintended consequence of leading to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.”

Similar to President Biden’s response to critics of his green-energy initiatives, Lowenthal responded that the bill would simply shift jobs and dollars to more environment-friendly industries.

“Despite the claims of the plastic industry, our bill will create jobs through massive investments in infrastructure, incentivize more sustainable products entering the market, and create an actual domestic marketplace for recycled material,” Lowenthal said.

Coffee acknowledged that single-use replacement products for plastics involve the creation of greenhouse gases, as does any manufactured product. He said the ideal solution is reusable substitutes, such as the reusable grocery bags already in widespread use. Some consumers also carry their own food utensils and Berkeley recently ran a pilot program in restaurants and cafes that employed loans of reusable cups.

But a significant part of the problem is unnecessary packaging that could simply be eliminated, according to Claudia Deeg of the CALPIRG advocacy group.

“We don’t need to wrap every online order in layers of plastic packaging,” she said.

Environmentalists also complain about the disproportionate lobbying muscle of the plastics industry, a factor Coffee noted as well.

“The plastics industry — and the fossil fuel industry, of which it’s a part — isn’t shy about pouring its money into influencing policymakers,” he said.

Lowenthal, meanwhile, acknowledged that if his proposal was not approved in its entirety, portions could make it into law; “if not all in the same bill, then at least through other legislative actions.”

California’s lead

With the future of federal legislation murky, advocates for plastic reduction want to continue building momentum in California.

Perhaps the biggest prize now on the docket is Allen’s SB 54, versions of which have been approved in both the Senate and Assembly over the past two years but have never made it out of the Legislature’s bureaucratic gauntlet to the governor’s desk.

The bill would reduce waste by cutting back on the use of plastics and by boosting recycling and compostables. The current version, stripped down from last year’s proposal, would prohibit makers of single-use plastic packaging and single-use food-service products from selling, distributing or importing those products unless they are recyclable or compostable.

While the Lowenthal bill and the flurry of other proposed state legislation signal growing concern about the issue, Coffee points to SB 54 as a potential watermark.

“If SB 54 passes, it could be that moment,” Coffee said. “Then other states could see what’s possible and follow suit, and it might help something nationwide too. California is often the leader in this type of legislation.”

Allen managed last year to appease the American Beverage Association sufficiently so that the trade group didn’t oppose his bill — although the trade group didn’t support it either. The state Chamber of Commerce opposed that version, although most of the sources of their objections are not currently in the version proposed this year. Those deleted provisions including a maximum fine of $50,000 per day for violators and giving the state’s recycling authority broad authority to design a program that eventually would cut single-use waste by 75%.

“We are working with industry to address their concerns even as we keep our eyes on the prize,” Allen said Wednesday, March 31. “This is not about doing away with products and packaging. It’s about pushing producers to use more sustainable materials and reduce unnecessary and costly waste.”

Meanwhile, CALPIRG’s Deeg emphasized the importance of continued progress on the state and local levels in accelerating change nationwide.

“The more successful policies we can point to, the better our chance of a comprehensive overhaul,” she said.

Bill roundup

SB 54, which would require single-use plastics to be recyclable or compostable, has gotten the most attention of plastic waste bills before the California Legislature this year. But there are at least 11 other plastic-waste proposals before lawmakers. Among them:

AB 1371 would phase out the use of single-use plastic packaging used in shipping online purchases in the state, including shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, air pillows, packing peanuts, foam and other shipment packaging that contains plastic.
AB 1276 would take the requirement that customers can get single-use plastics straws in sit-down restaurants only upon request and expand it to include other single-use food accessories.
AB 622 would require washing machines sold in California include a microfiber filter beginning in 2024.
AB 962 would establish a program to refill and reuse returnable beverage bottles.
AB 478 would require a minimum recycled content for single-use plastic thermoform boxes that are used to package fresh berries and other food products.
SB 343 and AB 1201 would crack down on the use of the words “recyclable” and “compostable,” as well as the recyclable symbol, on products and package that does not meet those definitions.

LA Pub Owners And Patrons Celebrate Less Restaurant Restrictions On St. Patrick’s Day

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 04:16:34 +0000

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) – There are a lot of things to toast to on this St. Patrick’s Day for restaurant owners, as Los Angeles moves to the less-restrictive red tier, meaning indoor dining can open back up at 25% capacity.

At The Abbey in West Hollywood, tables outside and inside were filled.

“Last year we didn’t get a St. Patrick’s Day so they’re out this year and saying you know what? We at least we have one, so excited to have that,” said Todd Barnes, manager of The Abbey.

LA County health officials said lower COVID-19 case numbers and more vaccinations are making it safer to open businesses back up.

“I thank God because of the cases going down and so far, he’s been very good to me. I’m still in business and I hope to be for a very long time,” said Willy O’Sullivan, owner of O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Restaurant.

Even without bar service Wednesday, there were plenty of drinks flowing and hearty food coming at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in Santa Monica. Customers were just happy to be back on St. Paddy’s Day.

“We’re here this year and we’re so excited,” said Claire Cordary, a patron. “This is my first restaurant experience in a year. It just feels like we’re coming out of something and it feels really great.”

Customers enjoyed drinking green beer and eating traditional Irish food.

“I’m celebrating St. Paddy’s Day after a year of this pandemic,” said Timothy V. Murphy. “I’m so dying to have a drink and corned beef and cabbage with my buddies and my lovely wife.”

Santa Monica ex-con who wooed women and conned them out of cash will spend 8 years in federal prison

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 13:54:06 +0000

By FRED SHUSTER | City News Service

LOS ANGELES — A Santa Monica man who impersonated a Navy SEAL and a Bible scholar to con an actress and three other women he dated into investing in his sham companies was sentenced Tuesday to eight years behind bars.

Antonio Mariot Wilson, 57, who also answers to the names Dr. Tony Mariot and Brice Carrington, was additionally ordered to pay restitution of $272,000 and serve three years under supervised release after he gets out of federal prison. The judge ordered him to surrender to begin his sentence within 48 hours.

Between May 2015 and October 2018, Wilson met four women on the networking dating app Bumble Bizz and elsewhere and lured them into romantic relationships before conning them into giving him a total of $387,000 for his supposed businesses.

He has since repaid one of the women the full amount of her $75,000 “investment,” leaving $272,000 in restitution to the three remaining victims, according to Wilson’s attorney.

One of the women was actress Jenifer Lewis, whose credits include the television series “Black-ish” and the films “Beaches” and “Sister Act,” according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Lewis appeared via Zoom during the sentencing hearing to give the court a tearful victim impact statement concerning her former boyfriend, whom she described as a “predatory con artist who, during the past 25 years, destroyed the lives of countless women and men.”

Lewis said she met the so-named Brice Carrington at a branch of L.A. Fitness, where he worked as a manager.

“He meticulously researched me on the internet,” the actress said. “He used all that information on the web to … worm his way into my life with false affections. His lies had no boundaries.”

Wilson impersonated a Bible scholar and a Navy SEAL, “showing me medals and government paperwork (I later found out that) he purchased on the internet,” Lewis testified.

Eventually, she said, Wilson persuaded her to invest $50,000 in what he claimed was a “sound design” business.

“I agreed to invest, having softened only after he brought his children to my house,” Lewis said. “He used his children. Even to this day, that fact horrifies me the most.”

But, she said, “getting conned out of money, though humiliating, wasn’t the worst part — it is what he did to my soul.”

Because of Wilson’s betrayal, “not a day goes by that I feel safe,” Lewis said. “After five years I still suffer emotionally from Tony’s insane treachery. The $50,000 he stole from me does not compare to his stealing my ability to trust. His treachery caused deep depression and I was forced back into therapy.”

Lewis told the court she sued L.A. Fitness “for not doing a thorough background check” on Wilson, and settled for $13,000, which she donated to charity.

Wilson pleaded guilty last June to one federal count of wire fraud.

In a brief statement to the court, the defendant told the judge that “I’m not this guy that I’ve been painted out to be, not even close.”

Along with his prison sentence, the judge ordered Wilson not to use aliases on online platforms including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Prosecutors said Wilson stole the victims’ money and used it to fund his own lifestyle and pay his own personal expenses, concealing the fact that he previously served a four-year term in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to wire fraud and tax evasion charges stemming from a similar scheme in the Northern District of California.

In that case, in which Wilson siphoned a total of almost $4 million from victims, he falsely told investors that he was a three-time Oscar-winning sound effects designer and was well established in the entertainment industry. To support his lies, Wilson went so far as to hire a jeweler to fabricate two reproductions of Oscar statuettes, which he displayed around his home.

It was while on supervised release in the 2009 case that he began to commit the nearly identical fraud scheme for which he was sentenced Tuesday to eight years.

In a letter to the court in the current case, a victim described how Wilson “fabricated an intense love and a future together after three dates, in order to advance his calculated plans.”

The woman wrote that she will “eternally have the scar of the turmoil I underwent at the hands of Antonio Wilson. To this day, my self-worth and confidence is tainted by the burden of shame he placed on me due to his willful and planned deception.”

Outdoor Dining To Be Expanded Along Third Street Promenade In Santa Monica

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:37:08 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Outdoor dining along Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica will be expanded to help support restaurants as they reopen, officials announced Wednesday.

“Adapting public space for expanded outdoor dining is a key initiative in our business recovery efforts,” said Kathleen Rawson, Downtown Santa Monica Inc.’s chief executive officer.

“We are so inspired by the resilience and innovation of the businesses as they continue to navigate change. We know that these talented and determined restaurateurs will continue to play a critical role in our economic recovery,” Rawson said.

The expansion, a collaboration between the city and Downtown Santa Monica Inc., will allow restaurants on and around the Promenade to create new “satellite” locations to help restaurants that might not otherwise have access to space to create patios and outdoor seating, officials said.

Face coverings are required at Third Street Promenade and patrons are encouraged to practice physical distancing.

George Floyd Protesters Sue LA County, 3 Cities Over Arrest Conditions

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 03:34:05 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Nearly 40 people arrested last summer while protesting the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police, have filed suit against Los Angeles County and three Southland cities alleging their civil rights were violated.

FILE: Arrestees are loaded onto a sheriff’s department bus to be taken to jail as large numbers of people are arrested after a curfew went into effect during demonstrations over the death of George Floyd on June 02, 2020 in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

“Despite the plain language protection granted through federal and state constitutions alike, the defendants city of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, city of Santa Monica, city of Beverly Hills and other municipalities throughout California have taken direct action to silence the voices of the oppressed,” the suit states.

The lawsuit, filed Friday by several attorneys, alleges many of the plaintiffs were rounded up, separated by perceived gender, placed on buses and driven to undisclosed locations.

“Additionally, some of defendants’ transport buses unwittingly carried plaintiffs to the Los Angeles National Cemetery,” according to the suit. “This location was used to harass, intimidate and cause the intentional infliction of emotional distress to those arrested for peacefully protesting the systemic mistreatment of people of color.”

The suit also alleges that the plaintiffs were routinely denied food, water, access to bathrooms and, in some cases, contacts with lawyers despite repeated requests.

“Plaintiffs were forced to urinate on themselves after hours of unlawful detainment, causing severe emotional distress and humiliation,” the suit states.

According to the lawsuit, law enforcement agents “instituted systematic efforts of torture and ridicule throughout plaintiffs’ detention” that included playing music such as “Africa” by Toto and Bad Religion’s “Los Angeles is Burning” in an effort to interfere with the plaintiffs’ ability to post videos of their treatment.

The suit also alleges that many of the plaintiffs were intentionally left in close quarters with maskless law enforcement agents, social distancing and sanitation guidelines were ignored and the zip-tied protesters were unable to adjust their fallen masks.

“As such, defendants weaponized the COVID-19 virus as punishment for the expression of truthful speech,” the complaint states.

A representative for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office could not be immediately reached by City News Service.

Families Of Loved Ones Lost To COVID-19 Push For National Day Of Mourning

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:53:11 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A grassroots effort is growing to establish a national day of mourning for the victims of COVID-19.

More than 100 events are taking place across the country Monday to honor the more than 514,000 Americans who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Hugh Freyer, an 86-year-old Korean War veteran and retired banker, was among them.

Freyer’s death last July still weighs heavily on his daughter, Carolyn Freyer-Jones, and his granddaughter, 13-year-old Lucinda Jones. He left behind the wife he had been married to for 60 years and seven grandchildren.

“There was so little conversation about the loss. So little acknowledgement of the loss,” Freyer-Jones said. So she went on to found the Friday Minute – 60 seconds at the end of the week to honor her father and the more than half-million who have died of COVID-19.

“People do better when things are acknowledged and people are seen,” she said.

The Friday Minute is one of many movements that are seeking to remember loved ones lost to the virus. Thousands of felt roses are also being collected to represent every life lost for the Rose River Memorial, art installations that are being set up in Santa Monica, Orange County and other sites across the country. The roses will connect the grief flowing across the nation into a beautiful rose river.

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Lucinda is creating a felt rose for her grandfather, whom she misses keenly and speaks of fondly.

“We’d go to the movies whenever we went out, or I went to him…and sometimes he’d fall asleep,” she said with a fond laugh.

Wreaths of flower hearts will also be laid at sites across the nation Monday, with participants calling for the first Monday in March to be declared a federally-recognized day of mourning. Freyer-Jones will host a moment of silence at the Santa Monica art installation – something she had been doing on Instagram Live every Friday for months.

The effort to make the first Monday of March a national day of mourning is being organized on social media under the hashtag #markedbycovid.

Historic Belmar Park In Santa Monica Unveils Sculpture Honoring History Of Black Community

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 02:16:02 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A new park in downtown Santa Monica hosted the unveiling of a historically significant art sculpture Tuesday meant to tell the history of the Black community in the area.

The Historic Belmar Park, located at 1855 Main St., was dedicated Tuesday with the unveiling of a red sculpture in the form of a shotgun house, reminiscent of the early 20th century homes in the Belmar neighborhood, an early African American settlement in Santa Monica.

The sculpture, “A Resurrection in Four Stanzas,” was created by artist April Banks as part of the Belmar History + Art project, honoring this neighborhood and the lives of the people who lived there and marking the site of this historical injustice.

Residents and African American-owned businesses thrived in the area between 1900 and 1950 until the land was taken over by the city by means of eminent domain to make way for the new Santa Monica Civic Center campus.

The Historic Belmar park is now nearly four acres that features a walking path and soccer fields, along with the historic panels and sculpture.

Residents are encouraged to see the bit of history come back to the area.

“For our community, it means so much,” said Santa Monica resident Robbie Jones. “It means acknowledgment. It means inclusion, that we feel connected now.”

This Sunday at 3 p.m., the park will have its virtual grand opening for the public via zoom. Visit santamonica.gov for more information.

Suspected DUI Driver Crashes, Injuring Outdoor Diners In Santa Monica

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 06:17:34 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) – A driver suspected of being under the influence crashed Friday night, injuring customers eating outside at a popular cafe, sending one person to the hospital.

By Saturday evening, there was no curbside dining at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica. Police said Piper Pollard, 21, of the Pacific Palisades has been arrested for felony D.U.I. for her involvement in the crash.

Detectives said it appeared Pollard was driving northbound on Main Street around 8 p.m. Friday when she struck a portion of a concrete barrier surrounding the extended dining area.

“I heard a boom and I turned around and it was just pandemonium,” said Eddie Who Ford, a witness. “It just appeared to be that somebody was not paying attention and just really recklessly ran into the pillar.”

Another witness described a chaotic scene after the pillar fell onto a diner’s leg. Fellow customers ran to lift the barrier off the young man and firefighters arrived within minutes to help.

“It was two ambulances that showed up,” added Ford. “Thank God it wasn’t the coroner coming. I was thinking it could be.”

The person taken to the hospital had moderate injuries and is expected to survive.

Santa Monica Sisters Use Pandemic As Excuse To Start Baking Company

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 14:27:59 +0000

A pair of Santa Monica sisters used their pandemic downtime to start a sweet new business, a baking company.

Family Says Belongings Of Man Who Died From COVID At Santa Monica Hospital Stolen

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 02:30:16 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — In 84 years, Abraham Yomtob gave The Most Interesting Man in the World a run for his money.

Abraham Yomtob, 84, died Jan. 15 from COVID-19. (Family photo)

“He loved music, dancing, exercise,” Lila Yomtoob, his daughter, said.

That was until he contracted COVID-19 and spent the final weeks of his life in an intensive care unit, isolated and in pain.

“I thought, ‘Gosh, no one’s touched him for so long,'” Yomtoob said. “We’ve also had COVID, we can’t touch each other and, like, now he’s dying.”

When Yomtob died Jan. 15, his daughter said her grief was compounded when his belongings disappeared from his hospital room at Providence St. John’s in Santa Monica. Along with his wallet, his phone and all his contacts were gone.

“His outgoing message wasn’t on the phone anymore, so that tipped us off that the phone was stolen,” Yomtoob said. “I was planning to write the eulogy for my father, and instead I spent the afternoon and the evening cancelling his credit cards and closing accounts and changing passwords.”

She said she has spent the last month in a frustrating back and forth with the hospital. She said the hospital admitted her father’s items were stolen in an email that appeared to indicate her father might not be the only victim.

“There was some confusion related to patients diagnosed with COVID and how their belongings are to be handled,” the email said. “Some thought security was to retrieve them, some thought nursing brings them to security. Unfortunately, your father’s belongings did not make it to security.

“We identified gaps in our process as it relates to COVID-19 patients,” the email continued. “We will meet again next week to finalize our action plans, which include staff education.”

To Yomtoob, that means it has happened to other isolated COVID-19 patients without family there to protect them, which is why she filed a report with the Santa Monica Police Department.

“I just don’t want it to keep happening to people,” she said. “I just don’t want this to happen.”

Santa Monica PD said it was investigating the case.

The hospital sent a statement that said, in part:

“The COVID surge required us to adapt our processes in order to care for the large number of patients. We take all family concerns very seriously and when we learned of the missing items, we investigated this issue and convened a team that reviewed policies, procedures and practices. They identified a gap and fixed it.”

‘My Heart Is Completely Shattered’: Dr. Laura Berman’s 16-Year-Old Son Dies Of Overdose From Drugs He Got Over Snapchat

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 12:55:25 +0000

(credit: Dr. Laura Berman)

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — TV host and sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman says her 16-year-old son died of an overdose of drugs that he received from a drug dealer he connected with on Snapchat.

Samuel Berman Chapman died Sunday in his bedroom of what his parents believe to be cocaine and Percocet laced with fentanyl.

“My beautiful boy is gone. 16 years old. Sheltering at home,” the TV therapist wrote on Facebook. “My heart is completely shattered and I am not sure how to keep breathing.”

Santa Monica police confirmed they responded to a 911 call of a teenager not conscious and not breathing at about 4 p.m. Sunday. The boy died at the scene. Police said there were no signs of foul play and the preliminary investigation found that prescription drugs were believed to be involved.

Berman urged her followers to watch their kids, and especially watch them if they use Snapchat.

“I post this now only so that not one more kid dies,” she wrote. “We watched him so closely. Straight A student. Getting ready for college. Experimentation gone bad. He got the drugs delivered to the house.”

Snapchat issued a statement expressing their condolences to Berman, and said they have a zero tolerance policy for using the platform to buy or sell illegal drugs.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Samuel Berman Chapman and we are heartbroken by his passing,” Snapchat’s statement said. “We are committed to working together with law enforcement in this case and in all instances where Snapchat is used for illegal purposes.”

For more information, visit: CalHope.org / SAMHSA.gov / DrugHelpLine.org

Hungry? Order a ‘Cocobot,’ San Pedro’s latest (and cutest) contact-less delivery system

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:55:24 +0000

Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino is joined by Zach Rash, owner and CEO of Coco, to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino is joined by Zach Rash, owner and CEO of Coco, to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino is joined by James Brown, owner of San Pedro Brewing Co, left, and Zach Rash, owner and CEO of Coco, to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino joins the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and local restaurants to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Joe Buscaino is joined by James Brown, owner of San Pedro Brewing Co, and Zach Rash, owner and CEO of Coco, to announce the launch of a pilot program in Downtown San Pedro with Coco’s human-operated delivery robots, providing residents with contact-less deliveries of food and household essentials, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. The program will operate within a one-mile radius of downtown San Pedro and will be the first of its kind in the South Bay. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Zach Rash, CEO and founder of Coco, with one of the company’s “Cocobots” that will be delivering food and other items within a 1-mile radius of downtown San Pedro.

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The cute bots have arrived.

Powering up a pilot program in downtown San Pedro on Wednesday, Feb. 3, local officials hailed the arr

Revitalization Plan Moving Forward for Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 02:45:16 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Plans are moving forward for the revitalization of Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica City Council is expected to hold its first study session on Feb. 9 to discuss development for the project.

Downtown Santa Monica Inc., the nonprofit organization that manages the three-block open-air pedestrian mall, has enlisted experts in public space environments and retail strategy, property owners and architecture/urban design, marketing and hospitality specialists.

“The last year brought unprecedented challenges to our community and business owners and while there are still difficult days ahead, we stand at the precipice of reinvention today,” DTSM CEO Kathleen Rawson said.

“The pandemic only exacerbated the impacts of online shopping on brick and mortar retail, we have been working on how to best counteract these effects for some time now. This new Vitality Plan concentrates primarily on private uses and creative zoning that will spark the change we need.”

Over the next three months, partners will meet with stakeholder focus groups and the City Council to develop the plan.

A draft plan of action is expected to be delivered in March with final adoption by the DTSM board of directors in April, Rawson said.

Black History Month online events in the LA area, February 2021

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 17:30:46 +0000

Derrell Acon, bass baritone, in Heartbeat Opera’s “Breathing Free,” presented by The Broad Stage. (Photo by Anaiis Cisco, filmmaker; Kathryn Boyd Batstone, Director of Photography, Los Angeles; Celine Layous, 1st AC, Gaffer, Los Angeles)

Here is a sampling of online Black History Month events, museum exhibits and theater during February in the Los Angeles area.

California African American Museum: See a sampling of current exhibits online: “Nikita Gale: Private Dancer.” “Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection.” “Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neith Fish, Flesh, Nor Fowl.” Upcoming: “Rights and Rituals: The Making of African American Debutante Culture.” Check the museum’s Facebook (bit.ly/3oq0tLa) or the website for updates on museum re-opening. 600 State Drive (in Exposition Park), Los Angeles. caamuseum.org/exhibitions

Still.: A spoken word performance, written and performed by Javon Johnson, on his own experience of being Black in America. Tickets $19.99. Presented by Pasadena Playhouse on PlayhouseLive. playhouselive.org/programs/still

Coretta Scott King Book Awards – Author Talk with the Brown Bookshelf: Kelly Starling Lyons, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Don Tate discuss children’s picture books, middle grade and young adult novels illustrated/written by Black artists and writers, 4 p.m. Feb. 3. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given to Black illustrators and authors of children’s and young adult books who have created an appreciation for Black American culture. The Brown Bookshelf focuses on promoting Black authors and illustrators creating books for young people (thebrownbookshelf.com). Watch the presentation on the Los Angeles Public Library’s Facebook Live here: www.facebook.com/lapubliclibrary or on the library’s YouTube here: www.youtube.com/losangeleslibrary.

Four Hundred Souls – A Community History of African America, 1619-2019: California African American Museum presents a talk on the book with the editors Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 4. Register for the Zoom discussion here: bit.ly/3ciootA. Purchase the book from Eso Won Bookstore, an independent Black-owned bookstore in Los Angeles: www.esowonbookstore.com. caamuseum.org

African American History Month Film Discussion from Edendale Branch Library: Discussion of two documentaries, “Ethnic Notions: African American Stereotypes and Prejudice” (1986) and “Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (2014), 6 p.m. Feb. 4. Use your library card to watch the films on Kanopy before the discussion. Request the Zoom link from eden@lapl.org. bit.ly/3r8jKlR

Dare to Claim the Sky: A play written and performed by Sharon Nyree Williams about faith, family, self-identity and systemic racism, 7 p.m. Feb. 6. Tickets $15.99. Part of Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2021. 818-687-8559. Click on the show title to purchase tickets and how to watch on Vimeo: www.whitefiretheatre.com

Breathing Free: Heartbeat Opera presents a song cycle, presented as a visual album and based on Beethoven’s only opera “Fidelio,” as seen through the Black Lives Matter movement, 7 p.m. Feb. 10, and also Feb. 13. Each performance is followed by a panel discussion on prison reform. Tickets $10 and up. Presented by The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Purchase tickets and learn how to watch here: thebroadstage.org/performances/2020-21/opera/breathingfree. Email: patronservices@thebroadstage.org. 310-434-3200. www.thebroadstage.org

Preserving Honor & Excellence: A celebration of Black American culture with dance, music and readings, noon Feb. 13. Presented by Forest Lawn. 888-204-3131. Watch here: www.facebook.com/ForestLawn. forestlawn.com/events

Shādee: A dramedy written and performed by G. Smokey Campbell, about an activist wrongly imprisoned, 7 p.m. Feb. 15. Tickets $15.99 plus surcharge. Part of Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2021. 818-687-8559. www.whitefiretheatre.com

Los Angeles Public Library – Black American History Resources: Use your library card to access “The African American Experience: The American Mosaic” here: www.lapl.org/african-experience. “African American ALOUD Podcasts” here: www.lapl.org/african-american/aloud. Vintage photos “Shades of L.A.: African American Community” here: bit.ly/3oqaVSU. www.lapl.org

Sharing Tables Offering Free Food, Toiletries, And Cleaning Supplies Popping Up In California, New York

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:31:38 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A simple folding table holding basic necessities like food, toiletries and cleaning supplies is a huge gesture of kindness for people who are struggling to get through the pandemic.

(credit: CBS)

So-called “sharing tables” are popping up throughout Southern California. One of them appears once a week on a Santa Monica sidewalk.

Throughout the day, people drop off supplies and others take what they need – for free. No one oversees the table, so there’s no questions asked.

Lee Brenner of Santa Monica said the sharing tables are a direct response to the panic buying and empty shelves that everyone saw at the start of the pandemic, and still occasionally appear a year later.

“People were hoarding and people were scared, and now I just feel like we have to undo that,” Brenner said. “So we have to do more than just forget about it and move on, I feel like we have to undo that and show kind of who we really are as a community.”

The Sharing Tables of NY & CA has more than 2,000 followers on Facebook, which is where Kseniya Yorsh learned about it. She decided to drop off a few things with her baby in tow.

“I came by and dropped off some mac and cheese, and some snacks that I had,” she said. “I saw a post on Facebook that there was this thing going on, and I thought I had some extra items and it would be nice to share with somebody who might be in need.”

There are now almost three dozen sharing tables in California and New York, and more keep appearing.

LA Native Amanda Gorman Delivers Presidential Inaugural Poem: ‘The New Dawn Blooms As We Free It’

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 20:12:40 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old Los Angeles native, delivered a moving and powerful rendition of her poem “The Hill We Climb” for President Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony Wednesday.

Poet Amanda Gorman speaks during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times/Getty Images)

“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished,” Gorman read. “We the successors of a country and a time, where a skinny Black girl, descended from slaves and raised by a single mother, can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.”

Her composition also acknowledged the recent violence at the U.S. Capitol.

“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it; would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.”

She concluded her roughly five-minute reading with a final message: “The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.”

Gorman attended New Roads School, a private K-12 school in Santa Monica. She was selected in 2014 as the first Los Angeles youth poet laureate and in 2017 as the first national youth poet laureate. She graduated in May from Harvard University with a degree in sociology.

Thank you! I would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in. While reciting my poem, I wore a ring with a caged bird—a gift from @Oprah for the occasion , to symbolize Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet. Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before. https://t.co/5Tegd20sko

— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 20, 2021

Gorman has two books forthcoming, including her first children’s book, “Change Sings,” set to be published in September.

Gorman was the youngest of six poets to perform at a presidential inauguration, continuing an intermittent tradition begun in 1961 when Robert Frost recited “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. The previous youngest was Richard Blanco, who was 44 when he read “One Today” at Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.

All the inaugural poets have performed at the swearings-in of Democratic presidents.

High winds expected beyond mountains and passes in Southern California, red flag warnings issued

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:28:30 +0000

High winds are forecasted to ramp up overnight into Tuesday, Jan. 19, and batter virtually all of Southern California until late Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service projects. Red flag fire warnings were in place because of the winds and low humidity.

This wind event is expected to vary from recent ones due to urban and coastal areas being projected to experience wind gusts as high as 60 mph rather than just the usual mountain pass and valley areas.

WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS expected tonight through Wednesday night. Even at the coast! Now is the time to bring in any loose outdoor objects coronavirus pandemic continues to decimate the restaurant industry, a group of women restaurateurs from Los Angeles plans to fight back with food.

But the RE:Her food festival, which takes place Jan. 21-Jan. 30, is just an appetizer for their new organization’s main purpose, which is to empower female restaurant owners.

The 10-day event, which includes restaurants throughout the Los Angeles County serving food specials as well as panel discussions and conversations, is organized by the recently formed charitable organization RE:Her, a nonprofit created by nine veteran female chefs in the area in response to the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the industry with the specific goal of helping female restaurant owners

“What we’re trying to do is uplift women restaurateurs. Uplift them and at some point we want to be able to provide mentorship and grants,” said Sylvie Gabriele, owner of Manhattan Beach’s Love & Salt restaurant and one of the founders of the new organization.

“The festival is really phase one of the Re:Her mission,” she added.

Other founding members include Lien Ta (All Day Baby), Sandra Cordero (Gasolina Cafe), Bricia Lopez (Guelaguetza), Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill, Socalo), Kimberly Prince (Hotville Chicken), Dina Samson (Rossoblu, Superfine Pizza), Heather Sperling (Botanica), and Brittney Valles (Guerrilla Tacos).

The new organization was launched in late December after conversations the founding members were having about the effects of the pandemic and how they, as experienced owners, could help others.

With an initial fundraising goal of $500,000, the organization is hoping to eventually provide grants that can be used for myriad reasons, including paying past-due bills, payroll costs, or sprucing up their patios once outdoor dining returns as well as mentoring help.

“We wanted to start a nonprofit that would mean more collaborating, more mentorship, more supporting each other, especially our sisters who have smaller restaurants who don’t have the same resources as maybe someone like me who’s been around for 40 years,” Milliken said.

“I have been around a long time and this is all so energizing for me,” she added.

Mary Sue Milliken owner of Border Grill and Socalo, is one of nine founding members of RE:Her, a new restaurant association that aims to empower female restaurant owners . The organizing is launching a 10-day food festival from Jan.21-30 called 10 Days RE:Her.(Photo by Anne Fishbein)

On the menu

The festival will launch with more than 100 eateries and their chefs coming up with special menus for the event.

Similar to the Dine L.A. events, participating restaurants will prepare special menu items available during the 10-day festival. But due to COVID-19 restrictions, the festival will offer takeout only options for dishes they are preparing for the event.

Besides the food, the festival will include online panel discussions between restaurant owners and chefs that people can drop in on. They are free but donations are suggested.

And with the hopes of introducing diners to more female-owned restaurants across the county that they otherwise may not be familiar with, 10 Days RE:Her will also include collaborations between restaurants.

“It’s going to be way cooler than Dine L.A., but don’t tell them,” Milliken said with a laugh.

“We’re doing all these collaborations because that’s what women love to do,” she said.

Some of these collaborations will include chefs mixing their dishes in one plate or serving their food in other restaurants.

For example, Milliken will team up with several restaurant owners during the event, including Kimberly Prince of Hotville Chicken. Prince will serve her hot fried chicken tacos from Socalo in Santa Monica while Milliken will serve her Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Street Bowl dish from Prince’s Crenshaw location on select dates.

“It’s a menu mashup where Kim gets to introduce our Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Street Bowl to her customers, and you can add her fried chicken on top of it if you like, and I get to introduce my customers to Kim’s Hotville Chicken,” Milliken said.

Milliken is also collaborating with Sandra Cordero of Gasolina Cafe in Woodland Hills and Valerie Confections from Echo Park for a meal box that can be picked up at all three locations.

It’s made up of Cordero’s mussel salad, Milliken’s duck carnitas cassoulet and a cheesecake from Valerie Confections.

“Everyone has been so isolated this last year, it’s just so nice to feel like we’re doing something together. And I think it’s time, women are still very little represented in our industry. So we just want to put a little spotlight on all those restaurants,” Cordero said.

“The idea of the organization is it’s not a one time thing, we are here for the long run,” she added.

10 Days RE:Her

When: Jan. 21-30

Where: Detailed menus and events will be posted on regardingherfood.com closer to event date.

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Santa Monica Tunnel, Ramps To Close Overnight For Upgrades

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 02:18:55 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — The tunnel that connects the 10 Freeway to Pacific Coast Highway is scheduled to close overnight for upgrades next week, Caltrans reminded drivers Friday.

The McClure Tunnel, along with nearby ramps, will be temporarily shut down between Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 during the work, which will span a mile of the freeway between Lincoln Boulevard and the PCH Broadway Pedestrian Overpass.

The tunnel will be closed in both directions from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and drivers will be detoured around the tunnel using Olympic Boulevard. Closures could change depending on the weather, Caltrans said.

During the construction, crews will update the lighting system inside the tunnel and add radar to detect speeders.

A warning system to alert drivers to traffic inside the tunnel, which aims to reduce crashes, will be the first in Los Angeles County. It will tell drivers to slow as they approach.

New signs in the area will also be installed and new pavement will be laid in the tunnel.

Mom Reunited With Newborn After Surviving COVID-19, Being Discharged From Hospital

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 04:59:34 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A new mom who was transferred to Providence Saint John’s Health Center nearly a month ago for COVID-19 treatment got to go home Tuesday and meet her newborn son for the first time.

(Source: Providence Saint John’s Health Center)

Natalhie Herrera, 35, was transferred to the Santa Monica hospital after giving birth to her son on Nov. 11. Hospital officials said she was seemingly losing her battle against the coronavirus when she arrived and was placed on ECMO — a machine that helps to oxygenate the lungs.

Her son Felipe, who was born three weeks early, spent some time in the neonatal intensive care unit before being able to go home with his dad and big brother.

Santa Monica Waives Parking Structure Fees Through Christmas Day

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:56:55 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — The city of Santa Monica is temporarily waiving parking fees in public parking structures through Christmas Day to attract shoppers to Third Street Promenade and nearby businesses.

Parking fees will be temporarily waived in structures one through six. Third Street Promenade will also offer free holiday-themed entertainment through Jan. 3.

Restaurants and retailers have implemented a number of amenities to make holiday dining and shopping easier, with in-store and curbside pickup and takeaway dining options.

Local restaurants are emphasizing using takeout options throughout the city to support businesses. A full list of restaurants offering takeout, delivery and gift cards for the holidays, can be found here.

Downtown Santa Monica, a private nonprofit that works with the city of Santa Monica to manage services and operations, is encouraging people to support businesses while staying at home by writing a positive review, following them on social media, and liking, commenting and sharing their posts with friends and family,

Local shoppers are also encouraged to visit DowntownSM.com and use the Santa Monica “Open for Business” map with the latest information on businesses.

‘A Legacy I Do Not Want To Lose’: Santa Monica’s Iconic Playland Arcade In Danger Of Closing Permanently

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:56:05 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Since the 1950s, Playland Arcade has been a Santa Monica Pier staple.

Playland Arcade has been a staple on the Santa Monica Pier since the 1950s. (Gordon family photo)

“We had the carousel, we had archery next door, then the beach comber,” Marlene Gordon, one of the arcade’s owners, said. “We had kiddie rids in the middle between that open space.”

Eventually, sisters Marlene and Joanie took over the family business along with their nieces Monique and Dana. But now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic business is in danger of closing for good.

“We’ve been closed since March 15, and obviously, financially, it’s been devastating because there are still bills to be paid,” Joanie said.

The sisters thought the initial closure would last just a few weeks and invested thousands of dollars on extra safety measures like socially distant floor markers, thermometers and hand sanitizer dispensers.

“We could definitely limit the amount of people where it’s 25% or whatever they mandate,” Joanie said. “And we planned to turn off every other machine or, if need be, every couple machines so people would be six feet apart.”

The sisters also said the arcade had better airflow than most indoor attractions with the front and back completely open.

And with bills piling up — including months of back rent — Marlene and Joanie are begging the city to let them reopen, because they don’t know how much longer they can keep falling deeper into debt.

The city of Santa Monica did not immediately return a request for comment.

“It’s just a legacy I do not want to lose,” Marlene said. “I want it in our lives forever.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of day-to-day operations.

CEO Caught On Camera Allegedly Abusing Dog Charged

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 00:58:57 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A local CEO accused of abusing his dog has been charged with one misdemeanor count of animal neglect, a spokesperson for the city of Santa Monica confirmed Friday.

Video from a Santa Monica condo complex appeared to show Jeffrey Previte picking up the dog by the neck and violently shaking it after the dog relieved itself in the hallway. (Security Video)

Video from a Santa Monica condo complex appeared to show Jeffrey Previte picking up the dog by the neck and violently shaking it after the dog relieved itself in the hallway. At one point, the video shows the man striking the animal.

“Mr. Previte is charged with keeping an animal without proper care and attention — which means that, as the dog’s owner, Mr. Previte committed a grossly negligent act which would foreseeably cause harm to the animal,” Constance Farrell, public information officer for the city of Santa Monica, said in an email.

Previte, the CEO of an environmental consulting firm in Los Angeles, told entertainment website TMZ that he regretted losing his temper and planned to find a new home for the animal.

If convicted as charged, Previte faces up to six months in jail and could be ordered to pay a $500 fine.

Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud Retiring Amid ‘Strained Community-Police Relations’

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 22:13:08 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) – Santa Monica’s police chief is stepping down from her position a few months after the looting and vandalism that roiled the city during the social justice protests over the summer.

Chief Cynthia Renaud will retire effective Sunday. She began leading the department in April of 2018.

Former Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks will resume the role of interim chief until a permanent replacement is found.

Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud speaks at a news conference on June 1, 2020. (CBSLA)

In a statement released last week, the city cited “strained community-police relations” as contributing to her decision.

“Recognizing that recent events both here in Santa Monica and around the nation have strained community-police relations, Chief Renaud has made the decision to step aside so that the Santa Monica Police Department can continue to move forward,” the statement read.

Santa Monica police came under scrutiny for its response to the looting that occurred during the police brutality protests over the summer. On May 31, the agency arrested more than 400 people who went into local businesses along Santa Monica’s famous Third Street Promenade, destroying and ransacking stores.

Renaud will take on the role of president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“Serving as Chief in Santa Monica has been one of the highlights of my career,” Renaud wrote in a statement. “I am proud of our record over the past two years in times of unprecedented scrutiny and challenge for law enforcement.”

Seabrooks lead the SMPD from 2012 to 2017.

Santa Monica Day Spa Owner Admits To Buying Up 20,000 N95 Masks, Selling Them For As Much As 1,100% Over List Price

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:01:40 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The owner of a Santa Monica day spa has admitted to hoarding, then selling N95 masks for as much as 1,100% over list price, according to Department of Justice officials.

Niki Schwarz, 55, of Santa Monica, is the owner of Tikkun Holistic Spa, 1460 4th St. Schwarz, who was charged in federal court Tuesday with one count of hoarding and price gouging, agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor offense, federal officials said.

(Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Schwarz admitted that she started buying up N95 respirators in February, in anticipation of a shortage as the novel coronavirus outbreak turned into a global pandemic, according to her plea agreement. From the beginning of February until the end of June, prosecutors say Schwarz bought nearly 20,000 N95 masks – including 3M masks that had been priced between $1.02 to $1.27 and 86-cent Alpha Pro masks. In her plea deal, Schwarz admitted she bought the masks for the purpose of reselling them at above-market rates, and sold them for up to $15 each.

N95 respirators were designated as “scarce materials” in March by the federal government. On March 1, prosecutors say an associate told Schwarz she was going to stop selling N95 masks because she believed it was crime, with price gouging punishable with one year in prison, but Schwarz continued to sell the masks at inflated prices.

Schwarz “accumulated and resold the masks at prices in excess of the prevailing market prices willfully, that is, with knowledge that masks that had been designated as scarce materials and with knowledge that accumulation of the designated materials to resell in excess of prevailing market prices was unlawful,” according to the plea agreement.

The hoarding and price gouging that Schwarz admitted to in the plea deal carries a statutory maximum sentence of a year in federal prison, according to the Department of Justice. Schwarz will likely be summoned to make her first court appearance in United States District Court in early November.

‘What Is Going On?’: Woman Says Mail-In Ballots Found Trashed In Santa Monica

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 22:12:36 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) – A Santa Monica woman says her husband discovered dozens of mail-in ballots in a trash bin.

Twitter user @cholemama posted a photo of what appeared to be multiple official Los Angeles County ballots that she says were found in a “trash can in the alley.”

She wrote: “My husband just found all these ballots in the trash can in the alley. What is going on? Why weren’t these delivered?”

A second photo posted showed more ballots reportedly found in another recycling bin on Virginia Avenue between 21st St. and 22nd St.

@SantaMonicaProb @santamonicacity @smdailypress My husband just found all these ballots in the trash can in the alley. What is going on? Why weren’t these delivered? pic.twitter.com/RG10aNoMzk

— Soledad (@cholemama) October 8, 2020

More ballots were found in a different recycling bin this time the recycling bin is on Virginia between 21st St. and 22nd St. pic.twitter.com/JYkza5GtHU

— Soledad (@cholemama) October 9, 2020

Oscar de la Torre, who is running for a seat on the Santa Monica City Council, says residents are “alarmed” over the photos.

“This is a terrible, illegal act that threatens to take away the right to vote for dozens of people in Santa Monica,” Torres said in a statement. “The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Los Angeles County Clerk need to investigate this quickly, find out how this happened, and ensure that every vote is counted.”

Torre urged voters to deliver completed ballots directly to ballot boxes or early voting centers.

Last month, lawmakers demanded the U.S. Postal Inspection Service launch an investigation into reports of two bags of mail being dumped in the parking lot of a Glendale spa.

Gates Reopen At 12 Outdoor Playgrounds Across Santa Monica

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 21:01:57 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Children were welcomed back to playgrounds across Santa Monica Friday.

Gates were opened at 12 different playgrounds that have been shut down for months during the pandemic.

“I think this is amazing because it has been more than six months since my child has been on a swing or been able to climb and work their muscles,” said one mother. “There are only so many places you can walk to. Kids need physical activity.”

Children and parents flocked to Douglas Park Friday as soon as the gates were opened.

Jenna Stark, who has an eight-month-old son, said she thought he wouldn’t be able to see a park in his first year of life.

“Not knowing how long this is going to last you are kind of wondering when your children will have any sense on normalcy,” Stark said. “I’m glad they are taking all of these precautions.”

The city’s public works team has been working hard to clean the equipment, replacing some materials, and pressure washing the ground.

For now, muscle beach in Santa Monica remains closed. Meanwhile, some playgrounds in Culver City reopened Thursday with more playgrounds expected to open across the city.

Trisha Roth, a retired pediatrician with 11 grandchildren, lives across the street from one of the playgrounds reopening.

“I’m very excited,” she said. “You know, having a playground in front of you and not being able to use it.”

Many say it’s great for children to start being around other children.

There are some rules with the reopening including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and keeping time at the park to a half hour.

The parks opened Friday include:

Airport Park Playground
Clover Park Playgrounds
Douglas Park Playground
Gandara Park Playground
Joslyn Park Playground
Marine Park Playground
Memorial Park Playground
North Beach Playground (slide closed)
Reed Park Playground
South Beach Universally Accessible Playground
Tongva Park Playground
Virginia Avenue Park Playground

The following parks will remain closed because they either do not have nearby restrooms or need additional maintenance:

Annenberg Community Beach House Playground
Euclid Park Playground
Ishihara Park Playground
Ocean Park Beach Playground
Ozone Park Playground

More information can be found here.

Santa Monica To Reopen 12 Outdoor Playgrounds Friday

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:17:40 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Santa Monica will reopen 12 of the city’s play areas this week.

Los Angeles County’s amended coronavirus health order has cleared the way for outdoor playgrounds to reopen at the discretion of individual cities.

According to Santa Monica officials, city crews have been inspecting playground equipment, washing the grounds and replacing equipment as needed, as well as installing signs outlining health restrictions for visitors since the announcement was made.

The parks opening Friday include:

Airport Park Playground
Clover Park Playgrounds
Douglas Park Playground
Gandara Park Playground
Joslyn Park Playground
Marine Park Playground
Memorial Park Playground
North Beach Playground (slide closed)
Reed Park Playground
South Beach Universally Accessible Playground
Tongva Park Playground
Virginia Avenue Park Playground

The following parks will remain closed because they either do not have nearby restrooms or need additional maintenance:

Annenberg Community Beach House Playground
Euclid Park Playground
Ishihara Park Playground
Ocean Park Beach Playground
Ozone Park Playground

Muscle Beach and outdoor park exercise equipment will also remain closed.

Under the county’s health order, playground visitors over age 2 must wear masks, and all children must have adult supervision.

Visitors should also maintain their distance from others, and wash their hands before and after using the equipment.

Click here for more info.

Eddie Van Halen Dies Of Cancer At 65

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:14:25 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Rock legend Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday of cancer at the age of 65.

The rocker’s son, Wolf Van Halen, confirmed the death of his father Tuesday with a tweet.

“My heart is broken and I don’t think I can recover from this loss,” Wolf Van Halen wrote.

Eddie Van Halen, guitarist with US hard rock band, Van Halen, poses for a studio portrait, in 1978. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images)

Van Halen and his brother moved to Pasadena as children from the Netherlands. They both attended Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College.

The brothers formed their band in 1972, changing its name to Van Halen and became a staple of L.A. music in the mid-1970s, playing world-famous clubs like the Whisky a Go Go. The band went on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world after the release of their legendary album “1984.”

Within hours of the news of his passing, memorials popped up around the city of Pasadena, including at their childhood home and the spot where the brothers wrote “Van Halen” in the sidewalk. Fans left guitar picks, flowers, and cards.

“I wanted to pay my respects to the greatest guitar player that ever lived,” said fan Ricky Parish. “I’ve listened to Van Halen my whole life. My band’s heavily influenced by the band. It’s just a tragic loss.”

A floral arrangement was placed outside of Guitar Center in Hollywood where Van Halen’s guitars and handprints were on display.

Fans stopped by the store Tuesday to remember the rock legend.

CHULA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Guitarist Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs on stage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre on September 30, 2015 in Chula Vista, California. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

“I was a teenager when they broke on the scene. They were from Pasadena. I grew up in Eagle Rock,” said fan Sean Keegan.

Another fan, Rakesh Patel, said, “You attach yourself to that music and it kind of brings happy thoughts.”

Van Halen donated a prototype of his iconic guitar to the store but people who work here said he was generous in other ways.

“Just such a gracious guy and very generous with his time,” said Guitar Center Artists Relations Manager Eric Bradley. “Smiling and happy to take a photo.”

Eddie Van Halen was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He famously provided the lead-in guitar track for Michael Jackson’s iconic song, “Beat It.”

Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue cancer 20 years ago and was declared cancer-free two years later. According to reports, the cancer spread, and Van Halen’s health took a dramatic turn for the worst in the last few days.

He had a son with actress Valerie Bertinelli, whom he divorced in 2007. Van Halen went on to marry actress and stuntwoman Janie Liszewki in 2009.

Eddie Van Halen is survived by his wife and son.

911 Integration With Uber App Expanded To Beverly Hills, Burbank, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Torrance

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:44:59 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Uber is expanding 911 integration with its app to the cities of Long Beach, Burbank, Torrance, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

(credit: Uber)

Uber riders currently can use an emergency button in the app during a trip to give 911 dispatchers their real time location, car make and model, and license plate number. Uber says the integration of 911 in the app transmits that information automatically so it shows up on dispatchers’ computer screens, and does not need to be given verbally.

“Every second counts in an emergency, and we want to make sure our users get help quickly with accurate information if faced with an emergency situation,” Sachin Kansal, Uber’s safety products lead, said in a statement.

The emergency button was first launched in May 2018 in just a handful of cities, including Los Angeles. With the expansion, it now covers 60% of all Uber rides in the United States, according to Uber.

Prosecutors Investigating After Video Surfaces Showing Santa Monica Man Abusing Puppy

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 23:24:03 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) – A Santa Monica man has been accused of animal cruelty after security video was obtained showing him abusing a puppy in his building last month.

Santa Monica police reported Thursday that they have brought the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for possible charges of animal cruelty and malicious mischief against an animal.

Police did not immediately name the suspect. However, the Daily Mail, which obtained video of the incident, identified him as Jeffrey Previte.

The security footage was taken Aug. 22 in the hallway of the Seychelle Condominiums in the 1700 block of Ocean Avenue, according to the Daily Mail.

It appears to show the man picking up the dog by the neck and violently shaking it while in a hallway. At one point he appears to strike the dog. The concierge told The Daily Mail that he saw the footage after hearing the dog “screaming,” then subsequently filed a police report.

Animal control officers began their investigation on Sept. 4, but were unable to locate the suspect or his dog, police said. The following day, they were able to make contact with Previte by phone.

They then turned over their case to Santa Monica police detectives, who recommended county prosecutors file charges.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 310-458-8451.

Caught On Video: Woman Dragged Into Santa Monica Street In Violent Purse Snatching

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 22:39:15 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Help is needed Friday to identify three men believed to be involved in violently snatching a purse from a woman in Santa Monica, leaving her in the street.

The robbery happened Aug. 20 at about 8:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of 6th Street. Police say the woman was on the sidewalk when a man walked up to her and grabbed her purse.

(credit: Santa Monica Police Department)

Surveillance video shows the woman tried to hold on to the purse, and was dragged out into the street. The man ran off to a vehicle waiting across the street, where two others were waiting.

There was an attempt to use the woman’s credit card at 21 Liquor Mart, 1732 W. Rosecrans Ave. in Gardena. Detectives were able to get surveillance video of the three men who tried to use the card, police said.

Police did not have a description of the vehicle or the three suspects, but released surveillance images. The vehicle was a red, 4-door compact SUV with dark-tinted back windows. The three suspects appeared to all be Black men in their 20s. One had a heavily tattooed left arm and wore an orange do-rag hair covering and a blue medical mask. The second man wore a black T-shirt with an image of Muhammad Ali on the front, a thing gold chain, a black baseball cap, black shorts and a dark face mask. The third wore a black face mask, a white T-shirt, blue shorts and red, white and blue tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the vehicle, the three men or the robbery can contact Santa Monica police Detective Ismael Tavera at (310) 458-8401 ext. 2256 or (310) 458-8941.

$5K Reward Offered For Information On Suspect Who Started Fires At Several Santa Monica Businesses

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 21:21:17 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information related to the arrest of a person responsible for starting fires at several businesses in Santa Monica.

A fire was started at Santa Monica Tobacco, located at 1434 Fourth Street, around 3:20 p.m. on May 31.

Another fire was also started the same evening at REI, 402 Santa Monica Blvd., around 3:40 p.m., by what appears to be the same female, during civil unrest.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Santa Monica Police Department shared images of the suspect Tuesday, asking for the public’s help in identifying her while offering $5,000 for information.

#BREAKING: ATF & @SantaMonicaPD offer $5k reward for info on female who started fires May 31 at retail stores in Santa Monica. Suspect has tattoo of Africa on her left shoulder. Have info call SMPD (310) 458-2201 ext 6679 or (310) 458-8414. https://t.co/LhWHoFNv4N See video. pic.twitter.com/7mtlysmZjI

— ATF Los Angeles (@LosAngelesATF) August 25, 2020

The suspect is a black female who has a tattoo of Africa on her left shoulder.

Photos of the suspect who started fires at two retail businesses in Santa Monica on May 31. (credit: ATF)

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Santa Monica Police Department Detective D. Chabot at 310-458-2201 Ext. 6679, Sergeant C. Green at 310-458-8414, or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-2249.

The investigation is being conducted jointly by the ATF Los Angeles Field Division and Santa Monica Police Department.

‘It Makes Me Very, Very Angry’: SoCal Residents Report Mail Delays Of Up To 15 Days

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 01:35:52 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — As Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Friday defended changes he made to the U.S. Postal Service to Congress, area residents spoke about what they have been experiencing.

Dr. Wayne Johnson, a Santa Monica resident, said he and his neighbors have all been experiencing delays from USPS in recent weeks.

“Our mail has been delayed here for two to three days,” he said. “A lot of our bills have not gotten here on time. Some checks that I’m owed have not been here on time.”

But Orange County veteran Jeffery Ebner, the delays pose a more serious threat since he depends on the postal service to deliver medications for cholesterol and diabetes from the VA. In the past few months, he said his medications have arrived more than 15 days late, causing him to run out of one of his medications.

“I’ve got a friend that’s got cancer and he’s having problems getting his medicines,” he said. “And another friend of mine who has heart condition and he’s having problems getting his.”

But, despite the delays, customers said they did not blame the mail carriers, but rather those in charge who have taken sorting machines and mail boxes out of circulation and has reportedly altered traditional distribution methods.

“The carriers may not be receiving all of their mail or being instructed to leave some mail behind,” Keisha Lewis, of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said.

The post office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though earlier this week DeJoy released a statement that said, in part:

“Even with the challenges of keeping our employees and customers safe and healthy as they operate amid a pandemic, we will deliver the nation’s election mail on time and within our well-established service standards.

But Johnson said, between now and November, people still needed their medications, social security checks and other necessities delivered by mail.

“It makes me very, very angry,” he said. “And I think it makes most Americans very angry.”

A protest is scheduled in front of the Santa Monica Post Office on Wilshire Boulevard and 12th Street Saturday as part of a nationwide day of demonstration.

Locals, Visitors Welcome August Heat With A Day At The Beach

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 01:13:16 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — As temperatures continue to rise across the Southland, beach lovers are responding to the itch to play in the sand.

Thousands of people hit beaches in the Santa Monica area on Saturday coming from Boyle Heights, Bakersfield, and even Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Despite mandates in the county to wear masks in public, some beachgoers did not follow those guidelines but focused instead on keeping their distance from others.

Aside from coronavirus concerns as California grapples with being the only U.S. state to top 500,000 cases and Los Angeles County on Saturday reporting 2,303 new coronavirus cases, most people who came out to the beach this weekend were just excited for some fresh air and relaxation.

A lifeguard said Saturday’s crowd was only slightly smaller than a typically hot August day pre-coronavirus.

California’s Top Health Official Says Spread Of COVID-19 Could Be Cut In Half If More People Wore Masks

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 05:26:10 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — As California continues to tackle the growing number of coronavirus cases, the state’s top health official said Tuesday that the spread of the virus could be quickly cut in half if more people committed to wearing face coverings.

A man wearing a face covering carries his skateboard as he walks in Palisades Park in Santa Monica July 25. (Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP-Getty)

“Not only protect our families and communities, but help us move on the road of economic recovery, help us get closer to having more schools open across the state,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services secretary, said.

According to Ghaly, if 80% of California residents wore masks daily, the state could cut the spread of the virus by 50% — a figure Ghaly called “tremendous.”

“Exactly what we need to see those case numbers come down,” he said.

And on Tuesday night, people in Santa Monica seemed to be mostly onboard with the statewide face covering mandate and the city’s decision to start fining people up to $500 if they fail to comply.

“It’s so easy,” one man said. “There’s no reason people shouldn’t be wearing a mask.”

And although the state has mandated the wearing a face coverings in most situations indoors, not everyone has followed the rules. There have been multiple protests staged in Orange County, and as for Steven Dorowsky, he said his vision is impaired by wearing a face covering.

“I hate it,” he said. “I can’t. My glasses fog up. I don’t like it at all.”

But, though he may not like it, he said it more people complied, it could mean he would be able to get back to work in the movie industry sooner and be there for his pregnant wife.

“First time baby and he can’t even go to the doctor’s appointment,” his wife said.

Los Angeles Man Allegedly Threw Full 40-Ounce Bottle At Police Officer’s Head During Civil Unrest In Santa Monica

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 21:47:35 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — A Los Angeles man faces charges of assaulting a police officer after allegedly throwing a 40-ounce glass bottle at the head of an officer during protests in Santa Monica.

(credit: Santa Monica Police Department)

Santa Monica police obtained an arrest warrant Friday for 38-year-old Drew Miller after identifying him as the man who threw a full 40-ounce glass bottle at the back of the head of a police officer during civil unrest and rioting on May 31, according to Lt. Joseph Cortez.

The bottle had shattered on the officer’s helmet, and the officer was injured.

Miller is being held on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday.

Santa Monica police say they continue to investigate crimes committed during protests on May 31. Tips can be shared by calling (310) 458-8451 or emailed to crimetips@smgov.net.

Heat Wave Strikes Southland, Brings Crowds Out To Beaches

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 23:33:06 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Locals and travelers headed straight to the beach on Saturday as temperatures were heating up across Southern California.

Last weekend, beaches in Los Angeles County and Orange County were closed for the Fourth of July to help prevent the spread of coronavirus if crowds came out.

People have responded to beaches now being reopened this weekend and one lifeguard said they’re seeing the largest crowd of the year as pandemic concerns continue.

As a safety precaution, some beachgoers came out wearing face coverings and made sure to keep their distance from others in line with county directives.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday’s high reached 89 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, 99 in Pasadena, 105 in Van Nuys and 104 in Palmdale and Lancaster.

The NWS said the heat was caused by a strong upper level high centered over Arizona and New Mexico that will expand westward through Sunday before weakening a little on Monday.

The weather service continues to urge residents to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and to do strenuous exercise in the early morning or evening.

Several cooling centers were opened in Los Angeles County throughout the weekend to help accommodate residents dealing with the rising temperatures.

4 Arrested In Looting Of Santa Monica Patagonia; Stolen Safe Recovered

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 22:13:55 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Two men and two women have been arrested in connection with looting a Patagonia store in Santa Monica after protests turned violent on May 31.

Patagonia, at 1344 4th St., was damaged and looted on May 31 by several suspects who were caught on surveillance video, removing a safe from the business.

(credit: Santa Monica Police)

Images showed several people dragging the safe down stairs and loading it onto a hand truck.

Santa Monica police says detectives served several search and arrest warrants at different locations in Los Angeles County during the investigation, and identified six suspects.

The four arrested include 27-year-old Ulises Alcantara Juarez, 27; Alfred Fernando Bello, 24; Yesenia Enriquez Tejada, 25; and Debbie Lujan, 23.

Evidence connected to the looting, including the safe, were recovered and booked into evidence, police said.

2 Men Arrested In Looting Of REI, Vans Stores In Santa Monica

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 19:08:42 +0000

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA) — Two men have been arrested in connection with looting at REI and Vans stores in Santa Monica after protests turned violent.

Sebastian Martinez, 24, of El Segundo, and 20-year-old Christopher Gutierrez, of Los Angeles, were arrested last Thursday after being stopped by Manhattan Beach police officers, Santa Monica police spokesman Lt. Joseph Cortez said.

(credit: Santa Monica Police Department)

The REI and Vans stores in Santa Monica were both ransacked on May 31 when protests turned to looting, vandalism and arson. Security video showed two men – one in a white, blue, green and pink Nike jacket, the other in burgundy hoodie and red baseball cap – at both stores, removing thousands of dollars of merchandise and later loading them into a car.

That car’s license plate was caught on video by an outside surveillance camera.

The vehicle seen outside the looted stores was stopped by Manhattan Beach police and the two men inside – later identified as Martinez and Gutierrez – were determined to be two of the suspects wanted for looting in Santa Monica.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of looting, while Gutierrez was also identified in the assault of a police officer. Gutierrez is in custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday. Martinez was cited out due to COVID-19, according to Santa Monica police.