June 15, 2025

BREAKING NEWS: No Stand Down Orders for Santa Monica Police Regarding 'No Kings Day' Demonstrations Should They Turn into Riots

Santa Monica Staff | Jun 12, 2025

June 12, 2025 - Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista released the following statement regarding concerns about the planned 'No Kings' protest on Saturday. On May 31, 2020, a planned demonstration protesting George Floyd's death turned into several days of intense rioting, looting, fires, and assaults in Santa Monica. Dear Santa Monica Residents, Business and Property Owners, I want to thank those of you who have reached out with concerns about the scheduled "No Kings"...

BREAKING NEWS: "Mostly Peaceful" No Kings Rally in Palisades Park Will Act as Cover for Rioting, Looting Planned for the Promenade for Saturday June 14, 2025

Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 12, 2025

6.10.25 – Authorities are on high alert as reports surface of a planned "mostly peaceful" riot and looting event scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. The event will follow the anti-Trump "No Kings Rally" scheduled for Saturday from 11 am to 2:30 pm in Palisades Park. According to sources familiar with the plans, organizers will follow a playbook similar to the May 31, 2020, looting in Downtown Santa Monica, where a...

BREAKING NEWS: Where Are LA's Professional Rioters Recruited? Some Say This Craigslist Ad is The Answer

Stan Greene, Observer Saff Writer | Jun 10, 2025
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Where do they find these guys who know how to find cinderblock stashes in Downtown LA, break them up with hammers and toss them at Police? Craigslist, say some local residents. "Looking for the toughest badasses in the city (los angeles) Private. compensation: $6500 - $12500 depending on experience. employment type: contract. experience level: no ... you're not the biggest guy in the room but you're the one people follow when things go bad - that's who we're Looking For!"...

BREAKING NEWS: Anarchist Rioters Set Cars on Fire, Hammer Sidewalks in Downtown Los Angeles to Create Rocks to Throw at Police

David Ganezer | Jun 9, 2025

Midnight, Monday 6/9/25, Los Angeles, CA - For the fourth consecutive night, downtown Los Angeles has been the scene of violent riots, with leftist protesters clashing with local law enforcement. The unrest, sparked by recent immigration enforcement operations, has left parts of the city in disarray, with reports of vandalism, looting, and assaults on police officers. Despite the escalating violence, Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom have pointed fingers at President...

BREAKING NEWS: The Chinese Navy Already Has More Ships Than the US. How Will Trump Address This, When China's Shipbuilding Capacity is 100 Times Greater Than the US?

David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 9, 2025

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has already surpassed the U.S. Navy in terms of sheer fleet size, with around 370 warships compared to the U.S. Navy's approximately 290 as of recent reports. Between 2015 and 2020, the PLAN overtook the U.S. Navy in the number of battle force ships, and projections suggest it could grow to 395–425 ships by 2030, while the U.S. Navy struggles to maintain its current fleet size, targeting 350 ships by 2045. China's...

BREAKING NEWS: Illegal Aliens Arrested by Ice in Los Angeles Last Week Included Convicted Murderers, Child Rapists, says DHS

Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 9, 2025

On June 7, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted operations in Los Angeles, arresting 45 illegal aliens with serious criminal convictions, including murder, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. Among those detained was Cuong Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old Vietnamese citizen convicted of second-degree murder for a shooting at a high school graduation party that killed two teenagers and injured seven others. Another individual, Jose Alfredo Ordaz, was...

BREAKING NEWS: ICE Protestors Block 101 Freeway, Other Roads Sunday. Protestors Set Five Waymo Driverless Vehicle on Fire in Downtown Los Angeles

Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 8, 2025

Update 8pm PST 6/8/25. On June 8, 2025, downtown Los Angeles experienced significant unrest related to anti-ICE protests, escalating into riots. Here’s an update based on the latest available information: Overview: Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, prompted by the Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, intensified on the third day. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly in...

Santa Monica's New Homeless Outreach Program Ignores Key Fact: The Unhoused Would Rather Live on the Street and Take Drugs

Mike Hunt, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 10, 2025

On June 3, 2025, the Santa Monica City Council approved a new homeless outreach program, allocating $2.5 million to fund a partnership with local nonprofits aimed at addressing the city’s homelessness crisis. However, it doesn't take into account what homeless people have told this author: They value their freedom. That means they would rather live on the street and use drugs such as methamphetamine (meth), then live in public housing for free. It's hard for those of us...

IDs through the ages: How people have proven their identity over time

Stacker, Beth Mowbray | Jun 7, 2025

With over 8 billion people spread across the Earth's nearly 25 million square miles of habitable land, proving one's identity has become more complex than it was with smaller populations thousands of years ago. Whereas ancient Greeks could just pair their name with that of their father to confirm who they were, modern-day home sapiens need more details to find the right John Smith. Ever since humans evolved to build geographically diffuse social networks around 130,000 years...

Class of 2025 Graduates from Pacific Palisades High School, Despite Losing Their Campus in the January 7th Fire

Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 7, 2025

The Palisades Charter High School Class of 2025 held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Hollywood Bowl, a departure from the school's campus due to damage from the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025, which destroyed parts of the campus, including the football stadium. The ceremony celebrated the resilience of the graduating class amidst significant adversity. Speakers at the Graduation The ceremony featured notable speakers, reflecting the school's...

Local Briefs Waymo Beeping Complaints Escalate, as Coyote Sightings Surge Post-Palisades Fire

Observer Staff | Jun 7, 2025

Santa Monica residents are increasingly frustrated with noise from Waymo's driverless car charging stations, particularly near Broadway and Euclid. Another charging station is located at 14th Street and Santa Monica Blvd. The noise problem has caused a few neighbors take drastic measures, like obstructing Waymo vehicles, with some facing legal pushback like restraining orders. This ongoing saga reflects broader tensions about autonomous vehicles in residential areas. People...

As Anti Immigration Enforcement Riots Continue in Downtown Los Angeles, Trump Calls in the National Guard

Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 7, 2025

On June 7, 2025, protests erupted in downtown Los Angeles in response to aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city. The demonstrations, which began Friday night after ICE arrested at least 44 people, escalated into Saturday with significant unrest. Protesters, chanting slogans like "Free them all" and holding signs demanding "Full Rights for All Immigrants" and "Stop the Deportations," clashed with authorities, blocked streets, and in...

Is Santa Monica Making Any Special Preparations Due to the Immigration Riots?

Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 8, 2025

There’s no specific information confirming that the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is on heightened alert following the June 8, 2025, riots in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). The SMPD’s official Instagram and website don’t mention any tactical alert or heightened status as of the latest updates, with their most recent posts focusing on routine activities like vehicle burglary responses from May 2025. However, given the proximity to DTLA (about 15 miles) and the...

The Milken Institute 2025 Global Conference"Toward A Flourishing Future " Impressions and Take-a-ways

Rachel Ganz, Observer Staff Writer | Jun 6, 2025

The Milken Institute's 28th annual Global Conference was held from May 4–7, 2025 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876, Wilshire Blvd, BeverlyHills, CA, 90210. Elon Musk addressed the conference by Video. There were over 5,000 participants and 1,000 speakers from more than 80 countries- including CEOs, philanthropists, government officials, doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists, investors, cultural icons, actors, nonprofit leaders and journalists worldwide - . Under the theme...

  • Movies and TV shows casting across the US

    Stacker, Jaimie Etkin | Jun 7, 2025

    The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you....

  • How global trade is reshaping furniture pieces

    Stacker, Steven Neman for House of Leon | Jun 7, 2025

    Global trade has transformed the furniture industry, changing where our tables, sofas, and décor come from—and at what cost. In particular, U.S.-Asia trade routes now dominate the furniture market, with Asian countries supplying a large share of American furniture. Recent shifts in tariffs and trade policies are accelerating these changes, affecting prices and the balance between imported and American-made furnishings. Below, House of Leon explores how these trends are...

  • The movies leaving Netflix this month Include Ocean's 11, "Won't You Be My Neighbor,"

    Stacker, Jake Kring-Schreifels | Jun 7, 2025

    June has arrived, bringing with it backyard barbecues, splashy pool days, and the annual quest to find the perfect pair of sunglasses. But while the days are long, your time to binge some beloved movies on Netflix is not. More than two dozen titles—from cult favorites to comfort comedies to animated gems—are packing their bags and heading out by the end of June 2025. There are quite a few reasons a film can get dropped from a streamer like Netflix; perhaps the movie's...

  • The fix for parched Western states: Recycled toilet water

    Stacker, Matt Simon for Grist | Jun 7, 2025

    If you were to drink improperly recycled toilet water, it could really hurt you—but probably not in the way you're thinking. Advanced purification technology so thoroughly cleans wastewater of feces and other contaminants that it also strips out natural minerals, which the treatment facility then has to add back in. If it didn't, that purified water would imperil you by sucking those minerals out of your body as it moves through your internal plumbing. So if it's perfectly...

  • The Daily Santa Monica Crime and Drug Video - March 19, 2025

    Santa Monica Coalition | Jun 7, 2025
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    Santa Monica's City Council thinks the city is just fine. One councilmember called the homeless residents our neighbors, their wants and desires equivalent to those of people who pay rent and pay taxes. The 'freedom' of some, most of whom suffer from drug addiction and mental illness, to live in filth, disease and to commit crimes with impunity, is valued over the ability of the rest of society to live healthy lives in law and order. Watch the videos shot and distributed by...

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