Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles from the May 12, 2025 edition


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  • Malls all over Southern California are Thriving. Here Are The Two Reasons the Promenade is Struggling

    Arthur Jeon, Special to the Observer|Updated May 13, 2025

    Dear Council, I don't often share John Alle's videos. I find him directionally right, but I think he is tactically wrong-I've argued with him about his signs on the promenade which are often unnecessarily personal and seem counterproductive. His scope is too narrow, (we are more than our disorder), and occasionally he drifts into hyperbole. But I absolutely understand his frustration in the face of a seemingly indifferent bureaucracy that seems more intent on gaslighting our...

  • SM Police Called to Recover a Dead Body at the City's Homeless Housing, 1413 Michigan Ave

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 12, 2025

    Details are pending, but the SMPD were called to recover a dead body at the City's Homeless Housing, located at 1413 Michigan Ave. This from a reliable source on Monday evening, May 12th. 1413 Michigan Ave is associated with the Michigan Avenue Navigation Center, a facility in Santa Monica providing services and temporary housing for homeless individuals. It's part of the city's efforts to address homelessness, offering case management, meals, and shelter....

  • This project-based high school serving 30 districts has endured for nearly two decades with a focus on STEM

    Stacker, Greg Toppo for The 74|Updated May 12, 2025

    Albany If anyone could sell you a $2 million school bus, it's Karina Butler. The 17-year-old spent last fall learning about hydrogen fuel cells—New York school districts must stop buying conventional diesel buses by 2027, and by 2035, Butler explained, all school buses in the state must operate electrically. The new buses are clean, she said, but at $2 million apiece they're also "very pricey," she told The 74. That's a tough sell for cash-strapped districts in the state's c...

  • Doctors told a dad his daughter would never walk on her own. He built a way to get her on the trails.

    Stacker, Clarissa Casper for The Salt Lake Tribune|Updated May 12, 2025

    LJ Wilde always felt he one day would use his background in mechanical engineering to enrich his daughter Luci's life. "I didn't know what for," Wilde said. "I just felt it." What he didn't know was just how many lives he eventually would change. Two years after she was born, doctors told the Hyrum, Utah, resident that Luci would likely never be able to walk on her own due to a rare genetic disorder, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. When he learned this, his mind immediately...

  • 10 ways COVID changed American schools

    Stacker, Erica Meltzer for Chalkbeat|Updated May 12, 2025

    COVID had already killed thousands of people in other countries and was spreading in the United States when a top federal health official said schools should prepare to offer "internet-based teleschooling" in case they had to close for a period of time. "We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare for the expectation that this could be bad," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, then a leader in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's pandemic response, told reporter...

  • Report: Inflation and labor shortages are stressing small business owners right now

    Stacker, Erika Malzberg for NEXT|Updated May 12, 2025

    Inflation, reduced consumer spending and labor shortages top small business owners' list of worries, according to a nationwide NEXT survey of 500 business owners that also asked what they're doing to address those concerns. The goal of the survey was to understand how business owners think about the economy and the threats to their business, and what's changed since NEXT's last pulse check in 2023. The results show how small business owners think about and respond to risk. 62%...

  • Data shows medication-assisted treatment works for opioid use disorder-so why aren't more people getting it?

    Stacker, Kayla Levy for Charlie Health|Updated May 12, 2025

    Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable but potentially life-threatening condition. Yet millions of people still lack access to the most effective treatment options. According to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medications for OUD, especially buprenorphine and methadone, can significantly reduce the risk of overdose and improve long-term health outcomes. Despite this, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) remains widely...

  • What are the cheapest days of the week to fly?

    Stacker, Karen Axelton for Experian|Updated May 12, 2025

    With airfares expected to remain elevated throughout 2025, according to online travel marketplace Hopper, finding the cheapest days to fly could save you a lot of money. The cheapest days of the week to fly are typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, this isn't always the case, so Experian says comparing your options and being flexible are the keys to finding the lowest fares. The Cheapest and Most Expensive Days of the Week to Fly While Tuesdays and Wednesdays are...

  • 5 key mental health trends from the 2025 State of Mental Health Report

    Stacker, Kelsey Chacon for Rula Health|Updated May 12, 2025

    Understanding how people perceive their mental well-being—especially in such a rapidly changing world—is vital to Rula's mission to connect people with the mental healthcare they need. In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Rula released the State of Mental Health Report: Mental Well-being in a Changing World. Surveying over 2,000 U.S. consumers, the report was designed to illuminate: - People's relationship with their mental health - How people feel about men...

  • Ballet Folklorico Performs For Cinco de Mayo at Will Rogers Elementary School in Santa Monica

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 11, 2025

    Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico stands as the sole folkloric dance company in Santa Monica. Recently, they showcased their talent at the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at Will Rogers Elementary School, a tradition that has been ongoing for over 25 years. Additionally, the company performed at the 3rd Street Promenade's Cinco de Mayo event this past Sunday. Performing for the community and visitors of Santa Monica is a privilege that fosters unity. Cinco de Mayo, a holiday...

  • As Santa Monica City Council Debates Racial Reparations, City Finances Approach Bankruptcy

    Mike Hunt, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 11, 2025

    Santa Monica’s financial troubles mirror LA County’s in that legal settlements are a significant drain, but the city’s smaller scale and tourism-dependent economy make its challenges distinct. The $230 million in settlements is a heavy burden for a city of Santa Monica’s size, and the lack of progress on the voting rights case suggests ongoing legal exposure. Blaming settlements alone oversimplifies the issue—declining tourism revenue and high operational costs are equally c...

  • Santa Ynez Reservoir is Still Empty, Ten Weeks After the Palisades Fire

    Observer Staff|Updated May 11, 2025

    Local Briefs Santa Ynez Reservoir Still Empty The Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades is not back in service as of the latest available information. It was famously empty for 18 months leading up to the February 7th fire that decimated Pacific Palisades. In April 2025, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reported that additional small tears and pinhole-sized leaks were found in the reservoir's floating cover during refilling, when it was about 25% full....

  • Has the Santa Monica Condominium Market Finally Reached Peak Prices, Post Palisades Fire?

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 11, 2025

    As of March 2025, the median listing price for condos in Santa Monica is approximately $1.25 million to $1.4 million, based on recent data from platforms like Redfin and Zillow. The median sale price for condos in Santa Monica was around $1.15 million in February 2025, slightly down from $1.2 million a year earlier, reflecting a modest cooling. Condos average $900–$1,100 per square foot, with luxury units near the beach or downtown reaching $1,500+. A 2-bedroom, 2-bath c...