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

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.

The reservoir had to be drained again for repairs, which were estimated to take three to four weeks, with plans to resume refilling in May and return it to service by mid- to late June 2025.

However, there is no confirmation in the provided data that it is back in service as of May 9, 2025. The LADWP stated that the timeline was subject to change and promised further updates, but no newer information is available.

Karen Bass Offers to Cut Pay

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced she would take a pay cut due to the city's nearly $1 billion budget shortfall for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Her office also confirmed that her staff would not receive scheduled cost-of-living adjustments in June 2025 (4%), December 2025 (2%), and June 2026 (4%).

The exact amount of Bass' pay cut and when it would take effect were not specified. Her annual salary is approximately $301,000-$304,000. In comparison, Congressmen earn $175,000 a year.

Coyote Incident in Irvine

Wild coyote near Chatsworth

On May 8, 2025, in Irvine, a coyote attacked a small dog, a Schnauzer-Poodle mix named Rocky, during an evening walk with its owner, Rachael Rennie.

The incident occurred outside Rennie's home when the coyote, undeterred by her shouts and waving, grabbed Rocky by the neck, pulled him out of his harness, and ran off.

Neighbors quickly intervened, chasing the coyote and helping to rescue the dog. Rocky sustained injuries but survived and was recovering at a veterinary hospital five days later.

Rennie, a professional dog carer, noted a prior coyote attack on her street and planned to use a coyote vest for her dogs in the future. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife commended Rennie's actions-keeping her dogs leashed, yelling, and appearing large-but emphasized reporting such incidents to track trends.

No human injuries were reported, and the coyote was not captured.

City Pays Through the Nose for Beach Bathroom

The City of Santa Monica is spending thousands of dollars to repeatedly unclog a beachfront toilet. The bathroom has been repeatedly vandalized by vagrants.

The bathrooms near Tower 26 should be in frequent use by the hundreds of students who frequent that stretch of beach for local swim clubs and surf teams.

But the bathroom was repeatedly out of service for days at a time. It costs $1,500 - $2,500 each time to make the repairs. The city spent more than $10,000 in April to repair the restrooms after this repeated vandalism clogged the main line, said a City spokesman.

Vending Machines for Health Supplies

Vending Kiosks intended to give homeless people more access to health supplies have been installed in various Santa Monica locations.

The Santa Monica kiosks are accessible to the public at the following addresses:

Turning Point (1447 16th St) – open 24/7 Monday through Friday

Samoshel (505 Olympic Blvd) – open 24/7, seven days a week

Access Center (503 Olympic Blvd) – open Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

Each station offers self-service access to COVID-19 antigen test kits, naloxone (used to reverse opioid overdoses), fentanyl test strips, internal and external condoms, and personal lubricant. No ID, insurance, or payment is required. The program is designed to reduce barriers to health resources in underserved areas and at-risk populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness.