Los Angeles County Lifeguard reported that "Sunday night at approximately 10:30 PM, a ~40’ power vessel was reported to have sunk while anchored just south of the Marina del Rey Harbor entrance by a passing mariner. Lifeguard units responded and confirmed the report. Lifeguard Underwater Rescue & Recovery Unit dove the site to search for occupants, identify the vessel, and assess the environmental risk/impact. No persons were aboard/found, the vessel was ID’d, no major environmental hazards were found, and the vessel was marked to alert passing mariners."

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a traffic safety operation December 20, 2024 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.

SMPD offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians

Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross.
Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross. 

Welcome to Meet the Fleet: the show that takes you inside the cab and under the hood of LA County's fleet of vehicles. On this episode, meet LA County's fleet of tractors and sanitizers keeping the coastline clean and pristine.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Monday, December 16, 2024, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters swiftly responded to a structure fire in a historic three-story building located at 15 Horizon Avenue in Venice. Built in 1912, the 112-year-old building showcased the resilience of modern safety systems in protecting older structures.

According to LAFD Captain Steve Marquez, crews from Station 63, Engine 62, and Battalion 4 arrived on the scene to find a small grease fire on a stove in a second-floor unit. The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler systems activated, containing the fire to a minor scale before firefighters extinguished it.

Captain Marquez confirmed that all occupants were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries. Firefighters also shut off the sprinkler system, cleared water from the affected area, and ensured residents could return to their homes."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Red Flag Warning in Effect in Malibu Tues 12/17 to Wed 12/18/24

Santa Ana winds will increase across much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties Tuesday afternoon with winds likely peaking Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Northeast winds will rapidly develop with gusts likely ranging from 40 to 60 mph, strongest in the mountains. These winds combined with minimum humidity in the 10 to 20 percent range will very likely lead to critical Red Flag fire weather conditions developing Tuesday afternoon to evening and continuing through Wednesday afternoon.

For more on the Franklin Fire, Click Here.

Topanga Canyon Blvd/Route 27 is CLOSED between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway/Route 1 in Topanga area from 3pm Tuesday 12/17 until 6pm Wednesday 12/18 due to Red Flag Warning fire danger.

Only residents & local business traffic allowed in the canyon.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

Santa Monica, Calif. – The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will be out December 20, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence (DUI).

Impaired driving is preventable. It’s a choice. If you’ve been drinking or taken drugs that impair, make the right choice by finding a sober driver or alternate transportation to take you places.

SMPD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Franklin Fire morning Update 12/15/24 9am - acreage remains at 4,037, and containment is now at 42%. Teams have completed 95% of the damage inspections, and the numbers remain at 19 structures destroyed (8 single family dwellings and 11 outbuildings), and 27 structures damaged (14 single family dwellings, 1 multi family dwelling, 7 commercial, and 5 outbuildings).

For more on the Franklin Fire, Click Here.

New video from Real Skate Stories.

"Dive into the legacy of Jay Adams, the controversial and outspoken skateboarding icon whose rebellious spirit and unmistakable style revolutionized the sport. From his early days with the Dogtown Z-Boys to shaping the skate culture of the 70s and 80s, discover how his punk rock energy and artistic expression made him a legend, influencing generations of skaters and redefining the essence of skateboarding. I knew Jay well, and throughout the decades we had many experiences together, in this video I share a few."