A 550-foot-long mural by Daniel Alonzo extends from 3rd to 5th Street along Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. Known as "Whale of a Mural," this vibrant artwork depicts Pacific gray whales and pilot whales, accompanied by bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and common dolphins, all swimming together in harmony.

Located at Ocean Park Boulevard and 4th Street, the mural has democratized art by bringing it into public space, standing as a symbol of resilience, creativity, and communal spirit. It is a cherished feature of Santa Monica, a testament to the city’s rich artistic history and its community’s passion for environmental conservation. Its depiction of marine life native to Santa Monica Bay has inspired countless residents and visitors alike.

Unfortunately, over the years, this iconic mural has suffered from neglect and exposure to the elements, leaving it in dire need of restoration. Its gradual deterioration has been heartbreaking for the community. Beyond its artistic beauty, it serves as a continuous reminder of our responsibility to protect both our natural environment and the art that celebrates it.

To ensure future generations can experience its beauty, we urge the City of Santa Monica to allocate funding and resources to restore Whale of a Mural to its original glory.

Restoration efforts would require collaboration with the original artist, Daniel Alonzo, his assistants, conservation experts, and the City Council to ensure an accurate, respectful, and long-lasting refurbishment of this treasured landmark.

Recognizing the mural as a historical landmark would further highlight its significance and facilitate future maintenance, ensuring it receives the care it deserves. Such designation would protect the mural from potential threats, including urban development or changes in city ordinances that could otherwise jeopardize its existence.

Help us breathe new life into Whale of a Mural and secure its place in Santa Monica’s cultural landscape for years to come. Sign the petition calling on the City of Santa Monica to act now to preserve this irreplaceable masterpiece for the benefit of our community, the greater Los Angeles area, and the many who visit our beautiful city.

Let’s unite to honor our past, celebrate this artist’s achievements, and protect our environment. Your signature will make a difference.

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A body was spotted floating in Bollaona Creek at 8:44 a.m. Monday morning, near Lincoln and Culver boulevards, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The deceased person was not immediately identified, and the cause of death was under investigation.

“I went on a morning walk along this edge of the bike path and I thought I saw something floating, but I thought, ‘okay, it’s just in my mind.’ Then I went back in my house and I was looking across, and I saw it again,” said the witness who gave the name Kristen.

“I decided to walk and get a closer look. And yes, it was a gentleman in the water, and I don’t know how long he’d been there,” she added.

Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, 65, the founder and CEO of a Santa Monica-based tech company called StarClub Inc., was charged federally in Los Angeles in August 2017 for defrauding investors out of more than $20 million between 2014 and 2017 by lying to them about his company’s financial performance. Fritsch convinced victims to invest in his company’s application, known as StarSite, technology he claimed could help celebrities and social media influencers monetize their brand endorsements. He also claimed the app would deliver advertising content and share ad revenue with the celebrity poster.

While pitching to investors, Fritsch made several false and fraudulent claims, including that StarClub was on the verge of entering into commercial deals with or obtaining investments and buyout offers from major media companies, such as Disney; or that StarClub had earned $15 million in revenue in 2015; and that StarClub’s current investors included major media companies and a global investment banking firm. 

Rather than using investor money to build out StarClub’s technology, Fritsch used much of investors’ money to enrich himself and support his luxurious lifestyle, including by purchasing luxury cars such as a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce, by upgrading his yacht, and by renovating his Malibu mansion, located near Carbon Beach. The FBI seized the yacht, McLaren, and the Rolls-Royce.

One victim invested more than $20 million in StarClub over the course of two years, based on Fritsch’s false statements. This victim also introduced Fritsch to other victims who invested millions of additional funds in the company. Prosecutors estimate that Fritsch caused at least approximately $26.8 million in victim losses due to his scheme.

"Southern California is a target-rich environment for fraudsters—among them Bernhard Fritsch, who was convicted of ripping off investors of millions and fleeing the United States prior to his sentencing," said Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "Regardless of how long it takes for Mr. Fritsch to serve his sentence, the FBI will unrelentingly seek his whereabouts and is offering a significant reward of up to $150,000 in exchange for information leading to his apprehension and conviction." 

Fritsch was found guilty by a jury in Los Angeles in April 2025. While awaiting sentencing, he fled to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in June 2025, prior to a bond revocation hearing. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Fritsch in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles after he failed to appear for a post-conviction bond revocation hearing.

“Placing Fritsch on the Most Wanted Fraudsters list reflects our commitment to pursue those who attempt to outrun the law. Fleeing the United States will not shield him from justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “We will find him and he will answer for his conduct in a court of law.”

In September of 2025, Mexican law enforcement detained Fritsch, who was found with false identification, in violation of Mexico’s immigration laws. He was released from immigration custody and ordered to check in with the immigration court in Mexico every two weeks; instead, however, Fritsch fled to Munich, Germany, on October 6, 2025.

On October 20, 2025, Fritsch was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in federal prison, fined $35,000, and was later ordered to pay $26,806,901 in restitution.

In June 2026, Fritsch’s girlfriend, Lucinda Jane Weist Manera, 63, of Malibu, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact for helping Fritsch hide from the FBI, hide in Mexico, and then flee to his native Germany to avoid incarceration.

The Most Wanted Fraudsters list was created and launched in June 2026 to generate public interest and assistance with information leading to the location and apprehension of fraud fugitives. A large reward of up to $150,000 is being offered in exchange for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a member on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list.

Since the inception of the list of the Most Wanted Fraudsters list, 15 fugitives have been added, to include the ones being announced today. Four fugitives have since been captured and, currently, there are 12 fugitives on the list.

LA County Fire Dept reports that beaches in Malibu are temporarily CLOSED due to lightning. Follow instructions from Lifeguards, Fire Dept and Sheriff's Dept personnel.

Santa Monica Pier's Locals’ Night is back! We’re kicking off the season on Thursday, September 17 with punk music, community fun, and Pier traditions—all free and open to everyone. From live performances to family activities, there’s something for every age to enjoy.

What to Expect:

🎶 Punk music from Someone else????, School of Rock Venice, Horny Toads, Implicit Bias

🎧 Sounds by DJ Cee Rock

💃 Live music by Son Mayor and salsa lessons at Salsa Way

🎨 Local vendors to shop and support

📷 Afterglow Exhibition opening

📚 Books & Cookies musical story time

🚗 Classic Car Show

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

A PIERfect Benefit: 2nd Annual Santa Monica Pier Corp. Fundraiser

All aboard! Step back into the 1930s for an evening of live jazz, casino tables, a silent auction, libations, small plates, and carousel horse races, set inside the Pier's historic Merry Go-Round building, reimagined for the night as the legendary S.S. Rex.

Dust off your best 1930s attire: tailored suits, slinky gowns, statement hats, and pearls for days. Your ticket includes a night of gambling, music, and revelry in service of a cause worth betting on. Funds raised support free community programming from the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, including Youth Day, where LA kids see the ocean for the first time.

September 19 | 3:30–7:30PM

Grab your gambling tickets now at 50% off when you purchase in advance and walk in ready to win. Purchase day-of and you'll pay full price.

This time, the house always wins for the community

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Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

Santa Monica Police are investigating a report of shots fired at approximately 6 p.m. on September 4, 2026, in the 000 block of Bay Street. Preliminary information indicates the incident followed an argument between two individuals. No injuries were reported, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community. The investigation remains active.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact SMPD at 310-458-8491.

On the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the Santa Monica Fire Department invites the community to come together to remember the lives lost, honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and reflect on the resilience and strength of communities in the face of tragedy.

Each year, the Santa Monica Fire Department holds a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, as the nation marks 25 years since the attacks of Sept. 11, the ceremony offers an especially meaningful opportunity to pause and remember those who lost their lives, including the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the World Trade Center.

The Fire Department will host this year’s community remembrance ceremony at Fire Station 1, bringing together firefighters, city officials, community members and local public safety partners for a morning of reflection and remembrance.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 11
TIME: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fire Station 1, 1337 7th St.

Community members are warmly invited to attend and stand in solidarity with Santa Monica’s firefighters and public safety community as we mark this significant anniversary. The ceremony will include moments of reflection and remembrance honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11 and recognizing the courage and selflessness of first responders who answered the call that day.

Fire Station 1 is also home to a steel artifact recovered from the World Trade Center site, which is on permanent display outside the Fire Department’s community room. The artifact serves as a tangible reminder of Sept. 11 and the lives, service, and sacrifice remembered on this anniversary. It is available for public viewing during normal business hours.

Twenty-five years later, the Santa Monica Fire Department continues to honor the legacy of Sept. 11 by remembering those who were lost, recognizing those who served, and reaffirming the importance of community, service, and resilience.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

The beach bike path in Santa Monica will be shut down and re-routed for almost 2 weeks for the 4 day Ocean Way Festival.