Larry Vein, the founder of the controversial Pali Strong Foundation ended his life on April 27. He was 60 years old.

Vein had come under fire when his Pali Strong Foundation recieved $500,000 of Fire Aid money. Money from the benefit concert that was advertised would go directly to victims of the California wildfires.

Pali Strong Foundation is basically an Instagram account and a website where Vein would post about the Palisade recovery. Because the Instagram has only 1k followers and very little interaction on posts, and the site is rarely visited, many were upset that Vein took the money.

When the backlash started, back in October 2025, Vein turned off all comments on his Instagram posts. He made a post explaining that he would use the $500,000 to make an app and more complete information website to be a hub for the Palisades Recovery. He mentioned "every voice matters", but kept all comments turned off.

Palisades residents and community leaders have questioned how this large sum was allocated to a newly formed group to operate an "online hub" for information rather than direct, tangible relief for the 13,000 homes destroyed across Los Angeles County. Some have alleged that he was not an active participant in community programs prior to receiving the funds.



Pali Strong Foundation should not be confused with Pali Strong 2025

Pali Strong 2025 is students from Palisades High School who started an Instagram account and a GoFundMe to raise money to rebuild their school. They started using the Pali Strong name on January 7, 2025. Vein did not start using it until February.

Vein started by making Youtube videos on a channel he created called PacificPalisadesFire, with his first video on January 9th. He changed the channel's name to Pali Strong™️ (filmed by resident Larry Vein) in mid February, the same time he started the Instagram account.

Shacked Mag has most likely brought a lot more news about the fire and rebuild, and all other types of local news to the community, If anyone cares to donated to our fund, see below:

Santa Monica Police Department's proactive patrol in the 2000 block of Ocean Ave on Friday, April 24th led to the recovery of a loaded firearm, nitrous oxide, and drug paraphernalia.

The suspect, on diversion for a prior robbery, was arrested for loaded firearm & drug charges.

Scenes from CicLAvia's West Los Angeles Event, including a confused lady driving her vehicle onto the closed street.

CicLAvia temporarily closes streets to car traffic and opens them to Angelenos to use as a public park. Free for all, CicLAvia connects communities to each other across an expansive city, creating a safe place to bike, walk, skate, roll, and dance through Los Angeles County.

Saturday morning the body of a homeless man was discovered at Speedway and Horizon. Locals said his name was Brian.

The coroner and police are still investigating and no other information is available right now.

The Santa Monica Route 66 Music Contest is an exciting opportunity for songwriters and musicians to showcase their talent and creativity, with a grand prize of $10,000 up for grabs. Celebrating Santa Monica’s iconic connection to the legendary Route 66, the contest invites artists from all genres to craft original songs that capture the spirit, history, and cultural significance of the famous highway’s connection to our beachside city. Whether it’s a nostalgic tribute to road trips, a reflection on the SoCal landscape, or a modern take on the Route 66 legacy, the contest encourages diverse interpretations of this historic route.

Submissions are open now through Sunday, September 13, 2026, with the winner announced in November.

For more info and to submit your song, Click Here

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with the president on Wednesday to discuss wildfire recovery. Bass brought gifts for Trump: a Pacific Palisades flag and a torch from LA's 1984 Summer Olympics.

When they did photo-ops for Trumps social media, Bass is there holding the torch, next to the Palisades flag that Trump is holding.

is a stupid idea. As many people as both have on their teams, no one there thought the image of a torch next to the Palisades flag would be a stupid idea.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is coming and we’re bringing the PRIZES!

Join us for a fun-filled day where you can score free comics AND get a chance to win awesome giveaways all day long including a $100 gift certificate!

FREE comics for all Prize raffles & giveaways Fun for fans of every age

It's happening at: Santa Monica Comics Company May 2nd, 11am to 4pm 11870 Santa Monica Blvd., #204, Los Angeles

Bring your friends, come celebrate comics and you might walk away a winner! Free Comic Book Day

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here

Jeremy Ferguson, who was director of operations for Downtown Santa Monica Inc., and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, were found with fatal gunshot wounds in a possibble murder suicide at their home in Venice.

LAPD officer found the couple in their home on the 600 block of Superba Avenue at about 10:50 a.m. on April 21 following reports of a suicide at the location. Officer found both had been killed by gunshot wounds.

Ferguson, 50, had sent his suicide note to a friend who raced to the home near Venice Boulevard and called police when no one answered.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Ferguson’s wife, 49-year-old Mandy Zelinka, died from a gunshot wound to the head on April 21, 2026, inside the residence.

“Our hearts are broken as we process the news of the passing of Jeremy Ferguson,” said DTSM CEO Debbie Lee. “Jeremy was a cherished member of our team and a true champion for Downtown Santa Monica. His passion for placemaking and the dedication he brought to his work each day made a lasting impact. He will be deeply missed.”

Ferguson also served on the board of the Santa Monica History Museum.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has officially launched its Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center (SMART Center), marking a significant advancement in how the City prevents, responds to, and investigates crime. The SMART Center serves as a centralized operations hub where technology, personnel, and real-time intelligence converge to support coordinated, proactive policing.

The SMART Center integrates multiple public safety technologies into a single operational platform, including the City’s camera network, Live 911, Drone as a First Responder operations, and advanced video analytics. This integration allows personnel to monitor incidents as they unfold, provide real-time intelligence to officers in the field, and support faster, more informed decision-making during critical incidents.

“This is a significant step forward in how we deliver public safety,” said Chief Darrick Jacob. “The SMART Center allows us to operate with greater precision, coordinate in real time, and proactively address crime trends while maintaining our commitment to transparency and accountability.”

“Safe streets are the foundation of Santa Monica’s comeback,” said Caroline Torosis, Mayor of Santa Monica. “The new businesses opening, the visitors returning, the investment flowing back into our corridors, all of it depends on people feeling safe here. The SMART Center gives our officers the real-time tools and information they need to deliver on that promise, and that is great news for every resident, every business owner, and every family in this city.”

A key function of the SMART Center is strengthening the Department’s ability to address Organized Retail Theft (ORT), a regional and statewide issue impacting Santa Monica’s commercial districts. By integrating live video and regional information-sharing systems, the SMART Center enhances SMPD’s ability to identify patterns, track repeat offenders, and coordinate with partner agencies to disrupt organized theft networks that operate across jurisdictional boundaries.

Unlike traditional systems that rely on after-the-fact investigation, the SMART Center is designed to support both real-time response and proactive enforcement. During active incidents, SMART personnel can synthesize information from multiple sources, coordinate aerial support through drone deployment, and provide officers with a clear operational picture to improve both effectiveness and safety.

Even prior to the completion of the physical center, SMPD utilized SMART Center capabilities in the field to support investigations, monitor incidents in progress, and coordinate deployments. With the center now fully operational, these tools are unified in a single environment, allowing for greater efficiency and consistency in how information is applied.

The SMART Center also enhances regional collaboration. By improving information sharing with local and state partners, SMPD is better positioned to address crime trends—particularly Organized Retail Theft—that extend beyond city limits and require coordinated, multi-agency response.

“I congratulate the Santa Monica Police Department for continually working to evolve the practice of policing to better serve our community,” said Nathan J. Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney. “Real-time crime intelligence centers are becoming the gold standard in policing and public safety nationwide. This cutting-edge technology helps our already highly trained officers have more robust evidence-collection which leads to greater crime prevention and, most importantly, fewer victims. At the District Attorney’s Office, this technology helps the prosecution to gather stronger evidence for our cases as we seek justice for victims. We appreciate the continued partnership with law enforcement as we work to take down retail thieves and other organized crime rings across Los Angeles County.”

Funding for the SMART Center was secured through a competitive grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections as part of the Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program, through which SMPD was awarded $6.125 million. This investment reflects the State’s recognition of technology-driven, intelligence-led policing as a critical component in addressing retail theft and other complex crime challenges.

The SMART Center directly supports SMPD’s four operational priorities: crime suppression, homelessness response, traffic safety, and community engagement. For the community, this translates to faster emergency response, more precise deployments, and improved coordination during large-scale or rapidly evolving incidents.

The launch of the SMART Center represents more than a new facility—it reflects a shift in how SMPD delivers public safety. By combining technology, personnel, and real-time intelligence, the Department is advancing a more coordinated, proactive approach focused on prevention, accountability, and community trust.