SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department on Tuesday, March 17 will visit local bars and restaurants to educate customers on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the region.

According to a news release from the city of Santa Monica’s website, the “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about dangers of drinking and driving and shows how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle.

Officers will ask customers how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Customers are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08 percent or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08 percent. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.

The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home. It only takes a few drinks to impair.

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—Early afternoon on Saturday, March 14, a traffic collision occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway caused serious injuries to several people.

Close to Bonsall Drive, which is close to Zuma Beach, a vehicle left the side of the highway and drove into the opposite lane, causing the collision.

The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station has not disclosed how many people were injured in the collision or their identities. Pacific Coast Highway was briefly closed due to the collision but later reopened to traffic.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department arrived at the Santa Monica Pier after a shooting transpired where two people were injured.  A suspect has been arrested by the SMPD, whose name is Jaysawn Williams.

According to a statement released by the Santa Monica Police Department, the suspect is 18 and he is from Rialto. He was the second person injured during the shooting.  He was released after he was treated for his gunshot wound at a hospital.

Per the statement released by the Santa Monica Police Department, he is being held at the Santa Monica Jail and faces two charges, which include gross negligent discharge of a firearm and assault with a firearm. The Santa Monica Pier has reopened.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting contact Detective Esteban Hernandez via email at esteban.hernandez@santamonica.gov.

 

By Daniel Diqiunzio

MALIBU—On March 15, the city of Malibu Office of Public Safety announced that during the week of March 16 to March 23, there will be closures on parts of both Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway. The repair work will affect both Malibu and Pacific Palisades.

According to a statement posted on the city of Malibu’s Facebook page, these closures are due to emergency road repairs and ongoing efforts to repair damage from the Pacific Palisades Fire.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be closed between midnight and 5 a.m.  One of the lanes will be closed starting around 8 p.m.  Workers will be digging trenches between Old Topanga Canyon Road and Happy Trail during the week, starting between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Between Sunday and Thursday night, the workers will be performing electrical repairs between Happy Trail and Highvale Trail.

On Pacific Coast Highway due to roadwork as well as repairs to the slope, the electrical wiring and the drains one of the lanes will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

There are chances that there will be road closures between Carbon Beach Terrace and Ventura County Line for repairs to the bridges.  There will also be closures during the day. These will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunset Boulevard and Las Flores Canyon Road, workers will be performing repair work.  Also, between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Carbon Canyon Road, there will be a lane closure while workers dig a trench.

To the South of Big Rock Drive, work will be done on the wall.  Cleanup and repairs will be conducted between Sunset Boulevard and the South Side of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.  In addition, near the Getty Villa, repairs will be conducted on the wall, which will mean closing a lane between Porto Marina Way and Coastline Drive. The repair work will also force traffic speeds to be limited.

For more details visit the California Department of Transportation Quick Map website.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, the Santa Monica Police Department reported that they are investigating an incident where shots were fired on the Santa Monica Pier. At approximately 9 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired on the Santa Monica Pier.

Preliminary information indicates a large fight involving multiple individuals occurred prior to the gunfire. During the incident, two individuals sustained what are believed to be non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Officers provided initial medical aid at the scene. Both individuals are being treated at a local hospital for injuries.

The scene was secured as investigators gathered information about the circumstances surrounding the incident. Portions of the Pier may be temporarily restricted while officers conduct their investigation. This remains an active investigation. Additional details will be released as it becomes available.

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Sunday, March 15, the city of Santa Monica posted on its Facebook page that after almost 2 years of public outreach and engagement, it has released a draft Framework Diagram for the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project.

Visit SMACproject.com to take an online survey on the Framework Diagram by April 26.

The Framework Diagram is intended to build shared understanding and consensus before moving into the more detailed design phase. It organizes the site into eight distinct but interconnected districts:

-Immersive Nature, a calm ecological landscape prioritizing native habitat and biodiversity
-Active Sports, a structured regional athletic destination
-Arts & Culture, a dynamic district organized around food, performance, and creative expression
-Urban Edge, a connected district along the north side of the site that extends the park into the surrounding neighborhood through adaptive reuse of existing structures
-The Stroll, a welcoming green gateway serving as the park’s front door from the Clover Park area
-The Lawn, a flexible central gathering space serving as the “living room” of the park
-The Meadow, an intimate community-focused landscape with adventure play and neighborhood-scale gathering
-The Heart, a magnetic civic core where architecture, landscape, and movement intersect.

Members of the community are invited to review the Framework Diagram and share your feedback through our online survey, open through April 26. Both the survey and the Framework Diagram presentation are available on the project engagement website at: SMACproject.com.

To discover more visit:
https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/airport-conversion-project-moves-into-next-phase-with-new-community-survey?fbclid=IwY2xjawQk25RleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBGTW1NRnRTcVRvek9yUGIyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsu2l-33f-5PvNlxkDyeIVgsJoDcaIFy4hNkUIPrVL3A1AjBUJMfPfQwEFla_aem_bg9ibq9kRqfRs0p-PgHArg

 

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Saturday, March 14, the city of Santa Monica announced that One SaMo People’s Academy is currently accepting applications.

Residents are invited to apply for the new One SaMo People’s Academy, a six-week course offering an inside look at city operations, priorities and civic engagement opportunities.

The One SaMo People’s Academy is open to Santa Monica residents, college students, business owners or community leaders who are 18 years or older. The first cohort will include 25 participants.

Applications are due by Monday, March 16. To apply now at santamonica.gov/one-samo-people-s-academy-application.

 

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station announced that a suspect has been arrested and charged with allegedly shoplifting multiple times from Ulta Beauty at the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center. The suspect was arrested on Saturday, March 14. 

According to a statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station on its Facebook page, the suspect was arrested after the station’s Detective Bureau investigated the shoplifting and is facing multiple charges.

Those charges include deterring a peace officer, attempted robbery, along with 2 accounts of battery and 3 accounts petty theft with a prior battery.

The name of the suspect has not been released to the public.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Wednesday, March 10, a traffic collision occurred in West Hollywood that left one person injured.

This traffic collision occurred at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard.  A motorcyclist was driving west, when he collided with another vehicle, which resulted in the motorcycle being destroyed.

After first responders arrived on the scene, the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. The remains of the motorcycle were removed from the scene.

There were no other injuries reported. The name of the motorcyclist has not been released to the public. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

MALIBU— On March 12, the County of Los Angeles issued a public health warning regarding the bacteria levels in area beaches. These warnings are issued because recent water samples showed bacterial levels exceeding health standards, which may increase the risk of illness. “The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) advises the public to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters at the following Los Angeles County beaches due to elevated bacteria levels that exceed state health standards,” states the LACDPH website. BEACH AREA WARNINGS: The warning applies to the following locations: -Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach -Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms. Pulgas-Creek storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach-Will Rogers Tower 5 is on drain -Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach -Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain. -Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek. -Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey Entire swimming area. Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach. Near Will Rogers Tower 18 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek. Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier. BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED: Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards: Pico-Kenter storm drains at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20 “Initial signs of illness were observed in seal pups on February 19–20, when researchers noted weakness, tremors, seizures, abnormal neurological behavior and sudden death in some animals. Samples collected from sick and deceased pups tested positive for influenza A and were subsequently confirmed as H5N1 by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories,” stated the LACDPH on March 6 in relation to sick sea lions.   By Sharon