SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting a Traffic Safety Operation on Thursday, January 15 from 2 p.m. to 8 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.
Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face more risk without the protections vehicles have.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
WEST HOLLYWOOD—On January 12, at 6:00 p.m. the West Hollywood City Council met to bid farewell to the outgoing Mayor Chelsea Byers, and welcome John Heilman and Danny Hang as incoming Mayor and Vice Mayor.
City council members honored Ms. Byers for her time and 41-years of service to the community first. After which, Heilman and Hang took their oaths of office.
Vice Mayor Danny Hang spoke about the year ahead, encouraging all residents to unite.
…” Ask what you can do to help people in the community.” Hang called for members of the community to volunteer at the city’s social services organizations, and nonprofits like Ascencia and the Hollywood Food Coalition.
Outgoing Mayor Byers interjected; “41 years ago, a group of people defined what government could be. We’re living the wildest dreams of people decades ago, and we get to be a bridge for that hope for the future. In such a critical moment, it’s truly our responsibility.”
Vice Mayor Danny Hang thanked West Hollywood residents and his family.
“Standing here as the first AAPI elected to the West Hollywood City Council is deeply meaningful, and I couldn’t have done it without my parents. [They’re] right here in the front row. My Dad was a union worker, who showed me why standing up for workers matters. And my mom worked in a small business, owning a little nail salon in South Pasadena. She taught me what it means to care for others and keep the community going.”
By Sharon
SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, January 13, the city of Santa Monica announced in a press release that it completed the next phase of the Downtown Santa Monica glow-up, enhancing city gateways and shopping corridors to create a welcoming downtown, including:
-Planting fresh landscaping with approximately 300 California native plants at the 4th/5th Street off-ramp and preparing the 2,000 square foot site for the use of recycled water
-Clearing brush and debris at the 20th Street off-ramp and adjacent protected bike lanes, part of an ongoing improvement program at all Santa Monica freeway off-ramps that will double Caltrans’ existing cleanup efforts
-Installing new curbs, driveway, and sidewalk and street repairs near Broadway and 6th Street as part of the city’s broader effort to repair 20,000 feet of sidewalks throughout the downtown area.
These upgrades build on the city’s recent downtown improvements, including:
-Planting 37 new street trees
-Pruning historic Ficus trees across six city blocks
-Establishing a regular power washing schedule for five downtown public parking structures
The projects are part of the two-year Realignment Plan renewal effort approved by the Santa Monica City Council in October. The plan invests $60 million in street improvements, safety enhancements and business support to reaffirm Santa Monica as a safe, clean and vibrant coastal community.
In relation with these cleanup efforts is a focus on public safety to facilitate economic growth and revive the downtown core. As part of the Realignment Plan, there will be a new police substation in the downtown area, scheduled to open in the coming months at Santa Monica Place.
WESTWOOD—On Tuesday, January 13, the UCLA Police Department posted on its Facebook page that the Corona Police Department contacted UCLA Police regarding a suspect wanted in connection with a commercial burglary in their jurisdiction.
At approximately 11:13 a.m., Corona Police officers responded to the UCLA campus and took one UCLA student into custody without incident inside Haines Hall.
There is no indication at this time that ICE was present on campus or that this incident was related to immigration enforcement. The name and age of the suspect has not yet been disclosed to the public.
WOODLAND HILLS—On January 13, local general contractor, R.D. Olson of R.D. Olson Construction broke ground on a $62 million affordable housing complex. De Soto will be located at 6033 De Soto Avenue and will have 207 units.
Project plans indicate that De Soto will be a 271,568 square foot project built from a wood structure with five stories of apartments built above a double concrete podium parking garage. The new apartments will be available with one-, two-, and three-bedroom options.
R.D. Olson partnered with the Meta Housing Corporation bringing affordable housing to the Warner Center. The Alcove is located at 21300 W. Oxnard Street. This project marks the fourth affordable housing development from this partnership.
Previous joint efforts include Lamp Lodge located at 660 S. Stanford St. in downtown Los Angeles, Stony Oaks Apartments located at 2542 Old Stony Point Rd., in Santa Rosa, and the Alcove in the Warner Center.
The President of R.D. Olson Construction issued the following statement regarding the new housing development plans for Woodland Hills.
“Los Angeles faces one of the nation’s most severe affordable housing shortages, with families and working professionals priced out of safe, quality housing,” said Bill Wilhelm, President of R.D. Olson Construction. “Through our expanded partnership with Meta Housing Corporation, De Soto will deliver 207 homes for families earning between 30-70% of Area Median Income.
Combined with The Alcove, we’re contributing over 500 units to Warner Center’s transformation into a more inclusive, transit-connected community and addressing both immediate needs and long-term affordability goals.”
Like the Alcove, De Soto will be built in one phase over a 24-month period with the anticipated completion expected to be in early 2028.
The amenities of De Soto include a community room with workstations, and a children’s play area for working families and outdoor gathering space with courtyard to foster a sense of community in the complex.
High-efficiency HVAC and central boiler systems will be used to reduce energy consumption and reduce long-term operating costs for residents. Cool Roof-rated roofing material that reflects light reflects sunlight, absorbs less heat and reduces cooling costs.
On his webpage, R.D. Olson spoke of the need for affordable housing in the area. The full text may be found on his website.
“The housing crisis in California continues to rise, especially with the tragic fires that just took place in the Greater Los Angeles region. We are now looking at an unprecedented number of unhoused individuals on top of the lack of supply of housing that was already present in California.
A notable example is an affordable housing project we completed last year are the West Carson Villas. Located in South Bay, a quieter coastal residential region approximately 13 miles south of Downtown, West Carson Villas provides 111 units of supportive housing to residents earning 30 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Not only is the Gold LEED certified project, but] it also incorporates solar panels, energy-saving appliances and a hot water recirculation system. These environmental standards, among others, are incorporated into our projects throughout Los Angeles and California as a whole.”
By Sharon
BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, January 13, Glenn Bednarsh, a former Beverly Hills resident who once owned a pawnshop and was involved in an effort to sell a stolen trial Andy Warhol print, was sentenced.
Back in September 2025, he pleaded guilty in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom to making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his role in the effort.
Bednarsh was sentenced to 6 weeks of community service as part of a plea agreement. As part of this agreement, Bednarash admitted that he lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation when he said that his co-conspirator, Brian Alec Light, stored the stolen Warhol print. In addition, he admitted that the reason this transpired was financial gain, not friendship, as he claimed to the federal investigators.
The Warhol print is one that depicts Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, and it was stolen back in 2021.
According to federal prosecutors, Glenn bought it in February 2021 for $6000, after which he decided to sell it and asked his co-conspirator, Brian Alec Light, to help, and according to the prosecutors, this prompted Light to reach out to the Beverly Hills office of a Dallas auction house about selling the Warhol print.
Following this, Light told Bednarsh to take the print to the Beverly Hills office so that it could be transported to Dallas where it would be inspected and then sold at auction.
A worker at the Beverly Hills office contacted the gallery in West Hollywood to get its opinion of the artwork, and the gallery recognized it as the one that had been stolen. This prompted the gallery to notify the Dallas auction house that the Warhol print was stolen artwork and to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the start of a federal investigation into the theft.
Brian Alec Light, 59, is also a resident of Los Angeles. In November 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods, and last month, he was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay roughly $1,915 in restitution.
One of the requirements of his sentence was that Light admit that he lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation back in 2021, when the FBI started investigating the theft of the print, by telling the FBI that he bought the Warhol print at a Culver City garage sale and paid $18,000 for it. He showed the agents a receipt that was fake. The plea agreement also required Light to surrender the Warhol print, which the investigators later recovered.
This print was stolen several years ago from a home in Los Angeles County, but prosecutors do not believe the two men stole it from its original owner.
In addition, the print is number 44 of 46 by Andy Warhol and is worth about $170,000. No suspects in the theft of this print have been publicly identified by authorities.
MALIBU—At 12:55 p.m., on Tuesday, January 12, the National Weather Service forecast office that serves Los Angeles and Oxnard issued a wind advisory alert for both Malibu and Ventura County Inland Coast.
The advisory will remain in effect until Wednesday, January 14, at 2 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, there will be Northeast winds at 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts up to 35 mph.
The NWS forecast office warns that strong winds can knock down power lines, which can cause power outages. In addition, the winds can blow around unsecured objects and pose a danger to cars.
HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Monday, January 12, at approximately 12:15 a.m. the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call regarding an assault of a ride-share driver on Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Actor Kiefer Sutherland, 59. was arrested for attacking and making criminal threats against the driver.
It was reported that Sutherland was getting into the vehicle when he attacked the driver. It is not clear what caused the assault. There were no reported injuries.
Sutherland is best known for his role on the TV series “24” as a counter-terrorist agent, Jack Bauer. His parents are actors Donald Southerland and Shirley Douglas, he and his twin sister, Rachel, were born into the film industry. She is a producer. Kiefer is also a musician.
Sutherland was arrested for suspicion of assault and for making threats. He posted $50,000 bond and is due in court on February 2.
By Sharon
MALIBU—Bank of America announced that it has given a $1 million grant to the Lowe Family YMCA, which serves Malibu and Pacific Palisades, which was destroyed last year during the wildfires, and this grant will be used to fund reconstruction.
According to Raul Anaya, head of the Greater Los Angeles branch of Bank of America, the grant will be used to fund the rebuilding of the destroyed Via de la Paz site and the neighboring Simon Meadow site.
These two sites will allow the Lowe Family YMCA to explain its programming to families and children including mental health services, emergency preparedness, and multigenerational engagement.
In addition, the Lowe Family YMCA will show its gratitude to Bank of America by naming the new Community Room at the Via De La Paz site after the bank.
For 60 years, the Lowe Family YMCA has served both Malibu and the Pacific Palisades. with the grant, the Bank of America’s total philanthropic effort to fund recovery efforts from the wild fires totals $4.5 million.
SANTA MONICA—On Monday, January 12, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Christopher L. Butler, the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, had been accused of embezzling from the organization. The Painted Turtle, a camp for children with severe disabilities that was founded in 1999 with funding from the late actor Paul Newman.
Butler, 50, was arrested at his residence in Porter Ranch on New Year’s Eve.
He stands accused of 15 felonies including five counts of forgery, nine counts of grand theft, and one count of the fraudulent use of a computer. In addition, he allegedly stole $5.2 million from the camp.
On January 15, Butler will appear in a Los Angeles courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
The Painted Turtle was part of a network of camps that were part of the late actor Paul Newman’s SeriousFun network. The purpose of the camps are to provide severely disabled children who possess life-threatening and chronic illnesses a chance to experience the joy of camping. The camp has not completed paperwork connected to its nonprofit work since 2023.
