Mike, aka German in Venice, vlogs about daily life in Venice Beach, and the nearby communities.

"I had a chance to interview Thomas, a local homeless person from Venice Beach recently. Lately, he has been living in the Venice Beach restrooms. He is telling his story."

If you would like to support German in Venice with some gas money or you want to buy him a coffee, you are welcome to donate to his paypal account: https://paypal.me/germaninvenice

Tropical depression Eleven-E is located south of Mexico and moving west.

It is NOT EXPECTED to move towards California, however we may see some south swell and high surf starting next weekend.

Updated to the news of the Human Remains Found under Ballona Creek Bridge on Saturday:

Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of the Torso

Manner of Death: Homicide

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 49-year-old male whose body was found under the Culver Boulevard bridge in Playa del Rey.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Anthony Ussery and gave his race/ethnicity as White/Caucasian.

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 12:42 p.m.

The decedent’s body was retrieved by lifeguards, fire personnel and a swift water rescue team from a “shed-like” structure beneath a bridge at the Ballona Creek flood control channel.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Tuesday, August 5, 2023, Ron Hooks, the Founder and Executive Director of West Coast Care, led an outreach patrol along the scenic shores of Santa Monica Beach. During this operation, Mr. Hooks and his dedicated team encountered a homeless individual in a state of distress, who was found sheltered under a pop-up tent. This crucial incident unfolded as they embarked on their mission to provide aid to vulnerable populations along the coastline.

In response to this urgent situation, Mr. Hooks swiftly initiated a call for assistance from the Los Angeles County Lifeguard division, who promptly assumed the role of first responders at the scene. Their expert lifeguards immediately commenced providing essential aid to the distressed individual.

In a coordinated effort to ensure the individual received the necessary medical attention, Santa Monica Fire Paramedics arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Their expertise and specialized medical care played a pivotal role in stabilizing the individual's condition.

For further medical care and transportation, the homeless individual was carefully loaded onto a fire truck located on the beach. Subsequently, the individual was transported to the designated Ocean Front Walk area, where an awaiting ambulance stood ready to facilitate their immediate transfer to a hospital.

This collaborative response by West Coast Care, the Los Angeles County Lifeguard division, and the Santa Monica Fire Paramedics exemplifies the dedication and rapid action of first responders and outreach organizations in safeguarding the well-being of those in need along the coastline. It underscores the critical importance of such coordinated efforts in addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable populations within the community."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Pan African Beach Days arescheduled for the summer on Sunday August 13th, September 10th and October 8th. Meet 9-1pm at tower 24 in Santa Monica. South lot 4, 2030 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA.

There will be two, one hour sessions, capped at 25 students each. You must pre-sign up to reserve a spot.

ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER RELEASING ALL PARTIES OF LIABILITY IN THE EVENT OF PERSONAL INJURY. Please use the form below to insure that if you attend you will have an opportunity to try to "catch a wave"!

For more info and to register, Click Here

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Los Angeles Police Officers responded swiftly to a distress call reporting an act of vandalism at Winston House, a local business on Winward Avenue in the vibrant Venice neighborhood, on Sunday, September 3, 2023. The incident left shattered glass strewn across the establishment's front entrance.

According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the suspect, a yet-to-be-identified man, was observed repeatedly kicking the glass door of Winston House until it shattered and fell to the ground. The witness, who was cooperative with the responding police officers, provided crucial information regarding the incident.

The individual in question was promptly apprehended by law enforcement on charges of vandalism. At the time of his arrest, it was unclear whether the suspect was homeless, although this detail may be clarified as the investigation progresses."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Main Street, Santa Monica is bringing back its Open Street series for three weekends starting this summer on August 12- 13, September 9-10 and October 21-22. Transforming the street into a free community festival with al fresco dining, live music, local vendors, activities for kids, and different programming each month from Strand Street to Pier Avenue!

Curated by Santa Monica’s Pump Station & Nurtury, the experts on everything parenting, breast, baby and toddler, Open Main Street offers programming like musical story time, soccer, face painting and sensory stations to keep even the youngest attendees engaged. Rock climbing, performances from local youth organizations and classic games like giant Jenga and Connect 4 are fun and free for all ages.



From summer to fall, Open Main Street will transform sidewalks and public spaces with different programming each month, including Drag Bingo inside the beer garden in August, a collaboration with the Day of the Dog on September 9th and the return of Rocktober, celebrating Halloween with a pumpkin patch and outdoor movie screening. Each weekend brings free, pop-up fitness classes, police and fire community booths, and two satellite bars featuring local DJ’s at every event.

For more info, Click Here

Mike, aka German in Venice, vlogs about daily life in Venice Beach, and the nearby communities.

"This is an update video every Friday, the city of Los Angeles and the park ranger clean the restrooms in Venice, Beach unhoused homeless people are living in public restrooms, occupying the bathroom all day park ranger remove the Homeless from bathroom"

If you would like to support German in Venice with some gas money or you want to buy him a coffee, you are welcome to donate to his paypal account: https://paypal.me/germaninvenice

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Sunday, September 3, 2023, at approximately 2:20 pm, the Santa Monica Police Department responded to an incident reported at a restaurant on Ocean Avenue. Law enforcement officers acted swiftly, apprehending an individual a short distance away from the restaurant. The person in question was taken into custody and is currently facing legal proceedings.

The individual has been charged under the provisions of California Penal Code 243.4(E)(1)PC, which relates to an incident of non-consensual physical contact. This specific section of the California Penal Code addresses such actions and their legal consequences."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz