From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Tuesday morning, July 31, 2024, Los Angeles Police Officers and Firefighters, along with Paramedics, responded to an assault on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. A homeless man allegedly kicked a local man in the face while he was having a cup of coffee, an unprovoked attack on a stranger. Police apprehended the suspect, who resisted arrest, necessitating sedation by paramedics before transport to a hospital. The suspect was arrested for battery.

The victim, who suffered a minor cut to the eyelid and a black eye, described the incident: "I was sitting on my skateboard by Brooks, having a cup of coffee, when he walked up and kicked me in the face. He was yelling about Allah and seemed to dislike me for some reason." He added, "After kicking me, he climbed on top of me, demanding I say something. I was just sitting there, trying to understand what was happening." The victim, who had never seen the assailant before, noted the attacker's behavior: "He circled around me a few times before attacking, which made it clear he had some issue with me."

Witnesses were alarmed, but the victim chose not to retaliate, explaining, "I knew that if I fought back, it would be considered a fight, and neither of us would be taken to jail. So, I stayed calm and let him hit me, knowing it would result in his arrest." After the incident, paramedics assessed the victim's condition. Reflecting on the ordeal, he said, "I'll take a black eye any day if it means keeping Venice safe from people like him." Authorities continue to investigate the incident to ensure community safety."

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.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

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.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

July 31, 2024


BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

· Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove

The entire swim area.

· Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove

100 yards up and down the coast from the Paradise Cove Pier.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

· Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

"54 going on 45". My Birthday Gift Back, to F & F. Grateful for my connection with skateboarding for 43 consecutive years. Thankful to everyone I've connected and ridden with in that time. Here are some clips filmed of me skating months before I turned 54. Edited into a part representing the pure fun, stoke and adventure I get riding on my wooden toys. A gift back to community, friends and family. L&R!! - Bart Saric

Cameo Appearances by Tait Roelofs and Richard Sanchez

Filmed by Jason Hill, Yoshi-San, Todd Nadolny, Tim Chalais, Tanya Schenk, Odin Saric, Tait Roelofs.

Project Save Our Surf returns to Tower 26 to clean the beach. Buckets, gloves and light snacks will be provided.

Come join Project Save Our Surf for a fun afternoon of music and refreshments cleaning the beach. Buckets and gloves will also be provided for the cleanup. Connect with others in Los Angeles working to support our environment.

We have also partnered with Project Pop Drop to collect items for the homeless that we will be delivering to a homeless shelter on the last Saturday of the month (each month is a different shelter and details will be available at the cleanup for those who want to attend that event as well). We are collecting non- perishable foods and new toiletries, new socks, new underwear, new clothing etc.

Saturday, August 10 · 11am - 1pm
Santa Monica Beach Tower 26

For more info and to register, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

The 48th Annual Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots is happening on August 4, 2024 from 10AM - 7PM. This is a FREE festival!

Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots, also known as Ratha Yatra, is a vibrant and joyous celebration. This annual event, held in the heart of Los Angeles, features the grand procession of elaborately decorated chariots carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Accompanied by traditional music, dancing, and chanting, devotees and visitors pull the chariots through the streets. The festival also includes cultural performances, delicious vegetarian cuisine, and a marketplace showcasing Indian arts and crafts. It's a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds to experience the rich cultural heritage and spiritual essence of India.

The festivities begin with a parade of three 40-foot tall chariots, which begins at Pico and Main in Santa Monica. The parade proceeds down Main Street until Rose Avenue, when it turns on to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The parade ends at the festival site, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza at 12 PM.

The festival, located at Venice Beach Windward Plaza, runs from 12-7 PM. Come out for amazing cultural entertainment, a free feast, gift shop, and other food booths. You do not want to miss this once yearly festival.

Video from last year:

For more info, Click Here

Some scenes of Venice Beach on an early Monday morning.

Early in the morning, police are called to for an out-of-his-mind homeless person who is getting into confrontations with people at the Venice Pier. An hour earlier this same person had been harassing a 12-year old surfer until two people stopped him and "encouraged him" to leave. But he returned and other individuals called the police on him. Unfortunately, as usual , all the police did make him leave the pier.

Then police are called to an office building on the Boardwalk that had a break in. Employees arrived to to work to find a broken glass and evidence that someone entered the building and may still be inside.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica Police Officers arrested a homeless man for public nudity at Palisades Park on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The man, known to the officers, was lying on a sleeping bag that did not properly cover his private parts. This individual often sleeps on the sidewalk, occasionally blocking the walkway, prompting police to frequently ask him to move onto the grass.

This is not the first incident involving this individual. Less than two weeks ago, on July 20, Santa Monica Closeup documented another response by police to a call from residents across the street, reporting the man lying with his private parts exposed."

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.