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Southern California Edison has implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), cutting off power proactively to the Cuthbert Circuit in western Malibu (Latigo Cyn Rd to Bonsall Dr, and from PCH approximately one mile inland) due to current Red Flag fire conditions.

SCE had notified the City and customers that it is considering a PSPS on the following circuits, covering most of western Malibu beginning at noon today through 9 a.m. on Friday (subject to change): Merlin, Galahad, and Maguire most of western Malibu.

Malibu residents should be prepared for potential fires, power outages, downed branches and power lines and other wind-related hazards during the current conditions. Under California law, motorists must approach any intersection with a non-functioning traffic signal as if it were an all-way stop sign.

PREPARATIONS UPDATE
City staff are making preparations for the Red Flag event and potential/anticipated/ongoing Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) activations over the following three days:

• City Public works has been coordinating Caltrans to ensure we have back-up power for traffic signals. They have checked the battery backup systems on all the traffic signals from Trancas to Paradise Cove. All are working.

• City Public Works’ street maintenance crews are on standby, ready to be dispatched, and have placed the changeable message signs in western Malibu, displaying information regarding the PSPS and that traffic signals may be out.

• SCE may deploy a mobile Community Crew Vehicle set up at Bluffs Park depending on duration of the shut-off.

• City EOC staff have been placed on alert.

• The Fire and Sheriff’s Department have increased staffing and Sheriff’s Department has increased patrols.

The current weather outlook for Wednesday afternoon November 24:
• Red Flag remains in effect due to high winds and low humidity until 6:00 PM Friday
• Areas in and around Malibu currently meet Red Flag criteria or are very close
• The peaks winds for this event will be tonight (Wednesday) through Thursday afternoon with gusts of 40 to 60 mph
• Winds will decrease Thursday afternoon through Saturday
• Humidity will lower tonight then further lower Thursday and Friday into the 2 to 10 percent range, overnight recoveries will remain poor


Join the Venice Chamber of Commerce, special guests and your community for what has become a beloved tradition of changing the lights on the Venice Sign from white to red and green for the holidays!

Now in its 10th year, Windward Avenue east of Pacific Avenue will be closed for the event to include live music, a poster contest, and activities for the whole family.

Date and Time
Saturday Dec 4, 2021
6:15 PM - 9:00 PM PST

6:15 pm - Festivities start at Windward Ave. (east of Pacific)
8:00 pm - Holiday Lighting of the Venice Sign

Location
At the VENICE Sign
Windward Avenue & Pacific Ave
Venice, CA


National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Malibu Sunday, 11/21, 9AM - Monday, 11/22, 3PM. due to unseasonably warm temperatures, high winds, and low humidities.

Dangerous sea conditions in nearshore waters, mainly from Ventura to Santa Monica and across the San Pedro Channel, are also expected due to offshore winds.

Residents should be prepared for potential fires, evacuations, power and traffic signal outages, downed tree limbs and powerlines, hazardous driving conditions, debris in the road way. Residents should monitor emergency and weather updates on local AM and FM radio (which will work with handcrank, solar, battery-powered and car radios if the power is out). The City will send out emergency alerts as needed and post all emergency information on the website www.malibucity.org.

Trancas Canyon Park and Charmlee Wilderness Park will be closed during the Red Flag Warning period.


From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Claus lights the 24-foot-tall Christmas tree at the Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica on Friday, November 19, 2021.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony featured performances by Samohi Madrigals, Lincoln Middle School Madrigals, Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Mariachi Perla del Oeste, and Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Chamber Ensemble.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garlands deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, illuminating convenient shopping and cozy outdoor dining experiences."

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


The Santa Monica community is invited to a one-day pop-up art event to experience Ocean Avenue and Palisades Park in a new way on Saturday, December 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The temporary art installation component between Broadway and Colorado Avenue will remain on view through early 2022.

The pop-up event is hosted through the City of Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue Artists in Residence Program, part of the Ocean Avenue Project. The project aims to revitalize and enhance public use of the streetscape. The first phase of the Ocean Avenue Project focused on roadway enhancements including a protected bike lane and expansion of the eastern sidewalk for additional outdoor dining. For the next phase, Here LA, the interdisciplinary design firm selected as the Ocean Avenue Artists in Residence, will lead an arts-based community engagement process to gather feedback about how the street could be improved to better utilize its public spaces, support local businesses, and connect to adjacent corridors.

On Saturday, December 4, the interactive event will explore ways of improving the street for a more people-centered experience and will feature:

A temporary large-scale art installation mounted atop the park’s edge, between Broadway and Colorado Avenue. The installation features transparent wire letters that spell out the phrase, “WE ARE A DROP WE ARE THE OCEAN” (rendering pictured above), providing a moment of reflection as well as photo opportunities. The installation seeks to draw attention to the west side of the street and to create a unique visual that further complements the views. The installation will remain on view through early 2022.
Prototypes of large play furniture in various colors and shapes that invite climbing and interacting.
A colorful activity where participants show their feedback on how they think the street could be improved by throwing a powdered color ball on the ground in front of their favorite option. The activity will create a mural of color on the ground.

The event and activities were informed by conversations with local stakeholders and over 500 survey responses from the Santa Monica community. Here LA found that what people valued most about the street is its natural setting, the unique location of the street and park atop the bluff, and of course, the view. Competing with this natural beauty however is the street itself, which is a key gateway to nearby destinations. Much of the corridor’s physical space is dedicated to roadway and vehicles, which separates people from the park and views. To bridge this divide, Here LA is using urban planning and temporary artistic activations to explore ways of improving the street for a more pedestrian-friendly experience and to enliven the space and engage passersby.

For more information, visit SantaMonica.gov/Ocean-Avenue-Project.


Mornings in Venice Beach 11/19/21. Video by Cop Watch Venice

"The Friday boardwalk homeless clean up AKA sweep, is scheduled and LAPD and sanitation were already waiting to start at 3 am. After not wanting to be filmed doing something they were not supposed to be doing, they sat around for 8 hours, then left. Meanwhile a homeless guy who drove onto the sand and got stuck yesterday, has been camped out since without a complaint. Somebody finally called LAPD about it today, so they showed up and had police impound tow it.."

Cop Watch Venice follows LAPD pacific division on world famous Venice beach, showing a point-of-view style cop watch and update on Venice's current conditions. We make edited shorts, full scenes and are working on a documentary about homelessness and city failures. Donate to Cop Watch Venice via Cop Watch Venice Paypal



Saturday, November 20th: 2-3’ surf off combo of swells. Blend of easing SSW swell and refreshed NW swell will offer a decent little morning window. Average combo spots see waist high surf. Good spots of western North LA see sets to chest high. Light/variable morning wind stays down into the early afternoon with light onshore flow out of the W expected. Bit more onshore flow for some spots deeper into the afternoon.

Sunday, November 21st: 1-3’ surf off mix of swells. Top OC spots up to 3’+. Offshore wind, strong in some areas. Both the NW and SSW swells will be coming down and the surf will be small, falling under waist high for most. Top NW, SSW and combo spots are still waist high and a touch better on the morning tide push. Breezy offshore NE wind develop through most of the morning.


Mornings in Venice Beach 11/18/21 Thursday. Video by Cop Watch Venice

"This Thursday I ran into a guy with his car stuck in the sand, a rooster riding a skateboard and Arnold Schwarzenegger showed up to work out at gold's gym, and comes to the Hampton Ave homeless encampment clean up, where he has a conversation with LAPD and a local homeless woman."

Cop Watch Venice follows LAPD pacific division on world famous Venice beach, showing a point-of-view style cop watch and update on Venice's current conditions. We make edited shorts, full scenes and are working on a documentary about homelessness and city failures. Donate to Cop Watch Venice via Cop Watch Venice Paypal



On November 16, 2021, at about 2:30 PM, SMPD units responded to a “man with a gun” call at Chess Park (1652 Ocean Front Walk). Officers safely made contact with the individual and due to extensive training were able to quickly identify that the items in his bag were parts of an airsoft rifle and could not be fully assembled into a working device. An airsoft gun often resembles a traditional firearm but shoots nonlethal, plastic pellets. No other weapon or replica of a weapon was located. Contrary to rumor, there were no victims of criminal threats nor brandishing of this replica firearm. The male subject surrendered the parts of the airsoft to our officers.

We understand and share the concern from the community. The individual in possession of the replica rifle did not meet the criteria for an involuntary psychiatric hold. Per current law, officers collected as much personal information as possible and confiscated the airsoft parts. Penal Code 20170 is the California gun law that makes it a crime for a person to display an imitation firearm in public. A first offense violation is treated as an infraction and not punishable by imprisonment.

We thank the community members that reported the incident and remind you that we count on all residents to be an extension of SMPD. Your extra eyes and ears are an essential piece of the crime prevention and policing puzzle. Please continue to report criminal behavior by calling 9-1-1 or 310-458-8491 (non-emergency dispatch).