Santa Monica Close-up
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥: Army Corps Commander Leads Will Rogers Debris Site Tour in Palisades Fire Recovery Push

Sunday, May 4, 2025
𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗖𝗢 (𝟭𝟵𝟰𝟮–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱): A Candid Interview with the Wrestling Legend
SANTA MONICA — In a heartfelt interview filmed in October 2023, wrestling icon Tony Rocco opened his home—and his history—to Santa Monica Closeup. Now shared for the first time following his passing in 2025, the footage captures a living legend reflecting on his roots, his career, and his love for Muscle Beach.
Born in Foggia, Italy, Rocco’s journey began in the coal mines of England before stepping into the squared circle at age 21. “I worked five years in a coal mine,” he recalled. “Then I started wrestling… they saw I was pumped up and said, ‘We need you in the ring.’” That call led to a 30-year international wrestling career under names like Tony Stone, Don Corleone, and Super Gladiator.
From England to Mexico, Japan to Alaska, Rocco performed for promotions such as NWA and WWF, gaining a reputation for his strength, agility, and endurance. “In Japan, they wanted you big,” he said, recalling bulking up to 228 pounds for matches. “They treated me good there. Same with Mexico—people wore masks, and the fans loved it.”
Tony wrestled in over 900 matches, often battling injuries without medical support. “If you get hurt on the road, good luck,” he said with a grin. “You just keep going.”
Outside the ring, Rocco was a fixture at Santa Monica’s Muscle Beach. Even in his 80s, he continued to train—stretching under the sun and inspiring passersby. “I don’t make millions,” he said humbly, “but I made a living doing what I loved.”
Rocco’s reflections extend beyond the sport, touching on his time running a London coffee shop, traveling the world, and raising a family in Southern California. “I told my kids, keep the memories,” he said, motioning to old posters and photos on his wall. “If you don’t want them, give them to someone who will.”
Tony Rocco passed away in 2025 at the age of 82. This interview serves as both an intimate conversation and a public record of a remarkable life lived with grit, grace, and unrelenting strength.
Rest in power, Tony. You’ll always be a legend—on and off the mat.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛: USC Researchers Test Coastal Microbes After Palisades Fire

Monday, April 28, 2025
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦: Hart Built Construction Clears Sunset Blvd Commercial Properties After Fire

Thursday, April 24, 2025
𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧: Property Owner Urges Mayor Bass to Step Down

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛: Father and Son Discover Marine Tragedy on Venice Shore During National Work Day
VENICE BEACH — April 23, 2025 — What began as a lesson in public service turned into a hands-on wildlife response for one Los Angeles County employee and his young son during this year’s National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
Jon Rubin, a grounds maintenance worker with Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors, brought his 9-year-old son Dylan to Venice Beach on Wednesday as part of the annual workplace tradition. The father-son duo started the day by collecting trash along the sand and parking lots. But the morning quickly turned into something unexpected.
While making their rounds, the two came across three sick sea lions along the shoreline. Acting quickly, Rubin placed cones around the animals to keep beachgoers at a safe distance and contacted the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC). When MMCC responders arrived, both Jon and Dylan assisted in carefully securing one of the sea lions and helping load it onto the rescue truck for transport to the rehabilitation facility.
In addition to the marine mammal rescue, the pair also retrieved a dead pelican from the beach and delivered it to the city yard for proper disposal. Later, they encountered four deceased dolphins along the sand and placed safety cones around the area to prevent public interference until crews could respond.
Their efforts took place one day ahead of the national observance of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, which is formally recognized on the fourth Thursday of April. This year, the official date is April 24, 2025.
The program encourages parents and guardians across the U.S. to bring children into the workplace, offering young people exposure to professional environments and real-world challenges. While it is typically a chance to observe office duties or tour facilities, Dylan Rubin’s experience highlighted an unexpected but meaningful example of public service and environmental responsibility.
The County of Los Angeles participates annually, inviting employees to showcase their work and help spark early interest in civic careers. According to the Museum of Women’s History, more than 37 million people worldwide have participated in the program since its inception, with events taking place in at least 92 countries, including India and China.
For young Dylan, the day offered more than just insight — it was an opportunity to assist in a genuine marine wildlife rescue, and a chance to witness first-hand the environmental challenges facing Southern California’s coastline.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025
𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥: Army Corps General Leads Press Through Nation’s Largest Post-Fire Debris Operation
PACIFIC PALISADES — April 22, 2025 — Brigadier General William C. Hannan Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led Santa Monica Closeup and a small press delegation through the heart of the Palisades Fire cleanup zone on Tuesday, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at what officials describe as the largest post-fire debris removal operation in U.S. history.
The tour began at Ronald Reagan Palisades Post 283 and proceeded through damaged neighborhoods, temporary staging facilities, and down Pacific Coast Highway to inspect recovery operations at the ocean’s edge.
According to updated figures provided by the Army Corps, 160 personnel are currently assigned to the Emergency Field Office (EFO) in Palisades, with a total of over 450 USACE personnel and approximately 2,800 contractors involved in wildfire response across Southern California.
As of April 22, the Corps is averaging 56 cleared properties per day across the 37-square-mile impact zone, with a recent range of 52–57 per day. Approximately 1,242 truckloads of debris and ash are being cycled daily. Crews continue to work seven days a week, having taken only a single day off—Easter Sunday—since operations began more than 100 days ago.
To date, more than 1,900 properties have been cleared, and debris removal is approaching the 2,000-parcel milestone. Officials estimate that over 550,000 tons of debris have been removed so far—equivalent in weight to five and a half aircraft carriers.
On Pacific Coast Highway, the current focal point of the recovery mission, the Corps is managing 222 properties. Of those, 70 have received final sign-off, while 152 remain in active clearing. These coastal homes, many of them cantilevered over the bluffs, pose unique engineering and environmental challenges.
Material from cleared properties is processed at three Temporary Debris Staging and Reduction Sites (TDSR), including a recently added site at Will Rogers State Park. Concrete is crushed for reuse, and metal is compressed into cubes for recycling. The approach has significantly reduced long-haul trucking needs and increased operational efficiency.
Air quality remains a key concern. The Corps employs wetting methods, double-encapsulated truck loads, air particulate sensors, and on-body monitors to mitigate health risks from dust exposure. Officials report no significant air quality alarms to date.
The Corps emphasized three guiding principles: urgency, partnership, and care. Property owners are notified before work begins and are encouraged to walk the site with engineers to preserve any personal effects or mementos found in the debris.
“This is not just about structures,” said one official. “It’s about restoring homes, dignity, and safety to the people who lost everything.”
