𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗟𝗢𝗔𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗡: Strongman Martins Licis Pulls 34,680-Pound Electric Bus at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, CA — June 26, 2025 — Crowds gathered at the Santa Monica Pier Thursday morning to witness an extraordinary feat of strength as 2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis pulled a 34,680-pound battery electric Big Blue Bus—with a driver onboard—across 30 feet of pavement in the beach parking lot.

The event served as the official kickoff to the upcoming Pier 360 Beach Festival, a two-day celebration of Southern California beach culture set to take place June 28–29. With Santa Monica’s newly branded fleet of zero-emission buses in the spotlight, the pull combined physical might with a message of sustainability.

City leaders including Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, Santa Monica Pier Historian Jim Harris, and Transportation Director Anuj Gupta delivered remarks before the dramatic pull, adding civic pride to the high-energy spectacle. The event also featured appearances from Romark Weis, coach and co-organizer of the Santa Monica Strongman Classic.

The Big Blue Bus pull was part of a broader morning program featuring music, refreshments, and photo opportunities with the new battery-electric fleet.

This weekend’s Pier 360 Beach Festival will host over 80 strongman competitors alongside paddleboard races, ocean sports, beach games, skating showcases, live music, and food vendors. The festival begins at 9 a.m. each day and is free to attend.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to ride the Big Blue Bus for just $1.10 to help reduce traffic and emissions.

For more information, visit santamonicapier.org.

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗: Police Arrest Suspected Gunman Who Shot Officer Near Santa Monica Place

Santa Monica, CA — June 26, 2025 — A man suspected in a recent downtown shooting that injured two juveniles is now in custody after allegedly ambushing and shooting a Santa Monica Police Department officer during a foot pursuit.

The suspect, identified as David John Hairston II, 31, believed to be homeless, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon following a coordinated law enforcement response. He is being held at the Santa Monica Jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 27.

The original shooting occurred late Sunday night, June 22, around 11:38 p.m. near 2nd Street and Broadway, where two juveniles seated inside an autonomous rideshare vehicle were shot by a suspect on foot following a verbal altercation. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at a local hospital.

Detectives launched an immediate investigation, distributing a departmental bulletin the next day in an effort to locate the suspect.

On June 25 at approximately 1:00 p.m., an SMPD officer spotted an individual matching the description near 2nd Street and Colorado Avenue. As the officer attempted contact, the suspect fled on foot. During the brief pursuit, the suspect allegedly ambushed the officer, opening fire and striking him multiple times. The officer sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Roughly three hours later, at 4:20 p.m., a community member reported seeing someone matching the suspect’s description near Palisades Park. Officers quickly responded and apprehended Hairston following another short chase. A firearm believed to be used in the shooting was recovered at the scene.

The case will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Anticipated charges include:

• Attempted murder of a peace officer

• Assault with a deadly weapon

• Two counts of attempted murder (related to the June 22 incident)

• Firearms violations

The Santa Monica Police Department expressed gratitude to vigilant residents and the multiple law enforcement agencies that supported the operation, including LAPD, CHP, LA County Sheriff’s Department, Beverly Hills PD, El Segundo PD, and others.

Authorities are asking anyone with further information to contact Det. Reyes, Det. Kayondo, or Sgt. Lozano at (310) 458-8774, or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.

𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗘: Pacific Palisades’ First Home Rises from Ashes After Devastating Blaze

Pacific Palisades, CA — Tuesday, June 24, 2025 — Nearly six months after the catastrophic Palisades Fire scorched over 23,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures, visible signs of recovery have begun to emerge. On Embury Street in Pacific Palisades, a home that was among the first to be demolished after the disaster is now rising again—possibly the first to enter the active rebuilding phase in the hard-hit neighborhood.

On Tuesday, Jorge Gurrola, CEO of JG Demolition & Construction Cleanup Inc., and Ram Miller, founder of Miller Construction and Development Inc., were on-site overseeing construction progress. Gurrola’s team completed the initial demolition and debris removal at the site back in February, following required clearances from the Environmental Protection Agency and successful asbestos and lead testing.

“This was one of the first projects we took on after the fire,” said Gurrola. “We hauled out eight truckloads of fire debris to Calabasas Landfill and cleared another 20 loads of concrete, delivered to certified facilities like Vulcan and AMH. All permits were secured through the City and County, and we made sure everything was done to code.”

Miller, who is rebuilding his own home after living there for 27 years, praised the speed and coordination of the rebuilding effort so far. “We got our permits approved in about three weeks,” he said. “JG Demo did a fantastic job on demolition and excavation. We started in May, and now we’re framing the second story. We should be done with all framing in about 60 days and hope to move back in within eight months.”

Founded over 16 years ago, Miller Construction and Development is known locally for its integrity, transparency, and craftsmanship in custom homebuilding. The company is now helping lead the charge in post-fire reconstruction.

JG Demolition, a Los Angeles-certified waste hauler and EPA lead-certified contractor, continues to support recovery efforts throughout the burn zone. With strict adherence to environmental protocols, the company ensures that debris is processed through approved channels in compliance with local and federal regulations.

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, was fueled by intense drought and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. The fire destroyed 6,837 structures and claimed 12 lives before being fully contained on January 31. In the months since, cleanup crews, contractors, and public agencies have worked to stabilize terrain, restore utilities, and clear debris.

The rebuild underway on Embury Street stands as a milestone—one of the clearest signs yet that the long road to recovery is finally taking shape.

𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘: Drag Queens Read to Children During Santa Monica’s Pride Event

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 21, 2025) – On Saturday morning, families gathered inside the historic Merry‑Go‑Round building at Santa Monica Pier for Fabulous Fables: Drag Queen Pride Family‑Edition, a free event crafted for children ages 10 and under. The three‑hour celebration featured drag queen storytelling by Pickle and Lil Miss Hot Mess, a musical performance by Queen Angelina, plus a host of community activities . Organized in partnership with The Crow Comedy Club and supporting SaMo Pride programming, the event included face painting, poetry by Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack, a barnyard play from Santa Monica Playhouse titled Barnyard Madness, and a “Books & Cookies” musical storytime. A “pint‑sized Pride parade” accompanied the morning’s festivities. Event coordinator Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian at Santa Monica Pier, noted, “Fabulous Fables continues [the Pier’s] tradition by creating a space where every family feels seen, celebrated, and connected through the power of storytelling,” as reported in a community announcement. Generous support came from sponsors including Pacific Park, The Crow, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. As part of a city‑wide SaMo Pride takeover on June 21, Fabulous Fables served as an early highlight, preceding additional programming such as Pride Beach sporting activities, a silent disco and Kid Zone at Santa Monica Place, and live entertainment along the Third Street Promenade into the evening.

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥: Black Lives Matter Fills Santa Monica Pier in Massive Celebration of Freedom and Culture

SANTA MONICA, CA – June 19, 2025 — Thousands of people packed the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday for a historic Juneteenth celebration hosted by the Ebony Beach Club and Black Lives Matter. The all-day event transformed the iconic pier into a vibrant stage for culture, community, and remembrance—drawing such an overwhelming turnout that crowds spilled over onto the sand and surrounding boardwalk.

Festivities began in the morning with free surf lessons, encouraging participants to reconnect with the ocean as a symbol of liberation and joy. By the afternoon, the pier was at capacity. The evening portion—headlined by a sold-out lineup of DJs including BRICK! & Dirty Dell, B4BYL3XIGIRL & Faucet, and WaveIQ—turned the waterfront into a powerful gathering of sound, movement, and solidarity.

This year’s Juneteenth on the Pier was more than a celebration; it was a cultural reclamation. Organizers spotlighted the story of the original Ebony Beach Club, founded in 1957 by Silas White at 1811 Ocean Avenue. Intended as an exclusive Black-owned social club offering leisure and elegance in the face of segregation, the club never opened—its building seized by the City of Santa Monica under eminent domain for a “civic parking lot” that was never built.

Thursday’s turnout marked a symbolic return to those shores, fulfilling the promise of a space that once was denied.

“Ebony Beach Club on the Santa Monica Pier is more than a Juneteenth celebration,” organizers stated. “It is a rejoice, restoration, and reclamation of space rooted in real Los Angeles history.”

With thousands in attendance and the pier pulsing with energy, this year’s Juneteenth event marked one of the largest cultural gatherings on Santa Monica’s coast in recent memory—serving as both a tribute to the past and a powerful step forward in reclaiming place and presence.

𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧: Driver Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After High-Speed Crash in West LA

WEST LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a traffic collision in the 11000 block of La Grange Avenue after reports of a vehicle traveling at high speed through a residential neighborhood. According to eyewitnesses, the driver was swerving and narrowly avoided multiple vehicles before crashing into a parked car. Despite the impact, the suspect reportedly continued driving for several blocks before stopping and exiting the vehicle. Witnesses described the driver as carrying a beer in his back pocket as he walked away from the scene. Both the suspect’s vehicle and the parked car sustained significant damage and are believed to be total losses. Responding LAPD officers detained the driver and conducted a series of field sobriety tests, including a breathalyzer. The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI). His vehicle was subsequently impounded and towed. No injuries or additional incidents were reported. The investigation remains ongoing.

𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘: Man Accused of Attempting to Sexually Assault 84-Year-Old Woman in Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA – A 39-year-old Long Beach man is in custody following an attempted sexual assault involving an elderly woman in Santa Monica earlier this month, according to police.

The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, June 5, 2025, around 9:30 p.m., near 6th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Officers responded to reports of a woman screaming for help and located an 84-year-old Santa Monica resident who was visibly distressed. She told officers that she had been grabbed from behind by a man who dragged her into a nearby alley and attempted to sexually assault her.

Multiple witnesses corroborated the woman’s account and directed officers to the suspect, who was spotted fleeing northbound from the scene. Santa Monica Police located and detained the man near 5th Street and California Avenue shortly after.

The suspect, identified as Pape Tall, 39, of Long Beach, was arrested at the scene. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has since filed felony charges, including kidnapping with intent to commit rape, assault with intent to commit rape, and violation of probation. Tall remains in custody at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 9, 2025.

Santa Monica Police urge anyone with further information related to the case to contact Detective Maricela Orta at (310) 458-2293 or by email at maricela.orta@santamonica.gov. Tips can also be submitted via the SMPD Watch Commander’s desk at (310) 458-8427, available 24/7.

𝗔𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗛𝗢𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗: Santa Monica Launches Open-Container Zone Downtown

SANTA MONICA, CA – The City of Santa Monica has unveiled a new initiative aimed at revitalizing its downtown corridor with the soft launch of an "Entertainment Zone" on the Third Street Promenade, marking the first of its kind in Southern California.

Mayor Lana Negrete, speaking from the Promenade in a city-produced video, announced that the zone allows patrons 21 and older to carry alcoholic beverages outdoors within a designated area stretching from Broadway to Wilshire Boulevard. The program operates Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., overlapping with peak police and private security staffing.

“This is a unique opportunity for businesses to extend their hospitality,” said Mayor Negrete. “We see this as an outdoor patio experience—an extension of the outdoor dining that already exists on the Promenade.”

Santa Monica Police Sergeant Rick Verbeck emphasized the department’s visible presence during operational hours. “You’re going to see us on foot, on bike, and in cars,” he said, noting that safety for visitors and residents remains the department’s top priority.

Officials say the pilot zone is designed to encourage local shopping, dining, and tourism while offering a safer, more vibrant downtown experience. Participating establishments will provide special wristbands to patrons over 21, and full guidelines are available at santamonica.gov.

The Entertainment Zone soft launch is part of a broader effort by the city to reenergize the Third Street Promenade and support local businesses with creative economic strategies.

𝗡𝗢 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬: Thousands Rally in Santa Monica for Nationwide Day of Protest

Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Palisades Park in Santa Monica on Saturday, June 14, 2025, joining a nationwide protest known as “No Kings Day.” The local event, held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. near Ocean and Montana avenues, echoed similar demonstrations across the country calling attention to concerns over growing authoritarianism. In Washington, D.C., the protest coincided with a military parade marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Organizers of the “No Kings” campaign—coordinated by the 50501 Movement and supported by groups such as the ACLU and Indivisible—framed the protests as a contrast to what they described as increasing consolidation of political and economic power. Locally, Santa Monica officials implemented temporary street closures and deployed law enforcement to ensure the event remained peaceful. Authorities reported no major incidents, and traffic had returned to normal by early afternoon. Nationwide, protests were held in more than 2,000 U.S. cities, including large turnouts in Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Chicago. In San Diego alone, organizers estimated a crowd of 60,000. Demonstrators carried American flags and signs reading “Democracy, Not Dynasty,” voicing opposition to what they described as threats to free speech, civil rights, and judicial independence. While the majority of protests remained nonviolent, some cities saw heightened security. In Los Angeles, National Guard and U.S. Marines were deployed following a federal ruling blocking the federalization of California’s guard units. Organizers emphasized peaceful demonstration and urged participants to de-escalate any potential conflicts. In Santa Monica, the tone remained civil throughout the day. Many participants echoed a recurring slogan heard across the event: “The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it.”

𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: June Peralta Marks 100 Years of Life and 24 Years of Volunteer Service at Santa Monica's Assistance League

SANTA MONICA, CA – Thursday, June 12, 2025 – June Peralta, beloved greeter and longtime volunteer at the Assistance League of Santa Monica, turned 100 and was celebrated with a heartfelt surprise party organized by her coworkers and friends at the resale shop she’s served for 24 years.

Clad in a white blouse, pearls, and a sash that read "100 Years Loved," Peralta stood at her usual post by the front counter—still doing what she’s known best for: warmly greeting customers and sharing sale information. As the festivities unfolded, guests sang “Happy Birthday,” sipped champagne, and toasted a century of resilience, humor, and service. Balloons, cupcakes, chocolate, and flowers completed the jubilant scene.

During an exclusive interview with Santa Monica Closeup, Peralta reflected on her extraordinary life, her longevity, and her enduring love for the community.

“I thank all of you so much,” she told the crowd. “It’s just unreal—all of this—and I appreciate it so much. I hope you get the same celebration when you reach 100.”

Peralta, who still drives herself to work from her longtime Mar Vista home, credits her active lifestyle, healthy diet, and sense of humor for her vitality. Her routine includes Zumba on Mondays, balance class on Tuesdays, and regular treadmill walks at home. She also enjoys Jeopardy, fiction novels, and a glass of wine with dinner.

Born in Stockton in 1925, Peralta moved to Southern California during childhood and has lived in the same home for 76 years. She began her volunteer work after retiring from a 23-year career as Director of Human Relations for an industrial lubricant firm. A chance modeling gig for the Goodwill introduced her to the Assistance League, where she’s remained a fixture ever since.

“All the money we raise here goes toward scholarships,” she explained. “We send about 70 kids to camp each summer with sleeping bags and backpacks full of school supplies.”

With two Emmy-winning sons in the entertainment industry and a passion for cruise travel—34 Princess Cruises and counting—Peralta’s life is as vibrant as ever. Asked about her plans for the future, she smiled and declared, “I hope to work until I’m 102.”

As one colleague noted, “She’s still working, still cracking jokes, and still everyone’s favorite part of this store.”