𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦: Researchers Dye Santa Monica Bay to Track Ocean Currents

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Monday, September 15, 2025 — Visitors to the Santa Monica Pier were greeted by an unexpected sight this morning as ocean waves near the breakwater glowed bright pink. The striking color is part of a scientific experiment led by researchers from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering in partnership with The Bay Foundation. The team released a temporary, non-toxic fluorescent dye known as Rhodamine Water Tracer into the water to study how currents circulate around the Santa Monica Pier and its historic breakwater. The dye, long used in oceanographic research, disperses naturally and poses no risk to people, marine life, or the environment. Additional releases are scheduled for September 22–24 and September 30. The project builds on a 2024 study by the UCLA Coastal Flood Lab and The Bay Foundation that examined how the breakwater affects water quality. Although storms in the 1980s reduced the 1934 structure to its current height, scientists say the remnants still influence coastal circulation, contributing to persistent water-quality concerns near the pier. By tracking the dye’s movement with drones and monitoring equipment, researchers hope to better understand how pollutants, nutrients, and sediments travel through the bay. “Even though the breakwater no longer functions as a marina, it continues to shape water flow and the health of the surrounding ecosystem,” said Professor Timu Gallien, the study’s lead investigator. Funded by The Bay Foundation and supported by the City of Santa Monica, the California Coastal Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the experiment aims to inform future strategies for protecting Santa Monica Bay. Visitors can expect to see the pink plumes on upcoming release days, a vivid reminder of science at work in one of Southern California’s most iconic coastal settings. Santa Monica Closeup will continue to monitor the experiment and provide updates as researchers track the dye’s journey and its impact on understanding ocean circulation.

𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗖𝗬: Hundreds of Classics Roll on the Santa Monica Pier

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — September 13, 2025 — More than 200 gleaming classics, from pre-war cruisers to chrome-laden lowriders, lined the historic wooden planks of the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday for the 5th Annual Santa Monica Classic Car Show. Hosted by the Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC), the free, family-friendly event transformed the pier into a rolling museum of automotive history and Westside culture.

The all-day showcase invited solo drivers and car clubs to display meticulously restored Chevrolets, Buicks, Fords, Cadillacs, Corvettes, and more—some dating back to the 1930s. Spectators strolled past candy-paint finishes, wire-rim wheels, and hydraulics demonstrations while the Pacific Ocean provided a dramatic backdrop. Organizers said the gathering drew thousands of visitors, echoing last year’s turnout of more than 3,000.

Beyond the polished chrome, the event carried a deeper mission. All proceeds support youth services and after-school programs for underserved families in Santa Monica and Los Angeles County. The show benefits the Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC), a Santa Monica–based non-profit dedicated to empowering at-risk youth ages 16–24. Serving hundreds of young people each year, PYFC provides case management, counseling, tutoring, job readiness training, leadership development, and creative outlets such as music, art, and computer training. Through these proven services and the dedication of a caring staff, the organization brings hope and opportunity to the lives of Santa Monica’s less fortunate youth while working to prevent violence and create lasting community connections.

“At a time when low-income residents, especially Latino and African American communities, are being displaced, unity and visibility are needed more than ever,” said Santa Monica City Councilman Oscar de la Torre. “This car show celebrates cultural diversity and keeps Westside lowrider traditions alive.”

The show continues until 4 p.m., with on-site registration available for late-arriving exhibitors. For details, visit picoyouth.org or email carshow@picoyouth.org.

Santa Monica Closeup will continue to document the day’s sights and sounds as the Pier celebrates the enduring artistry of lowrider culture and classic automotive design.

𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗦: Sprinkles the Clown Leads Spooky Debut at Pacific Park

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — September 10, 2025 — Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier unveiled its all-new haunted Funhouse on Wednesday morning, reviving a piece of the city’s eerie amusement history with a seaside spectacle led by Sprinkles the Clown. The debut began at 8:15 a.m. when Sprinkles’ ice cream truck rolled up to the Funhouse entrance. From its doors, a colorful troupe of clowns spilled out, filling the boardwalk with laughter, antics, and photo opportunities. Sprinkles the Clown emerged last in dramatic fashion, greeted by an eerie Fortuneteller who joined him in officially opening the Funhouse. Together, the characters set the stage for a day of mayhem and mystery. The 2,800-square-foot attraction drew inspiration from the legendary “Toonerville Funhouse,” which entertained guests at Ocean Park Pier in the 1920s and later at Pacific Ocean Park in 1958. The reimagined Funhouse now offered nine disorienting rooms filled with optical illusions, tricky layouts, and surprising encounters designed to amuse and unsettle visitors. Among the highlights was the coin-operated Fortuneteller, who lured guests into a labyrinth of curiosities, and the ominous finale featuring Sprinkles’ ice cream truck freezer — a chilling twist that left many wondering if they would escape unscathed. The attraction was previewed for media on Wednesday morning, ahead of its official public opening this weekend, marking a new chapter for Pacific Park, which continues to combine modern thrills with nods to Santa Monica’s storied amusement past. Santa Monica Closeup documented the debut of the Funhouse, capturing the spectacle as clowns, performers, and guests alike brought the Pier’s newest attraction to life. #SantaMonica #PacificPark #SantaMonicaPier #Funhouse #Clowns #hauntedattractions

𝗔 𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁: Santa Monica Pier Hosts Inaugural Fundraising Gala

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Saturday, September 6, 2025 — The Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC) hosted its inaugural fundraising gala, “A PIERfect Benefit,” at the historic Merry Go-Round Building on the Santa Monica Pier. From 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., guests gathered for an evening of connection, cocktails, and purpose as the sun set over the Pacific.

The event featured golden-hour drinks, savory bites, live music, and a spirited auction, creating a festive atmosphere in support of one of California’s most cherished landmarks. More than just a fundraiser, A PIERfect Benefit marked the first official benefit event produced by SMPC and coincided with the Pier’s 116th birthday on September 9, underscoring the Pier’s legacy as a cultural and community hub.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Santa Monica Pier Award to Judy Abdo and Larry Barber, both recognized for their exceptional dedication to the Pier and their longtime support of SMPC.

The event drew a distinguished crowd of civic leaders, including California State Senator Ben Allen, Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, former mayors Phil Brock and Mike Feinstein, and Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista, among many other prominent figures. Guests were entertained with a live musical performance by The Botanical Pursuit, while impersonators of Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin added a touch of Hollywood nostalgia to the evening.

Funds raised at the event will help sustain year-round free programming at the Pier. In addition, 10% of all ticket sales were donated to the Pali Strong Foundation, a community-led initiative providing direct relief to those affected by the recent Palisades Fires.

Santa Monica Closeup documents public events of local significance, preserving moments that connect community, culture, and history.

𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗣: LAPD Connects With Community Along Venice Boardwalk

VENICE, Calif. — Thursday, September 4, 2025 — Residents and visitors in Venice joined the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division for its latest Walk With a Cop event, offering the public a chance to meet newly appointed Captain III Eric Eppolito and his team.

Captain Eppolito, accompanied by more than a dozen officers — including lieutenants, sergeants, and senior lead officers — walked with community members along Ocean Front Walk from Rose Avenue to the LAPD Substation at Windward Plaza. Along the way, the group engaged with vendors, tourists, and locals, addressing community concerns on a clear and sunny afternoon.

At the conclusion of the walk, attendees were invited inside the police substation for a tour, where refreshments and snacks were provided. Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park’s District Director, Juan Fregoso, also joined the event.

Captain Eppolito brings nearly three decades of experience to his new role. Since joining the LAPD in 1997, his career has spanned assignments in undercover narcotics, vice enforcement, gang and narcotics supervision, firearms instruction, and internal affairs. He was part of the leadership team that opened Topanga Division and later held command positions in Mission, Devonshire, and citywide incident management, including the Los Angeles Marathon and Palisades Fire response.

Promoted to Captain III in 2025, Eppolito now leads Pacific Division, which covers Venice Beach and surrounding neighborhoods. A graduate of Union Institute and University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, he has also completed the LAPD Leadership and POST Management Courses. He is known for mentoring young officers through training programs and promotional guidance.

Captain Eppolito lives in Los Angeles County with his wife, also an LAPD captain, and their young daughter.

Santa Monica Closeup documents public events of local significance. 

𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬: Bollards Taken Out for Repairs

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Wednesday, September 3, 2025 — A crew from Jilk Heavy Construction carried out maintenance work at the Santa Monica Pier, removing two damaged bollards with the assistance of a crane.

The steel bollards, which were originally installed more than a decade ago by Jilk Heavy Construction, are designed to rise mechanically and block unauthorized vehicle access onto the pier. The devices were extracted and transported back to the company’s facility for repair, following what workers suggested may have been damage caused by accumulated sand in the area.

The project drew attention from visitors near the Route 66 “End of the Trail” sign and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., as workers in safety gear lifted the massive components from the pier deck and prepared them for transport.

Jilk Heavy Construction—formerly known as John S. Meek Company—has more than 60 years of experience in general engineering construction across Southern California. The firm specializes in piers, wharfs, seawalls, marinas, pile driving, shoring, foundations, bridges, and other large-scale structural projects.

The company’s client list includes the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service, Caltrans, and cities such as Santa Monica, Newport Beach, Redondo Beach, and Ventura, along with various private-sector contracts.

Santa Monica Closeup documents public works projects and local events of civic importance for the community.

𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗠𝗣𝗗: Cadet’s Memoir Recalls Santa Monica Policing in the Turbulent 1960s

Santa Monica — Joe Powell, a retired attorney and former Santa Monica Police Cadet, has compiled a detailed 26-page memoir recounting his time at the Santa Monica Police Department from 1968 to 1970. His reflections provide an expansive look at policing in a small beach city during a turbulent period in American history, as the Vietnam War and civil rights movement reshaped society and law enforcement.

Born in Van Nuys in 1949 and raised near Culver City, Powell was drawn to law enforcement at an early age. His family’s restaurant sat near LAPD’s old Wilshire precinct, and he grew up surrounded by police officers who frequented the establishment. That exposure, paired with a police science program at Santa Monica City College, led him to SMPD’s cadet program at age 18. The program was designed to recruit and train potential police officers, and Powell describes its entrance process as demanding: background investigations, psychological inventory tests, oral interviews with commanders, and high expectations for physical fitness and character. “It appeared the department was looking for the cream of the crop of applicants,” he recalled.

As a cadet, Powell worked across the department’s divisions—dispatch, records, jail, and the front desk—at SMPD’s former headquarters at 4th Street and Olympic. His duties included fingerprinting, mug shots, manning the red “emergency phones,” monitoring prisoners, and handling citizen walk-ins at the front counter. He also rotated through shifts—day, swing, and graveyard—learning how the rhythms of the city and its police work shifted by time of day. Pre-shift inspections were conducted with military precision, with pressed uniforms, polished shoes, and proper hats or riot helmets required. Dispatch was particularly formative. Powell recalls working in a radio room outfitted with a newly installed illuminated map of the city, which tracked patrol cars in real time. “It was the forerunner of today’s GPS,” he wrote.

SMPD’s fleet relied heavily on Plymouths and Dodges, with V-8 engines capable of keeping up with muscle cars of the era. Units carried mounted shotguns, though their mere presence often served as deterrent. Officers wore white caps or helmets—standard for any public interaction, from traffic stops to protests. Motorcycle officers, considered among the most vulnerable, were given hazard pay. Three-wheeled motorcycles handled parking enforcement, though a tragic 1969 accident involving Officer William Davidson underscored the risks. Technology was slowly reshaping policing: SMPD operated a teletype machine for statewide bulletins, precursors to fax and digital messaging. The department also invested in Hughes helicopters, outfitted with spotlights and pontoons for water landings, giving Santa Monica one of the earliest police aviation programs in Southern California.

Powell reflects on the societal divides of the era. Anti-war demonstrations and the counterculture brought new tensions, with the term “Pigs” gaining traction as an anti-police slur. Still, he emphasizes that SMPD maintained a culture of professionalism and inclusivity. The department employed Black and Hispanic officers, and he notes he never heard racial slurs used internally. The cadet program also required cadets to maintain peak fitness. Powell often ran six-mile beach routes from city limit to city limit, swam in the Santa Monica College pool, and trained with officers. It was, he noted, a time when smog alerts often canceled school P.E. in Los Angeles, making Santa Monica’s ocean breezes an asset.

His tenure coincided with significant moments in the city’s history. He recalls SMPD’s high-profile role providing security for the Academy Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a televised event that put the city—and its police—in the national spotlight. He also documents SMPD’s response to two fatal plane crashes off the coast in 1969, where storm conditions brought down jetliners just miles from Santa Monica. Closer to shore, he remembers Pacific Ocean Park (POP), an amusement destination that closed in 1967, requiring heavy police presence in its final days.

Powell’s time in the SMPD jail and detective bureau also left strong impressions. The jail held both short-term arrestees and longer-term “trustees,” often repeat offenders convicted of vagrancy or public drunkenness. Trustees performed tasks from washing patrol cars to preparing meals, sometimes earning early release in exchange. Powell also rotated through the detective bureau, filing reports and observing investigations into crimes ranging from burglaries to homicides. Detectives, he wrote, were viewed as the “apex” of police work—methodical, analytical, and respected.

Throughout his account, Powell contrasts the tools, risks, and culture of 1960s policing with today’s reality. Officers of his time had revolvers, basic radios, and limited protective equipment. They lacked body cameras, ballistic vests, and many specialized units now commonplace. Yet, Powell emphasizes, the risks were real—traffic collisions, pursuits without seatbelts, and vulnerability during foot patrols and protests. Reflecting on modern policing, he noted: “Fighting crime is far different today than 55 years ago when I worked at SMPD. Definitely there are far more sociologist and psychologist functions now apart of patrol and uniform beat policing within cities.”

Now 76, Powell says his motivation for writing the 26-page memoir is to document a part of Santa Monica’s history few others can recall. His essay blends personal memories with historical record, offering both a cadet’s-eye view and a citizen’s perspective of a city—and a police department—at a crossroads. Powell’s reflections are a reminder that policing in Santa Monica has always been shaped by the community it serves and the cultural tides of its time. His memories bridge a half-century of change, providing a living archive of the challenges, routines, and traditions that defined SMPD in an era now part of the city’s history.