Today, on Thursday, May 4th, 2023, the National Day of Prayer was observed at Tongva Park in Santa Monica. Community leaders and area pastors gathered to offer prayers for various aspects of society, including governmental leaders, armed services, peace officers, legislators, judges, and the community and nation. The event also touched on personal renewal and moral awakening, youth, the family, business, education, the sick, the imprisoned and persecuted, churches, missionaries, and ministry organizations.

The Santa Monica National Day of Prayer Committee stated that this year's theme verse was derived from James 5:16b, which reads, "Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much." Attendees of the event recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang several patriotic songs, including "God Bless America," "America the Beautiful," and "Amazing Grace."

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress. People are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation" on this day. The president signs a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952, although it has historical origins dating back to a mandate by George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Among the attendees at the event was Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista, showing support for the community's efforts to come together in prayer. The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for people of all faiths to join together and pray for unity, peace, and blessings for the nation and its leaders. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual reflection and connection, particularly in these uncertain times.

The National Day of Prayer in Santa Monica was a moving and meaningful event, bringing together leaders and community members to pray for the well-being of our nation and its people. It is a time to come together in solidarity and support, and to reflect on the power of prayer to bring hope, healing, and renewal to all.

The Santa Monica Police Department is always on the forefront of innovative training exercises to keep the community safe. On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Santa Monica Police Officer Elaina Hassan led a multi-department K9 training exercise at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. In addition to Santa Monica PD, officers from the Inglewood Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Homeland Security participated in the exercise.

The K9 training was focused on detecting and finding high explosives. The training is especially important for public events with a large number of people. The K9's are trained to detect body-worn explosives and concealed firearms from a distance of around 50 yards.

The exercise demonstrated the collaboration between different departments in the interest of public safety. The officers worked together to ensure the K9's were able to identify threats and protect the public. The training was intense and realistic, and the K9's demonstrated impressive skills in detecting and responding to threats.

Officer Elaina Hassan, a veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department, is a K9 handler with a wealth of experience in training dogs. She led the exercise and ensured that all officers involved were able to receive valuable training in K9 tactics.

The Santa Monica Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of the community by providing innovative training exercises for its officers. The K9 training exercise on the Santa Monica Pier is just one example of the dedication and hard work of the Santa Monica Police Department.

On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the Santa Monica Police SWAT Team undertook its biannual Physical Fitness Qualifier (PFQ) at the world-famous Muscle Beach. The PFQ, a rigorous test consisting of five physically demanding exercises, is conducted twice a year to evaluate the physical readiness of the team members and identify any areas of weakness.

The PFQ is a critical component of the SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) team's preparation for any emergency or high-risk situations. The SWAT team is a specialized police tactical unit that uses specialized military equipment and tactics in high-pressure scenarios, and physical fitness is paramount for team members to perform their duties effectively.

The test included an 800-meter run, followed by a 400-meter run while carrying two 25 pound dumbbells and wearing a weighted vest, and gas mask, 50 burpees, 75 squats while wearing a weighted vest and gas mask, and finally, 25 pull-ups. The exercises had to be completed in the listed order, with only a three-minute rest break between each one. The first five pull-ups had to be uninterrupted.

The SWAT team is renowned for its intense physical training, and the PFQ is a crucial evaluation tool to ensure that each team member remains physically fit to perform their duties at the highest level. Officers must pass the PFQ to maintain their membership in this elite unit, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high physical standards for the SWAT team.

The results of the PFQ test are in, and it can be confirmed that all officers on the Santa Monica Police SWAT Team successfully passed the rigorous evaluation.

In a major development in Hollywood, hundreds of film and television writers from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have gone on strike. The labor dispute between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began on May 2, 2023, and is the largest disruption to American television and film production since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This is also the biggest labor stoppage for the WGA since the 2007-2008 strike.

The strike was called after 97.85% of WGA members voted on April 18, 2023, to take action if a satisfactory agreement could not be reached with the AMPTP by May 1. The AMPTP represented major studios such as Amazon Studios, Apple Studios, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in lengthy negotiations with the WGA. However, a deal was not reached before the deadline, and the leadership of both the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) unanimously approved the strike, which began with members picketing on May 2.

At the heart of the dispute is the issue of residuals from streaming media, with the WGA claiming that the AMPTP's share of such residuals has resulted in a significant reduction in the average income of writers compared to a decade ago.

The strike has already had a significant impact on late-night talk shows, with productions such as Disney's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBCUniversal's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Paramount's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show, and WBD's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Real Time with Bill Maher, all shut down immediately.

In a show of solidarity, the Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) has announced its support for the strike and instructed its members to avoid working on American projects during the duration of the strike.

Davide Piubeni is a highly regarded artist recognized for his stunning paintings created en plein air. On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, he was spotted painting a beautiful seascape at Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica. But his artistic journey goes beyond this picturesque location.

Born in Sarezzo, Brescia, Italy, Davide graduated from l’Accademia delle Belle Arti Brera in Milan. He began his artistic career painting churches in Brazil, and since then has traveled and worked extensively in various countries including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Guatemala, Australia, Peru, and Miami since 2000.

For those unfamiliar with the term, plein air is a French expression that means "in the open air." It refers to the practice of painting outdoors, where artists can directly capture the beauty and essence of the scenery they are painting. Davide's plein air paintings known for their distinct style that captures the essence of his surroundings with a touch of whimsy and abstraction. His skillful use of color and light imbues his works with a unique and enchanting quality that draws viewers into his world of art.

Davide's talent and passion for art have taken him on an incredible journey around the world, and his work serves as a testament to the beauty and power of art to transcend borders and bring people together. Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, his paintings are sure to leave you in awe.

Davide, accompanied by his trusty easel, is a frequent and recognizable presence on the beaches stretching from Santa Monica to Palos Verdes.

Now based in Los Angeles, Davide continues to create beautiful works of art that inspire and delight people around the world. You can follow his artistic journey on Instagram at @davide_piubeni, where he regularly shares his latest works and updates about his exhibitions and events.

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, students and pole enthusiasts from CoCreate Pole Fitness gathered at Santa Monica Beach for a fun-filled day of pole play and community building. The studio's community-based approach to pole dance fitness brought together a diverse group of students and guests to showcase their skills and encourage one another.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees cheered each other on as they completed their routines on portable poles set up on the beach. CoCreate Pole Fitness's commitment to unity and small group instruction ensured that everyone had an opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment.

CoCreate Pole Fitness continues to inspire and uplift its community of students and pole enthusiasts, encouraging them to follow their dreams, accomplish their goals, and celebrate their victories no matter how small. With a focus on building strength and confidence through pole dance fitness, CoCreate Pole Fitness is changing the narrative around what it means to be fit and healthy.

Pole dancing is a dynamic and challenging form of fitness that offers a full-body workout while also promoting self-expression and creativity. Through events like this beach day, CoCreate Pole Fitness is helping to build a community of strong and empowered individuals who are committed to achieving their fitness goals together. #CoCreatePoleFitness #PolePlay #BeachDay #Community #fitnessgoals

The Arts & Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park on Saturday, April 29, 2023, was a resounding success. This annual free event, hosted by the City of Santa Monica, in collaboration with SMMUSD and YMCA Healthy Kids Day, drew families from all over Santa Monica for a fun day of activities and games.

The festival's theme, "Ready, Set, Build," focused on promoting social and emotional development, self-care, physical well-being and motor skills, language development, and early learning for young children. Over 30 community organizations participated in the event, offering games and activities that aligned with Santa Monica Cradle to Career Building Blocks for Kindergarten campaign.

One of the highlights of the event was the reDiscover Center's Cardboard Construction Zone, where children had the opportunity to explore different tools and materials, and create their own structures out of cardboard. The Cayton Children's Museum's Recycled City activity was another popular attraction, where children could use recycled materials to build their own mini-city.

The Santa Monica Public Library Storytime Stage was also a big hit, featuring construction-themed books read by Public Works staff in hardhats. Children were captivated by the stories and enjoyed seeing the hardhats up close.

The Under Construction Game Area featured tool relay races, building blocks, truck obstacle courses, and more. Children had a blast competing in these games and using their problem-solving skills to complete the challenges.

Roaming stilt walkers and Bob the Builder added to the festival's festive atmosphere, and children enjoyed collecting stamps from activity booths on the event's Explorer Card. This card was redeemable for a free book at the Santa Monica Public Library booth, which was a great way to encourage literacy and reading.

The Main Stage performances were also a highlight of the event, with emcee Sean Hill keeping the crowd entertained throughout the day. The Santa Monica Youth Orchestra's Mariachi Ensemble and Balkan Ensemble, Bollypop Interactive Dance Performance, Elemental Music's Prelude Program, Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico, and Psychic Buster Magic and More Show were all fantastic, and the children loved the lively performances.

The event provided a fun and educational opportunity for families to come together and enjoy a day of games, activities, and performances. We look forward to next year's festival and the new theme it will bring!

A group of street vendors and their supporters gathered outside Santa Monica City Hall on Monday, April 24, 2023, to peacefully protest against proposed rule changes that could negatively affect their livelihood. Holding signs and banners highlighting their demands, the protesters demanded a public hearing and an extension of the community input period regarding the proposed rule changes that could restrict their ability to vend on the park and beaches of Santa Monica.

The vendors shared their personal stories and expressed their concerns about Santa Monica's punitive and unfair treatment of street vendors. They also urged the Santa Monica City Council to hold a public hearing on the proposed lottery system and restrictions on street vending. In addition to these demands, the vendors called for more stationary vending locations above and below the Santa Monica Pier and a stop to the prohibition on small electric-powered vending carts on the beach.

The vendors are also worried about new rules that would allow the City to permanently revoke vending permits. The protesters marched into the lobby at City Hall and continued their protest, demanding to speak with Santa Monica City Manager David White. However, David White did not appear.

The protest lasted for about an hour, and the vendors are now asking for a public hearing and extended comment period on the proposed lottery system in Palisades Park, which would limit vending to only 11 spots, cutting out many vendors from the vending landscape in Santa Monica. They are also requesting a public hearing on the new proposed punitive street vending rules.

Notably, the city has allocated $3 million to a joint law enforcement task force that displaced low-income street vendors from the Santa Monica Pier and other significant vending areas in Santa Monica.

The street vendors and their supporters are determined to have their voices heard and to fight for their right to earn a living in Santa Monica.