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Culver City's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone pilot program is off to a flying start. In the past 22 months, the Culver City Police and Fire Departments have used drones 50 times in perimeter searches for felony suspects, fires and crime scene operations, among other uses, according to police officials. The use of drones with high-powered cameras is becoming common place for police and fire agencies across the county. At its recent meeting, the Culver City Council discussed a report on th...
Council Member Göran Eriksson Appointed to Serve on National League of Cities' Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee Culver City Council Member Göran Eriksson has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2021 Transportation and Infrastructure (TIS) Federal Advocacy Committee. Council Member Eriksson will serve a one-year term on the TIS committee and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC's federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities. The a...
On Sunday October 18 at 10:14 PM, Culver City Police Officers responded to a call of a possible burglary in progress at Samy's Camera located 4411 Sepulveda Boulevard. The reporting party noticed the suspect on the roof of the business, throwing boxes down toward the suspect vehicle, which was idling in the alley. The reporting party went home and called the police. The officers established a perimeter and conducted a search for the suspect, utilizing a drone to search the roof of the business....
On Sunday morning just after midnight the Culver City police deployed a drone to locate a burglary suspect. According to the Culver City Police Department, (CCPD) the incident was reported at 12:36 a.m. Sunday at Washington Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue at the far east end of the city. The suspect was reported inside the undisclosed business and the CCPD used a drone to assist them spot and arrest the suspect. The suspect was in custody at 1:11 a.m, according to a statement by the police...
Council Declare Fiscal Emergency Buoyed by the words of Culver City's Chief Financial Officer Onyx Jones who said that "our fiscal emergency is today," the City Council voted 5-0 to declare -- without consulting the Financial Advisory Committee -- a state of fiscal emergency so a special election could be called to extend the 1/2% sales tax increase approved by the voters in 2012. Measure Y, as it was called, was set to sunset (expire) in 2020. In 2012, the Council promised in its statement on...
Dear Observer, In 'Drone Program Receives High Marks' (Dec. 19-25, 2019 p. 1) Mr. Hadland writes: 'One written card objected to the program as drones are being purchased from a company that provides weapons to the military.' I am the author of that card, but Mr. Hadland seriously distorts my remarks. They appear in full below. Dear Council and Public, I am profoundly opposed to the CCPD drone program for many reasons. The one I wish to highlight tonight is that CCPD chose to purchase this...
The Culver City Police and Fire Departments gave council and the public an interim report on the drone pilot program. Prior to the council meeting a demonstration was held in the courtyard at city hall with drones taking off, landing and hovering over the area. A Culver City Fire Department Battalion Chiefs SUV was outfitted with a large screen showing live footage from the drone overhead. The drones are used under strict guidelines to ensure proper use combining public safety and privacy. The...
Earlier this year, the Culver City Police Department began a pilot program on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) commonly called drones. The drones are under strict supervision on a senior officer and are only allowed for specific assignments to aid Culver City Police and Fire Departments. Among other assignments the drone was recently deployed to assist firefighter in the recent fire at 99 cent only store on Washington Blvd. A community meeting will be held on November 7 at 6:30 pm at...
Over 80 Firefighters from the Culver City Fire Department and nearby agencies battled a fire that totally consumed the 99 cents only store near the corner of Washington Blvd and Washington Place. The fire was reported at 1:45 am. Firefighters were removed from inside the building and the roof as the structure began to collapse. By early morning three of the four walls had caved it. No one was inside the building at the time and there were no reported injuries according to the Culver City Police...
The Culver City Police Department advised drives to avoid the area around Washington Blvd. and Washington Place due to street closures as the fire department battles the blaze at the 99 cents only store. CCPD has deployed a drone to assist emergency personnel....
At the city council meeting on Monday June 10, there we will be a discussion of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drone Program and the possibility of creating a citizen advisory committee in connection with the program. The advisory committees are below the council and commissions and have been regarded in recent years as a pretty "window dressing" to show community involvement. The Culver City Police and Fire Departments' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are very powerful and versatile...
Dear Editor, As a 20 year Culver City resident, I understand the concerns of others that the use of drones may result in problems. However, as a former prosecutor, I have seen that when drones are used according to strict policies, they are effective and can be lifesavers. There was a time when dash cams in police vehicles and body cameras worn by officers in the field were severely criticized. In due course, and speaking from my experience as a trial attorney, the use of evidence obtained from...
By Ron Bassilian I suppose my name has gotten out a bit ahead of me. In the past few months I’ve gone from casual observer of Culver City politics, to concerned citizen, to specter of the "Alt Right" that the City Council must defend against in the interest of all things human. It’s gotten a bit out of control, a bit much for any mortal voter to bear. So, I figure you should all know a bit about me, the man who was behind the June 8th Brown Act complaint against our Council, and how a few simple queries on rent control and policing have met...
The election to fill the unexpired Terms of Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas will be Tuesday, April 3, 2018. At that time, we have the opportunity to send to Sacramento a lady who will be able to hit the floor running. Please look at her endorsements and her background of well over 15 yeas of dedicated service to our community. Sidney knows what’s important to people in our district and will work hard to accomplish those goals. If you want a tireless worker vote Sydney Kamlager you will be...
By Suzanne Benedittis Please! No drone purchases until the City holds a Town Hall meeting detailing the pros and cons of having drone surveillance in Culver City. I just learned of the City's intention on NextDoor. I believe our Council intends well, but have the moral and ethical issues (plus public relations') that come with this decision been addressed? Drones are a like a “double-edged sword” with both favorable and unfavorable uses. As a Social Ethicist I ask you to pause to address mor...
It’s official. March 29th is permanently recognized as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The statute was signed into law by President Trump. Please don’t be upset when I tell you the Council and staff will be in my opinion, working night and day to put a city tax on Netflix and probably 11 percent. Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’s bill in Sacramento to prevent local government from putting a tax on Netflix until 2023 was stopped cold, so get out your check book. Oscar Meyer said it wi...
The Los Angeles Focus 20th Annual First Ladies High Tea will take place on Saturday November 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills. Our Congresswoman the Honorable Karen Bass will be the Focus Honoree (310) 677-6011 or firstladieshightea.com. It just seems, and rightly so, Theodorsia and I are traveling more frequently and staying away longer. While we were away visiting friends and family our Congresswoman, the Honorable Karen Bass sent us this letter regarding...
Nobody has more respect and admiration for our State Senator Holly Mitchell than Theodorsia and I. She has had numerous bills signed by Governor Brown, and she has taken the progressive position in Sacramento. We firmly agree Holly’s stance on grand juries, as in relationship to police shootings, made her the United States legislator of the year. In 2018 when Mark Ridley-Thomas is termed out of office we need Holly Mitchell to be elected to the Board of Supervisors. Sign us up. Per Time M...
Mayor de Blasio of the big apple (New York City) told the public of a new crime-fighting device the police recently started using. It’s a shots-fired system that detects gunfire. When the alert went out police went right away and they were able to arrest someone with an illegal gun. In the ten years of 2004-2013 nearly 1,600 IRS workers were found to have willfully evaded taxes. Some were even responsible for enforcing the nation’s tax laws, a government watchdog said recently. Among their offen...
Are you a veteran? Have you been denied benefits or is your disability rating too low for your actual symptoms? The Inspector General for the Department of Veteran Affairs issued a report last spring showing its San Diego office had a 53 percent error rate and the Los Angeles office made mistakes on a whopping 71 percent of its claims. I must admit at first blush I was surprised to hear about the new legislation being pushed through New York City’s city council. The legislation, if approved, wou...
I'm betting the original London Bridge, built in 1830 and once spanning the River Thames, is pretty happy it now sits here in the United States in Lake Havasu City, because if still in London, it would have fallen victim along with every other landmark and historical site populating the city in the latest action sequel to hit the big screen, LONDON HAS FALLEN. Explosive non-stop action takes center stage as London is destroyed, and all the leaders of the western world (but for the US President)...
Anyone who seen writer/director Deon Taylor’s freshman film, “Supremacy”, has been awed by the power and strength of the heavy dramatic themes rising from the a racially motivated true story. Many, including myself, have anxiously awaited his follow-up film curious to see what Taylor would deliver next. That wait is now over. And I am here to tell you, MEET THE BLACKS is nothing at all like “Supremacy”. Going from the darkest depths of the souls of men, Taylor reaches the opposite extreme w...
By Neil Rubenstein Observer Columnist Theodorsia and I recently came home from a two-week vacation in Northern California. As we all know there is plenty to see up state and since we had the expertise pf Betty Kao at the Culver City Automobile Club who helped us with the car and hotel arrangements, we were in excellent hands. Although we stopped and toured Hearst Castle, the John Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, attended the Monterey Jazz Festival, did the San Francisco cable car and harbor cruise,...
Some terrific movies to bite into this weekend at the box office. Bloody, violent, pushing the envelope in every direction, directors Eli Roth and Denis Villeneuve fascinate with strong story, spectacular imagery and in the case of Villeneuve’s SICARIO, Oscar-worthy performances starting with Emily Blunt. THE GREEN INFERNO Eli Roth returns to the director’s chair for the first time since “Hostel” and it’s not a moment too soon. As producer of the acclaimed “Aftershock”, Roth shifted focus...
By Neil Rubenstein Observer Columnist Did you feel the big hand of those in Sacramento reaching out to “swipe” our money by trying to pass SBX-1 in this special session of the state legislature? The author, Senator Jim Beall, a Democrat from San Jose, would impose another tax on a gallon of gasoline, and this time it’s 12 cents. Perhaps you remember Sacramento raised that tax in February 2015 by 18 cents to 36 cents and our federal government wants an additional .15 to .25 cents per gallo...
