Westside Current

The Venice Current is an independent news organization committed to fostering a well-informed community in Venice. Our team works diligently to investigate significant matters, highlighting instances of power misuse and breaches of public trust by local leaders. Jamie Paige established The Venice Current with the conviction that journalism plays a vital role in every community. Our reporters strive to uncover corruption, clarify complex topics for the public, and harness journalism's influence to drive change. Additionally, we believe in celebrating the diverse cultures that contribute to Venice's vibrant, spirited, and eclectic character, which many of us cherish.

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Adrin Nazarian and the Quest for the Front Bench

2 days ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jon Regardie

The Newish District 2 Council Rep Looks to Make His Mark on Los AngelesLOS ANGELES - On April 11, Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian found himself in a place no politician usually wants to be: on the losing end of a 10-1 vote. With the city facing a $1 billion budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, the still-newish rep was the lone opponent of a proposal to raise trash fees for the first time in 17 years.
Pregnant, in Uniform, and in the Palisades Fire Zone: Christina Pascucci’s First Mission Was Anything But Ordinary

3 days ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

With a toddler at home and another on the way, Pascucci stepped into uniform—and straight into the fire zone. LOS ANGELES - Just three days after raising her right hand and swearing into the California State Guard, Christina Pascucci was standing in the middle of a disaster zone. The veteran journalist and Los Angeles native didn’t expect to be activated so quickly.
Trump Orders Massive Veteran Housing Overhaul at West LA VA Campus

4 days ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

The order sets an ambitious goal to house up to 6,000 homeless veterans by January 1, 2028, and redirects federal funds previously used for housing and services for undocumented immigrants toward the construction, establishment, and maintenance of the new center. According to the order, the center will not only offer shelter but also promote self-sufficiency through substance abuse treatment, support for productive employment, and access to healthcare, benefits and services.
A Glimpse at the LAPD’s Growing, 142-Scenario Strong Virtual Reality Program

6 days ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jon Regardie

Department wants new, permanent building in Elysian Park for high-tech training tool LOS ANGELES - During a recent Los Angeles Police Commission meeting, panel President Erroll Southers described an incident in which an assailant struck him with a baseball bat. It was all the more shocking for two reasons: he ended up being saved by Commission Vice President Rasha Gerges Shields; and on a certain level, nothing actually happened.
Encampment Reports Are Climbing Again on the Westside

1 week ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jon Regardie

Reports rise even as the city attempts to get people off the streets and into housingLOS ANGELES - In March, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority announced that initial findings from this year’s homeless count showed a 5%-10% decline in the number of unhoused individuals in L.A. County. While a reduction would be welcomed (the full report comes out in the summer), this may not square with what people in Palms are seeing.
AI Just Hit LA’s Building Permit Process - And It Could Change Everything

1 week ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

LOS ANGELES — Silicon Beach is continuing to live up to its name. A groundbreaking artificial intelligence-powered tool aimed at slashing permitting delays for wildfire victims was officially rolled out Wednesday, the result of a determined, private-sector-led effort spearheaded by Steadfast LA and supported by state and local leaders. “Help for thousands and thousands of people,” said Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who has worked for months to bring the software to Los Angeles.
Santa Monica 4th of July Fireworks Cancelled Due to Lack of Funds

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Matthew Hall

SANTA MONICA - The All-American tradition of celebrating the birth of the country by blowing up a small piece of it has come to an end in Santa Monica with the cancellation of the City’s only public fireworks display. Santa Monica College announced this month that Celebrate America, its patriotic July 4 event, has been canceled due to a lack of funding. At the SMC Board of Trustee’s April meeting, Superintendent Kathryn E.
OPINION: L.A.’s Budget Hearings Are a Charade. The Public Deserves a Real Voice.

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Eric Preven

At the first Los Angeles budget hearing last week, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky promised a process that would be “transparent, collaborative, and community-driven.”Minutes later, the trap snapped shut:One agenda item. One minute of public comment. One continuous meeting — no matter how many sessions you attend. By declaring it a special meeting — a phrase that sounds accommodating but actually reduces public rights — the City Council triggered a technicality: one comment, total.
Park, Lee Urge City to Spare Animal Services Amid Public Outcry Over Shelter Closures

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

LOS ANGELES - As outrage grows over proposed budget cuts to the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, Councilmembers Traci Park and John Lee have formally called on the city’s Budget and Finance Committee to reject the plan, warning it would have devastating consequences for both animals and the communities that rely on local shelters.
Mayor Defends Hardline Homeless Policies Amid Recall Campaign

2 weeks ago | westsidecurrent.com | Jamie Paige

LANCASTER — Mayor R. Rex Parris is defending his controversial "What I want to do is give them free fentanyl" comment that sparked national outrage, saying his words were intended to draw attention to the failures in addressing unsheltered homelessness. Parris, who has led Lancaster for more than a decade, did not mince words in a recent interview with the Westside Current.