The Brief

It’s one of the biggest days of the year for the ecologically minded. Thousands of volunteers from across Southern California will come together on the morning of Saturday, September 21 for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Last year, volunteers removed 376,308 pounds of trash from our beaches and waterways across the state, according to the California Coastal Commission, including 10 tons of debris in Los Angeles County and 12 tons in Orange County.

The cleanup provides insights into what’s being thrown away in Southern California, or more accurately, what’s being littered. Cigarette butts are the most commonly found item, though plastics and Styrofoam are becoming more common, according to the nonprofit Heal the Bay. That’s despite the state’s efforts to cut back on the use of these items — if you are wondering, those new rules are still being phased in as of this year.

And if you can’t make it to the beach but still want to help, consider volunteering at one of the inland cleanup sites listed below, because those “no dumping, drains to ocean” signs on storm drains aren’t lying to you.

If today really isn't convenient, there are other options: Heal The Bay Heal has relaunched their monthly Nothin' But Sand clean-up events, which happens on the third Saturday of every month.

By the way, the organization expects to cross 2 million pounds of trash picked up over the 35 years it's been managing Coastal Cleanup Day for L.A. County.

How to sign up

Some organizers just want you to show up and help out, no sign up required — and you can always pick up trash wherever you’re at, whether or not it’s at one of these sites. However, others are requesting that you register in advance to get an accurate headcount, and a few of the more hands-on cleanup sites require boats or other special equipment.

To find more information for each site, including contact information and signup details, find it on this map from the California Coastal Commission.

Here's a list of the cleanup sites on Saturday:

Santa Monica/L.A./Malibu beaches

• Corral Canyon & Dan Blocker County Beaches
  
  • Location: 26000 Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
• Dockweiler State Beach
  
  • Location: Tower 54 - 11999 Vista Del Mar @ Imperial Hwy, Playa Del Rey CA 90293
• Dockweiler Youth Center
  
  • Location: Tower 54 - 12505 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey CA 90293
• Leo Carrillo State Beach
  
  • Location: 35000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265
• Malibu Lagoon State Beach
  
  • Location: 23200 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265
• UNDERWATER | Malibu Pier
  
  • Location: 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265
  • NOTE: Bring your wetsuit. This event is for divers.
• Malibu Surfrider Beach
  
  • Location: Tower 1 - 23050 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265
• Marina Del Rey - Admiralty Way
  
  • Location: 4469 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey CA 90292
• Marina Mothers Beach
  
  • Location: 14031 Palawan Way
  • NOTE: Part of this cleanup will take place by boat. There will be no water craft rental, only experienced paddlers will go on the water in their own crafts. Anyone else should plan to clean the beach on foot. Life jacket, leash and experience required
• Nicholas Canyon County Beach
  
  • Location: 33800 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
• Playa Del Rey Beach - Toes Beach
  
  • Location: 6200 Pacific Ave, Playa Del Rey CA 90293
• Santa Monica State Beach - Pier (Northside)
  
  • Location: Tower 1550 - 1600 Appian Way, Santa Monica Ca 90401
• Santa Monica State Beach - Ocean Park Blvd
  
  • Location: 2600 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405
• UNDERWATER | Santa Monica Pier
  
  • Location: Tower 1550 - 1600 Appian Way, Santa Monica Ca 90401
  • NOTE: This event is for divers.
• Topanga Beach
  
  • Location: 18700 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265
• Venice City Beach - Rose Ave
  
  • Location: 300 Ocean Front Walk @ Rose Ave, Venice CA 90291
• Venice Pier Beach - north
  
  • Location: 3100 Ocean Front Walk @ Washington Blvd, Venice CA 90292
    

South Bay and Long Beach

• Cabrillo Beach
  
  • Location: 3720 Stephen M White Dr, San Pedro, CA 90731
• Hermosa City Beach - Pier
  
  • Location: 1 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach CA 90254
• Malaga Cove Beach/RAT Beach
  
  • Location: 389 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
• Manhattan Beach - El Porto Beach
  
  • Location: 45th St & The Strand, Manhattan Beach CA 90266
• Manhattan County Beach - Bruce's Beach
  
  • Location: 2600 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
• Manhattan County Beach - Pier
  
  • Location: N The Strand and Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach CA 90266
• Redondo Beach - Avenue C Lifeguard Tower
  
  • Location: 1101 Esplanade, Redondo Beach CA 90277
• Terranea Resort - Kayak cleanup from 8AM-9AM
  
  • Location: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
• Torrance Beach
  
  • Location: 201 Paseo de la Playa, Torrance CA 90277
• White Point Beach/Royal Palms Beach
  
  • Location: 1799 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731
• Junipero Beach
  
  • Location: 1 Junipero Ave, Long Beach 90803
• Belmont Pier
  
  • Location: 3998 E. Allin St, Long Beach 90803
• Mother's Beach
  
  • 5839 Appian Way, Long Beach 90803
• Peninsula at 72nd Place
  
  • 72nd Pl & E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach 90803
• Alamitos Bay Marina
  
  • 255 N. Marina Dr, Long Beach 90803

Inland L.A. County

• Arroyo Seco
  
  • Location: Brookside Park - 360 N Arroyo, Pasadena, CA 91030
• Apollo Community Regional Park - Lancaster
  
  • Location: 4555 W Ave G, Lancaster CA 93536
• Balboa Lake
  
  • Location: 6300 Balboa Blvd, Lake Balboa CA 91316
• Ballona Creek Bike Path - Syd Kronenthal Park
  
  • Location: 3451 McManus Ave, Culver City CA 90232
• Ballona Creek Bike Path - Sepulveda Blvd
  
  • Location: 5000 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City CA 90230
• Ballona Creek Bike Path - Overland Ave
  
  • Location: 4990 Overland Ave, Culver City CA 90230
• Ballona Creek Bike Path/Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook Base
  
  • Location: 4339 Duquesne Ave, Culver City CA 90232
• Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve
  
  • Location: 303 Culver Boulevard, Playa del Rey, CA, 90293
• Compton Creek - Crystal Casino
  
  • Location: 100 Auto Dr S, Compton CA 90220
• Darby Park
  
  • Location: 3400 W Arbor Vitae St, Inglewood, CA 90305
• Eaton Canyon Nature Center
  
  • Location: 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107
• Good Earth Community Garden
  
  • Location: 5546 Boden St, Los Angeles, CA 90016
• Kuruvungna Springs
  
  • Location: 1439 S Barrington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
• LA River - Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park
  
  • Location: 2944 Gleneden St, Los Angeles CA 90039
• Malibu Creek State Park
  
  • Location: 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
• Oso Park
  
  • Location: Oros Street & Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90031

O.C. Coast

• Seal Beach
  
  • Location: 15 First Street Seal Beach, CA 90740
• Bolsa Chica State Beach Tower 28
  
  • Location: 17851 Pacific Coast Hwy Huntington Beach, CA 92649
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
  
  • Location: 3842 Warner Avenue
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve South lot
  
  • Location: 18000 Pacific Coast Highway,Huntington Beach CA
• Bolsa Chica State Beach Tower 17
  
  • Location: 17851 Pacific Coast Hwy Huntington Beach, CA 92649
• Huntington City Beach
  
  • Location: 21579 Pacific Coast Hwy
• Huntington Beach Wetlands
  
  • Location: 21900 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
• Huntington State Beach Tower 8
  
  • Location: 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
• Newport Beach CA. Tower 74
  
  • Location: 7004 Seashore Dr. Newport Beach
• Newport Beach Marina Park
  
  • Location: 1600 W Balboa Blvd, Neport Beach CA 92663
• American Legion Post 291, Newport Beach, CA
  
  • Location: 215 15th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663
• Pelican Point Parking Lot #3 - Crystal Cove State Park
  
  • Location: State Park Parking, State Park, Newport Beach, CA, 92657
• Reef Point
  
  • Location: Reef Point Parking Lot, Crystal Cove State Park, CA, 92657
• Main Beach @ Laguna Beach
  
  • Location: Main Beach, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651
• Salt Creek Beach Park
  
  • Location: 33333 S Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, CA. 92629
• Ocean Institute
  
  • Location: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629
• Baby Beach
  
  • Location: 34451 Ensenada Pl, Dana Point, CA 92629
• Doheny State Beach/ Lower San Juan Creek
  
  • Location: 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629
• San Clemente Pier
  
  • Location: 600 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672
• T-Street Beach (next to the consession stand)
  
  • Location: 339 West Paseo De Cristobal, San Clemente, CA, 92672
• San Clemente State Beach
  
  • Location: 300 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente, Ca 92672

Inland O.C.

• Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station
  
  • Location: 800 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach 90740
• Coyote Creek - La Habra
  
  • Location: 2000 W Imperial Hwy
• Brea Creek Channel-City of Brea
  
  • Location: 175 S Madrona Avenue, Brea, CA, 92821
• Fullerton Channel
  
  • Location: 1424 Riverside Dr, Fullerton, CA
• Yorba Park
  
  • Location: 190 S. Yorba St Orange, CA 92869
• Hart Park near Shaffer street
  
  • Location: 701 S. Glassell Street orange, CA 92866
• Santiago Creek ECO Center
  
  • Location: 600 E Memory Lane, Santa Ana, 92705
• Santa Ana Gardens Channel @ Jerome Park
  
  • Location: 2115 W McFadden Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704
• Santiago Canyon Watershed
  
  • Location: 29742 Silverado Canyon Road
• Trabuco Canyon
  
  • Location: Trabuco Creek Road at Trabuco Canyon Road
• Upper Newport Bay
  
  • Location: 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach CA 92660
• San Joaquin Wildlife Campus - Main Entrance
  
  • Location: 21 Riparian View, Irvine CA 92612
• Laguna Hills Community Center
  
  • Location: 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
• Descanso Park, San Juan Capistrano
  
  • Location: 32506 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano

Riverside County

• Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park
  
  • Location: 5759 Jurupa Ave, Riverside, CA 92504

With contributions by Daniel Martinez.

Topline:

The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.

The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.

What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."

What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."

Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.

Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.

Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.

Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.

(

Destiny Torres

/

LAist

)

Why do they celebrate? 

In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.

To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.

Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.

The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).

“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”

The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.

(

Destiny Torres

/

LAist

)

Gathering in a time of turmoil 

Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.

“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”

Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.

“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.

Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the Virgin Mary represents strength.

“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”

See it for yourself

The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.

California’s unemployment agency kept paying cellphone bills for 4 1/2 years without checking whether its workers actually were using the devices.

That’s how it racked up $4.6 million in fees for mobile devices its workers were not using, according to a new state audit detailing wasteful spending at several government agencies.

The Employment Development Department’s excessive cellphone bills date to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it shifted call center employees to remote work and faced pressure to release benefits to millions of suddenly unemployed Californians.

It acquired 7,224 cellphones and wireless hotspots by December 2020. State auditors analyzed 54 months of invoices since then and found half the devices were unused for at least two years, 25% were unused for three years and 99 of them were never used at all.

The investigation, which auditors opened after receiving a tip, identified 6,285 devices that were unused for at least four consecutive months, and said the department spent $4.6 million on monthly service fees for them.

From the beginning, the department had about 2,000 more cellphones than call center employees, according to the audit. The gap widened over time after the pandemic ended and the department’s staffing returned to its normal headcount.

As of April, the audit said the department had 1,787 unemployment call center employees, but was paying monthly service fees for 5,097 mobile devices.

“Although obtaining the mobile devices during COVID-19 may have been a good idea to serve the public, continuing to pay the monthly service fees for so many unused devices, especially post-COVID-19, was wasteful,” the audit said.

Department officials told auditors they were unaware of the spending, but auditors pointed to regular invoices from Verizon that showed which phones were not being used.

“We would have expected EDD management to have reconsidered the need to pay the monthly service fees for so many devices that had no voice, message, or data usage,” the audit said.

The unemployment department began acting on the auditors’ findings in April, when it canceled service plans for 2,825 devices. It has since implemented a policy to terminate service plans for devices that go unused for 90 days.

The California state auditor highlighted the mobile devices in its regular report on “improper activities by state agencies and employees.” The audit also showed that the California Air Resources Board overpaid an employee who was on extended leave as he prepared to retire by $171,000.

This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.