The Brief

On a recent and very foggy morning, I met the small team of Ghost Diving USA at the 22nd Street landing in San Pedro.

They’re the local chapter of a global mission to clean up ghost nets — abandoned, lost or discarded fishing nets floating through the ocean. The nets often kill marine life that gets caught up in them.

Over five days, the team of volunteer scuba divers pulled up more than 2,000 pounds of fishing net tangled up on a shipwreck just a few miles off the coast of San Pedro.

“ What it was we pulled up are the drag nets that commercial fishermen use, so there were all these weighted balls and things that are attached to it, which added so much weight to the actual net itself as well," said Angie Biggs, a volunteer whose role was to keep everything running smoothly on the ship during this particular mission.

About 1,500 pounds of net that used to be caught on the UB-88 submarine wreck.

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Courtesy Ghost Diving USA

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The wreck is a huge World War I German submarine called the UB-88. The u-boat was paraded from the East Coast to the west as part of a victory tour after the war. Its final stop was in San Pedro Bay, where it was purposely sunk in 1921.

Since then, it’s collected thousands of pounds of fishing nets that have drifted across the sandy ocean floor.

"This could keep us busy for quite some time,” Biggs said.

Ghost nets hurt marine life

Inside the cabin of the dive boat, Jim Babor, president of Ghost Diving USA, shows me a mini 3D-printed model of the submarine. Babor is a musician for the LA Philharmonic for work, but is also a scuba diving enthusiast trained in technical diving.

“It is completely unrelated to being a classical musician, but I think that's one of the reasons I love it,” Babor said of diving.

On the model, there’s a plume over the torpedo tube — what was the biggest tangle of ghost net caught on the u-boat.

“All of this above the torpedo tube is gone,” Babor said.

A 3D-printed model of the UB-88. The "plume" on the right above and below the torpedo tube is the bulk of where the ghost net has been caught.

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Erin Stone

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LAist

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Jim Babor, left, of Ghost Diving USA on a recent mission to clean ghost net off the UB-88. Fellow diver Symeon Manias sits across from him.

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Erin Stone

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LAist

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On this December day, three days into this round of cleanup, they will begin to cut pieces of net under the torpedo tube and attach inflatable bags to it, so it’s ready to bring up the next day. The goal is to protect marine life, while also preserving a piece of history.

“The problem with the net is, it creates this thing that we call the circle of death,” Babor said.

That’s when a small fish gets caught, then a bigger fish gets caught trying to eat that smaller fish, and so on, all the way up the food chain. So far on this wreck they’ve found entangled crabs and fish — some they’ve saved, most have been dead.

On other Southern California wrecks they’ve worked on, Babor said they’ve found harbor seals, dolphins and even cormorants, a type of seabird, caught in the net.

Divers prep before a recent dive to clear ghost net off the UB-88 wreck off the coast of San Pedro.

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Erin Stone

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“It's immense. It's daunting,” Babor said of the problem of ocean pollution. As old as fishing itself, the problem has become a massive one to address.

Experts estimate ghost fishing gear makes up at least 10% of all the trash in the ocean. And these nets are often made out of plastic materials such as nylon, so they’re a major source of microplastic pollution too.

A fish takes refuge in a part of the UB-88 wreck, which has become something of its own underwater habitat.

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Courtesy Ghost Diving USA

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Diving for ghost nets

It takes about an hour to reach where we’ll anchor above the shipwreck. When we arrive, the divers suit up. It’s 190 feet down to the wreck.

Five divers will go down in timed intervals to prep more of the net to be recovered the next day. They’re all certified technical divers and volunteers and they have a variety of backgrounds — a scuba instructor, a marine biologist, tech security, an engineer, plus Babor, the musician.

Divers David Watson, right, and Tianyi Lu, left, preparing to get in the water.

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Erin Stone

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LAist

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For us on the boat, it’s time to wait. We spot a sea lion leaping out of the water a couple dozen yards away — a reminder of why the divers are doing this work.

About two hours later, all the divers are back on board. Babor lugs himself and his 130 pounds of gear on deck.

“They photographed the lingcod that was down there caught in the net,” he said, unzipping his dry suit. A lingcod is a large fish native to these waters.

The ghost net attached to the UB-88 shipwreck. The orange balloon-like bag next to the diver is an inflatable bag that helps lift the nets to the surface.

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Tianyi Lu

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Ghost Diving USA

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But with so much net gone now, the wreck itself looks pretty epic.

“The wreck is beautiful — with all the net that came up yesterday, you can really see the wreck now,” said David Watson, a local scuba diving instructor and volunteer with Ghost Diving USA.

An inflatable orange bag attached to ghost net on the UB-88 wreck on December 16, 2024.

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Courtesy Ghost Diving USA

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What’s next

It’s time to head back — the crew has to keep a tight ship and they’re behind schedule. By the time we return, the fog has burned off, the sun is out and the water is blue and shimmering.

The net the team has pulled up so far has already been dropped off with their recycling partner, Aquafil. The company will clean and grind up the nets so it can be turned into something else — bracelets, swimwear, and even power tools and the interiors of luxury cars. An artist will use some of the net from this mission to create an exhibition raising awareness about the problem of ghost nets.

Captain Jim Simmerman at the wheel of his boat, one of two that assists Ghost Diving USA with its dives.

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Erin Stone

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There’s still a lot more work to be done, Babor said. They’ve been working to clean this wreck for a year-and-a-half now and it’ll likely be a few years more. They’re working to partner with commercial fishers to expand their ghost net removal work — something that’s been in the works since the early 2000s through a program at UC Davis.

“ I feel like I'm giving something back to the environment that I love so much,” Babor said. “When you see the devastation that the nets do down there, killing fish and birds and seals and dolphins….You get the nets out, it's an immediate effect. That's the reason I do it.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided guidance this week to childcare providers on new legal requirements to protect children and their families from immigration enforcement activities.

Under a new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are not allowed to collect information about a child's or family member’s immigration status, unless necessary under state or federal law. Bonta’s office says there currently is no such requirement, though that could change with federal programs like Head Start.

“Childcare and preschool facilities should be safe and secure spaces so children can grow, learn and simply be children,” Bonta said in a statement.

His office says daycare centers also should not keep information about a formerly enrolled child longer than is required by state law.

The new law also requires facilities to inform the attorney general’s office and the state’s licensing agency if they get any requests for information from law enforcement related to immigration enforcement.

Facilities also must ask families to regularly update a child’s emergency contact information to make sure someone can be reached in case a parent is detained by federal immigration officials.

The Santa Ana winds are here to welcome us into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures.

The winds will reach Point Mugu to the Santa Clarita Valley, down to Orange County and parts of the Inland Empire valleys and foothills east of the 5 Freeway.

Peak gusts are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph. The western San Gabriel Mountains, Highway 14 corridor, Santa Susana Mountains and the western Santa Monica Mountains are under a high wind warning until 6 p.m., when gusts could reach 65 mph.

As for temperatures, highs for L.A. County beaches will reach the upper 70s and up to the low 80s for inland areas.

Parts of Orange County and Coachella Valley will see temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, with the warmest areas expected to reach 88 degrees.

Getting together with friends at a bar or pub tends to get a lot harder when children and needy pets enter the mix. One solution — Breweries! Beer gardens! Brewpubs!

Because parents (of kids and pets) want to go out, too — and not necessarily to a fast food restaurant with an indoor playground and no beer.

Thankfully, the Orange County suburbs where I live have gotten on board with my family- and pet-friendly craft brewery dreams. The key ingredients for me are spacious patios, a water bowl for the pooch, and food — either made onsite or, at the least, easy and quick to order and get delivered from somewhere else. Board and pub games are an added bonus.

Plus, of course, great beer from small, independent, local breweries. On the beer front, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of beer I encountered on my self-arranged tour of breweries in the Costa Mesa-Huntington Beach area.

Gone are the dark, dank days of nothing but IPA (IYKYK); now, you can find everything from pickle-tinged blondes, to mild sours, to rich and creamy stouts. If you’re not a big beer fan, every place I visited also had their own craft-made hard seltzers on the menu, as well as some non-alcoholic beverages.

Here are some of my favorites:

Riip (Huntington Beach)

Riip in Huntington Beach has two spots with full kitchens specializing in pizza and a wide variety of IPAs and other beer styles.

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Riip has been a family favorite since the company opened its first tasting room in Sunset Beach in 2015, with board games and tables the kids could write on. They have since expanded a lot, with a pizzeria next door and another location near Fountain Valley, which also serves excellent pizza, and has a small arcade to keep the kiddos busy.

One thing they do especially well: For serious IPA drinkers, Riip is your place. They usually have at least half a dozen different IPAs on tap, along with a decent variety of other beers, lighter and darker.

This place is great for … dinner after the kids’ [insert sport] game. Also for date night.

At Flashpoint Brewing Company in Huntington Beach, you can check out the brewing vats and other machinery up close while enjoying the results.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Flashpoint Brewing Co. (Huntington Beach)

I only recently discovered Flashpoint, which opened in 2020 on an industrial street near Huntington Beach Central Park. I actually love this aspect of craft brewery taprooms: they’re often located outside of trendy food and retail areas because they need to be able to actually brew beer there as well as serve it.

Flashpoint has a big patio lit with fairy lights. The tall doors of their brewing area, and an adjacent room with the taps and more tables are rolled up during opening hours, giving it a spacious, indoor-outdoor feel.

One thing they do especially well: All the beers I tried were highly drinkable. In other words, not crazy hoppy or overly heavy on flavors. The nectarine sour was especially good, refreshing with just the right amount of tartness.

This place is great for … An early evening toast, watching the clouds turn pink.

Green Cheek Beer Co. in Costa Mesa serves great beer and food, including shareable, snackable items like pad thai cauliflower.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Green Cheek Beer Co. (Costa Mesa)

Green Cheek Beer Co. now has three locations in Orange County and one in Oceanside. Their Costa Mesa spot is conveniently located not far from the city’s Bark Park. So, naturally, after my pooch has fun, I deserve a cold one.

Green Cheek has a huge covered patio filled with long picnic tables. My dog, Ace, was very happy to find a bowl of water set out for their canine visitors, and lots of pets from the humans.

One thing they do especially well: Green Cheek makes great beer. But what I love most about their Costa Mesa spot is that you can soak up the alcohol with food, including smash burgers, tots, and pad thai cauliflower, from their good and reliably fast kitchen.

This place is great for … reading a book, or making a new friend! Their long picnic tables make it easy to opt in or out of the surrounding social scene.

Bootlegger's Brewery outside the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa has a quiet patio for day drinking, and a lively trivia night scene.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Bootlegger’s Brewery (Costa Mesa)

Within walking distance of Green Cheek is Bootlegger’s Brewery. Bootlegger’s started in Fullerton, and now also has tasting rooms in Costa Mesa and Redlands.

Their Costa Mesa spot is on the outskirts of the LAB Anti-Mall, a collection of small businesses and restaurants, at least one of which will deliver food to your table. A section of the parking lot has been turned into a nice outdoor patio with sun shades for daytime and heat lamps for chillier evening hours.

One thing they do especially well: Their Kosher Crusher pickle blonde ale. They debuted it last fall and it is seriously good — light, refreshing, and just a little bit zesty.

This place is great for … “working” on a Friday afternoon (I was not the only one there typing one-handed on my laptop with a beer in the other), and then inviting friends to join you for happy hour.

There's an ambiance for everyone at Salty Bear Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa.

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Jill Replogle

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LAist

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Salty Bear Brewing Company

Salty Bear is part of The Camp, an uber-cool retail and restaurant complex also within walking distance of Green Cheek and Bootlegger’s (you can do a tasting tour!).

Salty Bear is worth a visit for the aesthetics alone. It has a great bar with midcentury tiling and dimpled red leather. The sprawling, leafy outdoor patio provides plenty of room for the kids to wander.

One thing they do especially well: Their Coastline Strawberry Blonde made me nostalgic for the fruity beers that got me hooked on craft beer in my 20s — but so much better.

This place is great for … Kickin’ it on the patio with friends, either listening to live music, or letting your kids practice performing on the teepee-themed outdoor stage.

Other options in OC south of the 405:

Steady Kitchen and Taps, 18055 Magnolia St, Fountain Valley

Synth Beer Company, 2960 Randolph Av, Costa Mesa

Brewing Reserve of California, 2930 College Ave D, Costa Mesa

Some government funding streams for L.A. County’s public health system are drying up, and officials are turning to private philanthropy to fill the gap.

A new privately funded foundation launched Thursday to strengthen public health services after $50 million in federal, state and local funding cuts to the county’s Department of Public Health since early last year.

“It is really a hard day for our community when we have to ask for private donations to fund a public good, but unfortunately, we've lost too much money to not take this important step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

In February, the county’s Public Health Department closed seven clinics, with six remaining open. About half of the patients seen in those clinics are uninsured, according to county officials. The department also cut hundreds of staff positions.

Ferrer is on the board of the new foundation, The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, which held its first meeting Thursday.

She said the fund will help the county maintain its basic public health infrastructure, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency response efforts.

Other board members include several health insurance executives, as well as actors Sean Penn and Danny Trejo. Board member Saree Kayne of the R&S Kayne Foundation pledged $150,000 to the fund Thursday. Kayne said she hopes the donation encourages others to give.

The foundation aims to raise $2 million this year.

More cuts expected

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said it’s crucial to have an alternative funding stream to protect services for the county's most vulnerable residents.

“We are saving public health,” Mitchell said. “This fund represents a new approach, one that brings together government philanthropy in the private sector to invest in community-based solutions, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen our public health infrastructure.”

Officials say more public health cuts are coming, through the federal budget law known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which slashes funding for Medi-Cal.

The county Department of Public Health anticipates losing up to $300 million in revenue over the next three years because of the federal budget bill and other potential funding freezes. Federal funding accounts for almost 50% of the public health budget, according to county officials.

Mitchell also led an effort to put a half-percent county sales tax increase to fund public health on the June ballot.

If approved by voters, that proposal, known as Measure ER, is expected to raise about $1 billion a year for county safety net health services, including about $100 million for the public health department.

Board members

The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA announced its founding board of directors, which includes:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health director
• Debbie I. Chang, Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO
• Sean Penn, actor and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
• Martha Santana-Chin, LA Care Health Plan CEO
• Saree Kayne, R&S Kayne Foundation CEO
• Danny Trejo, actor and restaurateur
• Jarrett Barrios, an executive at the American Red Cross
• Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Dean
• Kristin McCowan, an executive at the Los Angeles Dodgers