Latest news with #Slusher
New York Post
28-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Inside ‘busy season' for hero local Coast Guard crew
These boots-on-the-ground rescues start from thousands of feet in the air. The busy season is just ramping up for the US Coast Guard's Air Station Atlantic City crew, which patrols the skies and conducts search-and-rescue operations from the Long Island Sound to the Chesapeake Bay, crew members told The Post in an exclusive interview Monday. Advertisement 'It was kind of a slow start to our busy season … but it's been picking up lately,' said Cmdr. Randall Slusher, a pilot whose team's coastal coverage includes that of the Big Apple, Jersey Shore and Long Island almost daily. 7 Coast Guard pilots Randy Slusher (left) and Tyler Smith of Air Sation Atlantic City pose after flying up the Jersey Shore to Manhattan on Monday. Aristide Economopoulos He said the colder spring months staved off droves of recreational boaters until after Memorial Day weekend — then all heck broke loose. Advertisement 'There's a lot of people out on the water this time of year, all trying to use the same space,' Slusher said. 'We'll have everything from boat crashes to jet skis getting stuck to people in the water, especially when riptides are heavy.' The eight-chopper fleet's more dramatic search-and-rescue operations involve crew members using giant baskets and slings to hoist people to safety while also regularly picking up and flying cruise-ship passengers for emergency medical treatment. It's not uncommon for training crews to be diverted to rescue missions while in the air, either. During Manhattan's Fleet Week in May, the team's own demonstration was diverted for an actual offshore search mission. Advertisement And 'last year, we had a case where the crew was doing a normal training on Saturday morning and upon coming back, saw someone … in the water, and we pulled him out,' pilot Lt. Tyler Smith said. 7 Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic, makes adjustments while flying over the Hudson River. Aristide Economopoulos 'We've recently had a few cases where you're flying around and seeing someone clinging to a boat or clinging into a jet ski,' Smith said. He said one of his most memorable saves involved rescuing two boaters in February when their vessel capsized off the coast of Staten Island, killing three other passengers. Advertisement The air station also assisted in search and rescue operations during the Baltimore bridge disaster in March. 'When you have to rescue people that really need help, it's hard to beat that — it's a rewarding experience,' Slusher said. 7 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal,' Timberlake told The Post. Aristide Economopoulos The jumpsuit-clad heroes provide air space security during presidential travel and major tri-state area events such as United Nations summits, too. In the wintertime, the crew even provides aid to duck hunters who frequently get stuck on the water, Slusher said. Jet ski incidents in particular have exploded recently, he said. Last week, the crew hoisted two jet skiers stuck in South Jersey marshland. 7 Slusher (left) and Smith return to Air Station Atlantic City after flying their MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. Aristide Economopoulos Slusher said one memorable incident occurred in 2016 when a pair of New Jersey teens stole their parents' jet skis and took them for a joy ride through the mud. Advertisement 'The cabin of the helicopter was a [muddy] disaster,' Smith recalled of the teens' rescue. 'I think they took a shower … and we gave them clothes so their mom could come pick them up.' False-alarm and prank distress calls are unfortunately a regular issue the crew has to deal with, too, he said. Prank calls can happen multiple times a week, but the crew still must treat every instance as if it were a real emergency, Slusher said. 7 Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, 24, talks about how he saved an elderly couple and their two dogs from a marooned boat in November. Aristide Economopoulos Advertisement 'We spend a lot of time flying on those,' he said. 'Very rarely is it actually someone in distress.' Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic who inspects the crew's choppers before and after each flight, said, 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal.' For 24-year-old helicopter rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, his first two years on the team have been nothing short of eventful. 7 Ruddell rescued a seasick boater from choppy Long Island Sound waters on Oct. 7 before driving the boat back to shore himself. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell Advertisement In October, Ruddell drove a distressed boater in the Long Island Sound back to shore after the boat's operator fell ill and his ship was taking on water, he said. The rescue operation also doubled as the first time Ruddell had ever operated a boat. 7 Ruddell (right) and his colleagues rescued two adults and their two dogs in the Chesapeake Bay in November. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell 'I had no idea how to drive a boat, I was just holding onto the steering wheel making sure we were going in the right direction,' the Florida native said. 'But the crazy thing is … I didn't have my phone, so I just followed my [smart] watch the entire time. Advertisement 'There's crazy days, but it's really fun,' he added. Roughly a month after the Long Island rescue, Ruddell and his crew members pulled two elderly boaters and their two dogs to safety after they were beached for hours in rising tides on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. '[The boat operator] wasn't following the correct path, and they got caught at low tide,' he said. 'Everyone was alright, but they would've gotten hypothermia if they were there for much longer. 'You can't really train for the cases that you're gonna get,' Ruddell said. 'You really have to adapt, and overcome the cases that you do get.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Houston METRO police officer arrested in child sex crime sting
The Brief Gabriel Thomas Slusher, a METRO police officer, was arrested for attempting to solicit nude photos of an 8-year-old, following an online investigation by Montgomery County Precinct 1. Slusher was apprehended at METRO Police headquarters with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held on a $100,000 bond, suspended without pay pending further investigation. METRO PD condemned Slusher's actions as deeply disturbing and contrary to their values, while law enforcement agencies emphasized the importance of collaboration in protecting children. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Members of a task force that tracks child predators online in Montgomery County arrested a METRO police officer on Thursday. Gabriel Thomas Slusher, 27, is charged with attempt to commit sexual performance by a child under 14. What we know An undercover investigator with the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office was conducting an online investigation on Tuesday, June 10, when he made contact with a man investigators later identified as Slusher. Precinct 1 said the man requested nude photos of an 8-year-old female. As part of the investigation, authorities created an undercover persona of a 28-year-old female with an 8-year-old daughter residing in Magnolia, Texas. During the investigation, the undercover officer communicated through an undercover Kik profile with Slusher. On June 10, while reviewing personal ads on investigators saw an ad titled "Married cop", and the ad read, "28m 280lbs with full facial hair looking for discrete regular fwb or affair I'm open to anything message me here or ad me on kik …" The investigator started to have conversations with Slusher on Kik where both talked about their "interests". That's when Slusher admitted to being into young girls and had "no limits" and was into "taboo relationships". Slusher asked the undercover investigator how old "her" daughter was and when Slasher found out she was 8-years-old he replied, "Nice good age". Slusher exchanged images with the undercover investigator of himself and nudes. During the investigation, Slusher told the undercover to send him nude pictures to confirm he wasn't talking "with a cop". Throughout the investigation, two other undercover officers also engaged in conversations with Slusher on Kik, and received photos of him. The investigators were able to compare photos and in one photo, Slusher sent he was in a police uniform. The undercover officer told Slusher that they were into "cops in uniform" and, upon receiving more Slusher pictures in uniform, they saw his name patch and that he worked with the Houston Metro Police Department. After authorities conducted a search in a law enforcement database for the name of Gabriel Thomas Slusher, they obtained his address, date of birth, and past addresses; investigators were also able to obtain Slusher's Texas driver's license photo. Dig deeper In light of these allegations, No Trafficking Zone encourages community awareness by offering resources on signs of grooming that minors and parents should be aware of. Recognizing grooming signs for sex trafficking can be crucial for intervention. Some common signs include: Isolation: The trafficker may isolate the victim from family, friends, or community support. Control: They might exert control over the victim's finances, identification documents, or movements. Exploitation: The trafficker may exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, homelessness, or past trauma. Gifts and Favors: Offering gifts, attention, or promises of a better life as a means of manipulation. Relationship Development: Building a relationship based on trust and emotional dependence before introducing exploitative activities. Predatory behaviors and tactics are methods used by individuals to exploit others for personal gain, often at the expense of the victim's well-being. Some common predatory behaviors and tactics include: Grooming: Establishing trust and rapport with the victim to manipulate and control them over time. Isolation: Physically or emotionally isolating the victim from their support network, making them more vulnerable and dependent. Manipulation: Using emotional manipulation, flattery, or coercion to persuade the victim into compliance. Exploitation of Vulnerabilities: Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities such as financial difficulties, emotional instability, or past trauma. Deception: Lying or misrepresenting intentions or circumstances to gain the victim's trust or compliance. Intimidation: Using threats, aggression, or violence to instill fear and compliance in the victim. Gaslighting: Manipulating the victim into doubting their own perceptions, memory, or sanity, which makes them easier to control. Control of Information: Limiting the victim's access to information or controlling the narrative to maintain power and control. These behaviors and tactics are often used by predators in various contexts, including, but not limited to, online grooming, human trafficking, domestic abuse, and financial scams. Recognizing these signs is essential for protecting oneself and others from exploitation and harm. These signs, among others, could indicate potential grooming for sex trafficking. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, it's essential to report it to the authorities or a trusted organization for assistance. What they're saying Jacquelyn Aluotto is the Co-Founder and President of No Trafficking Zone, and she told FOX 26 this case is deeply disturbing. "Whenever you see cases like this of online solicitation or someone try to buy a child. It's always disturbing but when you see that it's an officer that people trust, it becomes even more disturbing because you start to understand that predators are everywhere," Aluotto said. "We see predators preying it is their job. We like to tell parents to monitor their children's phones. A lot of the time these kids don't know when they're being groomed, recruited, or lured through an internet chat." What you can do Anyone with information related to this case or the online exploitation of children is urged to contact the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office ICAC Division at (936) 539-7800 or Crime Stoppers. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia obtained the arrest warrant affidavit for Gabriel Slusher.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L.A. Olympic organizers confident they will cover estimated $7.1 billion cost of Games
Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairman and president, is confident the 2028 Olympics will generate the most revenue ever for a Summer Games. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Three years before the Olympics, LA28 organizers gave International Olympic Committee officials the kind of Games preview that even Hollywood's best scriptwriters couldn't plan. To begin a visit to check on LA28's planning progress, the IOC coordination commission attended a game at Dodger Stadium and watched Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off double in the 10th inning to defeat the New York Mets in the same stadium that will host Olympic baseball in three years. Advertisement The electric celebration, passing grades for an advanced venue plan and a growing corporate sponsorship portfolio keeps LA28 on track approaching the three-year mark until the 2028 Olympics open in a dual-venue ceremony at SoFi Stadium and the Coliseum. Read more: Athletes, artists and celebrities create unique logos for the 2028 L.A. Olympics 'We are really confident in the progress we've made,' LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said after the coordination committee's three-day visit. 'We're focused on what we've always done to deliver the greatest Games we are capable of delivering in this city in the most fiscally responsible way that pays dividends for every member of our Olympic movement and our community.' With the city of Los Angeles facing deep financial problems and transportation updates lagging behind schedule, LA28 is under pressure to deliver a completely privately funded Games. The private group says it remains up to the challenge as fundraising for the L.A. Games has been 'going gangbusters,' John Slusher, chief executive of LA28's commercial operation, said in an interview with The Times. Advertisement With six new partnerships this year — matching the total number of deals in all of last year — LA28 has contract revenue worth more than 60% of its total $2.5 billion sponsorship goal. Slusher expects an estimated seven to nine more deals coming this year, and the group is on pace to reach its goal of $2 billion in corporate sponsorship dollars by the end of the year, Slusher and Wassserman said. 'I would tell you where I'm sitting today, we feel very confident we can either meet or exceed that $2.5 billion target,' Slusher said, 'which I think people would have called a stretch target in November.' A major partnership with Honda signaled a boon for business as it was the first founding-level partnership for LA28 since Salesforce signed on in 2021. The cloud-based software company backed out of its deal in 2024. The sudden split raised eyebrows about LA28's fundraising progress, casting doubt whether the committee could fulfill a promise of a privately funded Games that shielded local and state taxpayers from picking up any debt. But organizers remained undeterred. Advertisement Read more: Coliseum, Arena and Long Beach waterfront among 2028 Paralympics venues Such twists have marked LA28's long-planned Olympic journey. The L.A. Games were awarded in 2017 in a rare dual-city announcement that also placed the 2024 Games in Paris. Instead of the typical seven-year lead-up time, LA28 preached patience through an unprecedented 11-year planning period. 'More time is always better than less time,' Wasserman said in an interview with The Times. 'The only negative of selling is there's more distance between deals, so everyone's like, 'You're not doing well.' Which is never how we've been feeling. … My view is judge us when we get to the startline on how we did on sponsorship revenue.' Judgment time is creeping ever closer. The Olympic Games will open on July 14, 2028. Advertisement Although the city has agreed to cover the first $270 million in debt incurred from the Games if LA28 goes overbudget, Wasserman said organizers don't intend to come close to the financial backstop. According to the latest financial report filed to the city in March, LA28 plans to cover the proposed $7.1 billion cost with about one-third of the projected revenue coming from domestic sponsorships and another one-third coming from ticketing and hospitality. 'The caliber of new domestic partnerships this year highlights the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together, create long-term value and reflect growing national engagement with LA28's vision,' said Nicole Hoevertsz, the IOC coordination commission chair. To begin the 2025 sponsorship momentum, LA28 announced an official partnership with AECOM in March as the engineering company will support venue infrastructure for the Games. Advertisement Mortgage company Pennymac, mattress brand Saatva, cloud-based data storage company Snowflake and aviation company Archer signed on as official supporters, one tier below a partnership such as AECOM. While not specifying the financial details, Slusher said he estimated LA28 would make three or four times as much sponsorship revenue this year compared with all of last year. "Our job is to maximize revenue,' Wasserman said. 'I am very confident in our ability to generate, frankly, more revenue that's ever been generated for a Summer Games in the history of the Olympics. I have no doubt about that." While a smaller portion of the budget than sponsorship, merchandise and licensing is gaining momentum as well, Slusher said, as companies clamor for a chance to issue official pins, T-shirts, programs or plush toys. Advertisement LA28's financial report states that it has signed commercial or retail agreements with several companies, including Cisco, Dick's Sporting Goods and Skims. Licensing and merchandising is projected to bring in $344 million, according to LA28's latest annual report. Read more: Visa approval crisis threatens to cost 2026 World Cup and L.A. Olympics millions The next major piece will be ticketing, which, with hospitality, is slated to generate $2.5 billion in revenue, a $569 million increase from a June 2024 estimate. LA28 expects to begin registration for the ticket lottery in early 2026. While LA28 and city officials have hailed the Games as a moment to welcome the world to L.A., concerns about international travel have mounted under the current administration. Delays in visa processing prompted Congressional action ahead of next year's World Cup. President Trump signed a travel ban Wednesday that bars citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States. On Sunday, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid protests over immigration raids. Advertisement The latest Trump order targeting visitors from 12 countries includes exemptions for certain athletes, including those traveling to the United States for major sporting events, and Wasserman was not worried about visa issues affecting the Games. 'It's very clear that the federal government understands that that's an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for,' Wasserman said of the recent travel ban. 'So we have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward to the Games.' Because Wasserman anticipates the majority of ticket sales to be domestic, he said he is not concerned with a potential drop in revenue if international fans don't attend amid visa or safety concerns. But Paris 2024, which sold a record 12.1 million tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, sold about 38% of its Olympic tickets to fans living outside France, according to the IOC. The successful event exceeded its ticketing and hospitality revenue target by $397 million and brought in a roughly $30-million surplus . Advertisement Read more: LA28 adds Honda as founding level partner, bolstering push for more funding Continuing the Olympic movement's success has been at the top of LA28's mind while bringing the Games back to L.A. for the first time in more than four decades. The 1984 Games were also privately funded and hailed as a massive success for their $225 million surplus that was invested in youth sports. The opportunity to use existing venues in 2028 dramatically reduces potential costs by avoiding new, permanent construction. 'I fully expect that LA28 will be successful in meeting its revenue goals, and I fully expect that the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a financial success," Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles executive director for the office of major events, said in a statement to The Times. "Twice before, Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics, even in the face of adversity, and both of those Games were a huge success for our city and its residents." Still, city leaders face enormous pressure to ensure that streets and sidewalks are safe and accessible for the millions of people expected to visit L.A. during the Games. Mayor Karen Bass recently unveiled a citywide initiative called 'Shine L.A.' that encourages volunteers to beautify the city with clean-ups and tree plantings ahead of next year's World Cup and the Olympics. Advertisement With city and federal funding, L.A. has planned to overhaul its public transportation system, including a long-awaited Metro station that opened Friday at Los Angeles International Airport. But other updates such as an electrified bus network, expanded rail lines and the LAX people mover have lagged. While the city's transportation plan is outside of LA28's Games operation and budget, Wasserman expressed confidence that L.A. will be able to repeat its transit success from the 1984 Games. But the Olympics have grown larger than ever. A record 11,198 Olympians will compete in 2028. The Paralympics will be the city's first. Especially with L.A. still recovering from devastating wildfires and a nearly $1 billion deficit, the threat of taxpayers absorbing any costs for the Games looms large. With financial momentum growing behind the 2028 Games, Wasserman wants to put worried minds at ease. 'The last thing a taxpayer should be worried about is us,' Wasserman said. 'We know how to do this. We are proving that every day and we will prove it all the way throughout the process and we are in every sense of the word, giving to the city, not taking from the city.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. Olympic organizers confident they will cover estimated $7.1 billion cost of Games
Three years before the Olympics, LA28 organizers gave International Olympic Committee officials the kind of Games preview that even Hollywood's best scriptwriters couldn't plan. To begin a visit to check on LA28's planning progress, the IOC coordination commission attended a game at Dodger Stadium and watched Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off double in the 10th inning to defeat the New York Mets in the same stadium that will host Olympic baseball in three years. The electric celebration, passing grades for an advanced venue plan and a growing corporate sponsorship portfolio keeps LA28 on track approaching the three-year mark until the 2028 Olympics open in a dual-venue ceremony at SoFi Stadium and the Coliseum. 'We are really confident in the progress we've made,' LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said after the coordination committee's three-day visit. 'We're focused on what we've always done to deliver the greatest Games we are capable of delivering in this city in the most fiscally responsible way that pays dividends for every member of our Olympic movement and our community.' With the city of Los Angeles facing deep financial problems and transportation updates lagging behind schedule, LA28 is under pressure to deliver a completely privately funded Games. The private group says it remains up to the challenge as fundraising for the L.A. Games has been 'going gangbusters,' John Slusher, chief executive of LA28's commercial operation, said in an interview with The Times. With six new partnerships this year — matching the total number of deals in all of last year — LA28 has contract revenue worth more than 60% of its total $2.5 billion sponsorship goal. Slusher expects an estimated seven to nine more deals coming this year, and the group is on pace to reach its goal of $2 billion in corporate sponsorship dollars by the end of the year, Slusher and Wassserman said. 'I would tell you where I'm sitting today, we feel very confident we can either meet or exceed that $2.5 billion target,' Slusher said, 'which I think people would have called a stretch target in November.' A major partnership with Honda signaled a boon for business as it was the first founding-level partnership for LA28 since Salesforce signed on in 2021. The cloud-based software company backed out of its deal in 2024. The sudden split raised eyebrows about LA28's fundraising progress, casting doubt whether the committee could fulfill a promise of a privately funded Games that shielded local and state taxpayers from picking up any debt. But organizers remained undeterred. Such twists have marked LA28's long-planned Olympic journey. The L.A. Games were awarded in 2017 in a rare dual-city announcement that also placed the 2024 Games in Paris. Instead of the typical seven-year lead-up time, LA28 preached patience through an unprecedented 11-year planning period. 'More time is always better than less time,' Wasserman said in an interview with The Times. 'The only negative of selling is there's more distance between deals, so everyone's like, 'You're not doing well.' Which is never how we've been feeling. … My view is judge us when we get to the startline on how we did on sponsorship revenue.' Judgment time is creeping ever closer. The Olympic Games will open on July 14, 2028. Although the city has agreed to cover the first $270 million in debt incurred from the Games if LA28 goes overbudget, Wasserman said organizers don't intend to come close to the financial backstop. According to the latest financial report filed to the city in March, LA28 plans to cover the proposed $7.1 billion cost with about one-third of the projected revenue coming from domestic sponsorships and another one-third coming from ticketing and hospitality. 'The caliber of new domestic partnerships this year highlights the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together, create long-term value and reflect growing national engagement with LA28's vision,' said Nicole Hoevertsz, the IOC coordination commission chair. To begin the 2025 sponsorship momentum, LA28 announced an official partnership with AECOM in March as the engineering company will support venue infrastructure for the Games. Mortgage company Pennymac, mattress brand Saatva, cloud-based data storage company Snowflake and aviation company Archer signed on as official supporters, one tier below a partnership such as AECOM. While not specifying the financial details, Slusher said he estimated LA28 would make three or four times as much sponsorship revenue this year compared with all of last year. 'Our job is to maximize revenue,' Wasserman said. 'I am very confident in our ability to generate, frankly, more revenue that's ever been generated for a Summer Games in the history of the Olympics. I have no doubt about that.' While a smaller portion of the budget than sponsorship, merchandise and licensing is gaining momentum as well, Slusher said, as companies clamor for a chance to issue official pins, T-shirts, programs or plush toys. LA28's financial report states that it has signed commercial or retail agreements with several companies, including Cisco, Dick's Sporting Goods and Skims. Licensing and merchandising is projected to bring in $344 million, according to LA28's latest annual report. The next major piece will be ticketing, which, with hospitality, is slated to generate $2.5 billion in revenue, a $569 million increase from a June 2024 estimate. LA28 expects to begin registration for the ticket lottery in early 2026. While LA28 and city officials have hailed the Games as a moment to welcome the world to L.A., concerns about international travel have mounted under the current administration. Delays in visa processing prompted Congressional action ahead of next year's World Cup. President Trump signed a travel ban Wednesday that bars citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States. On Sunday, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid protests over immigration raids. The latest Trump order targeting visitors from 12 countries includes exemptions for certain athletes, including those traveling to the United States for major sporting events, and Wasserman was not worried about visa issues affecting the Games. 'It's very clear that the federal government understands that that's an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for,' Wasserman said of the recent travel ban. 'So we have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward to the Games.' Because Wasserman anticipates the majority of ticket sales to be domestic, he said he is not concerned with a potential drop in revenue if international fans don't attend amid visa or safety concerns. But Paris 2024, which sold a record 12.1 million tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, sold about 38% of its Olympic tickets to fans living outside France, according to the IOC. The successful event exceeded its ticketing and hospitality revenue target by $397 million and brought in a roughly $30-million surplus. Continuing the Olympic movement's success has been at the top of LA28's mind while bringing the Games back to L.A. for the first time in more than four decades. The 1984 Games were also privately funded and hailed as a massive success for their $225 million surplus that was invested in youth sports. The opportunity to use existing venues in 2028 dramatically reduces potential costs by avoiding new, permanent construction. 'I fully expect that LA28 will be successful in meeting its revenue goals, and I fully expect that the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a financial success,' Paul Krekorian, Los Angeles executive director for the office of major events, said in a statement to The Times. 'Twice before, Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics, even in the face of adversity, and both of those Games were a huge success for our city and its residents.' Still, city leaders face enormous pressure to ensure that streets and sidewalks are safe and accessible for the millions of people expected to visit L.A. during the Games. Mayor Karen Bass recently unveiled a citywide initiative called 'Shine L.A.' that encourages volunteers to beautify the city with clean-ups and tree plantings ahead of next year's World Cup and the Olympics. With city and federal funding, L.A. has planned to overhaul its public transportation system, including a long-awaited Metro station that opened Friday at Los Angeles International Airport. But other updates such as an electrified bus network, expanded rail lines and the LAX people mover have lagged. While the city's transportation plan is outside of LA28's Games operation and budget, Wasserman expressed confidence that L.A. will be able to repeat its transit success from the 1984 Games. But the Olympics have grown larger than ever. A record 11,198 Olympians will compete in 2028. The Paralympics will be the city's first. Especially with L.A. still recovering from devastating wildfires and a nearly $1 billion deficit, the threat of taxpayers absorbing any costs for the Games looms large. With financial momentum growing behind the 2028 Games, Wasserman wants to put worried minds at ease. 'The last thing a taxpayer should be worried about is us,' Wasserman said. 'We know how to do this. We are proving that every day and we will prove it all the way throughout the process and we are in every sense of the word, giving to the city, not taking from the city.'
Los Angeles Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
CBRE Arranges $25.7-Million Sale of Westport Plaza & Square in Costa Mesa
CBRE announced the sale of Westport Plaza & Square, a 39,334-square-foot shopping center along East 17th Street in Costa Mesa, California, to Asana Partners for $25.7 million. CBRE's National Retail Partners-West (NPR-West) team, led by Jimmy Slusher along with Megan Lanni and Shaya Northrup, represented both the seller, Newport Beach-based Space Investment Partners, and the buyer, Asana Partners, in the transaction. Westport Plaza & Square is located at 369 East 17th Street and 1685 Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa. The property is 97% leased to a mix of popular local tenants, including neighborhood staples Plums Café & Catering, Fleur De Lys, Crumbl Cookies, Common Thread, House of Yogurt, Massimos Pizza, Laser Away and others. 'Westport Plaza & Square enjoys one of the premier retail locations in Orange County. Surrounded by a vibrant mix of national and specialty grocers, upscale dining, stylish boutiques and affluent demographics, the property location serves as its anchor and provides a competitive edge,' said Lanni. Built in 1975 and renovated in 2002 and 2018, the center encompasses 13.73 acres of leased land and benefits from over 535 feet of linear frontage along East 17th Street. Westport Plaza & Square is subject to a long-term ground lease through 2079, with a total remaining term, inclusive of options, of just over 54 years. According to Slusher, 'The sale of Westport Plaza & Square marks a milestone for Costa Mesa's East 17th Street, with the buyer, Asana Partners, becoming the first institutional investor to commit capital along this retail corridor. This acquisition reflects the growing confidence in the area's long-term value and underscores the strategic positioning of the property in the heart of this retail hub.' 'With its compelling neighborhood demographics, the Westport Plaza & Square acquisition aligns with our strategy of targeting well-located, retail assets where we see an opportunity to continue to elevate the shopping and dining experience for the community,' said Bri Baffer, director of investments for Asana Partners. Slusher continued, 'The strong competition to acquire Westport Plaza & Square – from a distinguished pool of well-capitalized investors, including institutional capital – demonstrates investors' preference to own top-tier assets with seasoned, high-performing tenancy, even without a traditional anchor.' Information was sourced from CBRE. Learn more by contacting
