Operation Sudden Impact

Operation Sudden Impact solves six cold case murders, and leads to the arrest of forty gang members and associates who operated in Montebello, CA.
A large cache of assault weapons many modified to fire fully automatically, several hand guns, and a rocket launcher was also seized by the joint task force.
Operation Sudden Impact was a multi-agency effort of the ATF, Montebello PD, LA Co. Sheriff Dept, and the CA DOC, and was a two year long investigation.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Seized hand gun.

Defendants.

Photo evidence.

Modified assault weapon.

ATF agent Christian Hoffman with seized assault weapon.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Ran in to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today leaving a press conference at LAPD headquarters today. Asked him if I could take a quick photo of him. He happily obliged.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

Our Mayor.

Gun Buy-Back Program

Gun buy-back program in Los Angeles press conference at LAPD headquarters.
LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced that 1172 guns were turned in at 4 locations in Los Angeles. Gift cards are given in trade for the no-question buyback program. $200 for assault weapons and $100 for handguns.
One pipe-bomb was also turned in, LAPD arrested the suspect who stated that god wanted him to turn in the bomb, and not to blow up the Hollywood sign anymore.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

AK-47 assault rifle.

The Mayor and the Chief.

Assault rifles on display.

Springs Fire (Updated)

Images from the "Springs Fire" in Ventura County near Point Magu.
The Naval Base at Point Magu also caught on fire.
The wind driven fire started in Newberry Park and travelled down to the Pacific Ocean in less than 24 hours.

Photos By Ted Soqui © 2013

Waiting for water.

Naval Base at Point Magu.

Scorched plant life on the hillsides above PCH.

Point Magu Naval Base on fire. 

Hillsides above PCH burning slowly.

A City Divided

On this day twenty-one years ago, Los Angeles divided and ripped itself apart.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 1992

South Central LA 1992.

Fairfax Ave

Fairfax Ave on a spring day.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

Family.

Hollywood

A former U.S. Marine standing in front of a photo of the flag at a photo presentation and talk by photojournalist Eros Hoagland.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2103

Formula E Arrives in LA

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomes the FIA Formula E Championship to Los Angeles today, Earth Day, becoming one of 10 global cities to host the world's first fully-electric Formula E race, commencing in 2014.
Formula E is a new FIA championship electric vehicle racing series.
The series is designed to promote interest and investment in electric vehicles and sustainable motoring.
The race car actually pulled off a couple of righteous donuts in front of the DeWaP building a well.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Formula E.

The Mayor.

It's a tire slayer!

CicLAvia

Today's CicLAvia from downtown to the sea. It was crazy crowded, was unable to make it to Venice due to the major log jam of bicycles.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Downtown.

LA.

Eat and ride with style.

Rare Joshua Tree Bloom Event

The famed Joshua trees, Yucca brevifolia, of the Mojave Desert simultaneously bloom for the first known time. It is also the first Joshua tree bloom in over three years, due to drought conditions in California. 

Botanist do not know why the all the trees have suddenly bloomed, but theorize that it may be due to global warming and the need for the trees to propagate.

Joshua Tree National Park has the largest forest of Joshua trees, which are native to the Mojave desert.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Joshua tree with seed pods.

Joshua tree

Joshua tree with flowers.

Mojave yucca, Yucca schidigera, also in bloom.

   

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Things are closer than they appear in Cabazon.

Not Jurassic Park.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

LA's Koreatown

Starting my photo essay on L.A's Koreatown.
Koreatown has L.A.'s most dense population, with Koreans making up to 23%, and Latinos making up to 54%. Koreatown also has the largest population of Koreans outside of Korea.
Drove past a church on Wilshire Blvd. and saw a wedding party taking photographs.
Thought it would be the perfect spot to begin this essay.
Good luck to Kenny and Becky.

Kenny and Becky.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

Cindy Sheehan Begins Tour de Peace Bicycle Ride

Arlington West war memorial.

  

 Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan began her 3000 mile trek across the USA on bicycle for her Tour de Peace bike ride for peace.
The ride's purpose is to end war and, suppression of civil rights, and to end partisan apathy and inaction.
The tour began at the Arlington West war memorial at Santa Monica Beach, where crosses and mock coffins are placed on the beach every Sunday to honor the U.S. war dead.
Cindy Sheehan's son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan,  was killed 9 years ago fighting in Iraq.

Arlington West war memorial.

Cindy Sheehan

Balinese Celebrate Kuningan in Southern California.

Kuningan  is the final day of the Balinese celebration of Galungan, which commemorates the victory of good over evil.
Galungan occurs once in the 210-day cycle of the Balinese calendar, and marks the time of the year when the spirits of the ancestors are believed to visit the earth. Balinese Hindus perform rituals that are meant to welcome and entertain these returning spirits.
This celebration was held at a home in Valencia.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Mayoral Candidates Go Below the 10

Both candidates for Mayor of L.A. finally go below the 10 freeway in search of support for their quest. Wendy Greuel reached out to Magic Johnson, and Eric Garcetti got the nod from Bernie Parks and Jan Perry.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013

Fargo Street Hill Climb

LA's steepest street.

Santa Fe

A giant sculpture of Saint Francis de Assisi in the middle of the city of Santa Fe. The new Pope has taken on the name of Francis, and the city of Santa Fe is named after Francis as well. Santa Fe is also one of the oldest cities in the U.S.

Saint Francis.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

March Meet 2013

The annual March Meet at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in McFarland, CA. Lots of nitro and burning rubber this weekend.

Fire at night.

Old school.

B/G wheelie.

Champion Speed Shop Top Fuel dragster.

Funny Car Top Eliminator Tim Boychuck.

Photos by Ted Soqui/Elapsed Times © 2013

Eric Garcetti

LA mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti, along with candidate Wendy Gruel, make the run-off vote for mayor of LA.
The final run-off vote will be on May 21.

Eric at the Avalon Club.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013