Los Santos

Over the last week or so, the weather seems to have stabilized in Los Santos. Following the flurry of snow, the sun broke through the clouds, clearing the roads and sidewalks However, in a recent statement from the Los Santos Weather Office, it seems some rain is on the way. “LOS SANTOS, SA — The Los Santos Weather Office has issued an official weather advisory in anticipation of a powerful downpour expected to impact the city at the end of this week. After a period of unseasonably dry conditions, a series of storm systems from the Pacific have begun to converge, bringing heavy rainfall to the region. The upcoming storm will result in widespread rainfall. With some areas potentially seeing up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) of rain in just a few hours,” said Weather Office spokesperson Alex Ward. This rapid influx of moisture could lead to localized flooding and hazardous driving conditions across the city and surrounding areas. Key highlights from the Weather Office’s update include: This storm could pose some challenges for residents, so we urge everyone to take necessary precautions,” added Ward. “Avoid unnecessary travel, secure loose items outdoors, and stay tuned for further updates as the storm progresses. The Weather Office will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. For more information, follow @LosSantosWeather on social media or visit our website for detailed forecasts and safety tips.” 2 0

As registration week for mayoral candidates came to a close, the week of campaigning begins! As the mayoral candidates are approved for campaigning, they will begin to campaign through several outlets. During the next week or so, we expect to see lots of advertisements and promotions for different mayoral options. However, it is important that the public votes for the right option. The future of Los Santos is in your hands now. What Should You Look For In A New Mayor? A new mayor should have several qualities. Without these qualities, we risk Los Santos becoming an underfunded city, causing many prolonged issues. The qualities include; Leadership Skills Vision for the City Strong Communication Problem-Solving Abilities Community Engagement Experience and Qualifications Commitment to Fairness Casting Your Vote With Thought When voting opens, you need to cast your vote with thought. Make sure that the mayor you vote for, will deliver on the needs of Los Santos. We cannot risk another mayor who will under deliver for us and our neighbours Los Santos needs change. It needs work, and development. Without it, Los Santos will continue to decline and vital services will remain underfunded and understaffed. Weigh up all options, and vote based on what they can do for you. 1 0

As we have covered in several articles, the registration period to run for the mayoral position was from the 1st of December to the 7th Of December, today. Today is the final day for open registration. If you are looking to put your name forward for the position of mayor, you need to do so today, by contacting the Office Of The Governor. Campaigning for all candidates will start tomorrow. Requirements Mayoral Candidates: City Council Candidates: (( OOC Requirements: To declare your intention to run, you must contact the Office Of The Governor. ((Message Barry Martin on Discord)) 1 0

On the evening of December 5th, a detective enabled his panic button in Ganton, following an altercation with a male. Upon arrival at the scene, a male had Detective Marzella in a chokehold, holding him like a hostage. As officers arrived, the grip on Marzella grew tighter. Officers drew their registered firearms, holding the male at gunpoint, but unable to fire at risk of injuring the detective. Quickly, the male got the detective into the vehicle and sped away from the scene. The male took officers on a pursuit across Los Santos and deep into Red County. Eventually, the pursuit ended with the vehicle being stuck on a steep slope. Pursuit Ends On A Cliff Face Officers surrounded the vehicle, watching over the pair. However, as the vehicle was on a slope, it was nearing the water below. The risk level had risen significantly. While the officers watched over the vehicle, we overheard a nearby radio. The male had instructed Marzella to ask officers how long he would serve in prison for his actions with the detective. However, it seems the officers took a while to provide an answer. As the time continued to pass, the risk continue to rise. Officer Parker from the Los Santos Police Department continued to plead with the male, to let Detective Marzella leave the vehicle. Soon after the negotiation, the male issued two demands. He wanted eighty thousand dollars and a fast car to escape from the scene. Officers responded with encouragement to organize the demands in the city, due to being in a remote location. Another male on the scene, who was watching over offered his vehicle to escape. However, the offer was quickly ignored as the male continued to press for his demands. Officer Parker relayed the offer of the unknown vehicle, in return for the detective. Again, the offer was ignored. We also overheard Marzella asking what the fastest vehicle in the LSPD fleet was, in order to gain freedom from the male. Other officers could be hard over the radio agreeing. “I think it’s a uhh, good choice. We’re in a deadlock here, and, the guy’s weighing the car down himself.” – Officer Swanson “I don’t know how much longer we’ve got on this cliff, so I hope you guys are fuckin’ figuring something out” – Carmine Marzella As time continued, the male continued to plea for freedom with the officers. We overheard Officer Parker offering freedom in return for the detective, using it as a opportunity for arrest. However, the other male who had offered his vehicle got into a debate with the suspect. We overheard the male threaten to push the vehicle off the cliff, and also abuse several officers on the scene too. His relation to the incident was unknown, however he seemed to add fuel to the existing “fire”. While the male was arguing with officers, the vehicle slid down the cliff, managing to stop just short of the water. What was a very lucky escape, resulted in the pair being next to the water, should the vehicle slid again. As Officer Parker continued to negotiate with the pair, we saw the other male attempt to push two police vehicles into the water. Sergeant Whitelock attempted to pull the keys from the vehicle, however the male proceeded to punch Whitelock in the face, calling him a “goofy ass white boy”. Shortly after, we saw the pair walking up the incline, both the male and Detective Marzella. They continued to edge closer to Officer Parker. Freedom was in a short grasp for Marzella. The male then made another demand. He wanted our reporter to clear away from the area as they proceeded up the incline. In order to assist officers, we pushed back from the incident, but continued to monitor the progress. From a distance, we saw the pair reach the top of the incline. We also heard Officer Parker shout for help, needing some assistance from fellow officers. Very quickly, Officer Parker and Sergeant Whitelock tackled the suspect to the ground, with tazers in hand. However, the incident took a turn, when the officers reported that the male was going to kill Detective Marzella. Officer Swanson quickly got involved, helping the officers to secure the suspect. The attempt to secure the suspect had failed. We saw both the suspect and the Marzella in a police vehicle, ready to escape. However, he was quickly tazered in the vehicle, with Marzella also catching some of the prongs from the tazer. Sergeant Whitelock rushed over, opening the door and grabbing the suspect. We also heard Officer Parker say “Get out of this fucking car before I shoot you!” As we watched over the incident, we saw Marzella unconscious in the vehicle. Officer Parker attempted to kick the suspect in the vehicle, but failed. The suspect attempted to return the kick to the officer, but struggled with the size of the vehicle. As they wrestled, Sergeant Whitelock managed to strike the suspect, however he was holding onto the unconcious detective like a prize. The officers proceeded to pull on Marzella along with the suspect, attempting to set him free. However, the back and forth continued for a few minutes. Marzella Is Pulled From The Vehicle, Unconscious Sergeant Whitelock made the decision to release Oscar, the K9 from one of the other police vehicles. But Officer Parker was able to pull Marzella from the vehicle when the suspect was engaged in communication. As Marzella was out of the vehicle, officers continued to try and get the suspect out of the vehicle too. However, the suspect continued to try and protect himself through closing the door. The confrontation between officers and the suspect continued. We watched over the wrestle, with the suspect kicking the K9 in the head. Sergeant Whitelock and Officer Parker managed to pull the suspect from the vehicle, and detain him on the ground. However, he continued to fight towards officers, throwing several hits. Officers finally managed to

Following the announcement of a Special Election by Governor Blackwood, Election Week has taken part this week in Los Santos. With two days to go, the registration period officially closes on the 7th December, ready for campaigns to begin. The office of the governor is overseeing each applicant personally, ensuring only the right people have a chance at taking office on December 19th. If you are considering the position of Mayor or City District Council, now is the time to go forward for the position. Requirements Mayoral Candidates: City Council Candidates: (( OOC Requirements: To declare your intention to run, you must contact the Office Of The Governor. ((Message Barry Martin on Discord)) What Does The Position Of Mayor Entail? The position of mayor in Los Santos is a vital role that comes with the responsibility of leading the city and representing its residents. The mayor oversees key aspects of city governance, working to improve public safety, support local businesses, and address community concerns. They collaborate with city officials, such as the City District Council, to implement policies that make Los Santos a better place to live and work. Whether it’s improving infrastructure or managing public events, the mayor serves as a connection between the people and the government. Overall, vital for the city. 1 0

Mental Health can affect anyone. Regardless of gender, job or nationality. People are also affected by Mental Health in different ways. From depression to anxiety and much more. However, in Los Santos, it seems Mental Health conditions are becoming more apparent, with more people suffering every day. On December 1st, we reported on an incident in Ganton. A male was attempting to jump from a bridge, to take his own life. Luckily, Priest Ramirez arrived promptly and managed to talk the male down. However, not every sufferer of Mental Health concerns are so lucky. In this article, we have investigated Mental Health in Los Santos, to understand just how much of a daily struggle it is, for our people. Understanding The Severity 23.08% of adults experienced a mental illness in the past year, equivalent to nearly 60 million Americans. That’s roughly one in every five people, suffering with a mental illness in the past year. Struggling with daily life, their emotions, feelings. Also, 5.86% experienced a severe mental illness. This is a growing problem in Los Santos. People are faced with challenges on a daily basis. Especially those in critical roles, such as the Police or Fire. Seeing things on shift that nobody should. Los Santos needs to take a stance on Mental Health, and work with our people. Nathaniel Blackwood, All Saints General Hospital We spoke to Nathaniel Blackwood, Chief Of Medicine at the All Saints General Hospital. The conversation related to both Occupational Health and Mental Health Services. He said; “Regarding mental health – this is a crucial priority for us. We’re taking a two-pronged approach: First Responder Focus: We’re developing a specialized trauma support program specifically for law enforcement and emergency service personnel. This includes confidential counseling services and stress management resources. Community Mental Health: We’ve integrated mental health screenings into our regular health check-ups and are expanding our consultation services to include psychological support. The mental health challenges in our community are significant, and we’re committed to being part of the solution, whether it’s helping an officer process a difficult call or supporting a community member through trauma.” However, it seems those struggling with mental health, don’t want to reach to medical services, for the fear of judgement or worse, such as being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. What Needs To Happen Los Santos needs a community approach. Somebody or a team in the community, ready to help those in need with a mental illness. To work closely with the All Saints General Hospital and the Police. A good candidate for this would be Priest Ramirez. We saw him in action in Ganton, and he worked wonders on the bridge. A local community group, perhaps a non-profit charity of which would be available to help with Mental Health Concerns. Another approach would be for the All Saints General Hospital to establish an Adult Mental Health Service. A service where people in our community, our friends and family can be referred to, for help and support. How YOU Can Help If you know of anybody suffering with a mental health condition or illness, you can help. Call the LSFD hotline on 311 in cases of emergency. Alternatively, report the individual to the nearest emergency service worker. You can make a difference. 5 0

Following the announcement of a Special Election by Governor Blackwood, Election Week has begun in Los Santos. From December 1st though 7th, you can register to campaign for the position of Mayor or City District Council in Los Santos. The office of the governor is overseeing each applicant personally, ensuring only the right people have a chance at taking office on December 19th. We are excited to see the candidates start their campaign efforts from the 8th Of December. Requirements Mayoral Candidates: City Council Candidates: (( OOC Requirements: To declare your intention to run, you must contact the Office Of The Governor. ((Message Barry Martin on Discord)) 4 0

In recent weeks, we have seen an increased effort and presence on our streets from the Los Santos Public Works Department. During the snow, teams worked around the clock to remove it from our vital roads in and around the city. They also worked to sweep our roads, removing trash and other items from our roads and sidewalks. However, it seems their efforts haven’t stopped at the snow either. Clearing & Rebuilding Pizza Stacks Idlewood Pizza Stacks was subject to a building fire, just a few weeks ago. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, however Public Works teams have been at the property over the last week. They have worked around the clock to make vital repairs to the building, to get it open once again. We took a visit to Idlewood Pizza Stacks to see just what was happening with the building. We saw several members of the team, removing rubbish and damaged building, while others were working to rebuild the damaged areas, ready for reopening. The team was also pouring fresh concrete into the foundations, to prevent any subsidence. We spoke to one of the public workers, Adam Cox who gave us a statement. Adam Cox, Public Works “Firstly, I want to apologise for the disruption in Idlewood. We appreciate that our works have not been quiet and we have been working around the clock. However, our priority is to repair this building. A vital place for people to visit in Idlewood. Our works have consisted of a wide variety, from gas pipe repairs to foundational improvements. We open to have this place reopened shortly. Thank you for understanding.” Fantastic Leadership What once was an abandoned department, has been revived with a great team of people in and around it. We spoke to Samuel Harrington a week or so ago, regarding the snow clearing works with his team. It seems Samuel knows how to run a public works team, and has been delivering results time and time again. We are looking forward to seeing the next steps from the Public Works team. 6 0

In a recent turn of events, the Snow has melted away in Los Santos. Following a weather report from The Los Santos Weather Office, it seems the sun has broken through the clouds and melted away the snow from our roads. This is a good sign, and means the risk of accidents on our roads has reduced significantly. The report from The Los Santos Weather Office includes; “LOS SANTOS, SA — The Los Santos Weather Office has issued an official weather update following a dramatic shift in conditions across the city and surrounding areas. After several days of persistent cloud cover and sub-zero temperatures blanketing Los Santos in snow, a sudden breakthrough of sunshine has rapidly melted much of the snow, transforming the winter landscape. “The return of clear skies and direct sunlight has led to a significant increase in surface temperatures,” said Weather Office spokesperson Alex Ward. “This rapid warming has caused the widespread melting of snow, particularly in lower elevations and urban areas.” Key highlights from the Weather Office’s update include: The Weather Office will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as necessary. For more information, follow @LosSantosWeather on social media or visit our website for detailed forecasts and safety tips.” Snow Is Due To Return The snow has melted away from our roads and sidewalks. However, this doesn’t mean that the snow is gone completely this Winter. The Los Santos Weather Office has also confirmed that the snow is due to return to Los Santos, in late December. Hold onto your snow tires and make preparations for further bad weather, ahead of the new year. 5 0

On the evening of December 1st, the Los Santos Police Department received a 911 call regarding a driver being held at gunpoint outside the Idlewood Gas Station. Upon arrival at the scene, the gunman took off in a grey ford mustang, leading officers on a pursuit through the city of Los Santos and into Red County. During the pursuit, the driver was firing shots out of his vehicle towards officers. The pursuit continued to the bridge between Red County and Las Venturas, when the driver came to a stop following a collision. Shootout Between Driver & Officers Once the vehicle had stopped on the bridge, the driver began shooting towards the officers on the bridge. The officers returned fire towards the driver, resulting in a shootout on the bridge, with shots passing left and right. After a few minutes, the bridge fell silent. The driver was shot down by the officers. Shortly after, officers let more shots off towards the male as he attempted to move, shooting and killing the male completely. Detective Marzella Shot During Shootout During the shootout, Detective Marzella caught a shot from the shootout. The shot had hit him in the shoulder, however it appeared to be a graze wound from a passing bullet. Each time an officer accepts a call, they take their life into their own hands. This was another occasion, however the detective was lucky. We hope Detective Marzella makes a full recovery. Driver Was Shot And Killed At The Scene Following the pursuit, the driver was shot and killed at the scene. Officers proceeded slowly, in a stacked formation to check over the male. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene by officers. Remarkable Work From The LSPD Overall, the Los Santos Police Department along with Detective Marzella were remarkable. They handled the scene with full professionalism, and had to make a vital decision on the driver. The driver had full intention of killing the officers and was attempting to do so. 4 0