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Council Given Early Notice of Ocean Avenue Mental Health Projects
November 10, 2025 -- Six months before the public was notified, top City officials learned that a transitional housing program for mentally ill homeless was slated to open on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.
Woman Charged with Aiding Fatal Hit-and-Run Driver
November 10, 2025 -- A 42-year-old woman has been charged with aiding the driver who fled the State after allegedly killing two pedestrians and seriously injuring two others in a fatal hit-and-run in Santa Monica last month.
Beloved Mounted Unit Police Horse Dies
November 7, 2025 -- Laredo, a beloved member of the Santa Monica police force, died on Sunday after a seven-month battle with rotational laminitis on his left front hoof. He was 18.
Santa Monica to Celebrate Veterans Day
November 7, 2025 -- Santa Monica will celebrate Veterans Day Tuesday's with speeches, a swearing in of future soldiers and a "high-flying salute visible across the coastline," City officials said.
Police Arrest Fatal Hit-and-Run Suspect in Chicago
November 6, 2025 -- The 38-year-old suspect in a deadly hit-and-run collision that killed two pedestrians in Santa Monica was arrested in Chicago last Thursday after fleeing the State.
ICE at Santa Monica Returns Friday
November 6, 2025 -- Those who long for gliding on ice outdoors will have their holiday wish granted when Downtown Santa Monica kick's off its annual ice skating rink near the Ocean on Friday.
SMRR Keeps Powerful Committee Intact
November 5, 2025 -- The powerful committee that shapes policy for Santa Monica's oldest and most influential political organization will remain unchanged after an uncontested election Saturday.
SMC Showcases New Math and Science Building
November 5, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) showcased its new cutting-edge $125 million Mathematics + Science Building at an open house on Saturday.
Santa Monica Finalist for Business-Friendly Award
November 4, 2025 -- Santa Monica has been struggling with a sputtering local economy that has seen sales taxes drop and commercial vacancies persist, but the City's efforts to help local businesses could win an award.
New SMC Planetarium Opens Next Week
November 4, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Planetarium will resume its live Friday evening shows this month at a new state-of-the- art dome that began construction in 2021.
Council Votes to Make Homeless Housing Projects More 'Transparent'
November 3, 2025 -- The City Council last week unanimously approved steps to make the process for new homeless housing facilities more transparent, but not before setting off some political fireworks.
SMC Seeks Personnel Commissioner
November 3, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees is seeking applicants to fill an open seat on the Personnel Commission, which is responsible for administering the college’s Merit System.
Food Bank Pleads for Help as SNAP Funding Set to End
October 31, 2025 -- With funding for the SNAP food assistance program running out on Saturday due to the Federal government shutdown, the Westside Food Bank is "pleading" for donations.
SMC Recycling Program Wins National Award
October 31, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) won a top award from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) for its "pioneering" community college program, school officials announced Thursday.
Council Approves Ambitious Plan to Revitalize City
October 30, 2025 -- Three months after City Manager Oliver Chi assumed the government's top post, the City Council enthusiastically approved an ambitious plan to bring Santa Monica back.
Pier Hosts First Ever Youth Day
October 30, 2025 -- Low-income children from across Los Angeles County came this month to the inaugural Youth Day at the Pier that for many was their first visit to the ocean.
City Set to Boost Traffic Safety Efforts
October 29, 2025 -- As National Pedestrian Safety Month comes to a close, traffic improvements will enter their final phase in the industrial zone area and SMPD traffic officers will resume enforcement operations.
Santa Monica Man to Serve Nearly Two Years in Federal Prison
October 29, 2025 -- A Santa Monica man who pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and concealing income from the IRS was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months in federal prison.
Hit And Run Victims Identified
October 28, 2025 -- The two pedestrians killed in a hit and run crash Friday have been identified, as police search for the driver of the orange Dodge Charger caught on surveillance video fleeing the scene on foot..
Global Motion Presents Fall Performance
October 28, 2025 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Global Motion World Dance Company will present its fall 2025 performance of dances from around the world next month.
City's New Plan Has Different Key for Success
October 27, 2025 -- A latest plan to chart Santa Monica's comeback revisits initiatives the previous Council proposed and, in some cases, set in motion with few visible results.
Council Takes Up Safeguards to Prevent Stealth Housing Facilities
October 27, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday will discuss key issues raised by two transitional housing facilities on Ocean Avenue for the mentally ill homeless that caught City leaders and neighbors by surprise.
Two Pedestrians Killed in Hit-and-Run
October 25, 2025 -- Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who killed two pedestrians and injured two others on Wilshire Boulevard Friday night then fled the scene on foot.
City Manager Unveils Sweeping Plan for Santa Monica's Comeback
October 24, 2025 -- The City Manager's office on Thursday released an "overarching game plan" for Santa Monica that aims to "restore order, rebuild economic capacity and re-establish long-term fiscal health."
RAND Lays Off Local Workers
October 24, 2025 -- (UPDATED) The RAND Corporation will permanently lay off 73 employees at its Santa Monica headquarters effective November 2, according to a filing with the State on Tuesday.
LETTERS -- Heads Should Roll
October 24, 2025 -- Even with an acquiescent City Council, tiny, dense Santa Monica can’t be the answer to the huge LA Region’s multiple homeless problems.
City Set to Extend Bank Lease on Prime Site
October 23, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to extend its lease with Bank of America through 2028, more than a decade after a proposed development that included the prime Downtown property was rejected.
Dodgers Rally on Promenade Tonight
October 23, 2025 -- A pep rally to whip up Dodgers fans will be held on the Promenade this evening as the team heads back into the World Series rocketed by Shohei Ohtani's epic performance.
Contract to Prevent Sex Abuse in City Youth Programs Up for Renewal
October 22, 2025 -- The City Council on Tuesday is poised to renew a $510,000 contract to help safeguard against sexual abuse at City-run youth programs after paying $229 million to settle past cases.
Prescription Drug Take Back Event Saturday
October 22, 2025 -- On Saturday, the Santa Monica Police Department will collect old, unwanted or expired prescription drugs during DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Council Majority to Present 'Renaissance Agenda'
October 21, 2025 -- When Vons opened Santa Monica's largest full-service supermarket Friday, the store topped by 280 new housing units offered a blueprint the City Council will follow, said Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis.
Council Sets Policy for 'Signature' Events
October 21, 2025 -- The City Council last week approved a new policy that waives fees, streamlines the process and provides City support for more than a dozen annual community events.
Council Takes Up Sex Abuse Cases in Special Meeting
October 20, 2025 -- The City Council will hold a special closed session meeting this evening to discuss the latest round of
child sexual abuse cases that date back decades.
Volley-Ween Returns to the Beach
October 20, 2025 -- The fourth annual Volley-Ween Beach BBQ Mixer, to rally support for local nonprofits will be held on October 29, tourism officials announced.
Standoff at Homeless Housing Facility Ends with Arrest
October 17, 2025 -- A more than five-hour standoff with police at a homeless housing facility in the Pico Neighbor ended with the suspect's arrest shortly after midnight Thursday.
Poll Shows Strong Opposition to Homeless Program
October 17, 2025 -- A transitional housing program on Ocean Avenue for mentally ill homeless individuals is "strongly" opposed by Santa Monica residents, according to a monthly poll conducted last week.
Teen Open Mic Back at Miles Playhouse
October 17, 2025 -- Teen performers can once again showcase their talents at the Miles Playhouse during Downbeat 720, an open mic that returned to the historic venue Tuesday after five years away.
Council Ends Civic Auditorium Negotiations, Will Explore Other Options
October 16, 2025 -- Frustrated that a year of talks has led to little more than a "big beautiful vision," the City Council Tuesday night ended a exclusive negotiation agreement (ENA) with an expert group to revitalize the shuttered Civic Auditorium.
Santa Monica Seeks a Poet Laureate
October 16, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Public Library is searching for its second poet laureate to serve a two-year term beginning next March that comes with an annual stipend of $5,000 a year.
Democrats Remain Split Over Historic Housing Bill
October 15, 2025 -- California's liberal establishment remains divided over a controversial new housing law that allows large residential developments to be built near transit stops with no local input.
Locals Night Showcases Pier's Magic
October 15, 2025 -- Locals' Night returns to the Santa Monica Pier Thursday with a retro-style community celebration that includes a high school pep rally and old arcade games.
Controversial Mental Health Housing on Ocean Avenue Paused
October 14, 2025 -- A County funded transitional housing program on Ocean Avenue for mentally ill homeless individuals has been paused to "allow for more robust community engagement," Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath announced Tuesday.
Council to Determine Civic Auditorium's Fate
October 14, 2025 -- The fate of the Civic Auditorium could be determined Tuesday night when the City Council decides whether to continue negotiations with an expert group that promises to save the beleaguered landmark.
OPINION -- Shame on Us: The Breakdown of Our Failing Response to Homelessness and Mental Illness
SMPD Receives Grant for Traffic Safety
October 14, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) received a $285,000 State grant to tackle one of its top priorities, traffic safety, officials announced Monday.
Santa Monica's Drinking Water Meets Safety Standards
October 10, 2025 -- Santa Monica's drinking water met or exceeded federal and state standards last year and remained safe during the devastating Palisades fire, according to a report the City Council will take up Tuesday.
Library Card Now Checks Out More than Books
October 10, 2025 -- A Santa Monica Library card can now be used to check out more than library items -- cardholders can use it to get discounts at local businesses or check out Monday's tech fair for free.
Council Poised to Reform 'Supposed' Discretionary Budget
October 9, 2025 -- A "discretionary" budget that allows the City Council to fund special programs and events is being "pre-committed" to the same entities every year, according to a staff report posted Wednesday.
Death Pervades Latest Issue of SMC Literary Review
October 9, 2025 -- Sadness and longing run through the 11 stories and two essays in the latest issue of the Santa Monica Review (SMR), the esteemed literary journal published twice yearly by Santa Monica College (SMC).
City Bill Reaching $14.5 Million in Voting Rights Case
October 8, 2025 -- The City's legal bill fighting a voting rights lawsuit filed by Latino plaintiffs nearly a decade ago has climbed to nearly $14.5 million, according to the latest figures from the City.
LA Police Recover Stolen Cargo in Local Warehouse
October 8, 2025 -- On Thursday, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives recovered an estimated $500,000 worth of stolen train cargo -- including unreleased Nike shoes -- in a Santa Monica warehouse, police officials announced Tuesday.
What We Know About the Ocean Avenue Homeless Housing Facilities
October 7, 2025 -- News that a County-funded program offering transitional housing for homeless individuals with a serious mental illness will open on Ocean Avenue this month has stirred fears and raised questions
Santa Monica Kicks Off LA Tech Week
October 7, 2025 -- Ocean Avenue and areas of Palisades Park will be transformed into a high-tech corridor on Monday as Santa Monica launches LA Tech Week 2025, City officials announced.
October 6, 2025 -- A County funded transitional housing program for homeless individuals with serious mental illness is slated to open this month on two adjacent oceanfront facilities in Santa Monica, The Lookout has learned.
OPINION -- Mayor Addresses Homeless Housing Facilities
October 6, 2025 -- The transitional housing program opening at two properties on Ocean Avenue is not a City of Santa Monica housing project, nor was it initiated by the City, writes Mayor Lana Negrete.
Ed Foundation Raised More than $2.5 Million During last School Year
October 6, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Education Foundation raised $2.52 million during the 2024-25 school year to support essential staff and programs at local public schools.
Council Approves New Program for Neighborhood Groups
October 3, 2025 -- Santa Monica's printed newsletter "Seascape," as well as its election forum, will return as part of a plan unanimously approved by the City Council Tuesday that bars neighborhood groups from engaging in politics.
City Joins Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
October 3, 2025 -- Santa Monica joined a lawsuit filed Wednesday challenging a Federal policy that requires local governments to adopt the Trump administration’s political agenda or risk losing critical funding, City officials announced.
Proposed Labor Ordinance Could Drive Out Local Businesses, Study Warns
October 2, 2025 -- A proposed ordinance that would pave the way for unionizing businesses on City-owned properties could force them to shut down or leave Santa Monica, according to a report released Wednesday.
Downtown Parking Structure Closes for 'Urgent' Repairs
October 2, 2025 -- Downtown Parking Structure 5 on 4th Street behind the Promenade near Broadway closed at 4 p.m. Wednesday for urgent repairs that could last one month.
LETTERS -- SMO: A Bad Habit the City Can't Break
October 2, 2025 -- No matter how often City officials promise closure, Sana Monica Airport (SMO) is expanding instead of winding down.
Homeless Man Charged in Racial Attacks to Face Trial
October 1, 2025 -- A homeless man charged in three racially motivated attacks in Santa Monica last year must stand trial after a California Appeals Court panel on Tuesday ruled his case did not qualify for a mental health diversion.
Homeless Reunification Program Stirs Debate
October 1, 2025 -- A program launched by Santa Monica activist John Alle to reunite Santa Monica's homeless with their families made national headlines, and drew criticism from a top City official.
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