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Police Arrest 10 Burglary Suspects in Evacuation Zones
January 13, 2025 -- Since emergency orders were issued in Santa Monica last Tuesday, police officers have made more than 40 arrests in evacuation zones during the Pacific Palisades fire, police officials said Monday.
Santa Monica Residents Can Return Home
January 13, 2025 -- Santa Monica has lifted its mandatory evacuation order for the area north of San Vicente Boulevard allowing residents to return home for the first time in nearly a week, City officials announced Monday morning.
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Santa Monica Remains on Fire Alert
January 12, 2025 -- All but one Santa Monica public school will open on Monday and City services will largely return to normal, but curfews remain in place in evacuation zones as winds pick up and police continue making arrests.
SMC Holds Fire Drive, Homeless Count Postponed
January 10, 2025 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) announced it would collect donations on Monday and Tuesday for those affected by the Pacific Palisades fire, while LA County postponed its annual homeless count.
City Updates Evacuation Orders
January 10, 2025 -- The City of Santa Monica on Friday afternoon lifted the Evacuation Order for the area between Montana Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard, allowing residents to return to their homes.
Poll Gauges Concerns from Laws to Health
January 9, 2025 -- Are there too many laws in California? Should the Council have made it easier for large projects to be approved? Does the bird flu pose a serious health threat?
Curfew in Place, Air Qualify Worsens
January 9, 2025 -- A curfew is now in place for the mandatory evacuation zone North of Montana Avenue, as Santa Monica residents are being urged to stay indoors with smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire approaching unhealthy levels.
Help, Justice Sought for Fire Victims
January 8, 2025 -- The American Red Cross is soliciting help for victims of the Pacific Palisades fire, while the County's top prosecutor is vowing to punish those who prey on them.
Evacuation Order Expanded, Local Schools Closed
January 8, 2025 -- City officials have extended the Evacuation Order issued for the area north of San Vicente Boulevard on Wednesday to include areas north of Montana Avenue between 11th Street and PCH.
Local Rents Dropped Last Year
January 7, 2025 -- Santa Monica rents dipped in 2024, reflecting state and national trends that saw apartments renting for less than they did a year ago, according to Apartment List's monthly report.
Evacuation Order Issued
January 7, 2025 -- City officials have issued an Evacuation Order for all areas of Santa Monica north of San Vicente Boulevard due to an "immediate threat to life" from the Pacific Palisades fire.
How Santa Monica Voted
January 6, 2025 – Bucking Santa Monica's liberal tradition, local voters on November 5 opposed a statewide rent control law and joined a large majority of Californians who voted to crack down on crime.
New Planning Head Assumes Post
January 6, 2025 -- Santa Monica began the year with a new interim head of planning as the City Council begins quickly shifting its policies to make it easier to build new housing.
City Preps for Homeless Diversion Program
January 3, 2025 -- The City this spring will launch an $8 million three-year program that provides homeless persons arrested for misdemeanor crimes an alternative to jail.
Lower Speed Limits Go Into Effect
January 2, 2025 -- Traffic will slow down this year on some 30 miles of streets across Santa Monica, which has seen fatal and serious injury crashes rising since 2020.
Arson Charges Reinstated in 2020 Police Car Torching
January 2, 2025 -- A Federal Appeals Court last month ruled that two men accused of setting a police car on fire during the violent 2020 protests in Santa Monica will go back on trial.
TOP STORIES OF 2024
First Quarter -- A Tale of Two Murals, Voting Rights Battle Drags On While Century's Biggest Development Gets Swift Approval
Fourth Quarter -- Political Establishment Returns to Power; Murder Charges Filed in Shooting, Stabbing, Hit-and-Run Killing; City Manager Resigns
Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested for Murder
December 27, 2024 -- The suspect in a hit-and-run collision that killed an elderly Vietnam Veteran Sunday as she crossed Wilshire Boulevard was arrested Friday for murder, according to Santa Monica police.
Police Search for Fatal Hit and Run Driver
December 26,2024 -- Police are asking for help searching for a driver who killed an elderly pedestrian in a hit-and-run collision Sunday evening that was captured on video.
Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash
December 23, 2024 -- An elderly woman was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday evening near Douglas Park, marking the fourth pedestrian to die from a traffic collision this year.
Christmas Closures and Service Changes
December 23, 2024 -- City Hall will be open until noon on Christmas Eve and shut down on Christmas Day as the City scales back or suspends its services Tuesday and Wednesday.
Piano Teacher Charged with Sex Crimes Against Child Student
December 20, 2024 -- The LA County District Attorney charged a 41-year-old music teacher arrested by Santa Monica police with sexually abusing a 14-year-old piano student earlier this year.
The Moon, the Stars and the Robots of Mars
December 20, 2024 -- Kick off the new year by diving into galaxies and roaming the surface of Mars during live virtual shows at the Santa Monica College Planetarium.
Revised Affordable Housing Development Moves Forward
December 19, 2024 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted to enter into ground leases and development agreements for affordable housing projects totaling 130 units on City-owned land.
Santa Monica Celebrates Holidays Under the Miramar's Iconic Fig Tree
December 19, 2024 -- More than 1,000 holiday revelers gathered under the Fairmont Miramar's iconic 150-year-old fig tree bringing more than 2,300 pounds of food and hundreds of items of clothing and toys.
Council Makes it Easier to Build Large Housing Projects
December 18, 2024 -- Large housing projects in non-residential neighborhoods that meet zoning standards will be granted a "swift and smooth approval" under a proposal green-lighted by the City Council Tuesday night.
City to Honor Civic, Business Leader
December 18, 2024 -- The City on Saturday will hold a special ceremony honoring Lloyd C. Allen, a longtime civic leader and champion of civil rights who became Santa Monica's first black millionaire.
SMC Extends Transfer Streak
December 17, 2024 -- For the 34th consecutive year, Santa Monica College (SMC) transferred more students to the University of California (UC) system than any other community college in the state.
SMC Board Seeks New Member
December 17, 2024 -- The Santa Monica College (SMC) Board is seeking applicants to fill the seat vacated by Barry Snell after he was elected to the City Council last month, college officials announced Monday.
New Council Moves to Streamline Housing Process
December 16, 2024 -- The new City Council on Tuesday is quickly moving to allow housing projects proposed in non-residential zones to once again be approved administratively on any size lot.
LETTERS -- District Elections Advocates Beware
December 16, 2024 -- Civil rights are extremely important and I’m sure many cities need to change their voting system, but Santa Monica is not one of them, writes former mayor Paul Rosenstein.
New Council Proposes Rule Changes
December 13, 2024 -- The newly seated City Council is proposing rule changes that range from limiting the time Councilmembers can speak to allowing the Council majority to formally censure one of its members.
Police Arrest Piano Teacher for Sexually Molesting Child Student
December 13, 2024 -- Santa Monica police on Thursday arrested a 41-year-old piano teacher from Van Nuys for sexually molesting a 14-year old student.
Hot Topics on New Council's First Agenda
December 12, 2024 -- At its first full meeting Tuesday night, Santa Monica's new City Council will take a deep dive into some of the most pressing issues facing the City when it meets behind closed doors.
Celebrate a Monstrous Holiday Season
December 12, 2024 -- This holiday season put a macabre twist on Christmas with a monstrous exhibit at the Santa Monica Art Museum (SMAM) on the Promenade.
New Council to Take Up Amended Projects
December 11, 2024 -- The newly seated City Council -- composed of a 6 to 1 pro-housing development majority -- will take up a final proposal Tuesday to build 130 affordable units on three City owned parking lots.
Conservancyon Fundraising Mission
December 11, 2024 -- The Santa Monica Conservancy tripled its one-day goal on Giving Tuesday, raising enough to fund several key programs, the group announced Wednesday.
Liberal Establishment Back in Power
December 10, 2024 -- Santa Monica entered a new era Tuesday night as four newly elected City Council members were sworn in as part of a 6 to 1 super-majority.
EXTRA -- City Manager to Leave Post
December 10, 2024 -- (UPDATED) City Manager David White -- who helped steer Santa Monica through some of its most turbulent years – will announce Tuesday that he is leaving the post, City Hall sources confirmed.
Tongva Tribe Could Be Recognized as a Nation
December 9, 2024 -- Congress is expected to vote on a bill next year to recognize the Tongva as a nation and deed the tribe as many as 300 acres in their traditional homeland, which includes Santa Monica.
Police to Hold Traffic Safety Operations
December 9, 2024 -- Over the next two days, Santa Monica traffic officers will crack down on drivers whose behaviors put the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.
