Metro to Explore Hubs for Homeless Passengers When Trains Are Emptied
January 30, 2023 -- Homeless passengers removed from LA Metro rail trains when they stop running late at night may soon have an alternative to spending the night at the station or on the streets.

Santa Monica Celebrates Philip Glass
January 30, 2023 -- Santa Monica will celebrate the distinctive music of American composer Philip Glass -- who half a century ago popularized Minimalism -- with two events marking his 85th birthday.

Santa Monica Police Force Braces for Potential Protests
January 27, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Police Department is bracing for potential protests after the release Friday of footage showing the violent beating of motorist Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers.

Brock Appointed to National Public Safety Committee
January 27, 2023 -- Councilmember Phil Brock -- an outspoken critic of local efforts to fight crime and homelessness -- has been appointed to serve on the National League of Cities’(NLC) Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee.

Airport Plan Takes Off
January 25, 2023 -- The City Council late Tuesday night began planning for the future of Santa Monica Airport (SMO), "a thousand year project," one top City official said, that "is just too much to imagine."

Angry Speakers Push Back After Lengthy Closed Session
January 25, 2023 -- A four-hour closed session Tuesday yielded one eagerly awaited decision by the City Council and unleashed the frustration of those who had packed the chamber waiting to speak.

City to Buy Art Work at Fair Next Month
January 25, 2023 -- The City will add to its collection of more than 200 art works when it buys a work by an LA-based artist at an art fair in Santa Monica next month, City officials announced.

Two Drivers Arrested After Trying to Kill Each Other
January 25, 2023 -- (UDATED) Two drivers were charged with attempted murder after an argument turned violent at a busy Downtown Santa Monica intersection Tuesday afternoon.

Driver Shoots Man After Traffic Collision
January 24, 2023 -- The driver of an SUV involved in a traffic collisionin Downtown Santa Monica Tuesday afternoon shot and injured the man in the other car, shutting down traffic in the busy area, police said.

County Pushes Boosters as Cases and Hospitalizations Drop
January 23, 2023 -- For the first time since November, Los Angeles County returned to the CDC's Low Community level last week, but Health officials continue to push questionable boosters to fight the latest coronavirus variants.

Police to Focus on Bike and Pedestrian Safety This Week
January 23, 2023 -- Santa Monica police will hold the year's second Bike and Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations this week as fatalities among those walking and bicycling rose nationwide last year.

Santa Monica Kicks Off Process to Determine Fate of City Hall Murals
January 20, 2023 -- The public will begin weighing in next month on the fate of two historic murals in the City Hall lobby that critics contend are "vestiges of white supremacy."

Michigan Man Extradited for Santa Monica Murder
January 20, 2023 -- A Michigan resident was arrested and extradited to Santa Monica Wednesday for the murder of a man found stabbed to death in his car at a beach parking lot in November.

Local COVID Cases Drop
January 19, 2023 -- Coronavirus cases in Santa Monica dropped over the past ten days as an anticipated post-holiday surge in LA County has failed to materialize.

Food Bank Faces Egg Shortage
January 19, 2023 -- The Westside Food Bank (WSFB) is scrambling to find eggs amid soaring prices and scare supplies nationwide, the Santa Monica-based non-profit said Thursday.

EXTRA -- Lawsuit Seeks to Void Transfer Tax Hike
January 18, 2023 -- The City Council on Tuesday will take up a lawsuit in closed session that seeks to void the transfer tax hike approved by Santa Monica voters in November.

Early Childhood Lab School Earns Prestigious Building Designation
January 18, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School has earned the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Former Employee Becomes Fourth Appointed Rent Board Member
January 17, 2023 -- In what is likely a first, Lonnie Guinn on Thursday became the fourth Commissioner initially appointed to the five member Santa Monica Rent Control Board.

Homeless Burglary Suspect Arrested in North of Montana Guest House
January 17, 2023 -- A suspected homeless burglar wanted in Arizona for shoplifting was arrested Monday night after breaking into a guest house in an exclusive North of Montana Neighborhood.

Annual Homeless Count Addresses Previous Drawbacks
January 13, 2023 -- Santa Monica is seeking volunteers to participate in an annual homeless census this month that County officials say has been improved to provide a more accurate count.

Stabbing Outside Mental Health Facility Furthers Trend
January 13, 2023 -- A man was stabbed outside a home for the mentally ill in Santa Monica Tuesday, furthering a trend that has seen knives increasingly used in local crimes.

Council Bars Paid Lobbyists from Boards and Commissions
January 12, 2023 -- Eight years after it began hammering out a lobbying law, the City Council on Tuesday agreed on final revisions that bar paid lobbyists from serving on boards and commissions.

Council Takes Measured Approach to New Smoking Ban
January 11, 2022 -- The City Council Tuesday night got a brief glimpse of how difficult it could be to enforce its new anti-smoking provision when it had to use a measuring tape.

EXTRA -- Santa Monica To End COVID Emergency
January 11, 2023 -- Santa Monica will end its health emergency for the cornonavirus pandemic on February 28, nearly three years after it was declared, City officials announced Tuesday.

Iconic Black Civil Rights Leader to Speak at MLK Day Celebration
January 10, 2023 -- Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr. -- a Black civil rights leader and icon who coined the phrase "environmental racism" -- will be the keynote speaker at Monday's birthday celebration for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Santa Monica.

Highly Contagious But Less Dangerous Omicron Variant Taking Hold
January 10, 2023 -- County Health officials on Tuesday "strongly" recommended that students and workers returning from the holidays get tested for COVID and wear a mask for ten days.

EXTRA -- City Seeks to Recoup Nearly $100 Million in Sex Abuse Settlement Costs
January 9, 2022 -- The City of Santa Monica is seeking to recover nearly $100 million it used from its General Fund to settle sex abuse cases involving former employee Eric Uller, according to financial statements from the City.

Armed Man Arrested After Passing Out in Car
January 9, 2023 -- Officers arrested an armed felon after he allegedly passed out at the wheel of a car blocking a busy Santa Monica intersection Sunday night, according to police.

City Receives $1.5 Million to Tackle "Behavioral Health Needs"
January 6, 2023 -- Santa Monica has another $1.5 million to address the "behavioral health needs" of the homeless as part of the $1.7 trillion Appropriations Act signed last month, City officials said.

Santa Monica Rents Cooled Down Last Year
January 5, 2023 -- Rents in Santa Monica grew at a slower rate last year than they did in 2021 and are now slightly higher than at the start of the coronavirus shutdown, according to a report released by Apartment List on Thursday.

Police Officer Sues City Over Crash of Patrol Vehicles
January 5, 2023 -- A crash involving two Santa Monica police patrol SUVs responding to emergency calls two years ago is headed to court after one of the officers filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court.

A Squirrely Question
January 4, 2023 -- Where are the squirrels? That question is being asked on a flier in Palisades Park as concerned residents send a flurry of emails to Councilmembers seeking an answer.

Local COVID Cases Saw Dramatic Rise Last Year
January 3, 2023 -- The number of coronavirus cases reported in Santa Monica rose more than two-thirds last year, while virus-related deaths dropped one-third, according to an analysis of data from LA County Public Health.

Guards Equipped with High Tech Begin Patrolling Public Parking Structures
January 3, 2023 -- Security guards armed with cameras and tracking devices have begun patrolling Santa Monica's 10 public parking structures in the Downtown area nightly, City officials report.

Year-End Poll Gauges City's Direction, Housing, Indoor Masking and Crime
December 27, 2022 -- A year-end poll of Santa Monica residents concerned with public safety found few believe the City is headed in the right direction, but many are keeping an open mind as a new Council takes over.

Former Santa Monica Mayor Dies in Plane Crash at 95
December 25, 2022 -- Former Santa Monica Mayor Rex Minter died Thursday after the small single-engine plane he was a passenger in crash landed south of the Pier. He was 95.

Santa Monicans Meet Again Under the Fig Tree
December 22, 2022 -- The snow fell again and Santa Claus was back as nearly 1,000 Santa Monicans gathered under the Miramar Hotel's iconic fig tree to celebrate the holidays after a two-year hiatus.

More Sex Abuse Cases Against the City Filed as Deadline Looms
December 20, 2022 -- The number of new sex abuse cases involving former City employee Eric Uller is growing as attorneys scramble to find more plaintiffs before the December 31 filing deadline.

Santa Monica Sees Weekly Surge in COVID-Related Deaths
December 19, 2022 -- Santa Monica saw a surge in reported COVID-related deaths last week with four, the most in three months, according to data from the the LA County Health Department.

SMC Planetarium Offers First 'In-Person' Show Since COVID Shutdown
December 19, 2022 -- After nearly three years of remote Santa Monica College planetarium shows, attendees will finally get a hands on look at the stars next month.

School Board Hires Interim Superintendent
December 16, 2022 -- The School Board on Thursday tapped Assistant Superintendent Mark Kelly -- who has led human resources development and student services since 2015 -- to run the District on an interim basis.

OPINION -- Superintendent’s Message: Farewell SMMUSD
I write this last message to the community with both a heavy heart and optimism for SMMUSD. My optimism is due to knowing that we are collectively in the middle of something great with respect to us transforming the District.

City Extends Rent Relief Program After Fewer Than 500 Households Qualify
December 15, 2022 -- The City has extended a rent relief program for struggling rent control tenants after fewer than 500 applications were approved, leaving most of the $750,000 in funding unused.

COVID Cases Drop in Santa Monica, Countywide
December 15, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases fell last week in Santa Monica and across Los Angeles County despite warnings from Health officials that a post-Thanksgiving surge could be looming as holiday season kicks in.

Council Awards Kiosk Contract to Top Bidder
December 14, 2022 -- Hoping to end an acrimonious bidding war, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday awarded a lucrative wayfinding contract to BIG Outdoor while rejecting a proposal to start the process over.

Santa Monica Polar Bears to Hit Surf Sunday
December 14, 2022 -- It should be sunny and in the upper 50s Sunday as Santa Monica holds its annual Polar Bear Swim at the Annenberg Community Beach House.

WSC Submits Plans for First Builder's Remedy Project
December 13, 2022 -- WSC last week submitted its first full proposal for one of the 15 projects it rushed into Santa Monica's planning pipeline under the "builder's remedy" provision in State Housing law.

Bidder Claims Company Misled City to Win Lucrative 'Wayfinding' Contract
December 12, 2022 -- The runner-up in the bid for Santa Monica's lucrative outdoor kiosk program claims the company poised to win the contract lacks a pertinent track record and made unrealistic financial projections.

SMC Keeps Transfer Streak Alive
December 12, 2022 -- There was no internet to read the news when Santa Monica College (SMC) began its record 32-year streak as the number one transfer college to the University of California (UC) system.

Proposed Resolution Gives Police Reform Commissioners Ultimatum
December 9, 2022 -- Members of the City's Police Reform Commission have until February 1 to complete the training required to serve or face ejection, under a resolution the City Council will take up Tuesday.

Four Arrested in Catalytic Converter Theft
December 9, 2022 -- Four suspects were arrested for grand theft early Friday morning after stealing a catalytic converter from a Prius parked in the Pico Neighborhood.

Celebrate the Holidays Under the Miramar's Iconic Fig Tree Sunday
December 8, 2022 -- The Miramar Hotel is inviting residents and guests to spread the holiday cheer on Sunday at the annual "Meet Me Under The Fig Tree" holiday celebration.

Former Santa Monica Officials Win Big
December 8, 2022 -- Former Santa Monica City officials swept to easy victories in elections across LA County last month, while a major local political force saw mixed results.

Indoor Mask Mandate Could Return, Health Officials Warn
December 7, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases continued rising in Santa Monica, reflecting a Countywide trend that has prompted warnings from Public Health officials that indoor mask mandates could soon return.

Police Arrest Suspected Homeless Serial Robber
December 7, 2022 -- A homeless man who is a suspect in a series of local robberies was charged with two counts of robbery Tuesday after holding up an adult store on Santa Monica Boulevard, according to police.

Davis, Brock to Serve Year Each as Mayor
December 6, 2022 -- After a halting start and three quick rounds of voting, the City Council Tuesday night elected Councilmembers Gleam Davis and Phil Brock to serve one year each as mayor.

LETTERS -- Homeless Programs Are Political Payback
December 6, 2022 -- As it stands now in Santa Monica your $42.5 million homeless budget is essentially a jobs program for the loyalists who support the liberal left that you keep electing in the city.

Liberal Establishment Makes Comeback
December 5, 2022 -- It's official: Santa Monica's liberal establishment roared back in the November 8 races but fell one seat short of regaining power on the City Council after failing to unseat incumbent Lana Negrete.(Certified Results)

Electing Mayor Could be a Struggle
December 5, 2022 -- Tuesday night's vote for mayor could test the two-year-old Change coalition on the Council as two members are expected to vie for the mostly ceremonial post.

Suspect Charged in Officer Involved Shooting
December 2, 2022 -- LA County prosecutors on Thursday filed charges against an armed man shot by police after barricading himself in a Pico Neighborhood apartment with his robbery victims.

Poll Finds Attacks on Negrete Backfired
December 2, 2022 -- A hard-hitting campaign against Councilmember Lana Negrete may have backfired, helping to pave the way for her reelection, according to a recent push poll of Santa Monica residents.

City Spends More than $40 Million on Homelessness But Lacks Way to Gauge Progress
December 1, 2022 -- Santa Monica spends an estimated $42.5 million a year on homeless programs and services but lacks a specific plan and the data needed to gauge whether its efforts are paying off.

Santa Monica Helps Win Judgment in Rihanna Lingerie Website Case
November 30, 2022 -- The Santa Monica City Attorney's Office helped win a $1.2 million stipulated judgment in a case against Savage X Fenty, a lingerie brand founded by popular Barbadian singer Rihanna.

Santa Monica Rents Remain Flat
November 30, 2022 -- Santa Monica rents remained relatively flat in November, falling by 0.5 percent to an average median rent of $2,202, according to Apartment List's monthly report released Wednesday.

LETTERS -- Repeat Violent Offenders Expose Folly of Criminal Justice Policies
November 30, 2022 -- Habitual offenders are being released to commit violent crimes in Santa Monica that include murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Votes Still Being Slowly Counted 3 Weeks After Election
November 29, 2022 -- A trickle of votes were counted by the LA County registrar over the past week, with fewer than 50 of the 3,370 ballots counted countywide cast in Santa Monica.

School Board to Appoint Interim Superintendent Next Month
November 29, 2022 -- The School Board is expected to appoint a temporary replacement for outgoing Superintendent Ben Drati at its December 15 meeting and launch a search for a permanent successor.

EXTRA -- Councilmember Negrete Declares Victory in Reelection Bid
November 28, 2022 -- After nearly one month watching her third place lead slowly expand, Council member Lana Negrete on Monday declared victory in her bid for reelection.

Car Goes Over Bluffs, Another Fatally Strikes Pedestrian
November 28, 2022 -- A car went over the edge of the Palisades Park bluffs and another fatally struck a pedestrian in two separate traffic accidents during the extended holiday weekend.

COVID Cases Spike in Santa Monica; Deaths Nationwide Mostly Among Vaccinated
November 23, 2022 -- As the holidays get underway, Coronavirus cases jumped last week in Santa Monica after rising steadily for more than a month, according to data from Los Angeles County Public Health.

The Last Man on the Moon and the Star of Bethlehem at SMC Planetarium
November 23, 2022 -- If most people know Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, far fewer know that Gene Cernan was the last.

Status Quo Prevails in Santa Monica
November 22, 2022 -- With an estimated 15,105 ballots left to count -- out of the nearly 2.5 million cast in LA County -- the political status quo has prevailed in Santa Monica this election season.

Ballot Measures Nearly Make Clean Sweep
November 22, 2022 -- Santa Monica voters approved three new taxes that will bring in nearly $60 million a year and joined Malibu voters to approve a $375 million bond for Santa Monica College.

Drati Makes Surprise Departure from School District
November 21, 2022 -- In a move that caught School District officials by surprise, Superintendent Ben Drati was hired Thursday evening to run the Bellflower public school system.

SMC to Provide Free Thanksgiving Meals to Needy Students
November 21, 2022 -- For the third straight year, Santa Monica College (SMC) will give away more than 1,000 meals to students experiencing hunger as food prices continue to rise.

Santa Monica Developer Puts 3 'Builder's Remedy' Properties for Sale
November 18, 2022 -- WSC is selling three Santa Monica properties rushed into the planning pipeline last month before the City's Housing Element was given final approval by the State, The Lookout has confirmed.

Homeless Man Arrested after Stabbing Two at Santa Monica Beach
November 18, 2022 -- Police arrested a homeless man suspected of stabbing two men on the beach in Ocean Park Thursday night -- one by a public restroom, the other on the bike path.

Negrete Headed Back to Council; GS, SMC Win
November 17, 2022 -- With just 13.5 percent of the countywide ballots left to count, Councilmember Lana Negrete will hold on to the seat she was appointed to fill less than a year-and-a-half ago. Measures GS and SMC have also won (Latest Election Results)

Extra Bedroom Program Returns
November 17, 2022 -- Santa Monica residents can experience their town like a tourist this holiday season or help put up a guest with the return of the "I Wish I had an Extra Bedroom" program.

City Council Left Speechless
November 16, 2022 -- According to some of those present, Tuesday night's City Council meeting was one of the most memorable and entertaining in memory. Only you had to be there.

Negrete, Measures GS, SMC Expand Vote Margins
November 16, 2022 -- Councilmember Lana Negrete, as well as Mayor Himmelrich's transfer tax hike and Santa Monica College's bond measure, expanded their leads in the only local competitive races left.

Local COVID Cases Inch Above 100, As County Officials Prepare Major Vaccination Push
November 15, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases in Santa Monica inched over 100 last week as LA County Health officials prepare a major push to vaccinate hesitant residents before winter comes.

Leaders in Competitive Races Hold On After More Ballots Counted
November 15, 2022 -- Leaders in the three Santa Monica races that remain to be decided inched further ahead after 284,084 votes were counted since Saturday.

Neighborhood Groups Push Back on 'Gag Order'
November 14, 2022 -- Neighborhood groups are pushing back against a proposal by Councilmember Gleam Davis asking them to "refrain" from taking positions in local races.

Three Santa Monica Races Remain Close
November 14, 2022 -- Three Santa Monica races remained undecided Monday, as LA County election officials continue to process the nearly than 750,000 mail-in ballots still to be counted.

Ice Returns to Santa Monica Wednesday
November 11, 2022 -- Skaters can hit the ice for the first time in nearly three years during the grand opening of ICE at Santa Monica next Wednesday, Downtown officials announced this week.

Friday Vote Tally Changes Little in Local Races
November 11, 2022 -- The LA County Registrar counted some 79,000 ballots on Friday but the new votes did little to change the margins built Thursday in local races.

Candidates, Ballot Measures Hold on to Leads as More Ballots Counted
November 10, 2022 -- The frontrunners in Santa Monica races held on to -- and in some cases padded -- their leads after the LA County Registrar unexpectedly released a new batch of votes Thursday afternoon.

SMC Forum Features Old Sounds and a New Way of Seeing
November 10, 2022 -- For the next month, Santa Monica College's (SMC) Fall Arts and Cultural Affairs Forum will explore the theme “Changing the Way We See.”

An Estimated 1 Million Ballots Countywide Yet to be Counted
November 9, 2022 -- An estimated 1 million ballots countywide -- most of them mailed in -- remain to be counted in Tuesday's general election, according to the LA County Registrar.

Torosis, Zwick Lead Early Voting; Negrete in Battle to Keep Seat
November 8, 2022 -- Rent Board Commissioner Caroline Torosis has built a large lead in the race for City Council, followed by Jesse Zwick, while incumbent Lana Negrete is in a tight battle for the third open seat, based on a tally of early votes cast.

COVID Cases Slowly Rising in Santa Monica
November 8, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases have been steadily rising in Santa Monica over the past month, mirroring a countywide trend, according to LA County Public Health data.

Brock Drops Support for Voting Rights Settlement
November 7, 2022 -- Efforts to settle a landmark voting rights lawsuit against the City have hit a major roadblock no matter who wins Tuesday's race for three open City Council seats, The Lookout has learned.

NEWS ANALYSIS -- Council Race May Be More About Power Than Issues
November 6, 2022 -- Santa Monica candidates mounted a last-ditch effort this weekend to get out the vote in a race that could tilt the balance of power on the City Council.

A Few Donors Carry Heavy Clout in Local Races
November 3, 2022 -- Santa Monica's low cap on candidate donations has bolstered the influence of both unknown donors from outside the City and powerful political players from within.

Council Revisits Smoking Ordinance
November 3, 2022 -- If you've repeatedly told your neighboring tenant to stop smoking on the sidewalk under your apartment window but he refuses, what can you do? On Tuesday, the City Council tried to find an answer.

All County Beaches Unsafe After Wednesday Storm
November 3, 2022 -- More than 80 beaches -- from San Pedro to Malibu -- joined the Santa Monica Pier on LA County's Health advisory list after a major rainstorm drove bacteria levels above State standards.

OPINION Who’s Backing City Council Candidates?
November 2, 2022 -- This is a hotly contested City Council election with 3 seats open. Political office here doesn’t come cheap. A little help from your friends goes toward candidates gaining a winning edge.

EXTRA -- City Could Be Vastly Overestimating 'Rent-Burdened' Households
November 1, 2022 -- If a widely publicized "rent relief" program is any indication, City officials have been vastly overestimating the number of "rent-burdened" households in Santa Monica.

Council Votes Not to Support Charter Amendment to Remove Sheriff
November 1, 2022 -- The City Council on Tuesday shot down a motion to support a countywide ballot measure giving LA County Supervisors the power to remove the sheriff.

Big Blue Bus Hits Major Hump, Report Says
October 31, 2022 -- Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (BBB) has hit a major hump in its efforts to return ridership to levels reached before the coronavirus shutdown, according to a report released last week.

Botched Robbery Leads to Two Arrests
October 31, 2022 -- The incident took place at around 9:30 p.m. at the 7-11 store near Pico and Lincoln boulevards, where officers responded to a report of shots fired, police said.

LETTERS -- Missing the Point
October 31, 2022 -- False accusatiions by the Democratic Club are marginalizing those within the party and creating division along racial lines.

School District, Malibu Agree to Separation 'Framework'
October 28, 2022 -- In what was quickly called both "a historic moment" and a "politically suspect move," the School District and City of Malibu unveiled a "framework" on Friday to move towards separation.

Most Undecided Voters Have Made Up Their Minds in Council Race, Poll Finds
October 28, 2022 -- A recent push poll of Santa Monica residents concerned with public safety found 20 percent had not decided which City Council candidates to support, down from 50 percent two months ago.

Council Race Could See Last-Ditch Spending Spree
October 27, 2022 -- As the hotly contested race for City Council entered the homestretch this week, seven candidates and the PACs that support them still had more than $400,000 left to spend.

LETTERS -- Stop Throwing Stones
October 27, 2022 -- Perhaps Maria Loya should be more cautious about accusing others of fomenting racial injustice and falsehoods, writes CEPS co-chair Nicole Faries.

City Takes Steps to Fight 'Builder's Remedy' Projects
October 26, 2022 -- The City of Santa Monica has hired an attorney to help fend off a flurry of development proposals rushed under an obscure State law this month, top City officials said Monday.

Santa Monica Alzheimer's Walk Raises $122,000
October 26, 2022 -- More than 400 Westside residents helped raise more than $122,000 during at this year's Santa Monica Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday.

LETTERS -- School District Hid Court Case That Led to $45 Million Award
October 26, 2022 -- The School District seems to have gone to great lengths to conceal from the public the existence of a lawsuit filed by autistic twins three years ago.

Police Investigate Two Stabbings Downtown
October 25, 2022 -- Two men were stabbed in Downtown Santa Monica Monday night, and police are investigating if the incidents are related, according to police.

COVID Cases Rise in Santa Monica
October 25, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases in Santa Monica rose by 22 last week, while the number of virus-related deaths remained steady for the third week in a row, according to LA County Health data.

Council to Continue Tweaking Lobbying Law
October 24, 2022 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to further revise a lobbying law it spent "many months" tweaking in 2015 and 2016 before approving a compromise version.

Two Homeless Suspects Arrested After Police Chase
October 24, 2022 -- Two homeless men suspected of trying to burglarize a home in Sunset Park were arrested early Sunday morning after a brief police chase, according to Santa Monica police.

OPINION -- Follow the Money – Santa Monica Ballot Measures
October 24, 2022 -- The Transparency Project has reviewed the money behind the ballot measures’ messages which are spending significant funds to influence your vote.

LETTERS -- Who Are the Real Right-Wing Conservatives in Santa Monica?
October 21, 2022 -- The all-white slates backed by the hotel workers union, Democratic Club and SMRR oppose minority voting rights, stay silent on historic racial injustices and campaign using falsehoods against real progressive Democrats of color.

EXTRA -- Jury Awards Autistic Twins $45 Million in Case Against SMMUSD
October 20, 2022 -- A Los Angeles Superior Court jury on Thursday awarded $45 million to two autistic School District students who the jury unanimously found were abused with corporeal punishment by a behavioral aid.

Council Race Realigning Santa Monica's Political Forces
October 20, 2022 -- Santa Monica voters are being inundated with a wave of mailers and electronic ads in a hotly contested City Council race that has unearthed old rivalries and realigned the city's political forces.

LETTERS -- Stop the Miamification of Santa Monica
October 19, 2022 -- If Santa Monica won’t put up a fight against developers gaming the system, Councilmembers should go back to their day jobs full time and the administrators should be replaced.

LA County Pushes Booster Shots for Children, Bucking International Trend
October 18, 2022 -- As COVID cases continue to drop in Santa Monica and across LA County, public health officials are recommending new booster shots for children, a policy increasingly opposed by European governments.

LETTERS -- Clear Warnings Council Could Lose Local Control Over Development
October 18, 2022 -- Is it too much to ask of our elected officials that they take responsibility for their errors instead of pointing fingers at others? writes former Mayor Ted Winterer.

Slow-Growth Group Advises City to Fight 'Developer Ambush'
October 17, 2022 -- Santa Monica's leading slow-growth group advised the City on Monday to immediately address the "developer ambush" mounted shortly before its housing plan was approved by the State on Friday.

LETTERS -- Making Noise for Nothing
October 17, 2022 -- The pilot who worries about LAX jet noise flies her noisy Grumman piston-propeller plane a few hundred feet over thousands of homes -- for fun.

SPECIAL REPORT -- Housing Plan Delays Led to Loss of Local Control
October 14, 2022 -- After nearly three years in the works, State officials on Friday certified Santa Monica's Housing Element -- but not before 16 projects totaling more than 4,500 units were rushed into the planning pipeline.

Traffic Safety Grant Boosts Enforcement Efforts
October 14, 2022 -- More Santa Monica traffic officers will be patrolling Santa Monica after the Police Department received a $290,000 grant from the State.

City Officials Caught Off Guard by Flurry of Development Submissions
October 13, 2022 -- Santa Monica's biggest housing provider has rushed plans into the City's development pipeline to build more than 4,000 units that require little public input, dealing a massive blow to local slow-growth activists who were caught off guard by the move.

Santa Monica Review Probes Childhood Memories
October 13, 2022 -- Childhood memories and their lasting emotions imbue the stories published in the fall 2022 issue of Santa Monica College's (SMC) literary review.

LETTERS -- The Time for Police Policing Themselves Is Over
October 13, 2022 -- If the police are not engaged in unlawful or unethical behavior, then they should not worry about oversight, writes Police Reform Commission member Jaime S. Cruz.

Council Makes Business Zoning Changes Permanent
October 12, 2022 -- It took a two-and-a-half-year-long pandemic for Santa Monica to permanently ease zoning restrictions that have long frustrated businesses seeking a change of use.

Santa Monica Household Expenses Among Highest in the Nation, Report Finds
October 11, 2022 -- When it comes to average household expenses, Santa Monica ranked among the top ten California cities with the highest monthly bills, making it among the costliest cities in the nation, according to a report released this month.

Hotel Workers Union Steps Up Attacks
October 10, 2022 -- The hotel workers union has escalated -- and expanded -- what is likely the hardest-hitting campaign to unseat a City Council incumbent in nearly three decades.

New State Law, Santa Monica Transfer Tax Measure Shoot for Same Goal
October 7, 2022 -- Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an affordable housing law that does for Los Angeles County what Mayor Sue Himmelrich's proposed transfer tax increase would do for Santa Monica.

Local Sales Tax Revenue Sees 'Robust' Increase
October 6, 2022 -- The auto industry is driving Santa Monica's economic recovery, accounting for 16 of the city's 27 top sales tax generators, according to the latest financial data from the City.

OPINION -- Police Reform Commission Members Should Do Their Jobs
October 6, 2022 -- Members of the Police Reform Commission are required to complete training conducted by the Police Department but some have simply refused to do it, the police union writes.

Council Expected to Continue Hybrid Meetings
October 5, 2022 -- The City Council will likely take a cautious approach to COVID despite steadily dwindling cases by continuing to hold meetings that can be attended in-person or online.

School Board Slate Rally Targets Muir Closure
October 5, 2022 -- The abrupt closure of John Muir Elementary School this summer due to mold and water damage has become a flash point in the November 8 race for four School Board seats.

OPINION --- Superintendent’s Message: Muir/SMASH Campus Update
October 5, 2022 -- There will be a renewed and restored neighborhood school once the necessary work is done on the affected buildings, writes Superintendent Ben Drati.

Most Voters Undecided in Council Race, Poll Finds
October 4, 2022 -- One month before the November 8 race for three City Council seats, a text poll of residents concerned with crime and safety found most have not decided who they will support.

OPINION -- Toss Slate Mailers and Cards
October 4, 2022 -- Slate mailer/card organizations are not about vetting candidates or ballot measures and are not endorsements by any recognized organization, warns the Santa Monica Transparency Project.

EXTRA -- Special Interests Are Major Players in Council Race
October 3, 2022 -- (UPDATED) Special interest groups will have a major impact on the November 8 City Council race, with one union spending as much to target a single candidate as all eleven candidates have spent combined.

City Poised to Ticket Vehicles Parked on 'Parkways' and 'Driveway Aprons'
October 3, 2022 -- After a 30-day warning period, the City of Santa Monica will begin ticketing vehicles on November 1 that are parked outside of a driveway or roadway, officials announced last week.

OPINION -- City Mum on Plans to Reroute LAX Jet Traffic Over Santa Monica
October 3, 2022 -- The City Council has needlessly placed 719 additional Santa Monica households at risk of commercial jumbo jet noise with its misplaced political considerations, writes attorney and pilot Eve Lopez.