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.

Dem Club Membership Breaks with Tradition in 'Surprising Upset'
September 30, 2022 -- In a highly unusual move, Santa Monica's three most liberal groups are not in lockstep with their City Council endorsements, risking a takeover by a "conservative" majority.

Council Paves Way for All-Electric Future
September 30, 2020 -- Santa Monica took major strides toward an all-electric future Tuesday when the City Council approved policies that ban gas energy in all new construction and require developers to add EV chargers in multi-family buildings.

LETTERS -- A Case of Legislative Undersight
September 30, 2020 -- The State has come down firmly on the side of commercial, profit-driven businesses that have no obligation to ensure that residents will have the water and power they’ll need.

Santa Monica Rents Hold Steady in September
September 27, 2022 -- Rents held steady in Santa Monica this month as the median rent nationwide dipped for the first time since last December, according to Apartment List's monthly rent report released Tuesday.

LETTERS -- Drug Abuse Is Far from Victimless
September 27, 2022 -- Why is any local government normalizing and enabling addictive drug abuse by distributing syringes intended solely for injecting dangerous, illegal narcotics? Are these so-called leaders so empty-headed?

Local Coronavirus Cases Keep Dropping
September 26, 2022 -- After hitting a five-month low, coronavirus cases continued dropping in Santa Monica last week, although virus-related deaths continued to persist.

Thief Strikes Main Street Store
September 26, 2022 -- Shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, a man rolled a garbage bin in front of Susu handbags on Main Street, smashed the front window and made off with more than $10,000 worth of merchandise.

UPDATE -- Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested at SMC
September 26, 2022 -- A suspected sexual predator who was luring female students from Santa Monica College's (SMC) main campus was arrested Monday morning, according to college police.

Negrete Target of First Election Hit Piece
September 23, 2022 -- The local hotel workers union fired the first attack of the 2022 Election season with a mailer targeting Councilmember Lana Negrete.

New Council Meeting Rules Could be Tested for Extra 3 Months
September 22, 2022 -- A test program to shorten City Council meetings and allow most public speakers to leave early could be extended an extra three months.

Major Donations Give Much-Needed Boost to Police Cadet Program
September 21, 2022 -- Four major Santa Monica-based businesses have donated a total of $400,000 to expand the Police Cadet Program decimated by budget cutbacks made during the coronavirus shutdown.

OPINION -- How Has Gelson's Project Gotten to This Stage?
September 22, 2022 -- The State’s mandate for more than 9,000 residential units is, in spirit and letter, intended to provide affordable housing. Yet 90 percent of Lincoln Center will be priced at market rates. That’s counterproductive.

Official Who Spearheaded City's Affordable Housing Efforts to Retire
September 20, 2022 -- Andy Agle -- who helped ensure more than 2,000 units were earmarked for low-income tenants and worked to acquire more than 20 acres of private land for the City -- will retire at the end of the year, City officials announced Tuesday.

Suicide Attempt, Juvenile Fight Lead to Hospitalizations
September 20, 2022 -- A suicide attempt near the pier Tuesday and a juvenile fight near Samohi on Monday led to two separate hospitalizations, according to police.

LETTERS -- Transparent Democracy
September 20, 2022 -- The process to enforce campaign finance irregularities takes time, and often voters don’t find out about even the most blatant violations until after the election, writes former Mayor Kevin McKeown.

EXTRA -- Transfer Tax Battle Could Shatter Fundraising Records
September 19, 2022 -- The battle over Mayor Sue Himmelrich's transfer tax measure promises to be a costly one, with a record-breaking fundraising advantage quickly erased with a single donation.

Local Weekly COVID Cases Drop Below 100, as Deaths Persist
September 19, 2022 -- Weekly coronavirus cases in Santa Monica dropped below 100 for the first time in five months, while local virus-related deaths rose, according to data from LA County Public Health.

Council Takes Steps to Boost Input from Section 8 Advisory Board
September 16, 2022 -- After a lengthy debate, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to radically shrink -- and rename -- an advisory board comprised of Section 8 tenants to give it a stronger voice.

OPINION --Tragic Flight School Crash Reminder of Danger Posed by Airport
September 16, 2022 -- One thing Santa Monica Airport should absolutely not be used for is flying lessons. Among the more than 100 accidents since 1982 connected with the airport, 28 have involved student pilots.

Design Board to Review Another Tight-Fitting Downtown Project
September 15, 2022 -- A month after taking up a tight-fitting hotel project, Santa Monica's design board on Monday will review an affordable housing development that squeezes an eight-story 38-unit building into a single-family-sized lot Downtown.

Satellites and Sunspots at the SMC Planetarium
September 15, 2022 -- A fleet of satellites, increasing sunspots and a new lunar lander are among the topics the Santa Monica College (SMC) planetarium will explore next month.

Sheriffs Search Kuehl's Santa Monica Home
September 14, 2022 -- Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators searched County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl's Santa Monica home Wednesday morning in connection with ongoing public corruption investigation, Sheriffs officials said.

Animation, Feminism and Self-Affirmation at Free SMC Media Talks
September 14, 2022 -- Unusual animation techniques, feminism lessons for inmates and tips for building resilience are the subjects of three upcoming talks at Santa Monica College (SMC).

LETTERS -- CEPS is An Unapologetic Lobby for Incumbents
September 14, 2022 -- Parents can safely dismiss anything Ted Winterer says as anti-parent, pro-politician agitprop. He’s looking out for CEPS. Not kids.

NEWS ANALYSIS -- Council Race Could Test SMRR's Clout
September 13, 2022 -- This year's City Council election could be a major test of the political clout Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) has wielded for four decades.

Local Coronavirus Cases Rise After Steady Drop
September 13, 2022 -- Coronavirus cases in Santa Monica rose slightly last week after steadily dropping for the past two months, according to Public Health data released this week.

Letters -- School District Leaders Deserve Praise, Not Baseless Criticism
September 12, 2022 -- I happen to believe our school board can walk and chew gum at the same time and can address both operational and infrastructure needs simultaneously, writes former City Councilmember Ted Winterer.

Hotel Union Flexes Muscle at SMRR Convention
September 12, 2022 -- High humidity and COVID fears resulted in a record low turnout at Sunday's Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) convention, paving the way for the hotel workers union to flex its political muscle.

Council Expected to Ask County's Help Removing Clean Needle Program from Parks
September 12, 2022 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to request that County officials help to immediately relocate a program that hands out clean needles to homeless addicts in Santa Monica parks.

Hotel Workers Union Endorses Raskin, Torosis, Zwick
September 9, 2022 -- Three City Council challengers have won the backing of the local hotel workers union, giving them a boost at Sunday's Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) political convention.

Two Killed in Plane Crash at Santa Monica Airport
September 9, 2022 -- The pilot of a single engine aircraft and his passenger died after the plane operated by a local flight school crashed at Santa Monica Airport.

LA County's Homeless Population Up 4 Percent, Down 23 Percent on Westside
September 8, 2022 -- Los Angeles County saw more homeless people in shelters during the coronavirus emergency than ever before, contributing to a drop in Santa Monica's homeless population.

Classic Car Show Celebrates Low Rider Culture
September 8, 2022 -- More than 200 classic cars, some dating back to the 1930s, will roll in to the Santa Monica Pier Saturday for a celebration of LA's famous low rider culture.

Police Union Endorses Negrete, Melkonians, Gielicz
September 7, 2022 -- Santa Monica's two public safety unions -- which have traditionally endorsed the same City Council candidates and backed them with ample war chests -- will not be in lockstep this year.

OPINION -- Response to Recent Attacks on SMMUSD
September 7, 2022 -- Sadly, we have people in our community who continue to spread their version of the big lie as if it were backed by truth. But the facts are the facts, writes School Board Member Jon Kean.

Apartment Providers Placed in Diversion Program
September 7, 2022 -- The owners and managers of two Santa Monica apartment buildings have been placed in a 12-month diversion program after the City filed a lawsuit alleging multiple illegal acts, City officials said last week.

Local COVID Cases Drop Again
September 6, 2022 -- Coranavirus cases in Santa Monica continued dropping last week as Los Angeles County moved into the "low community level" of transmission.

Five Santa Monica Artists Receive City Fellowships
September 6, 2022 -- Five Santa Monica artists working in diverse media -- from painting to digital -- will receive fellowships from the City to support their work.

OPINION --- Where is the Action Plan to Address Learning Loss?
September 6, 2022 -- It is time, now more than ever, to address the leadership crisis our public schools are facing.

Firefighters Endorse Negrete, Melkonians, Tororis for Council
September 2, 2022 -- The Santa Monica Firefighters union announced Tuesday it is backing Councilmember Lana Negrete, Rent Board Commissioner Caroline Torosis and Residocracy founder Armen Melkonians for City Council.

Mid-City Apartment Fire Displaces 2 Residents
September 2, 2022 -- Two residents were displaced after their unit in a Mid City apartment building suffered "significant damage" during a fire Thursday night, Santa Monica Fire Department officials said Friday.

School Board Slate Eyes Major Shake-Up
September 1, 2022 -- For what may be the first time in at least two decades, an organized slate of four challengers from Santa Monica and Malibu will try to gain control of the School Board.

Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint Friday
September 1, 2022 -- Santa Monica police on Friday will hold a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city.