By Lookout Staff

December 29, 2023 -- Planning for the airport's future got a bumpy liftoff this fall, as staff's plan to pick a panel by lottery was shot down. Meanwhile, the City got the go-ahead to negotiate the purchase of the Civic Auditorium with any interested party. The City Council boosted efforts to keep bicyclists safe, allowed the retail sale of cannabis for recreational use and banned the feeding of birds at the Pier. The City Manager and Police Chief got raises to help them catch up with some high earning firefighters and cops, and someone born in Santa Monica became mayor.

OCTOBER

City to Begin Negotiating Record 570-Unit Project
October 2, 2023 -- The City Council last week gave the go-ahead to execute an exclusive negotiating agreement that could result in the largest residential development in Santa Monica history.

District Holds Back Civic Proposal For Now
October 6, 2023 -- The School District will not submit a proposal to purchase and rehabilitate the Civic Auditorium unless the City fails to find another buyer, District officials said Friday.

Council Shoots Down Lottery Plan for Airport Site
October 11, 2023 -- A skeptical City Council majority early Wednesday morning rejected a plan to have a randomly selected panel of 40 people recommend the future of Santa Monica Airport's 227-acre site.

Santa Monica Joins Lawsuit to Block Zero Bail
October 12, 2023 -- The Santa Monica City Council voted 4 to 3 on Tuesday to join more than dozen cities in a lawsuit challenging LA County's zero-bail system that went into effect October 1.

Bureaucratic Tweak or Effort to Block Next Mayor?
October 20, 2023 -- A proposed tweak to a rule dictating how a mayor is chosen could jeopardize a City Council vote to make Councilmember Phil Brock Santa Monica's next mayor.

DA to Investigate Exploitation of Temp Hotel Workers
October 23, 2023 -- The LA County District Attorney will investigate allegations that three area hotels, including one in Santa Monica, are exploiting "unhoused refugees" hired during an intermittent labor strike by the hotel workers union.

High Hopes, Low Turnout for COVID Booster
October 24, 2023 -- A little-publicized USC poll found that nearly two-thirds of LA County residents plan to get the fall COVID booster, although Public Health officials report only 10 percent have taken the shot.

Davis Fails to Change Rules for Choosing Mayor
October 26, 2023 -- Mayor Gleam Davis failed to convince her City Council opponents at Tuesday night's meeting that they were not the targets of her proposal to tweak the rules dictating how a mayor is chosen.

Council Approves Retail Sale of Recreational Cannabis
October 27, 2023 -- Hoping to boost much-needed tax revenues and salvage a struggling new business sector, the City Council on Tuesday voted to allow the retail sale of cannabis for recreational use.

Negrete Cannot Participate in Potential Sale of the Civic to the School District
October 31, 2023 -- School District officials have held back a proposal to purchase the Civic Auditorium from the City, but if they decide to move forward again, Councilmember Lana Negrete will not be participating in the decision.

Santa Monica Rents Rise During Seasonal Slowdown
October 31, 2023 -- For the third straight month Santa Monica rents rose in October, defying a nationwide downswing that began in August, according to the latest monthly report by Apartment List.

NOVEMBER

North of Montana Remains Among Most Expensive U.S. Zip Codes
November 3, 2023 -- Santa Monica's North of Montana Neighborhood remains one of the ten priciest zip codes in the nation, although it slipped slightly in the 2023 rankings compiled by PropertyShark.

Jewish Caucus Calls for Immediate Halt to Antisemitism on State Campuses
November 7, 2023 -- Two legislators representing Santa Monica signed a letter to top officials of the State's university systems expressing "outrage and concern" over the recent "explosion" of antisemitism on campuses.

New Hospitality Group Takes on City Hall Policies
November 9, 2023 -- A new political grassroots group made up of local hospitality businesses is being formed to push City Hall to more aggressively fight crime and homelessness and lower operating costs.

Council Takes Steps to Curb Collisions Involving Cyclists, Pedestrians
November 17, 2023 -- Spurred by the death of a bicyclist in Santa Monica last month, the City Council took additional steps Tuesday to eliminate all crashes that seriously injure or kill bicyclists and pedestrians.

Council Bans Bird Feeding on Pier, Beach
November 17, 2023 -- The City Council Tuesday approved a law banning feeding birds and animals on the Pier and beach but worried it could be undermined by a single individual.

Voting Rights Case in Spotlight Again
November 14, 2023 -- For the third time in six months, speakers on Monday weighed in on the voting rights lawsuit filed in 2016 by Latino plaintiffs against the City -- this time urging the Council not to settle the case.

City Free to Negotiate Civic Sale with Commercial Developers
November 22, 2023 -- State housing officials have given the City the go-ahead to negotiate the purchase of the Civic Auditorium with any interested party, City officials announced Wednesday.

Civic Nominated for National Historic Designation
November 27, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Conservancy is seeking to have the Civic Auditorium designated a national historic property to help lure private investors who can renovate the "endangered" iconic structure.

Santa Monica Rents Drop After Hot Streak
November 28, 2023 -- Rents in Santa Monica dropped in November after bucking a nationwide trend by rising for three months straight, according to the latest report by Apartment List.

Police Reform Commission to Recast Invalidated Vote
November 29, 2023 -- Santa Monica's Police Reform Commission will hold a special meeting Thursday night to vote -- again -- on a pretexual stop policy after its initial vote was deemed invalid.

DECEMBER

Police Reform Commission Approves Racial Profiling Policy, Again
December 1, 2023 -- In a hastily called meeting, the City's Police Reform Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a pretextual stop policy after its previous vote was deemed invalid.

Officer Tapped to Head City Tech Department Turns Down Job
December 4, 2023 -- Santa Monica's incoming Chief Information Officer has withdrawn her acceptance one month after being named to the top tech post, City officials announced Monday.

The Circus Could be Back in Town
December 6, 2023 -- Cirque Du Soleil could be back in town next year after a decade away, and it could give Santa Monica's economy a much needed boost, according to a staff report to the City Council.

Santa Monica Poised to Launch Ad Program in Downtown Parking Structures
December 7, 2023 -- Visitors using Santa Monica's Downtown public parking structures could soon be targeted with an advertising program expected to generate more than $1.2 million for the cash-strapped City over the next five years.

Efforts to Restore The Civic Enter New Phase
December 8, 2023 -- Efforts to bring back Santa Monica's storied Civic Auditorium as an entertainment and cultural arts venue are picking up steam after State housing officials freed up the City to seek proposals from private developers.

School District Reorganization Hearings Set to Start
December 11, 2023 -- Hearings to divide the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District into trustee areas will resume next month after efforts by the District and City to delay the process have failed.

Santa Monica Native Becomes Mayor
December 12, 2023 -- Without the intrigue that for decades has accompanied the selection of a mayor, Councilmember Phil Brock on Tuesday became the first Santa Monica native to hold the post in 17 years.

Multi-Family Construction Expected to Boom in 2024
December 12, 2023 -- 2024 could be the strongest year for new apartment construction in decades, paving the way for a strong renters market nationwide, according to a report issued by Apartment List on Tuesday.

Bicyclists Share Fault in Serious Crashes, Data Show
December 14, 2023 -- Bicyclists and motorists involved in serious crashes since 2010 have both been almost equally at fault, while the number of incidents has plummeted, according to City data.

Council Approves Raises for City Manager, Police Chief
December 19, 2023 -- Santa Monica's City Manager and Police Chief will receive salary bumps due to the domino effect triggered by an unusual clause in the City's union contract with police.

Santa Monica to Boost Homeless Clean-Up Efforts
December 20, 2023 -- A clean-up crew contracted by the City to remove waste and debris left behind by the homeless could be brought "in-house" with expanded hours next spring, according to City officials.