Top Santa Monica Stories of 2016
December 23, 2016 -- Even years are always eventful in Santa Monica because they feature City Council races. But for the first time in recent memory, the council contest was a dull affair. Did that mean 2016 was a total dud for the Santa Monica political scene? Not even close.

Santa Monica Properties in Limbo as Developers' Legal Battle Continues
December 22, 2016 -- A real-life legal drama among heavyweights in the development world continues to unfold, and this has placed a big question mark on just who owns seven apartment buildings in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Growing Haven for Celebrities Trying to Go 'Off the Radar'
December 22, 2016 -- If you were on Santa Monica's Channel Road Sunday night, you might have noticed super-celebrities Kanye West and Kim Kardashian trying to exit Georgio Baldi, a restaurant to Hollywood's A list, and climb inside an awaiting SUV.

2017 is 'Year of the Radish' for Health-Conscious Santa Monica Restaurants
December 22, 2016 -- Radishes, the unsung heroes of the everyday American dinner salad, are getting a radical make over by health-conscious Santa Monica restaurants that hope to tempt the palates with exotic yet ultra-healthy radish-enhanced dishes.

No Need for Permit to Operate at Santa Monica Airport, JetSuiteX Official Says
December 21, 2016 -- JetSuiteX plans to fly low-priced charter flights from Santa Monica Airport with or without a City-issued permit, the company's top official told the Lookout Wednesday.

Relaxed Law on 'Granny Flats' in Santa Monica Moves Closer to Approval
December 21, 2016 -- Santa Monica is closer to easing rules for “granny flats,” or second smaller units that homeowners historically built on their property for housing family members but are now viewed as a way to address the affordable housing crunch.

JetsuiteX Affordable Flights at Santa Monica Airport Not Yet Approved
December 21, 2016 -- Although JetSuiteX is selling low-priced charter seats for flights out of embattled Santa Monica Airport, a top City official said Tuesday the company has yet to obtain a clearance essential to lift off: A City-issued permit.

Legendary LA Artists in Santa Monica to Discuss Their Work
December 21, 2016 -- Five legendary Los Angeles artists will help launch a series of talks exploring LA's vibrant contemporary arts scene at the Broad Stage at Santa Monica College next month.

Santa Monica-Malibu Students More Physically Fit Than Peers Statewide
December 20, 2016 -- Compared to the previous year, physical fitness scores among students in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) were up in 2015-16 for fifth-graders, down for seventh-graders and slightly higher for ninth-graders, according to results released by the State on Monday.

Commission Grants Further Approvals for Lincoln Mixed-Use Development
December 19, 2016 -- A five-story mixed use development planned for the lot currently featuring the Aaron Brothers frame store on Lincoln Boulevard moved closer to final approval last Wednesday.

Legendary Performer Chita Rivera to Perform in Santa Monica
December 19, 2016 -- Puerto Rican entertainment legend Chita Rivera will present a solo concert at The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College (SMC) in February, theater officials announced last week.

Lieberman Keeps Top Post on Santa Monica-Malibu School Board
December 16, 2016 -- While the Santa Monica City Council likes to rotate the mayor's seat frequently, naming its third mayor in three years this week, the local school board prefers consistency and appointed Laurie Lieberman to her third consecutive year as president on Thursday.

Santa Monica Prepares for Possible Pot Shops
December 16, 2016 -- There is nowhere to go (legally) in Santa Monica to buy marijuana--whether it be for medical or recreational use. But that could change soon following California voters' passage last month of Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana.

Santa Monica College Student Films Win International Awards
December 16, 2016 -- Two films by Santa Monica College (SMC) students won awards at the Best Shorts International Competition, school officials announced Thursday.

Retiring Santa Monica City Attorney Bids Farewell
December 15, 2016 -- Twenty-two years after taking the job, Santa Monica’s retiring City Attorney Marsha Moutrie still remembers the moment she decided she wanted to sign on.

New Trial for Santa Monica Man Convicted of Murdering Friend
December 15, 2016 -- A Santa Monica man convicted of second-degree murder in 2014 for killing his friend at a historic downtown apartment will get a second chance to convince a jury he isn't guilty.

Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica Offers Eclectic Winter Lineup
December 15, 2016 -- Santa Monica's historic Miles Playhouse will host a performance series next moth that features jazz, dance, comedy and stories, City officials announced this week.

Council Member Ted Winterer Chosen as Santa Monica Mayor
December 14, 2016 -- In a special meeting, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to select Council members Ted Winterer as mayor and Gleam Davis as mayor pro tempore, finishing a pact first hatched in 2014.

FAA Orders City to Temporarily Halt Santa Monica Airport Evictions
December 14, 2016 -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Tuesday ordered the City of Santa Monica to temporarily halt evictions of two aviation-related tenants at the municipal airport, creating another battle in the newest campaign to shutter the facility.

Write-in Candidate Makes Santa Monica History
December 14, 2014 -- A quixotic last-minute run for a seat on the Santa Monica City Council last month failed, as expected from the outset. But the bid by write-in candidate Phil Brock did make history.

Costs Rise for Major Santa Monica City Contracts, Report Finds
December 13, 2016 -- Modifications and extensions hiked final costs for major Santa Monica City contracts by almost 50 percent, resulting in nearly $30 million in cost increases, according to the first report of its kind released by the City.

Local Hotels Offer Santa Monica Residents Price Breaks
December 13, 2016 -- If friends or family have suddenly decided to land on your Santa Monica doorstep to celebrate the holidays, more than a dozen hotels in the city are offering to help.

Santa Monica Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint
December 13, 2016 -- In an effort to reduce accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Santa Monica police will conduct a DUI driver’s license checkpoint on Friday.

Santa Monica Officials Search for Answers to Taxi Industry Crisis
December 12, 2016 -- City Council members unanimously voted last Tuesday to reduce the number of taxicabs allowed in Santa Monica from 300 to 199. But residents likely won't notice a change because it is rare that there are nearly that many cabs operating in the popular beach city at one time.

Santa Monica Backs County Sales Tax for Homeless Services
December 12, 2016 -- Ballot-weary Santa Monica voters will return to the polls for a rare March election to determine the fate of yet another tax measure.

Section of Freeway in Santa Monica to Close Again This Week
December 12, 2016 -- A busy section of the I-10 freeway in Santa Monica will be closed again nightly through at least Wednesday, City officials announced last week.

Santa Monica Council Looks for Updated Community Benefits in Hospital Expansion Project
December 9, 2016 -- No official action was taken Tuesday, but Santa Monica City Council members and residents addressed what they would like to see in a complex expansion project proposed by Providence Saint John's Health Center.

Lawrence Picked as Santa Monica Interim City Attorney
December 9, 2016 -- While the City Council searches for the first new head of Santa Monica’s legal department in more than 20 years, longtime Assistant City Attorney Joseph Lawrence will fill that role on an interim basis beginning December 31.

Santa Monica College Foundation Receives $1 Million Grant
December 9, 2016 -- What began as an after-class conversation over pie and coffee four decades ago has led to a $1 million gift for the Santa Monica College Foundation.

Santa Monica Council Orders Review of NMS Holdings
December 8, 2016 -- The City Council on Tuesday ordered a review of Santa Monica's dealings with its largest local housing developer after a judge found evidence of wrongdoing during a recent contract dispute with a Boston developer.

Santa Monica City Council Reconsiders Public Vote on Development
December 8, 2016 -- Trying to mend fences after the defeat of a contentious slow-growth measure in November’s election, the Santa Monica City Council on Tuesday ordered staff to study giving voters final say on major development proposals or requiring a council super majority for approval.

Santa Monica College Debate Team Takes First Place
December 8, 2016 -- Santa Monica College's (SMC) debating team took first place this weekend at the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association Fall Championships tournament, school officials announced this week.

Santa Monica Decides to Delay Court Fight Over Airport Tenant’s Eviction
December 7, 2016 -- Sparking complaints about its resolve to close Santa Monica Airport, the City has decided to delay until early January a fight it started in October to evict key aviation-related tenants.

Santa Monica Set to Offer Deep Discounts for Young Bus Riders
December 7, 2016 -- Santa Monica is expected to offer deeper than ever discounts to young bus riders in 2017 after a temporary price cut triggered a record rise in use among high school students despite otherwise lagging ridership.

Santa Monica Pico Center to Hold Fundraising Mixer
December 7, 2016 -- Santa Monica's Pico Youth and Family Center (PYFC) will hold a holiday mixer Saturday to raise money for coding classes for underserved youth.

Theft and Similar Crimes Jump More Than 50 Percent Near Santa Monica Expo Line
December 6, 2016 -- Incidents of theft, burglary and shoplifting have jumped 54 percent along the Expo Line in Santa Monica since the arrival of passenger train service in May, police said Monday.

Santa Monica Defends High City Salaries as Key to Quality Services
December 6, 2016 -- Reacting to new public scrutiny of Santa Monica City government salaries -- among the highest in the state -- City Manager Rick Cole has posted a defense saying the reports are “true, but misleading” and fail to consider the high quality of services delivered.

Santa Monica High Graduate Victim of Oakland Fire
December 6, 2016 -- Santa Monica High School graduate David Cline has been identified as one of at least 36 victims killed in a fire that swept through an Oakland warehouse last week.

Path Toward New Santa Monica Development Measure Could Begin This Week
December 5, 2016 -- The wide-margin defeat of Measure LV in last month's Santa Monica election could just be the first stage in a path toward putting voters in charge of at least some development decisions in this city.

Wild Beach Coming to Santa Monica
December 5, 2016 -- A pilot project is underway to transform a three-acre portion of Santa Monica’s beach near the Annenberg Community Beach House into an area where wildlife can thrive.

Carl Reiner, Tippi Hedren to Appear at Santa Monica Library
December 5, 2016 -- Carl Reiner, who has been entertaining audiences for decades in film, televsion and print, and Hollywood legend Tippi Hedren, best known for her leading role in Hitchcock's masterpiece "The Birds," will discuss their new books at the Santa Monica Library this month.

Court Dispute Between Developers Spills into Santa Monica City Council Chambers
December 2, 2016 -- Following a judge's ruling against NMS Properties that included allegations of forgery and perjury, a Santa Monica City Council member is calling for a review of the developer's agreements with the City.

Santa Monica to Continue Non-Enforcement of Immigration Laws, Police Chief Says
December 2, 2016 -- President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to crack down on illegal immigration will have no effect on Santa Monica’s long-held policy not to enforce immigration laws, Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks wrote in a statement that appears on the City’s website.

Santa Monica Library to Stage 'Community Performance' of Riley's 'In C'
December 2, 2016 -- The score is only one page and any number of musicians can participate in a performance that can last from 15 minutes to more than an hour.

Santa Monica Lawmaker to Introduce Legislation After Mountain Lion Attacks
December 1, 2016 -- A Santa Monica state lawmaker said Thursday that he is introducing legislation that could help spare a death sentence for mountain lions like the five-year-old male puma suspected of killing scores of farm animals in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Nearly 2,000 Buildings in Santa Monica at Risk in Earthquake
December 1, 2016 -- Nearly 2,000 buildings are at risk of major damage in Santa Monica when the next big earthquake hits, and as many as 80 percent of them are apartment buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, a City report released Tuesday found.

Santa Monica Offers Literary Events Starting This Month
December 1, 2016 -- If you enjoy the art of poetry or have a novel that needs polishing, Santa Monica is offering several events of interest starting this month.