Second
Incumbent Prepares for Santa Monica Council Run
February 29, 2016 -- Gleam
Davis appears to be joining Ted Winterer on the list of Santa Monica
City Council incumbents running for re-election in November. She filed
a statement of organization for a re-election committee late last
week.
Santa
Monica's Lobbyist Transparency Law Gets First Public Reading Tuesday
February 29, 2015 -- Twice
revised, Santa Monica's new law requiring City Council members and
all staff to publicly disclose their dealings with lobbyists gets
a first reading at Tuesday night's meeting.
Santa
Monica College Students Face Off Against Japanese National Debate Team
February 29, 2016 -- Santa Monica
College's debate team takes on the Japanese National Debate team in
a free-wheeling discussion on gun control next month.
Santa
Monica City Council Approves 5 Percent Hike in Water Rates for This
Year
February 26, 2016 -- The Santa
Monica City Council Tuesday approved a 5 percent hike in City water
rates after its officials said unanticipated savings – despite
the severe drought -- meant customers could avert the even bigger
increase of 9 percent originally given the nod last year.
Trains
To Roll Into Santa Monica For First Time In 50 Years On May 20
February 26, 2016 -- Ready
or not, the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Expo Light Rail Line,
a historic passenger train link to Los Angeles, will start rolling
into the Beach City on Friday, May 20, Santa Monica Mayor Tony Vazquez
announced Thursday.
Police
Wrap Up Another Traffic Safety Operation In Santa Monica
February 26, 2016 -- Santa
Monica police took a suspected drunk driver off the streets while
screening more than 300 vehicles at a recent sobriety checkpoint,
one of seven traffic safety crackdowns since the first of the year.
Santa
Monica Council Weighs in on Blueprint for Pedestrian Safety
February 25, 2016 -- The Santa
Monica City Council on Tuesday had a message for pedestrians who become
frustrated waiting for traffic signals or worry they could be struck
by vehicles crossing the city's busy streets.
Lead in Santa Monica Drinking Water Highly Unlikely, City Report Says
February 25, 2016 -- A lead
contamination crisis like the well-publicized one affecting Flint,
Mich.’s drinking water supply is “highly unlikely”
to happen in Santa Monica, according to a report prepared by City
Water Resources Manager Gil Borboa that was issued to the City Council
on Monday.
Santa
Monica Arts Foundation Gives Leadership Awards
February 25, 2015 -- A patron,
an activist and a teacher were the winners of the fourth annual Leadership
Awards from the Santa Monica Arts Foundation, organization officials
announced last week.
Santa
Monica to Replace Aging Fire Department Training Center
February 24, 2016 -- City
of Santa Monica officials are burned out on the aging temporary trailers
used to help train local firefighters.
Metro
to Set Official Start Date for Expo Line in Santa Monica
February 24, 2016 -- The head
of the Metropolitan Transit Authority on Tuesday was set to officially
declare construction of the long-awaited Expo Line to Santa Monica
completed, clearing the way for a start date for service to be set
in the next 30 days, a spokesperson said.
Santa
Monica Library Picks "Station Eleven" as Choice for READS
Series
February 24, 2015 -- The post-apocalyptic
mystery novel "Station Eleven" is the Santa Monica Public
Library's choice for its 14th annual Santa Monica READS program, library
officials announced last week.
Santa
Monica Consumers' Group Claims Win For Allstate Customers
February, 23, 2013 -- Following
challenges Consumer Watchdog filed under a California's voter-approved
insurance reform law, Allstate customers with homeowners' insurance
policies will get an overall 12.6 percent rate reduction, effective
this month, the Santa Monica-based nonprofit announced.
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Former
SMPD Chief James Keane Dies Unexpectedly February
23, 2016 -- James F. Keane, who served as chief of the
Santa Monica Police Department from 1979 until his retirement
in 1991, died unexpectedly Friday during an afternoon outing,
department officials announced Monday. |
Santa
Monica City Poised to Cut Hike in Water Use Rates Prompted by Drought
February 23, 2016 -- The City
of Santa Monica is poised to cut – by nearly half – the
increases in water rates it originally proposed for customers, with
officials saying costs for the City’s anti-drought campaign
are coming in under budget, at least for now.
Activist
Wants City Attorney Chosen by Santa Monica Voters
February 22, 2016 -- AIDS
Walk Los Angeles founder and 32-year Santa Monica resident Craig Miller’s
recent victory in his long dispute with the local government over
nonprofit advertising on the Big Blue Bus has not persuaded him to
call off another fight.
Santa
Monica To Share Breeze Bike Program With Venice
February 22, 2016 -- Santa
Monica's Breeze program will pedal outside the City in the first inter-city
expansion of the county's only bike share system.
Planetarium
at Santa Monica College Continues Gemini Series on Final Frontier
February 22, 2016 -- With
more people looking skyward these days since last year's “The
Martian,” Santa Monica College's John Drescher Planetarium's
continuing retrospective on the 50-year anniversary of the Gemini
missions offers plenty to satisfy new and veteran skywatchers alike.
Online
Residents' Organization Submits Ballot Measure Tying Development to
Electorate
February 19, 2016-- Residocracy,
a relatively new player in Santa Monica's decades-old development
wars, on Thursday submitted a ballot measure that would give voters
the ultimate say on future large-scale construction projects in the
City.
Big
Dean’s Cafe Plans Expansion, Receives Santa Monica Commission
Scrutiny
February 19, 2016 -- Located
just south of the Santa Monica Pier since the 1970s, Big Dean’s
Cafe will soon nearly double in size when it expands its operation
to an adjoining space in the building that formerly housed a souvenir
shop.
League
of Women Voters' 3-Year Study On Higher Education To Be Discussed
In Santa Monica
February 19, 2016
-- Former Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board
member and now California state Sen. Ben Allen will join a a panel
of education experts to discuss “Higher Education: Where We
Are Today,” a three-year study by the League of Women Voters
California.
Santa
Monica OKs Nonprofit Ads On Big Blue Buses
February 18, 2016 -- Nonprofits
trying to get their causes to wider audiences now have a new forum
to do so on the sides of Santa Monica's Big Blue Buses, ending a 15-year
ban.
Santa
Monica Activists Seek Change Through Ballot Measure
February 18, 2016 -- Many
Santa Monica residents received a Valentine’s Day greeting in
their email Sunday morning from slow-growth activist group Residocracy.
Santa
Monica College Gallery Hosts Raymond Saunders Exhibit
February 18, 2016 -- Recent
works by artist Raymond Saunders, who is known for multi-media works
that explore social and political themes, are the subject of an exhibition
at Santa Monica College that opened Tuesday.
Santa
Monica Big Blue Bus Makes Major Route Changes in Final Light Rail
Preparations
February 17, 2016 -- With
the Expo Light Rail line due to make its debut this spring in Santa
Monica, the Big Blue Bus starts a second round of major changes to
its routes on February 21, part of an effort to make it as easy as
possible to get to and from the trains, officials said.
Structure
Coming to Santa Monica Property Vacant Since 1993
February 17, 2016 -- A spot
of nothingness for more than two decades on Pico Boulevard near the
Santa Monica city line will soon be filled with a building featuring
office and retail.
Nobel
Laureate to Highlight Santa Monica College Literary Series
February 17, 2016 -- A Nobel
laureate, a historian and two ethnic writers will be featured during
Santa Monica College's Spring 2016 Literary Talks & Readings scheduled
to begin next week.
New
Planning Guide for Downtown Santa Monica Envisions No Major Redevelopment
February 16, 2016 -- Less
than 15 percent of Santa Monica's already “built-out”
Downtown will be redeveloped in the next 20, with most new projects
adding more open space, affordable housing and infrastructure and
mobility improvements, according to a planning document released Friday.
Santa
Monica’s Shore Hotel Could Face Enforcement Action
February 16, 2016 -- With
the family owner of the Shore Hotel believing the Santa Monica facility
is operating with proper permits and the California Coastal Commission
saying otherwise, this dispute could soon escalate in and out of the
courtroom.
City
Removes 1980 Mural at Santa Monica Park
February 16, 2016 -- Crews began
removing a 36-year-old mural that decorated the entrance stairwell at
Josyln Park as part of a project to repair the stairwell. But a nearby
plaque dedicated to a beloved resident will go up at a new location
in the park, officials said.
Council
Adopts Plan Prioritizing Fixing Civic Auditorium, Calls for Parks
Study
February 12, 2016 -- After
hearing from 100 speakers, City Council members voted this week to
seek out qualified companies that can create a viable revitalization
plan for the Civic Auditorium but took no action on a sports field
proposed for a section of the surrounding property.
Santa
Monica Rent Board Picks New Commissioner
February 12, 2016 -- Anastasia
Roark Foster, a 10-year resident of Santa Monica, is the newest commissioner
on the Rent Control Board. She was appointed by a 3-0 vote on Thursday.
Some
26,000 Runners Expected As LA Marthon Ends In Santa Monica
February 12, 2016 -- As many
as 26,000 runners will tackle this weekend's 31st annual L.A. Marathon
“Stadium to the Sea” course from Dodger Stadium to Santa
Monica, with thousands more cheering them on along the way.
Revised
Downtown Santa Monica Plan Set for Friday Release
February 11, 2016 -- In response
to criticism, City staff has created a shorter and more readable version
of the document that will guide planning in Downtown Santa Monica.
It will even have a new name when it is released in updated form on
Friday.
City
Reduces Speed Limits On Some Santa Monica Streets, Increases Others
February 11, 2016 -- In a
new ordinance approved this week, 10 Santa Monica streets feeding
into neighborhoods will see reduced speed limits, but two others linking
to thoroughfares will get higher speed limits even though they contain
segments with homes.
Suspected
Killer Gives Up In Santa Monica
February 11, 2016 -- A man
wanted in Washington State on suspicion of shooting a man to death
outside a convenience store last week was in custody at the Men's
Central Jail in Los Angeles on Wednesday, after walking into the Santa
Monica Police Department and surrendering Tuesday night, said police.
City
is “Squeezing” Santa Monica Airport Aviation Tenants,
FAA Complaint Charges
February 10, 2016 -- A group
of aviators and businesses at the Santa Monica Airport has filed a
complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accusing
the City of financially “squeezing” tenants in an effort
to close the century-old airport.
Santa
Monica Considers Charging City Employees for Parking to Help Meet
Anti-Congestion Goals
February 10, 2016 -- The City
is considering imposing a parking fee on those who work for Santa
Monica’s largest employer – the City itself.
Clare
Foundation to Hold Women in Recovery Forum
February 10, 2016 -- Women
in revovery will be the topic of CLARE Foundation's 3rd Annual Forum
on the State of Addiction this month, the Santa Monica agency announced
Tuesday.
Supporters
Look to Add Sports Field to New Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Site
February 9, 2016 -- After
more than a decade in play, the issue of locating a sports field for
use by schools and others at the Santa Monica Civic Center site when
it is finally redone is back in the public eye, with supporters saying
they’ve been kept from their goal far too long.
New
Survey Finds Santa Monica One of Most Expensive Cities in California
for Apartment Rentals
February 9, 2016 -- Santa
Monica is one of the most expensive larger cities in California in
which to rent an apartment, with a one-bedroom unit closing in on
$3,000 a month --a 7 percent increase from 2014 and not too far behind
San Francisco, among the priciest cities in the nation. First
of a series on housing
Santa
Monica College Kicks off Black History Series Next Week
February 9, 2016 -- A
fighter pilot who was a member of the prestigious all-black Tuskegee
Airmen during World War II will launch Santa Monica College's 2016
Black History Series on Thursday, February 18.
VA's
West LA Campus Plan Includes 1200 Housing Units
February 8, 2016 -- A new
draft master plan that will serve as a framework for how Veterans
Administration officials will expand services for veterans at the
agency's West Los Angeles Medical Center includes building 1,200 housing
units on the 388-acre campus.
Santa
Monica’s Shore Hotel Controversy Returns to Coastal Commission
February 8, 2016 -- A battle
over Santa Monica hotel pricing and the extent of the people’s
right to low-cost beachside accommodations (and if it’s even
possible) continues this week at a session of the California Coastal
Commission.
Santa
Monica College Students Heading to Honolulu for Prestigious Arts Festival
February 8, 2016 -- Student
performers in a Santa Monica College theater department production
of “M. Courage” have been invited to showcase their talents
at the 48th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
in Hawaii this week.
Santa
Monica City Council to Appoint Tourism Board Members
February 5, 2016 -- A pier
official, a hotel owner and a community organizer are among six applicants
vying for a City Council-appointed seat on the Santa Monica Travel
and Tourism, Inc.
Commission
Approves Santa Monica Preschool Despite Opposition
February 5, 2016 --The owners
of Meadow Preschool, expected to open in Santa Monica next year on
26th Street between Arizona Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, will have
to convince some neighbors the new facility won’t be a bother.
Santa
Monica Nonprofit Urges Action On Prescription Drug Abuse
February 5, 2016 -- Doctors
and pharmacists in California already must register at a database
that tracks drug prescriptions, but a Santa Monica consumers' group
is urging state lawmakers to take the next step by requiring physicians
to check the database before prescribing opiates.
Santa Monica Lookout
