LETTERS -- City Manager Rick Cole Responds May 30, 2018 -- I agree with you about the threat of the pension challenge -- as does the City Council -- and look forward to productive discussions about how best to do that. (But your letter presents) an unbalanced picture.
Budget Cuts Loom as Costs Rise at Santa Monica City Hall May 29, 2018 -- From cuts to trash collection to keeping vacant jobs unfilled, the Santa Monica City Council is looking at ways to operate during leaner years. The potential cost saving measures come as the City steels itself against a possible recession amid sky-high employee pensions and other costs.
Complaints Rise as City of Santa Monica Employees Park for Free
May 25, 2018 -- In coming months, the public will start to shell out 40 percent more to park for a day in City-owned lots and structures in downtown Santa Monica -- a hit to the wallet purposely meant to discourage more driving (in favor of alternative transit) on gridlocked streets.
Giant Dominoes Cascade in Downtown Santa Monica
May 24, 2018 -- A sculpted cascade of colorful dominoes is the latest installation to greet visitors to Downtown's Triangle Square as part of the art initiative ROAM Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Chamber to Install New Board, Chair
May 23, 2018 -- Jeff Klocke, who has been a staple at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier since 1999, will be installed as the new chair of the Chamber of Commerce next month. The vice president and general manager of the amusement park will take the reins at the chamber's 93rd Annual Installation Dinner June 13.
Santa Monica Symphony Memorial Weekend Concert Features Works by Veterans May 23, 2018 -- In addition to being renown 20th Century composers, Maurice Ravel, George Butterworth and Ralph Vaughan Williams had one thing in common. The Frenchman and two British citizens were World War I Veterans.
New Report Finds Santa Monica City Government Might Require “Painful” Fiscal Changes May 22, 2018 -- Santa Monica’s City government will require “tangible and likely painful” changes in the coming years as it shudders under $461 million in red ink for unfunded employee pensions and other costs continue to outpace revenue, a new fiscal update warns.
Imperiled Century-Old Sycamores in Santa Monica Win Landmark Protection May 17, 2018 -- Imperiled by development, two billowing old Sycamore trees in Santa Monica’s Wilmont neighborhood won the protection of landmark status on Monday, the sixth and seventh trees to win the rare designation.
OPINION -- City Held Tax Revenues Hostage, School District Left Millions on the Table May 14, 2018 -- Ill-informed and economically bad decisions have been made by our School Board that waste our resources and negatively impact our kids, yet the District will expect the public to unquestioningly open our wallets the next time we’re asked.
Santa Monica to Hold Its First ClimateFest May 11, 2018 -- Speakers, workshops and interactive activities will be featured during Santa Monica's first ClimateFest, a free event held next week at St. Monica’s Campus.
New York City Principal to Head Will Rogers Elementary in Santa Monica May 9, 2018 -- The former principal of two New York City elementary schools who is known for his "hand-on approach" will take the helm at Will Rogers Learning Community in Santa Monica, District officials said.
Transient Woman Who Frequents Santa Monica Missing
May 8, 2018 -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is trying to find a tansient woman who frequents the Santa Monica area after she lost touch with her family.
Outside Audit of Employee Pay at Santa Monica City Hall Heads to Council May 7, 2018 -- Employee costs are higher at Santa Monica City Hall than its Southern California peers, although the same cannot necessarily be said for worker productivity, according to the final version of an outside audit headed to the City Council on Tuesday.
Staff Recommends Santa Monica Council Scrap Idea of Development Ballot Measure May, 7, 2018 -- Planning staff is recommending that the City Council not place a measure on the November ballot that would require a "super-majority" approval for developments that exceed Santa Monica's height and density limitations.
Mayor Calls Racist Rant in Santa Monica College Parking Lot “Ugly” May 7, 2018 -- Santa Monica’s mayor is calling a parking-lot confrontation that unleashed a racist rant by an elderly white man captured on video an “ugly incident.” Mayor Ted Wintered said Friday that the incident serves as a reminder that “hate is not welcome in our city, or any city.”
Neighbors of Santa Monica Park Greet End of Free Lunches for Homeless May 4, 2018 -- Neighbors of Santa Monica’s Reed Park are expressing relief after a church announced it would no longer serve Sunday lunches to homeless people amid a reported rise in crime and behavior that has scared families away. (This article was revised and updated Friday at 9:10 p.m.)
Dorothy Parker's Wit Showcased by Impro Theatre in Santa Monica May 4, 2018 -- American author Dorothy Parker once wrote, “The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” This month, LA’s Impro Theatre will attempt to emulate Parker's sharp wit on the spot when it performs "Dorothy Parker UnScripted" May 18 to 20 at the The Edye at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Santa Monica College Emeritus Artists Display Their Talents at Annual Exhibition May 4, 2015 -- You don't have to look far to find artists working well into their later years. John Baldessari, who created many of his major works in Santa Monica, is now in his 80s and going strong. That could serve as inspiration for students at Santa Monica College's program for older adults who will showcase their latest works in an exhibit starting next Thursday at the SMC Emeritus College Art Gallery.
Santa Monica City Prosecutors to Evaluate “Hate Crime” Fight Involving N-Word May 3, 2018 -- Santa Monica City prosecutors will evaluate a confrontation caught on video Tuesday of an elderly white man screaming the N-word repeatedly at a black woman because she took two spaces for her car in a Santa Monica College parking lot.
EXTRA Westside Church to Stop Sunday Lunches for Homeless at Reed Park May 2, 2018 -- After rising complaints about crime and other problems, the Westside Vineyard Church said Tuesday that its congregants will stop providing Sunday lunches to the homeless at Santa Monica's Reed Park.
Santa Monica’s Troubled Transit System Gets Grant for Electric Buses May 2, 2018 -- Dogged by failing ridership and rising costs, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) system finally had good news to report on Tuesday: It has been selection for a $3 million grant to buy the first batch new zero-emission electric buses.
Santa Monica College Planetarium Explores Race Back to the Moon May 2, 2018 -- The race to the Moon is back on, and it's not only NASA that's interested in getting there again. The public, and private, endeavors to return to Earth's only permanent natural satellite is the subject of a lecture this month at the Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium.
EXTRASanta Monica-Malibu School Board Looks at Potential $485 Million Bond Measure May 1, 2018 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu School Board is looking at a record $485 million bond measure for the November ballot, although a spokesperson for the district said discussion has just begun. The amount is based on a new survey that found 66 percent voter support for such a bond.
Revised Gehry Hotel Mixed-Use Project Goes Back to Planning Commission
May 1, 2018 -- Shorter and minus the original luxury condominiums, Frank Gehry’s 12-story hotel-mixed use project overlooking the Pacific in Santa Monica goes back to the City’s Planning Commission on Wednesday.
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