The Santa Monica Lookout, Santa Monica, California -- SEPTeMBER 2021

ICE at Santa Monica Canceled Due to Electrical Meltdown
September 30, 2021 -- For the second year in a row, Santa Monica's holiday season won't feature Downtown's popular outdoor ice-skating rink after its infrastructure suffered an electrical meltdown in January, Downtown officials told the City Council Tuesday.

New Santa Monica Program Provides Alternative to Jail
September 30, 2021 -- Vulnerable individuals arrested in Santa Monica can avoid a criminal filing by immediately connecting with a service provider at the jail, City officials announced Thursday.

Council Takes Initial Step to Challenge Housing Mandate
September 29, 2021 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted 5 to 2 to ask a group of Westside cities if it should join a lawsuit challenging the region's State-mandated housing quota.

Santa Monica Issues 40th Emergency Supplement
September 29, 2021 -- The City of Santa Monica on Wednesday issued its 40th supplement to an emergency order issued shortly before the first local coronavirus case was confirmed more than 18 months ago.

Assemblymember Bloom's Bill to Ensure Housing Compliance Becomes Law
September 28, 2021 -- A bill authored by Santa Monica Assemblymember Richard Bloom to ensure cities adequately re-zone to meet their State housing mandates was signed into law by Gov. Newsom Tuesday.

Santa Monica Rents Tick Up in September
September 28, 2021 -- Rents in Santa Monica rose slightly in September, marking the ninth straight monthly increase, according to Apartment List's latest report released Tuesday.

Santa Monica COVID Cases See Dramatic Weekly Drop
September 27, 2021 -- Weekly coronavirus cases in Santa Monica dropped to a level not seen since the Delta variant began spreading rapidly across LA County more than two months ago.

Monthly Poll Gauges Downtown Safety, Proof of Vaccination
September 27, 2021 -- As the City Council prepares to take steps Tuesday to hasten Downtown's economic recovery, a poll of involved Santa Monica residents found most respondents don't believe enough is being done to keep the area safe.

Joe Lawrence to Serve Third Stint as Interim City Attorney
September 24, 2021 -- Joe Lawrence -- who served twice as interim City Attorney during his quarter century at City Hall -- will return to the post October 1.

78 Local Small Businesses Get Recovery Grants
September 24, 2021 -- At total of 78 small businesses of all kinds across Santa Monica received $5,000 grants this month to help them recover from the coronavirus shutdown.

Santa Monica Could Join in Challenge to State Housing Mandates
September 23, 2021 -- The "Change" Council members will test their political clout on Tuesday with a vote on whether to take steps to challenge the State's housing mandates for Southern California.

Police Arrest Suspect in Road Rage Shooting
September 23, 2021 -- Santa Monica police -- backed by their SWAT and Drone teams -- arrested a man Tuesday suspected of a road rage shooting in the Pico Neighborhood this month.

Deadline Looms to Apply for State Rental Assistance
September 22, 2021 -- Santa Monica officials are encouraging renters and landlords to apply for financial assistance with rent and utilities before the State eviction moratorium ends September 30.

Man Shot in Ocean Park
September 22, 2021 -- Police are searching for two suspects involved in the shooting of a man in Ocean Park during a possible carjacking early Wednesday.

Weekly COVID Cases Rise in Santa Monica
September 21, 2021 -- Santa Monica saw an increase in the number of coronavirus cases last week after reaching the lowest level in two months, while virus-related deaths remained steady, according to County Health data.

Two Prowlers Arrested in Ocean Park
September 29, 2021 -- Police arrested two suspected prowlers in possession of methamphetamine who broke onto an Ocean Park property in the early hours Monday.

Malibu Petition to Split from School District Stays on Track
September 20, 2021 -- A key County Committee voted overwhelmingly Saturday to keep alive Malibu's proposal to separate from the School District.

Registered Sex Offender Charged with Assaulting Two Homeless Women
September 20, 2021 -- Los Angeles County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges Friday against a registered sex offender who attacked two homeless women on Santa Monica Beach this month.

LETTERS -- Davis and Himmelrich Protest Too Much
September 20, 2021 -- After years of serving special interests such as Local 11, Santa Monica's City Council is once again serving the interests of residents.

Council Takes Steps to Curb Own Agenda Items
September 17, 2021 -- The City Council on Tuesday took steps to stem the flood of items, many of them administrative, individual Councilmembers themselves place on meeting agendas.

Council Rejects Resuming Cash Payments on Buses
September 16, 2021 -- The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to make it easier for Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (BBB) riders to obtain fare passes but will continue barring them from paying cash.

Police Hold DUI Checkpoint, Traffic Safety Operation Friday
September 16, 2021 -- Santa Monica police will hold a DUI checkpoint Friday, as well as conduct a bicycle and pedestrian safety operation "aimed at keeping people out exercising or enjoying the outdoors safe."

Council Approves Program to Dismiss Street Sweeping Citations
September 15, 2021 -- Those ticketed in Santa Monica for illegally parking during street sweeping between August 30 and September 3 have until October 5 to have their citations dismissed.

City Implores County Committee to Deny Malibu Split
September 15, 2021 -- The City of Santa Monica on Tuesday sent a letter to County education officials echoing the School District's opposition to Malibu's separation efforts.

Coronavirus Cases Drop in Santa Monica as County Hospitalizations Decrease
September 14, 2021 -- The number of weekly COVID cases in Santa Monica dropped below 100 for the first time in two months as hospitalizations across Los Angeles County also continued to fall, according to County Health data.

Santa Monica Kicks Off Americana in the Park Concert Series
September 14, 2021 -- The City and Santa Monica's iconic McCabe's Guitar Shop will be testing a new partnership model with the launch of a new roots music series Sunday in Gandara Park.

School District Urges County Committee to Oppose Malibu Split
September 13, 2021 -- School District officials last week mounted a campaign urging the County Committee on School District Organization to end the "protracted battle" over Malibu's split on Saturday.

Santa Monica Launches Ambulance Unit Focused on Homeless
September 13, 2021 -- The Santa Monica Fire Department rolled out a new ambulance unit Monday that provides an alternative response to 9-1-1 calls for homeless individuals.

Council to Consider Accepting Cash Fares on Buses Again
September 10, 2021 -- Two months after Santa Monica buses stopped accepting cash fares, the City Council will revisit a policy that may be hurting the poor and elderly.

Police Arrest Suspect in Armed Robbery, Search for Another
September 10, 2021 -- Police are searching for one of two suspects wanted for armed robbery, carjacking and kidnapping at a Santa Monica restaurant shortly after midnight Friday.

Sculptor Fights to Save Public Artwork Beneath the Pier
September 9, 2021 -- For more than 20 years, three orange boats have been strapped to pilings underneath the Santa Monica Pier serving as a clarion call to save the planet.

City Poised to Dismiss, Refund Street Sweeping Tickets
September 9, 2031 -- (UPDATED) Many of the 3,000 Santa Monica residents ticketed when the City resumed its regular street sweeping schedule last week could have their citations dismissed or the $73 parking fines they paid refunded.

COVID Cases in Santa Monica Hit Two-Month Low, Death Count Rises
September 8, 2021 -- Weekly coronavirus cases in Santa Monica dropped to their lowest level in two months, while three residents have died with the virus over the past two weeks, according to Los Angeles County Health data.

SMC Series Features TV Production, "Total Rewards" Concepts
September 8, 2021 -- Santa Monica College's (SMC) Business & Entrepreneurship Series this month will offer a behind-the-scenes look at television production and explore how companies shape their work environment.

EXTRA -- Proposed Malibu Split Fails to Meet County Conditions, Report Finds
September 7, 2021 -- Malibu's proposed split from the School District is headed for a key decision this month after failing to "substantially" meet eight of the nine conditions required under State law.

Police Seek Suspect in Possible Road Rage Shooting
September 7, 2021 -- Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot at two victims after ramming their car in the Pico Neighborhood Monday afternoon.

Public Safety Commission Denounces City, Union Agreement
September 3, 2021 -- Santa Monica's Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission this week denounced a recent agreement between the City and police union, calling it a "gut punch" that "undermines" the group's work.

Letter From Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission to City Council
The agreement between the City and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association is vastly more intrusive than was required and ties the hands of the Commission in numerous ways, both absurd and telling.

Official Statement of the Santa Monica Police Officers Association
Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission Chair George Brown’s comments on this matter are disheartening, false and illustrate a clear misunderstanding of public sector employee collective bargaining rights.

Health Advisory Remains in Place for Waters Near Pier
September 2, 2021 -- As Labor Day weekend approaches, County Health officials maintained a health advisory Wednesday for the waters around the Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica Ed Foundation Raises More than $550,000
September 2, 2021 -- The Santa Monica Education Foundation raised more than $550,000 during its back-to-school campaign, more than doubling the amount raised last year.

Residents Find Parking Tickets As Regular Street Sweeping Resumes
September 1, 2021 -- A video posted on social media Tuesday night chronicles what happened when Santa Monica resumed its weekly street cleaning after more than a year.

Police Search for Man Involved in Pier Shooting
September 1, 2021 -- Santa Monica police are looking for a man involved in a shooting that took place at the Santa Monica Pier shortly after midnight Tuesday.