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Santa Monica to Host Swiss Winter Village
June 30, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Pier will take on an Alpine feel this winter after the City Council gave the go-ahead to mount "an authentic Swiss holiday market" on the structure's wooden parking deck.
Police to Crack Down on Speeding Drivers
June 30, 2026 -- Santa Monica police will boost patrols starting this month in an effort to crack down on speeding drivers, officials announced Monday.
Rent Board Recommends Ballot Measures
June 29, 2026 -- Santa Monica voters in November could be asked to increase the amount of rent a tenant must owe before being evicted for non-payment and allow them to move a family member into their units.
Officers Recognized for DUI Arrests
June 29, 2026 -- As Santa Monica ramps up its traffic enforcement efforts, two officers were recognized this month by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for their DUI arrests.
Amended Coastal Bill Could Be Wiped Out
June 26, 2026 -- A trailer bill Gov. Gavin Newsom could attach to the State budget would open up Santa Monica's coast to a burst of multi-family development by undoing an amended version of AB 1740.
Police Continue Boosting Traffic Enforcement
June 26, 2026 -- The Police Department continued to crack down on traffic violations issuing more than 150 citations in one week and addressing a half dozen significant incidents.
Council Approves Parking Zone to Protect Residents from Vehicle Dweller
June 25, 2026 -- In an unprecedented move, the City Council on Tuesday voted to create a preferential parking zone to protect residents of a dead-end street from a masked, apparently mentally ill man.
Pier Festival Celebrates Beach Culture
June 25, 2026 -- Santa Monica will celebrate its beach roots this weekend as the “Pier 360” Beach Festival returns with two "action-packed" days of ocean sports, live entertainment and beach culture, Pier officials said.
Former Mayor Seeks Rent Board Seat
June 24, 2026 -- Former Mayor Sue Himmelrich -- a longtime champion of tenants rights who has helped spearhead two local tax measures for affordable housing -- is seeking a seat on Santa Monica's Rent Control Board.
Library Branches Expand to Full Hours
June 24, 2026 -- Three branches of the Santa Monica Public Library will expand to full hours starting Monday, July 6 after the City Council last fall approved funding.
Senate Set to Take Up Radically Amended Coastal Bill
June 23, 2026 -- A stripped-down version of a controversial bill that originally exempted Santa Monica from most Coastal Commission permits, including housing, will get its first Senate hearing today.
Sierra Club Joins Great Parks Coalition
June 23, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Great Park Coalition (GPC) received a major boost last week when the Sierra Club joined its ranks to push for a sprawling park on land currently occupied by the city's Airport.
More Than 7,000 SMC Students Graduated Last Week
June 22, 2026 -- A total of 7,068 Santa Monica College students -- the second largest graduating class in the school’s nearly 100-year history -- received degrees and certificates last week.
City Closes Facilities, Scales Back Services Friday
June 18, 2026 -- City Hall and other public facilities will close Friday, and municipal services will be scaled back or suspended, as Santa Monica celebrates the official end of slavery in the U.S. on June 19, 1865.
Santa Monica Celebrates Juneteenth with Expanded Offerings
June 18, 2026 -- Santa Monica will commemorate the official end of slavery in the United States starting on Friday, Juneteenth, and continuing Saturday with the City's 34th Annual Celebration at Virginia Avenue Park.
EVITE SCAM ALERT
June 17, 2026 -- The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau are warning internet users of a new wave of fraud involving email invitations (evites).
Residents Petition Council to Curb Overnight Parking
June 17, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday will consider creating a Preferential Parking zone on a north side street after residents complained the occupants of vehicles parked overnight are jeopardizing the neighborhood's welfare.
Most Beach Lots to Stay Open Later
June 17, 2026 -- Visitors to Santa Monica Beach will have plenty of time to watch the sunset after parking in the public beach lots in summer.
HUD Suspends LA Homeless Agency's Funding
June 16, 2026 -- The Federal government announced Thursday it will no longer fund the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) effective immediately.
Make Music in Santa Monica Sunday
June 16, 2026 -- Santa Monica will join more than 2,000 cities in dozens of countries around the world Sunday in a celebration of live music everyone can take part in.
'Great Park' Gets Major Funding Boost
June 15, 2026 -- Santa Monica's "generational" plan to build a "Great Park" on Airport land received a major funding boost that will help complete the initial phase of the multi-year project and secure additional funding.
Restorative Justice Commission Takes Shape
June 15, 2026 -- The City of Santa Monica is accepting applications for its new Restorative Justice Commission, which will help implement one of the largest locally-funded programs of its kind in the nation.
Santa Monica to Enter Float in Rose Parade
June 12, 2026 -- The City Council this week gave the go-ahead to take part in next year's Rose Parade, 50 years after Santa Monica's entry won a prize the first time the event was televised.
Santa Monica Kicks Off World Cup
June 12, 2026 -- The World Cup kicks off in Los Angeles today, and Santa Monica will host three free events featuring live broadcasts of the opening match between USA and Paraguay.
Single Councilmember Can Keep Placing Items on Agenda
June 11, 2026 -- A proposal to bar an individual City Councilmember from placing an item on the agenda without a co-sponsor was quickly dismissed Tuesday night.
Santa Monica Man Pleads Guilty to 'Doxxing' ICE Attorney
June 11, 2026 -- A Santa Monica man faces five years in federal prison after pleading guilty last Friday to publishing identifying information about an attorney at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mentally Ill Homeless Man to Stand Trial in Racial Attacks
June 10, 2026 -- A mentally ill homeless man charged in three racially motivated attacks during a violent early morning rampage in Santa Monica three years ago will have to stand trial.
Library Kicks Off Summer Reading Program
June 10, 2026 -- Registration will open Saturday for the Santa Monica Public Library's (SMPL) Summer Reading Program designed to help children and teens maintain and strengthen learning skills during summer break.
Hotel Wage Measure Pulled From Agenda
June 9, 2026 -- A controversial living wage measure for hotel workers was removed from Tuesday's agenda the day before the City Council was scheduled to take action.
Proposed Rule Change Could Silence Residents, Councilmember Warns
June 9, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday will consider a rule change that bars a single Councilmember from placing a discussion item on the agenda.
Possible Showdown Tuesday Over Hotel Workers Wage Hike
June 8, 2026 -- Santa Monica's struggling hospitality industry is preparing to fend off a proposed Emergency Ordinance Tuesday that increases the wages and benefits for hotel workers.
Fire Claims Elderly Victim
June 8, 2026 -- An elderly tenant died after fire broke out Friday morning in an Ocean Park apartment building, marking a rare fire-related fatality in Santa Monica.
City to Revisit Capping Freeway
June 5, 2026 -- First proposed 30 years ago and dropped as a "crazy" idea, a proposal to cap the 10 Freeway with a park could begin moving forward again with a Federal grant.
Pacific Park Offers Free Ferris Wheel Rides
June 5, 2026 -- To celebrate the Centennial anniversary of Route 66, Pacific Park will offer free rides for 66 minutes Saturday morning on its world-famous, solar-powered Ferris wheel.
Airport Housing Initiative Won't Make November Ballot
June 4, 2026 -- A ballot initiative to build 3,000 units of "permanently affordable housing" on Airport land will likely have to be put on hold for two years.
MODE Program Rate Hikes Take Effect July 1
June 4, 2026 -- The Big Blue Bus' (BBB) popular Mobility On-Demand Every Day (MODE) program -- which offers discounted rides to those over 65 or disabled -- will increase its rates next month.
Opposition to Coastal Bill Grows
June 3, 2026 -- Opposition to a State bill that exempts Santa Monica from most Coastal Commission permits, including housing, is growing despite an amendment halting multifamily development for two years.
SMC to Offer Affordable Housing Management Program
June 3, 2026 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) is launching a new workforce development program in the fall that offers a certificate in affordable housing property management.
Council Launches Coastal Plan Negotiations
June 2, 2026 -- The City Council last week gave the go-ahead to negotiate a plan with the California Coastal Commission that gives Santa Monica greater authority over projects in its coastal zone.
Safe Capture of Mountain Lion Highlights Conservation Efforts
June 1, 2026 -- A mountain lion was captured by State wildlife officers Friday evening in Santa Monica, a city that has tried to balance public safety and wildlife conservation.
SMPD Opens New Downtown Substation
June 1, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department opened its new Downtown substation at Santa Monica Place on Thursday, marking a "cornerstone investment" in the City's revitalization plan, officials said.
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