How to Request New Safety Measures Like Additional Stop Signs: Anuj Gupta, SaMo Department of Transportation Director, addressed the community at OPA’s November meeting and said “the best and most easily trackable way is for people to use 3-1-1 to submit such requests.” Here is a direct link to file Traffic Signs & Markings requests.
SMDP’s Tis the Season Guide: This year’s overview of all things Santa Monica over the holidays includes a fun list of Main St.’s thrift shops and and many of our great retail options.
City Attorney & Rent Control Board Trying to Curb Record High Evictions: This SMDP article details how the City Attorney’s office presented to the city council a detailed plan to curb evictions with new additions to local rules. The proposed laws would prohibit evictions for a small amount of debt, prohibit eviction for tenants performing unpermitted work, expand standards for permanent relocation fees & buyout ordinances, & add “housing status” as a protected status under the Santa Monica Housing Discrimination Code, hoping to deter evictions if the tenant has either just left the streets, or could return post-eviction.
Holiday Donation Drives:
- Gently Loved Clothing Drive Benefiting Chrysalis: Santa MoniCARES in partnership with Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is collecting new and gently loved business attire to support individuals re-entering the workforce, including clean and ready-towear suits, pants, blazers, blouses, skirts, and dresses. Clothing should be appropriate to wear to a job interview and work. Donations will be accepted now through December 31 at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s Visitor Information Center at 2427 Main Street from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week. Curbside drop off is also available and can be scheduled via text. See additional details below. All donations will benefit Chrysalis – Santa Monica, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to find and retain employment.
- Non-Perishable Food Drive Benefiting Westside Food Bank: Santa MoniCARES in partnership with Le Merigot Santa Monica Hotel will collect non-perishable food items to help those in need during the holiday season. Donations will be accepted everyday now through December 31 at Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s Visitor Information Center at 2427 Main Street from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or at Le Merigot Santa Monica at 1740 Ocean Ave from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Curbside drop off is also available and can be scheduled via text. See additional details below. All donations benefit Westside Food Bank, a local organization which distributes 4.7 million pounds of food annually for people in need.
Construction goes vertical for 710 Broadway: This Urbanize LA report details the status of construction of 280 apartments with a ground-floor Vons.
Venice Shorts: Incinerated RV Found on Main St.: This SaMoMirror report and picture details the incident.
Things To Do This Weekend:
- Saint Anne Holiday Fair (Friday 5:30 – 7:30pm): “Free crafts and games for kids. Take free pics with Mr. & Mrs. Clauss. Buy holiday gifts from vendors. Food trucks and bake sale.” @ 2015 Colorado Ave. More details here.
- Safe Streets for 17th Street and Michigan Avenue Ribbon Cutting and Community Festival (Saturday 9am – 12pm): This celebration starts at 9:00 am with free donuts, coffee, and hot cocoa from DK’s Donuts, followed by performances from the Samohi Marching Band, Academia de Danza BFFM, and LA Jugglers, plus bike-themed workshops from Santa Monica Spoke and reDiscover Center, remarks from Mayor Gleam Davis, and guided bike tours along the bike lane, plus giveaways with a grand prize $500 gift card to a local bike shop! @ 1610 Colorado Ave. (Metro Station Parking Lot)
- Pet Photos with Santa @ Holiday Conscious Market (Saturday): Bring your fur babies for FREE pics with Santa at the Holiday Conscious Market (open 9a.m. – 6p.m.) along with FREE fitness classes from 11a.m. – 2p.m. @ 3rd St. Promenade More details here.
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Saturday 10am – 3:15pm): Santa Claus is coming to town with Santa Monica’s police officers & firefighters leading the way. Santa and his public safety helpers will be distributing good cheer and thousands of candy canes as part of this year’s 31st Annual “Candy Cane Drive.” Click here to see where and when.
- First Saturdays @ Kuruvungna Village Springs (Saturday 10am – 3pm): “The story of Santa Monica begins centuries before the arrival of Spanish explorers, Mexican ranchos and America’s Westward migration, back when the indigenous Tongva people inhabited our coastal plain. While human remains from 8,000 years ago have been discovered at Ballona Creek, perhaps the most observable evidence of the local Tongva population can be found at the Kuruvungna Sacred Springs, a California Historical Landmark on the grounds of University High School.” @ 1439 South Barrington Ave. More details here.
- SaMo Conservancy Holiday Celebration at the Church in Ocean Park (Saturday 3 – 5pm): The Conservancy has an exciting afternoon in store for our annual Holiday Celebration! We hope you will join us to connect with your fellow members and community partners, as well as to toast the close of our successful 20th Anniversary Campaign. During the festivities, we will debut a new video, produced by our Preservation Next affinity group, to showcase how the next generation is shaping the philosophy and practice of historic preservation. We are delighted to be meeting at the Church in Ocean Park, whose doors will be reopening this fall after a successful campaign to repair the broken roof! @ 235 Hill St.
Main St. Sunday Farmers Market: “Celebrate the season with special guests ‘Dancing with Alice’ kid performance starting at 9am followed by the ‘GM Jazz Quartet’ from 10am-1pm. Other special guests include Coffee with the Mayor and the Master Gardeners.” Here is the complete December calendar.