The following is a press release from the City of Santa Monica
Santa Monica City Manager David White announced Tuesday he will be leaving his position in February 2025 after more than three years with the city.
White joined the city of Santa Monica in October 2021. During his tenure as city manager, White worked with the City Council to establish five key priorities: Addressing Homelessness; Clean & Safe; Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality; Justice, Equity & Diversity; and Sustainable & Connected.
Under his leadership, Santa Monica:
- Advanced bold initiatives to strengthen the approach to public safety and broadened the work to address homelessness
- Moved forward infrastructure projects that ensure Santa Monica remains a leader in sustainability and provides for a best-in-class multimodal transportation network
- Adopted new tax measures to sustain and expand services
- Adopted zoning code amendments to support the city’s economic recovery, bringing new stores to the Third Street Promenade, a revitalized hospitality sector and residential development throughout the city
- Began the years-long process for the conversion of the Santa Monica Airport site
“This is a bittersweet departure, and I am tremendously grateful to have had the opportunity to serve Santa Monica,” White said. “I’ll be working closely with the City Council and city leadership to ensure a smooth transition and am confident in the city’s bright future.”
White joined Santa Monica after serving as deputy city manager in Berkeley, where he championed reimagining public safety, including a new model of civilian oversight of Berkeley’s Police Department. Before his time in Berkeley, White was the city manager of Fairfield, Calif., and has an extensive background in finance both as an investment banker and having served as Fairfield’s finance director.
White will be returning to the city of Berkeley to serve as deputy city manager.
More details on the process to hire White’s successor will be released in the coming weeks.
